Grateful Plains

Grateful Plains We are located near Starved Rock State Park, just 7 miles south of Ottawa, IL and 90 miles SW of Chicago. Want to be a guest on Reverend Holly's show?

In the heart of Starved Rock Country in rural Illinois, small farm specialty crop producers Tim & Reverend Holly Koster steward 6 acres into a regenerative farmland while teaching beginning farmers how to enter the Midwest USA local food supply chain InSIGHT ::
Integrating Sustainability, Intensive Growing, Health & Transformation::
Our 2nd Saturday virtual Garden Social highlights guest speakers,

demonstrations and open discussion on topics related to transitioning to a healthy lifestyle. Grateful Plains is our little 6 acres in the Illinois River Valley where we grow flowers, enrich rural community living and dance under the moon with our 3 dogs and 6 cats. Since 2012, we have produced veggies, herbs and seedlings and, now, as we wind into our later years in life, we are transitioning our acreage to specialty cut flower growing while mentoring new beginning farmers to carry the torch. We will connect you with many ways to keep sourcing food locally and preserving food security in the Midwest, especially heirloom varieties and organic hybrids. Reach out and tell us your story!

05/17/2026

beginning to want Peony aroma on the breeze!

We have 7 types of specialty blooms plus the typical maroon, rose and pink colors.

We will do our best to save some for May 30th earthly muse booth!

Peony #2. These are always right on time. Brightening up cool nights, assuring us summer days are around the corner.
05/17/2026

Peony #2.

These are always right on time. Brightening up cool nights, assuring us summer days are around the corner.

has officially bloomed! We are transitioning to crops that can tolerate cultivation near conventional crop overspray, ...
05/16/2026

has officially bloomed! We are transitioning to crops that can tolerate cultivation near conventional crop overspray, focusing on flowers in our open fields and protecting our food under cover in the tunnels. We are celebrating the access to USDA EQIP grants to build our high tunnels efficiently and learn how to grow food on a 5-acre regenerative farm adjacent to our row cropping farming neighbors We can do this, people! Keep going!

Who else is enamored with peonies?

Hello Farm Flower fans!Growing season is upon us here in illinois, and we are about to be blessed with blooms from dawn ...
05/12/2026

Hello Farm Flower fans!

Growing season is upon us here in illinois, and we are about to be blessed with blooms from dawn till dusk and burning the midnight oil to keep communication as smooth as possible this summer.

Transitioning to a flower farm means you get more than fresh veggies! Our niche on the weekly chef's list is medicinal herbs and edible blooms alongside fresh cut stems spotlighting Midwest grown farm flowers. Watch for us at specialty markets in the Starved Rock region beginning May 30th!

We will do our best to respond promptly to your calls, emails and social media messages. However, we keep Sundays sacred and Monday is harvest day and Tuesday is transit day so midweek is a better time to catch our undivided attention.

Farming is our passion and includes so much more than growing stuff! Day-to-day logistics entails crop planning, grower network communication, scheduling crops, organizing maintenance projects, managing social media, paperwork, organization, and also being a present Reverend for my full-time gig at Ohms.

We truly appreciate everyone’s ongoing support as we navigate keeping our family flower farm operational and thriving!

What are you most excited to experience from Grateful Plains this season?

Tried beet greens on my chicken salad sandwich . Totally delish! Thanks Crystal Gray for growing our lunch!
05/10/2026

Tried beet greens on my chicken salad sandwich . Totally delish! Thanks Crystal Gray for growing our lunch!

Dreaming of globe thistle (echinops ritro) as we lean into transplanting all the spring babies next week!This dried flow...
04/13/2026

Dreaming of globe thistle (echinops ritro) as we lean into transplanting all the spring babies next week!

This dried flower bloom was from our first harvest four seasons ago!

04/12/2026

1000 Yellowstone carrots sown into egg flats to help with w**d pressure and giving carrots a food start! Farming must go on even in 20 mph winds!

04/12/2026

It's true. You gotta be on point spaying ASAP or the neighborhood toms make teenage mommas out of 'em!

We are so enamored with cuddles and cuteness! Helps on these brisk spring mornings to snuggle up and feel the pure ❤️

Show us your fur babies!

This report examines how Food is Medicine programs can generate economic benefits for states while building stronger, mo...
04/12/2026

This report examines how Food is Medicine programs can generate economic benefits for states while building stronger, more resilient food systems.

Beyond measurable gains in farm revenue, job creation, and economic activity, locally designed FIM programs can stabilize farmland, strengthen regional supply chains, and give producers the reliable demand they need to invest in long-term growth and regenerative practices.

Because this market is still taking shape, states have a critical window to design programs thoughtfully — embedding local sourcing, supporting community-based providers, and aligning health care spending with broader rural and economic development goals.

~From Farm to FIM: The Economic Impact of Local Food is Medicine , March 2026 Industry Report

See full report link in comments

Our farm has taken a few sharp turns the past few seasons.We face the similar pressures of any farm transitioning to org...
04/12/2026

Our farm has taken a few sharp turns the past few seasons.We face the similar pressures of any farm transitioning to organic stewardship of rebuilding soil and cultivating chemical-free food focused on nutrient density, flavor and heirloom seeds saving.

We are blessed to be working with a group of over 100 farms growing produce, meat, dairy and farm value added products to supply "Food is Medicine"

As I find new patches of mushrooms taking over, I'm reminded how important our work is.

It feels exhilarating to see ten years of roundtable discussions moving into action.

We are so proud to create this impact for Illinois.

What food are you most looking forward to finding fresh at your local farmers market this season?

Address

190 W Main Street
Grand Ridge, IL
61325

Telephone

+18152495134

Website

http://www.livegrowgiveohms.org/, http://www.letgrowthunite.us/

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