The Good Life at Serosun Farms

  • Home
  • Lifestyle
    • Field Notes
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
    • Activities
    • Bookmarks
    • Music
    • Community & Lifestyle- Partners
    • Community & Lifestyle- Resources
  • Food & Farm
    • Real Food
    • Farm and Garden
    • Recipes
    • Sustainable Agriculture
    • Food & Farm- Partners
    • Food & Farm- Resources
  • Nature
    • Natural History
    • Conservations & Restorations
    • Conservation & Nature- Partners
    • Conservation & Nature- Resources
  • Equestrian
    • Equestrian Care
  • Sustainable Living
    • Sustainable Communities
    • Healthy LIving
    • Sustainable Living- Partners
    • Sustainable Living- Resources
  • Homes
    • On the Market
    • High Performance Homes
    • Healthy Homes
    • Luxury Homes
    • Homes – Partners
    • Homes- Resources
  • Contact Us

Spring is Coming!

February 22, 2017 By Debra Quillen Leave a Comment


A large flock of Sandhill Cranes were seen circling the farm this weekend. The sight and sounds of Cranes are always a sure sign of spring but this is a little earlier than normal.  We hope to have more visiting the farm this year.  Last year we had a pair checking out the wetlands in the fall.  We are still amazed at their remarkable turnaround from being an endangered species.

Sandhill Cranes give out unusual loud rattling bugle calls, each lasting a couple of seconds and often strung together. They can be heard up to 2.5 miles away and are given on the ground as well as in flight.  They are very distinctive from the Canada Geese we frequently see and hear.

Check out the video that was recorded this past weekend to hear their distinctive  call – Sandhill Cranes

Here are some cool facts you may have not known about Sandhill Crane’s

  • The Sandhill Crane has recovered significantly in the last 30-40 years and now are fairly common though local to northern Illinois. They have expanded their territory into the Midwest prairie areas and are starting to nest further south. In some areas during migration they congregate in the hundreds of thousands.
  • They are large birds, often over four feet tall.
  • The Sandhill Crane’s call is a loud, rolling, trumpeting sound whose unique tone is a product of anatomy: Sandhill Cranes have long tracheas (windpipes) that coil into the sternum and help the sound develop a lower pitch and harmonics that add richness.
  • Sandhill Cranes are known for their dancing skills. Courting cranes stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap into the air in a graceful and energetic dance.
  • The elegance of cranes has inspired people in cultures all over the world—including the great scientist, conservationist, and nature writer Aldo Leopold, who wrote of their “nobility, won in the march of aeons.”
  • Although some start breeding at two years of age, Sandhill Cranes may reach the age of seven before breeding. They mate for life—which can mean two decades or more—and stay with their mates year-round. Juveniles stick close by their parents for 9 or 10 months after hatching.
  • The earliest Sandhill Crane fossil, estimated to be 2.5 million years old, was unearthed in the Macasphalt Shell Pit in Florida.
  • Sandhill Crane chicks can leave the nest within 8 hours of hatching, and are even capable of swimming.
  • The oldest Sandhill Crane on record was at least 36 years, 7 months old. Originally banded in Wyoming in 1973, it was found in New Mexico in 2010.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Conservation & Nature- Partners, Conservation and Nature, Field Notes, Uncategorized

Get Outside and Play! Serosun Celebrates Leave No Child Inside

June 15, 2016 By serosunfarms Leave a Comment

We had a blast last weekend celebrating “Leave No Child Inside” with a group of girl scouts and their parents. We enjoyed a walk on the farm where we hiked through fields, woods, gardens, and near ponds and wetlands. The girl scouts learned about why wetlands are important, how we help restore woodlands, and how gardens make food. They also had fun catching bugs and a toad, picking strawberries, and meeting all the animals at Serosun—horses, chicks, turkeys, and more.

Leave No Child Inside

Leave No Child Inside

Leave No Child Inside

Leave No Child Inside

Leave No Child Inside

“Leave No Child Inside” is a Chicago Wilderness initiative that promotes a culture where children enjoy being outside in nature, giving them a sense of connection to their place, a chance to be healthier, and making them stewards of local nature. The programs inspire curiosity, growth, and creativity.

We were happy to be a part of this initiative, since it aligns with everything life at Serosun stands for! Serosun is a sustainable community that offers peaceful, pastoral living. Beautiful homes are built where residents can enjoy hundreds of acres of open space with restored prairie and woodlands, centered around a working farm. Make an appointment to visit Serosun today!

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Filed Under: Conservation & Nature- Partners Tagged With: conservation, Leave No Child Inside, Serosun, Serosun Farms, teaching kids conservation

“Agrihoods.” The latest trend in the development of new home communities

March 8, 2016 By serosunfarms Leave a Comment

RSVP now for our March 19 luncheon where we will present Landscaping in an Agrihood

Scroll down for information about this event!

I hope this post finds everyone well and looking forward to Spring!  It has been a busy winter on the farm and we are grateful for the milder weather El Nino has brought to the Chicago area.

There have been a number of news stories and articles within the last number of months regarding the popularity and development of “agrihoods” throughout various locations in the United States. Here are three:

UN Report          Agrihood article       CBS Morning Show

It is exciting for us to see this movement coming to the forefront.  Developers are viewing this as a competitive advantage as more consumers prefer to build their new home around a farm versus a golf course. 

As Serosun Farms has been in development for a number of years, I’d like to review a little bit of history of how our “Agrihood” has come to be and the direction it is going for the future.

Serosun Farms preliminary plat was recorded in 2009.  My brother, John DeWald is the developer and I am the original owner of Serosun Farms. 

