Address: 19469 Friendsville Ave Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
We are a family owned and operated farm market. We carry specialty grocery items, locally raised meat and vegetables, handmade non toxic skincare, wellness products, baked goods, take and bake meals and gifts! Come see us in the market or grab something from our self-serve farmstand!
We are Chad and Kesha Bates. We were both born and raised in Southern Illinois and are now raising our family here as well. Chad grew up farming alongside his family and, like every farmer, it is in his blood. I (Kesha) did not have a farming background but have always had a love for all things “old fashioned.” Whether it involves music, cooking, food preservation or herbal remedies, my heart is happiest learning new skills and sharing the fruit of that labor with my family. We have 4 daughters and each one seems to have fallen in love with a different one of those areas. Chad is an old soul as well and that, combined with our tendency to be dreamers, means that we have spent our entire marriage attempting to create our perfect homestead.
Our market name came from my grandmother. Our girls didn’t get to spend nearly enough time with her before she passed but she left that phrase engraved on our family. The scripture that is referenced in our logo is in regards to our deep desire to serve God through charity. While you likely won’t see us openly sharing all that we do, just know that a good portion of every dollar you spend with us will be passed on to someone in need.
We believe that quality matters, as well as being aware of what you put on and in your body. (We also value time and realize that convenience definitely has its place!) We have combined our love for the old fashioned ways with our love for farming. This has led us to create a market that will include everything from locally raised produce/meats and baked goods to handmade skincare. Ultimately, we pray that our market can be a blessing to our community, and that we can always be humble and willing to make it whatever God wants it to be. We hope that you will join us on this journey as we figure out our best way to serve!