The Organic Urban Farm Growing Healthy Food for One of Chicago’s Most Underserved Neighborhoods
For two decades, the 1.5-acre Growing Home farm has pursued its mission of growing and selling produce to its neighbors. It’s found support from across the city and in the state legislature.
By Cassie M. Chew
Civil Eats
September 5, 2023
Excerpt:
Growing Home took root in 2002 as the brainchild of William “Les” Brown, founder of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Located on 10 acres of land 84 miles southwest of Chicago, it offered a workforce development program for people experiencing housing instability.
After conversations with city officials, Growing Home’s farming and training operations moved in 2006 to Englewood, a residential community on the city’s South side. Raised concrete beds laid with 2 feet of compost successfully transformed the vacant lot into farmland.
Four times a year, about 20 trainees learn the tools and techniques of production-scale urban farming. They also gain job readiness skills and get opportunities to earn professional certifications that have led to careers in the city’s food production and hospitality industries.
LaQuandra Fair is one of Growing Home’s success stories. After six years in the Marine Corps and a few jobs in retail and hospitality, Fair still was searching for the right opportunity when her daughter brought home from school a flyer advertising an event at Growing Home. It reminded Fair of her family’s history of gardening. “My grandmother always grew her own greens in her backyard,” Fair recalls.
