Star Farm: A Community Center and Classroom Without Walls

We're building a resilient food hub in Back of the Yards through empowering local women, youth, and people with disabilities because we're committed to nurture all generations of growers and food sovereignty leaders.

Learn about our projects, programs, and initiatives

Family Garden Days

Once a month from May-October, the garden is activated with programming and activities with different themes and workshop leaders. We engage youth, heads of households, and elders in inter-generational community building activities, offer engaging programming on sustainability and circular economies in all relevant languages. The garden is a platform to build community through programs and activities that reduce violence and build relationships, share knowledge across generations through games and hands-on learning, create conversation around sustainability, circular economies, agriculture, and healthy food preparation.

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Disability Farmers Program

Adults and youth with disabilities play a huge role at Star Farm. Between learning how to use tools, care for fruit trees, harvest and pack fresh produce, participants engage with the community and other growers, building a culture of inclusivity and visibility for this important population. Their participation is not only educational, but acts as a springboard to employment through Star Farm or other opportunities. Since 2016, we've engaged with more than 600 adults and youth with disabilities through bi-weekly programming on the farm.

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THE STAR FARM FRESH MARKET AND SHARED KITCHEN

Star Farm will launch a retail brick and mortar in Back of the Yards in late 2021. The Star Farm Chicago Market, Shared Kitchen, and Community Room will be an oasis in a food desert providing fresh produce, educational and employment opportunities, community building, and support for local food entrepreneurs.

The Community Room will feature a communal dining area, small library, children's play area, and a gallery featuring rotating artwork from local artists. It will be available to neighborhood residents and organizations to host meetings or celebrations, and for growers to host workshops.

The Star Farm Fresh Market will be a retail farmers market offering local produce and other local products at affordable rates. We will accept LINK, WIC, senior farmers market coupons, and participate in the "Double LINK" program. We will also offer bulk organic and local goods such as oats, flour, seeds, etc. There will be a full selection of meat, poultry, dairy, dairy alternatives, prepared foods, bread, and more.

Youth Engagement

Education, Employment, Fun

Star Farm is proud to offer summer programming and employment opportunities to youth from Back of the Yards. Our urban farm is a platform for landscaping training, urban agriculture education, business planning, customer service, food safety, and community engagement. Through working with local youth, we hope to encourage them to enter the field of sustainability whether that's through urban farming, the culinary field, nutrition education, or just inspiring them to eat local and grow their own food.