Training urban farmers fills a growing workforce need
This program was perfect because my granddad used to farm and do this type of work. It feels like it’s meant to be.
By Britt Calendo
Crain’s Chicago
Dec 19, 20
Excerpt:
That proximity matters. Windy City Harvest programming provides paid, on-the-job training for more than 150 people every year, with an average of 80% placement rate in food systems jobs post-training. And some of those new farmers have taken it a step further: 25 small farm businesses got their start at Windy City Harvest.
Many participants are introduced to Windy City Harvest through our transitional job training program, called Corps, which employs 30 to 40 justice-involved individuals and veterans in closely mentored, full-time, paid transitional jobs, and supports them in finding full-time, long-term employment annually.
I see graduates from our Corps program, who started working with us because they were looking for a job, find a passion for urban farming. These future farmers are dedicated to bringing healthy food, the beauty of nature and high-quality jobs to our city. It gives me so much hope for the future of our local food systems.
Here’s what one Corps program graduate who is moving on to our Apprenticeship program, a hands-on, technical training in sustainable urban agriculture offered in partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago, said:
