Growing for Kane: A Family Legacy Continues on Conley Farms
Meet the Farmer:
Conley Farms' tag line has been keeping Kaneville free of vampires since 2017, a true indication that this ten acre farm specializes in organically produced hardneck Chesnok Red and Romanian Red garlic bulbs. Sarah Conley is the farmer behind this superior Kane County garlic crop, Allium sativum. 
Sarah was 15 years old when her family bought the farm on the edge of downtown Kaneville from Tom and Mary Williams. Along with a house, outbuildings, and equestrian infrastructure, their farm was equipped with well-drained soil and the scenic Welch Creek. Twenty years after Sarah's family purchased the farm, Sarah began experimenting with garlic. But long before she put the first clove in the ground, Sarah was recognized for her mechanical mind and work ethic that supports farming in Kane County.
“Although I moved to Seattle after high school, dad would save projects for me to do when I came home to visit," explained Sarah. “It sounds ridiculous, but I loved coming back home to work on the farm. There were always fences to mend and porch boards to replace."
After her father's passing in the fall of 2010, Sarah moved back to Kaneville and has continued a legacy of life on the farm.
“Dad wanted the farm to be a place people came to celebrate all of life's events," shared Sarah. “Though his dreams never took shape the way he'd planned, his journey taught a master class in resiliency."
The Food & Farm Resiliency Grant
When COVID-19 hit, Conley Farm's sales channels shut down, and it took creativity and a small savings account to keep the business from closing.
“We cure our garlic in the barn, and we needed a new roof to keep the crop and machinery dry when it rained," explained Sarah. “All maintenance and repairs were put on hold because most of our business income went to zero."
When Sarah saw the Food and Farm Resiliency Grant open, she knew it could help the business reinvest for the future.
“The grant saved us!" Sarah exclaimed. “We were able to rebuild our creek bridge, purchase garlic processing equipment, upgrade our business software, and create a new livestock revenue stream."
Growing for Kane
Chesnok and Romanian Red garlic, named after parts of the Caucus and Eastern Europe, have adapted well to the long, cold winters of Kane County. Unlike annual crops that are planted in the spring and harvested throughout the summer and fall, garlic is planted in the fall, and harvested around the height of summer. In order for one clove to grow into an entire head under the ground, it must go through vernalization; the process of freezing and thawing.
Sarah's farm specializes in growing hardneck garlic, which is different from the bleached, white garlic typically found in grocery stores, or the braided hanging garlic found in Italian or Indian restaurants.
“Along with the growing climate, hardneck garlic is appreciated for its flavor!" Sarah mentioned. “Hardneck garlic also sends up a shoot in the spring called a garlic scape. It's a flavorful combination of an asparagus-like stalk, green onion, and garlic-flavor that customers love to use for pesto."
Conley Farms offers fresh garlic, merchandise, and frozen value-added products like heat-and-eat grilled garlic cheese sandwiches marketed from an online store.
“In addition to the online store, customers can come to the farm on Saturday October 18 for our first Fall Farm Fest from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m." explained Sarah. “We will have our golden garlic grilled cheeses, Aunt Karen's famous baked goodies, honey, produce and pumpkins. Also - a photobooth with our new addition on the farm: Lenny, our mini Mediterranean donkey."
Community members looking to meet their farmers can find Conley Farm's Fall Fest at the southwest corner of Dauberman Road and Main Street in Kaneville, Illinois.
Free Garlic for Cancer Fighters
Garlic is one of the oldest cultivated crops by humans, and has shown health-promoting and disease-preventing effects on cancer, cardiovascular disorders, as well as improving blood pressure and diabetes in clinical trials as reported by the National Library of Medicine. Garlic's recognized antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-powering properties are the reason why Sarah not only grows garlic, but gives it away to people fighting cancer.
“Since 2022, we have grown a special crop of Romanian Red garlic in memory of my mother-in-law Nan," explained Sarah. “If you're in the midst of a fight, or charting your course as a survivor, we've got battle bulbs for you! Come get your allicin armor and know you have the whole Farm Family standing with you. Because in this family, no one fights alone!"
To shop Conley Farms visit their website at www.conleyfarmskaneville.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/conleyfarmsinc
This Growing for Kane series was created by Sustainable Agriculture Consultant Ellen Kamps.
