Last summer, the Foundation's board and staff toured the Englewood Agro-Eco District, a network of urban farms along a 1.75-mile stretch of the former Englewood railroad line between 58th and 59th Streets and Wallace and Hoyne Streets. In late 2027, the corridor will open to the public as the Englewood Nature Trail, an urban greenway connecting neighborhoods, farms, and community third spaces. Our tour included three agricultural and gardening places along the trail, including two that are supported through the Foundation’s Built Environment portfolio - Growing Home and Grow Greater Englewood.
Our first stop was Growing Home, the Chicago area’s first USDA-certified organic farm, located near 58th and Wood. Since 2009, Growing Home has grown produce year-round using raised beds and hoop houses, selling to local restaurants and residents while donating to food banks and neighbors. Beyond farming, they offer job training in urban agriculture and computer technology, leading to professional certifications that open pathways to employment.
Next, we visited Sistas in the Village, a Women-owned enterprise founded in 2020 at the height of the pandemic as a source food security, cultural pride, and spiritual resistance. It sells and donates the food it grows at farmers markets, including the seasonal Englewood Village Market, and community organizations. It also hosts workshops for all generations of community members and partners with like-minded organizations and brands.
Our final stop was Grow Greater Englewood's Village Plaza and Farms at 58th and Halsted. This space offers container gardening for residents, hosts the Englewood Farmers Market, and serves as a neighborhood third-space for community meals, celebrations, and gatherings. The Plaza will be a lively anchor of the forthcoming Englewood Nature Trail which Grow Greater Englewood, as the lead community partner, is helping to transform into the neighborhood's first green corridor bridging streets and connecting community, parks, farms, and gardens.