Serosun Farms originated with the establishment of my horse business called Serosun Farms Equine Sales in 2001.  As the housing boom in the early 2000’s started to take place I became very concerned about the encroaching high density developments popping up all around the area surrounding my farm.  John suggested I take control of the properties surrounding my 80 acre parcel and create a unique and progressive community that would value the land and the farming heritage in this area.  Thus the plan for Serosun Farms, a sustainable farm preservation community was commenced.

When we began proposing this plan early on, the term “agrihood” didn’t exist and people didn’t really understand what we were trying to do.  Luckily,  Kane County was very progressive in saving farm land at the time and was very interested in our idea and the opportunity it provided for saving land close to the suburbs.  Even though the land was zoned for farming under the county, this transitional land typically would get annexed by an adjacent municipality and rezoned for development of some kind.

In order for the land use to allow a combination of residential and farming, the county created and approved a new zoning category for this type of approach and in parallel we developed our concept for the farm community.  The approval of the new zoning category coincided with the approval of the preliminary plat for Serosun Farms.  This zoning was designated “Agriculture Preservation, Limited Development and was one of the first of its kind in the country to accommodate this land use approach.  As the approval came in the midst of the housing crash and subsequent recession, we didn’t proceed with building infrastructure until we felt the market was ready.

We did however continue to develop the farm’s sustainable practices and food program, work on habitat restoration of wetlands, prairie, and savannah woodlands, manage and develop the equestrian operations, advertise and host events on the farm to educate people on the exciting, new lifestyle community to come.

Fast forward to today.  2015 was the year we decided to build the dream.  How much the world has changed since our early days of ideas and planning.  Local food and transparency of where our food comes from, sustainable building and energy conservation, getting back to nature and a more peaceful way of life, living in a place where health and wellness are a priority from foundation to food. A place where classic American architecture surrounded by stunning pastoral, prairie, savannah, and wetland views are a luxury.  Our beautiful farmhouse model home was completed in June of 2015 and the first phase of roads completed in September 2015.

A lot of exciting progress will take place this year including breaking ground of our first new residential homes, the continued progress on the development of the new wetlands, and starting the build out of our production farm including the planting of the apple orchards.  The habitat restoration of our existing savannah woodlands and prairie will continue along with the development of our community and equestrian programs.

One of the big mandates for Serosun Farms is education.  We will be holding several events this year to enlighten people on what an Agrihood is and how they can be a part of this exciting new lifestyle.    Although there are several developments throughout the country creating their version of an agrihood, Serosun Farms is unique in its approach of combining luxury high performance homes, artisan organic food farming, restoration and preservation of natural areas and wildlife habitat, healthy lifestyle activities and entertainment. 

Follow us on Facebook for updates and news, go to our website at serosunfarms.com to get information on events and view interesting articles and information as it relates to the development and management of Chicago’s premier Agrihood. 

Come out and visit us and see for yourself the progress on this exciting new community! 

Our first event will be on March 19 at our new model home. Tentative schedule is:

12:00 – Landscape Seminar

1:00 – Lunch followed with an informal Q&A

Please send an email to Grace (gbagnole@serosunfarms.com) with the number of people you’ll be bringing.

Also, if you haven’t joined our e-list, please do so today so we can keep you up to date on all the happenings here at Serosun Farms. I look forward to seeing everyone!

All the best,

Jane Stickland

Owner, Serosun Farms

Filed Under: Activities, Conservation & Nature- Partners, Conservation & Nature- Resources, Conservations and Restorations, Events, Healthy LIving, Natural History, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Living Tagged With: Agrihood, farming communities, IL, Illinois, new home community, sustainable community

Leave no Child Inside-Chicago Wilderness initiative

June 14, 2014 By bkelly Leave a Comment

leavenochildinsideThe Chicago Wilderness Leave No Child Inside initiative promotes a culture in which children enjoy and are encouraged to be outside in nature, and as a result are healthier, have a sense of connection to their place, and become supporters and stewards of local nature. Leave No Child Inside programs strive to nourish children’s curiosity, growth, and creativity through unstructured play time outside in nature and other outdoor recreation activities.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Conservation & Nature- Partners, Conservation and Nature

Serosun Farms is added to Corporate Council for Chicago Wilderness

February 21, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Serosun Farms is proud to announce we are on the Corporate Council for Chicago Wilderness.

Corporate citizens play an important role in promoting community vitality and quality of life. Since its founding in 2002, the Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council has played a key role in Chicago Wilderness’ accomplishments.

The Corporate Council leverages the resources, capabilities, and influence of its members to build support for biodiversity conservation in our region. Members lead by example, implementing best practices in the design and management of their facilities and properties.

What an awesome organization!  Ask us about getting involved.

www.chicagowilderness.org

Filed Under: Conservation & Nature- Partners, Conservation and Nature, Conservations and Restorations

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Newsletter Signup

Sign up to get regular updates as to what's happening at Serosun Farms!

Interested in Making Serosun your Home?

Please contact the Sales Office at 847.683.4796 to learn more about available lots.

Recent Posts

  • Moving Toward a Zero Waste Lifestyle By Cassandra Rosas
  • Amazing Agrihoods: Farm-to-Table Living for a Healthy Community
  • This Years 5K will Support Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Serosun Farms Equine Services  Presents Cutting Edge Laser Therapy and Wellness Services
  • Regenerative Agriculture

About Serosun Farms

Serosun Farms is a sustainable community that blends peaceful, pastoral living with modern convenience.
Read More…

Looking for Something?

Archives

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 Serosun Farms