Illinois Success Story

NRCS Assistance for Chicago Homeless

By: Jill Creamean, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist
Date: May 2003

After a year of hard work, Growing Home Inc., a Chicago-based not-for-profit that provides training and jobs to the homeless, harvested its first crop from its LaSalle County organic farm in 2002.

When Growing Home, Inc. acquired 10 acres near Marseilles, IL to start a farm staffed by homeless Chicagoans, NRCS District Conservationist Paul Youngstrum offered his support. He designed conservation plans for the farm and served as an initial liaison between Growing Home and downstate groups and citizens.

The site was once an abandoned weather station, and before Growing Home could begin farming operations, the land needed preparation. Youngstrum designed the conservation practices necessary for the site to eventually become a certified and viable organic farm. With financial assistance from NRCS, Growing Home obtained 660 native trees and shrubs for the site’s perimeter. The trees block wind and drift of herbicides and pesticides from neighboring cropland. In October 2001, homeless Chicagoans joined students from Seneca High School to plant the trees.

Youngstrum also served as a resource on farm issues and programs and helped Growing Home Board President Les Brown work with the community, make local contacts, and work with other federal and local agencies. As a result, LaSalle County volunteers including area farmers and school groups pitched in with time and equipment to help Growing Home establish the farm.

"I’ve been amazed at the outpouring of support for Growing Home’s efforts to develop this rural site and future program," said Brown. "Together, we can create a much needed resource for homeless and low-income persons."

This fall, Growing Home participants harvested a variety of vegetables such as sweet corn, peas, zucchini, kale, and collard greens. During the past year, the farm served as an agricultural job and training site. Operations in Chicago focused on sales and marketing. Participants learn every aspect of the business and gain a wide set of skills, which will eventually be used to acquire jobs in the Chicago area.

"NRCS was honored to work with Growing Home and serve as a liaison between Chicago and downstate folks for the project," said Youngstrum. "And Growing Home helped us to spread a message of the importance of conservation and agriculture back in the big city. Whether we live on the farm or in the city, we all need clean air and water, we need food to eat, and we need jobs."

Photo Caption: In October 2001, participants from Chicago joined LaSalle County volunteers and students to plant windbreaks around the organic farm. The event was a bright start for the Growing Home, Inc. project to provide job training and employment for Chicago’s homeless.