About Us
Family Journeys (FJ) is working with Green Mill Village (GMV), a sustainable resort currently under construction in Arcola (Ill.), to create a line of locally produced items from around Illinois. The items will be available at GMV once open in Spring 2010, but FJ, a Charleston (Ill)-based company, is now offering gift baskets online.
Our fine selection of gift baskets are perfect for everyday gift giving, entertaining family and friends, corporate appreciation or simply making a typical day special. You have our guarantee that each item in your gift basket was hand-selected by our team and tested for quality and superiority.
GMV is located in the heart of Illinois Amish Country and the local Amish make many of the products that are currently available. Homemade fruit butters, jams, jellies, salsas, noodles, coffee and other food items fill the eight gift baskets that range in price from $59 to $95.
We are extremely fortunate to have these valuable resources located in our own backyard and have personally met with the people who produce our items. We know exactly where they come from - right here in central Illinois.
While many of the items carry the FJ logo, cards in the gift baskets and descriptions on the Web site tell the story behind the products. Vendors currently featured in gift baskets include RoseLen's, The Kitchen of Doris Yoder and Beachy's Bulk Foods of Arthur; Planks Apple Butter and Barbs Jams & Jellies of Arcola; Flesor's Candy Kitchen and Railside Farms of Tuscola; and Hannah's Granna's and Absolutely Scentsational of Charleston.
In addition to the gift baskets, the FJ and GMV teams are working with Das Holz Haus in rural Tuscola to create a custom line of furniture with a 1940s theme for Green Mill Hotel & Spa. A group of local Amish women is currently sewing quilts and other linens for the hotel rooms as well.
Basically everything you see in at the hotel and in your room will be available to purchase at the GMV retail center. If you like the dresser, bed or quilt, you'll be able to purchase it for your own home.
FJ's concept of creating a local product line fits hand-in-hand with GMV's commitment to sustainability. The product packaging is recyclable, reusable, compostable or biodegradable. In addition, utilizing local vendors creates jobs and keeps revenue in the area communities.
Once GMV opens, our guests will see the products and we'll encourage them to visit the area communities to learn more about the producers. Our neighbors have unique talents and we are providing a new outlet for their creations through FJ and GMV.
Corporations are encouraged to consider FJ's gift baskets for their holiday needs. Orders of $5000 or more will receive a 5% discount.
About Our Baskets
When placing your order today, you have a choice between two baskets to fill with our products:: Fair Trade Baskets from Ten Thousand Villages or a Care-N-Share Basket made by physically challenged plain people in Ohio.
The price shown is for the Fair Trade Basket. If you wish to receive to the Care-N-Share Basket, use the drop down arrow on the order page to upgrade for a extra fee.
Please note that the exact style of basket may vary due to availability of certain styles by our vendors.
Fair Trade Baskets from Ten Thousand Villages:
Since 1946 Ten Thousand Villages has supported the work of literally tens of thousands of artisans in over 37 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, making us one the largest fair trade organizations in North America. Working with 130 artisan groups, we purchase fine pieces from craftspeople with whom we have longstanding, nurturing relationships... helping to bring dignity to their lives.
Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association, an organization that includes over 200 members in 55 countries, including many artisan groups in developing countries. We are part of a worldwide movement that is striving to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries through the expansion of fair trade.
Care-N-Share:
These baskets are made by people with disabilities in the Apple Creek, Ohio area Amish community.
Care-n-Share was started with one purpose in mind - provide a channel for the physically challenged plain people to share their talents and in a way that can be rewarding and profitable to them. The artist who crafted the fine items offered at Care-n-Share are challenged with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Parkinsons or some other physical restriction. Widows and families with huge medical expenses also offer their workmanship at the store to aid their income. Our goal is to place proceeds back in the hands that created the hand crafted item.
Family Journeys (FJ) is working with Green Mill Village (GMV), a sustainable resort currently under construction in Arcola (Ill.), to create a line of locally produced items from around Illinois. The items will be available at GMV once open in Spring 2010, but FJ, a Charleston (Ill)-based company, is now offering gift baskets online.
Our fine selection of gift baskets are perfect for everyday gift giving, entertaining family and friends, corporate appreciation or simply making a typical day special. You have our guarantee that each item in your gift basket was hand-selected by our team and tested for quality and superiority.
GMV is located in the heart of Illinois Amish Country and the local Amish make many of the products that are currently available. Homemade fruit butters, jams, jellies, salsas, noodles, coffee and other food items fill the eight gift baskets that range in price from $59 to $95.
We are extremely fortunate to have these valuable resources located in our own backyard and have personally met with the people who produce our items. We know exactly where they come from - right here in central Illinois.
While many of the items carry the FJ logo, cards in the gift baskets and descriptions on the Web site tell the story behind the products. Vendors currently featured in gift baskets include RoseLen's, The Kitchen of Doris Yoder and Beachy's Bulk Foods of Arthur; Planks Apple Butter and Barbs Jams & Jellies of Arcola; Flesor's Candy Kitchen and Railside Farms of Tuscola; and Hannah's Granna's and Absolutely Scentsational of Charleston.
In addition to the gift baskets, the FJ and GMV teams are working with Das Holz Haus in rural Tuscola to create a custom line of furniture with a 1940s theme for Green Mill Hotel & Spa. A group of local Amish women is currently sewing quilts and other linens for the hotel rooms as well.
Basically everything you see in at the hotel and in your room will be available to purchase at the GMV retail center. If you like the dresser, bed or quilt, you'll be able to purchase it for your own home.
FJ's concept of creating a local product line fits hand-in-hand with GMV's commitment to sustainability. The product packaging is recyclable, reusable, compostable or biodegradable. In addition, utilizing local vendors creates jobs and keeps revenue in the area communities.
Once GMV opens, our guests will see the products and we'll encourage them to visit the area communities to learn more about the producers. Our neighbors have unique talents and we are providing a new outlet for their creations through FJ and GMV.
Corporations are encouraged to consider FJ's gift baskets for their holiday needs. Orders of $5000 or more will receive a 5% discount.
About Our Baskets
When placing your order today, you have a choice between two baskets to fill with our products:: Fair Trade Baskets from Ten Thousand Villages or a Care-N-Share Basket made by physically challenged plain people in Ohio.
The price shown is for the Fair Trade Basket. If you wish to receive to the Care-N-Share Basket, use the drop down arrow on the order page to upgrade for a extra fee.
Please note that the exact style of basket may vary due to availability of certain styles by our vendors.
Fair Trade Baskets from Ten Thousand Villages:
Since 1946 Ten Thousand Villages has supported the work of literally tens of thousands of artisans in over 37 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, making us one the largest fair trade organizations in North America. Working with 130 artisan groups, we purchase fine pieces from craftspeople with whom we have longstanding, nurturing relationships... helping to bring dignity to their lives.
Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association, an organization that includes over 200 members in 55 countries, including many artisan groups in developing countries. We are part of a worldwide movement that is striving to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries through the expansion of fair trade.
Care-N-Share:
These baskets are made by people with disabilities in the Apple Creek, Ohio area Amish community.
Care-n-Share was started with one purpose in mind - provide a channel for the physically challenged plain people to share their talents and in a way that can be rewarding and profitable to them. The artist who crafted the fine items offered at Care-n-Share are challenged with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Parkinsons or some other physical restriction. Widows and families with huge medical expenses also offer their workmanship at the store to aid their income. Our goal is to place proceeds back in the hands that created the hand crafted item.
