Heartland Farm, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace of Great Bend, is looking to share its bountiful harvest of farm-to-table goods once again this year.

For its annual fundraising event, the farm is selling what it calls Farm-to-Table Harvest Baskets, filled with several of the farm’s homemade food items, including canned pickles, salsa, jelly, dried herbs, apple chips, cookies, pears, hand-baked breads, and several more items.

Many of the items are produced directly from crops and plants grown on the farm through its sustainable holistic management growing practices.

This year, it will be a drive through event, in lieu of the farm’s annual dinner fundraiser. The Dominican Sisters made the decision to go this route, said Sister Jane Belanger, in response to recent rises in cases connected to COVID-19 variants in the area.

Pick-up for the baskets will be held Saturday, Sept. 18 from 1-4 p.m., at Heartland Farm, located about 14 miles west of Great Bend. 

Belanger said the fundraiser will be limited to 50 baskets, and those interested must register ahead of time, either at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, or by visiting the farm’s website at https://heartlandfarm-ks.org/farm-to-table-2021/. Registration will be open until Wednesday, Sept. 15, or until all 50 baskets have been purchased.

Also as part of the fundraiser, the Sisters will have two separate raffles. Both will be limited to those who have also registered for the harvest baskets.

The first raffle will include opportunities for multiple prizes including a gift certificate for a massage, a gift for an overnight stay at the farm, a basket of the farm’s homebrewed beer, a basket of goods produced from the wool of alpacas raised on the farm, a bread and jelly basket, a gift certificate for an alpaca-walking experience at the farm, and other prizes.

The second, grand prize, raffle will be for one of two prizes - an 80-inch by 104-inch handmade children’s quilt or a set of three pieces of pottery produced by artist Phyll Klima.

Tickets for the first raffle are $2 each, or 6 for $10, and the grand prize raffle tickets will be $10 each.

All proceeds, Belanger said, will go to support the farm’s many programs, which in addition to the farm-produced goods typically include farm and craft programs, as well as getaway and retreat opportunities.

Heartland Farm is located 14 miles west of Great Bend on Rush County Road 390. From Great Bend, follow 10th Street west until the pavement ends, continue west for one mile, then turn left on to CR 390 for half a mile. The farm is on the right.