Growers and Grocers

But not just any farm. This one is special. Using a 1-1/4 acre lot in Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood, this organic farm is growing from hard work, passion, and a whole lotta helping hands. City Farm, as it’s called, grows lettuce, beets, herbs, tomatoes, carrots, melons and more, and it’s run by the Resource Center, which is a non-profit environmental education organization.

This special place gives back in more ways than one. The compost comes from local restaurants’ food scraps, and the produce grown is sold to community members at an on-site market, and even high-end local restaurants like Frontera Grill and Lula Cafe.

If that isn’t enough, the program gives summer job-training to kids, teaching them gardening basics. “I feel really proud of the fact that we’ve been able to give kids the opportunity to do something constructive in the summers,” says Chris Anderson, the farm’s project manager.

Certainly not your average farm.

Photo from City Farm website.