Project Overview
The Chicago Botanic Garden's BFRDP project
builds the capacity of urban farmers and farm workers in the Chicago region
through its Windy City Harvest (WCH) continuum of sustainable urban agriculture
training programs. The overall goal of these programs is to identify
prospective beginning farmers, develop their skills, and help them launch farm
businesses. In its first year, the project provided sustainable
urban agriculture training and entrepreneurship development, engaging a total
of 228 individuals, with 85% being socially disadvantaged and 89% considered
limited resource based on income (excluding one-day workshop participants, for whom
demographic data was not collected). WCH continued the program elements
developed through previous BFRDP support, including 1) Corps, a 14-week
transitional jobs program for individuals with histories of justice
involvement; 2) Apprenticeship, a 9-month certificate course in urban
agriculture; 3) continuing education workshops in sustainable urban agriculture;
and 4) a small farm business incubator. In addition to these programs, WCH 5)
leveraged and amplified its role as a regionally and nationally
recognized urban agriculture resource, in collaboration with a robust
network of partner organizations, to benefit beginning farmers.
Number of Participants: 228
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Individual Stories / Examples of Success