Project Overview
The Chicago Botanic Garden's BFRDP project
built 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. The project trained 558 individuals in sustainable urban
agriculture, with 88% being socially disadvantaged (excluding workshop
participants, for whom demographic data was not collected). WCH continued the
program elements developed through previous BFRDP support, including 1) Corps,
a 13-week transitional jobs program for individuals with a history of justice
involvement; 2) Apprenticeship, a 9-month certificate course in urban
agriculture; 3) continuing education workshops for prospective farm
entrepreneurs and workers; and 4) a small farm business incubator. In addition
to these programs, WCH 5) leveraged and amplified its existing 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: 558
Promotional Materials
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
Educational Materials
There are no educational materials available for this project.
Reports & Evaluations
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.
Describe any unexpected results of the project:
How would you improve the project if you were to do it again?
What were the keys to success for your participants?
Individual Stories / Examples of Success