Windy City Harvest
Urban Agriculture
Windy City Harvest
Windy City Harvest
As the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s urban agriculture and community health initiative, Windy City Harvest is making a difference in communities on the West and South Sides of Chicago. By focusing on growing food, improving health, and creating job opportunities, we're helping build strong, vibrant neighborhoods that thrive.
Food: For many residents, finding affordable, locally grown produce in the heart of a major city can be a challenge. With 10 urban farms and gardens, we are planting, growing, and harvesting farm-fresh produce, delivering more than 200,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to support those facing food insecurity. As part of our VeggieRx program, we are providing free boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 3,000 individuals annually.
Health: Supplying food is just the start of what we do. At our flagship Farm on Ogden, we offer free classes that empower residents with knowledge about nutrition, cooking skills, and how to make the most of the fresh produce we provide. We also offer therapeutic horticulture workshops, engaging over 2,400 participants each year, supporting their mental wellness along the way.
Jobs: Each year, we offer paid, hands-on training to more than 70 individuals, with about 80 percent securing jobs in the food systems industry after completing the program. Since 2013, we have helped launch and support more than 30 small farm businesses, fostering growth and sustainability in local agriculture.
Visit & Shop
Stop by and see our farms and markets at a variety of locations in the Chicago area. Tour our state-of-the-art facilities at the Farm on Ogden, organize a field trip to a farm site, or shop for fresh, locally grown produce at one of our market stands.
Participate
Learn—and earn—through sustainable farming, healthy cooking and eating, food entrepreneurship, and community service. Windy City Harvest's Youth Farm, Apprenticeship, Corps, and VeggieRx programs offer education and hands-on job training for the community.
Learn
Windy City Harvest offers Aquaponics, One-Day Intensives, and Ten-Week Certificate Courses for students interested in learning more about industry-specific topics. Check out our educational opportunities to learn new skills or further your career.
Support
The success of the Windy City Harvest program depends critically on your support. Find out how your organization can get involved in a collaboration, or give a gift to support the Garden's mission to help keep Windy City Harvest growing.