Project Overview
Since the beginning of the grant period, Windy City Harvest (WCH) trained 717 individuals, including 507 from
socially-disadvantaged groups and 8 veterans, in sustainable urban agriculture. The training continuum included a nine-month Apprenticeship, transitional jobs for ex-offenders, youth
development for low-income teens, certificate courses, and single-day intensive workshops. Thirty urban farmers representing 17 small
businesses were incubated and received access to land, tools, market channels, and ongoing mentorship as they launched their enterprises. WCH expanded the
capacity of urban agriculture in Chicago by placing 90 individuals in related
jobs, generating more than 240,000 pounds of fresh produce, providing 128,590 servings of food to low-income individuals (including those purchasing via
federal food benefits), and by creating new or expanded partnerships with the
Lawndale Christian Health Center, Loyola University Health System/Proviso Partners for Health, Catholic Charities, and Brinshore Michaels Development.
On June 23, 2018, the Farm on Ogden, WCH's indoor farm and training center in Chicago's North Lawndale community, opened to the public with a day-long community open house that attracted 1,500 attendees. The facility significantly enhances WCH's ability to train beginning farmers. Formerly incarcerated individuals in the Corps and work/study programs can now learn aquaponics techniques with access to the Farm's commercial-scale growing system. Training opportunities, once offered primarily in the summer and shoulder seasons, will now be available year-round, enabling trainees to understand the full lifecycle of an urban farm, including crop planning and propagation. Open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, the Farm has also offered a critical platform for engaging the local community. Local residents come to the Farm seeking fresh produce, which is available at the indoor farm stand, as well as educational and employment opportunities, and gardening tips--all of which are readily available.
Number of Participants: 717
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Individual Stories / Examples of Success