Owner of Evergreen Farm Produce Stand Fields Questions
Evergreen Farm is next to (but not associated with) the property considered as a storage site for fill from the Route 47 construction project.
Evergreen Farm co-owner Kathy Theis has fielded some concerns about her produce since local media reported sewage sludge was applied to property once considered as a storage site for clean fill from the Route 47 construction project.
She's happy to field the questions, and she's encouraging people with lingering doubts to give her a call at the farmstand (630-553-5455). She said her farm is not associated with or affected by the corn fields where sewage sludge was applied.
"We don't want them to be afraid to eat our produce," said Theis, who owns the farm and stand with her husband, Steve.
The confusion seems to lie with geography and a name. Theis' Evergreen Farm is a fourth-generation operation off Fox Road west of Yorkville that sells tomatoes, honey and other produce.
"My grandkids are the fifth generation," Theis said. "Hopefully they'll want to keep doing it."
City officials have been referring to the property considered for the fill storage site as Evergreen Farm. That property is west and north of Theis' Evergreen Farm. It was sold to a developer in 2000 to build a subdivision called Evergreen Farm Estates; that development never materialized, and field corn presently sits on the property.
D Construction, which is managing the Route 47 expansion project, applied for a special use permit to use the property slated for development as a storage and dump site for clean fill from the project. City officials denied that request, as well as a more recent request to apply for a state grant to purchase that property and turn it into a city park.
Related articles:
• No City Park on Evergreen Farms
• City All But Rejects Evergreen Farms Proposal
• Route 47 Fill Site Proposal Sent Back to Commissioners
Tim
12:07 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Local Media? Why can you not take responsibility for yourself? The job of a reporter is to CHECK FACTS, not to simply repeat what someone else said as if it was true. That is the definition between a gossip, and a reporter.
http://yorkville.patch.com/articles/no-city-park-on-evergreen-farms
"That's the same land where D Construction Management wanted to store and spread clean fill from the Route 47 construction project - a project that aldermen also rejected by denying a special use permit. Since that vote, biosolids (sludge from a sewage treatment plant) was spread on the property."
YOU reported this Jillian, and you owe an apology to not only this owner, but all of the residents who you mislead by your poor fact checking. You slandered the name of a local business owner, because you were too lazy to check if what you were posting as news, was actually true.
Personally, I think you should resign your position. Your readers no longer have a reason to trust in your ability to do the job you claim to be doing. You not only can not admit that this was you that spread this rumor, the initial article that you wrote still contains this incorrect information, even after it was pointed out in that very article.
It has been over a week since you printed this, and there has been no correction posted to the original article. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Steven Jack
10:42 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Tim, I'd love the opportunity to talk to you about Patch. Can you call me at 630-383-8210. Thanks!
Steven Jack
Associate Regional Editor
Amy Hawkins
6:44 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
We, Evergreen Farm, have lost lots of business due to this error in reporting. I never even knew "Patch" existed until one of our facebook followers told me about it. The Patch reporter, Jillian, did come out and do a BRIEF interview with us, but never offered an apology. It's been very difficult for us, as we have lost the trust of many customers who have simply read incorrect information. We contacted the city of Yorkville who seems to be the source of the incorrect information, who's response was simply "Oh." We just wish there would have been a distinction from the get go, as I'm sure this article will not reach all the customers we have lost. It's taken us 50 years to build this business and less than 3 months for our reputation to tarnish. Our mission from the days we opened our doors in the 1950's has and always will be to provide the community with the freshest, highest quality fruits and vegetables. That will never change.
Libby
7:55 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
I am glad to read clarification of this. Both stories (the Rt 47 fill dirt and the sludge story) should have explained the difference in the properties. The fact that they both have the name "Evergreen" in them should signal a effort to clearly describe the physical difference in the two pieces of land, especially since food is grown on one.
Becky
8:47 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Yes, I agree. I asked the question twice in the comments on the original article and was never answered. I'm glad the owners of Evergreen Farms cleared up the confusion, but they never should have to have been the ones to do so. And to Kathy & Steve - I'll be buy this weekend to by some farm fresh produce! :-)
Chris Fox
5:39 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Steven
The fact that you choose to deal with Tim's legitimate complaint offline leaves me with many more questions. As a reader I want to know the answers to the same questions. This entire issue was idiotic reporting that led the public to form an opinion based on wrong information. Yorkville Patch just lost my trust in the information it provides.
To Kathy Theis and her family...I will be by to purchase your produce. You should give some thought to talking to an attorney if you havnt already.
Tim
5:51 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Don't worry, anything that needs to be said to me can be said in this thread.
I assure you, I do not intend to be part of any backroom conversations.
I also plan to drive out to their farm stand this weekend and buy some produce.
Chris Fox
6:07 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I just got off the phone with Kathy Theis and offered my support. This entire situation is crazy and not one person called her when this story was first written. What happened to vetting a story before you go to print/post? Someone needs to be held liable for this. A full retraction + a full apology + in my opinion some punitive damages!
Amy Hawkins
6:59 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
In case anyone is wondering I am the daughter of Steve and Kathy Theis, the owners of Evergreen Farm. I failed to mention that in the above comment. I am at the farmstand everyday and can be reached on our facebook page @ EvergreenFarm&Amy'sGreenhouse or by email @amy.hawkins@mchsi.com or can simply call the farmstand @ 630-553-5455.
Josh
7:34 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
The only question I would like to see answered is: Who said "no" to dirt being dumped on that site but said "yes" to the waste? Should be the other way around I think.
KARMACOMESAROUND
9:38 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I agree with getting the attorney. The Patch is quick to smear people repeatedly and harshly. I hope they get what they have coming to them now. I hope more larger and more reputable news agencies pick this story up and reveal the truth and also the costly mistake made by the Patch. As far as Jill, what do you expect. I don't think you have the "cream of the crop" working internet journalism here. LOL