Chicago, IL: Jackson Park Urban Farm
The Jackson Park Urban Farm provides Chicago’s south side and surrounding neighborhoods with fresh, nutritious food while bringing the community together. In collaboration with the Chicago Park District, the renowned Growing Power, headed by MacArthur Fellow and former NBA star Will Allen, manages the garden. The Jackson Park Urban Farm is a ½ acre community garden and model urban farm, established in Spring 2007.

Members of the Chicago community own individual plots in the garden, totaling 30 plots currently, with an additional 15 to 20 plots to be built this growing season. A substantial increase in gardeners at Jackson Park poses a challenge to accommodate all of the garden plots with a sustainable watering system. A rainwater harvesting cistern will help this community garden feed the local community in a truly sustainable way.

This site supplies fresh produce to three local farmers’ markets, teaches community members basic gardening skills, provides workshops on food growing, and hosts cooking classes, youth education systems, and more.

Philadelphia, PA: Henry Got Crops CSA
The Henry Got Crops CSA is one of the first high school-based CSA’s in the country. Partnered with Weavers Way Cooperative and the W.B. Saul High School, the largest agricultural high school in the U.S., Henry Got Crops serves as a hands- on classroom for students at the school, in addition to providing locally grown food for students and the local community.

Established in 2007, this large 4- acre garden rests on Philadelphia’s beautiful Fairmount Park. The CSA harvests 50 shares that are distributed to the local community. Fresh produce also goes to families of the students as well as sold in the community as part of the Weavers Way Coop and the Headhouse Farmers Market. The garden is managed by the school and maintained by more than 200 students.

Henry Got Crops provides inner city students with an understanding of the career opportunities available to them in the field of agriculture. Because Henry Got Crops is a model CSA and prominent community garden, a sustainable watering system will provide the students and community with a great educational opportunity to learn about and practice water conservation.

Atlanta, GA: Edgewood Community Learning Garden
The Edgewood neighborhood of Atlanta is one of the oldest established communities of Atlanta, and one that deals with limited access to a wide variety of resources. In an effort to revitalize the community, the Southeastern Horticultural Society (SHS) is partnering with the children and teens of the Whiteford Elementary School, Drew Charter School, and Coan Middle School to establish this brand new community garden, which will grow organic food, provide an outdoor classroom for the students, host nutrition and cooking classes, establish a green market and provide access to fresh, locally grown food for the community.
Over 300 local students and 100 community members take care of the garden, forming a true community effort. Another partner to the garden is Man-Up, a mentorship program for young men in the local neighborhoods and encouraging community involvement. The Edgewood Community Learning Garden will grow organic food, provide an outdoor classroom for the students, host nutrition and cooking classes, establish a green market and provide access to fresh, locally grown food for the community.
Georgia has suffered from drought in the past few years and the price of food has increased, resulting in families buying less fresh produce. Awareness of alternative water sources has spread across the state, especially as it is related to homegrown food. The WaterWorks rainwater harvesting system will assist the Edgewood community in achieving their goal to provide the neighborhoods of Atlanta with fresh and nutritious food.