Sustainable Urban Agriculture
Turning Vacant Lots Into Vibrant Farms
City Farm is one of Chicago's oldest sustainable urban farm. For over 30 years, thanks to innovative practices developed by Resource Center founder, Ken Dunn, vacant lands in urban areas have been turned into vibrant organic farms using compost created through Resource Center's compost collection service.
The result is a working, sustainable farm operating on a nourishing base of compost resting upon clay set atop anything from dirt to asphalt. Through Ken's pioneering efforts to provide healthy compost to the inner city where "clean dirt" and soil is unavailable, the city of Chicago has benefited greatly by organizations using this model of sustainable urban agriculture.
Farm Stand
We grow a variety of crops annually including tomatoes, kale, collards, beets, herbs, salad greens, cucumbers, rainbow chard, Malabar spinach, garlic and more. We sell to our local community and local restaurants with a percentage of crops going directly to food banks and pantries in our immediate community.
Food Recovery Program
We provide a direct link from restaurants, grocers, and markets to shelters and food pantries that can make sure good food gets put on plates in front of hungry people. A portion of our fresh crops are donated to food pantries and kitchens that can use them.
OUR MISSION
We Educate.
City Farm is a working urban farm growing fresh vegetables, but it is also a model of sustainable urban agriculture. It is an outdoor classroom which we use to educate the community about the importance of a healthy food system through lectures, demonstrations, volunteer days, and after-school programs with neighborhood students.
WE ADVOCATE.
Thanks to innovative practices developed by Resource Center/City Farm founder, Ken Dunn, vacant lands in urban areas have been turned into vibrant organic farms. This provides fresh produce to urban areas, beautifies neighborhoods in transition, and creates food self-sufficiency in Chicago.
WE GROW.
We grow a variety of crops annually including tomatoes, kale, collards, beets, herbs, salad greens, cucumbers, rainbow chard, Malabar spinach, garlic and more. Our goal each season is to sell the majority of our production to local residents and local restaurants, helping people reduce their carbon footprint while increasing Chicago’s food self-sufficiency. Crops are sold on a weekly basis to the local community via our farm stand located at Division and Clybourne with a percentage of our weekly crops donated to local food pantries and food banks.