As a Chicago real estate agent, I see my share of vacant lots in depressed areas around the city. Nearby abandoned buildings are an eyesore and haven for gang bangers and drug dealers. It is scary when showing homes in these neighborhoods, and makes my job a challenge.
Well, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a new idea to combat a portion of this problem in the city of Chicago. On Friday he announced the launch of “Farmers for Chicago“, which will essentially turn vacant city lots into urban farms for the next three years.
The new program will be supported by private donors and will turn about five acres of city-owned lots into urban farming developments. Chicago will partner up with the local urban agriculture organization Growing Power. Neighborhood residents will be trained by nonprofit organizations, to grow food which will be distributed to local farmer’s markets, restaurants, and grocery chains.
READ FULL STORY via 2013: CHICAGO TURNS VACANT LOTS INTO URBAN FARMS; MAYOR EMANUEL ANNOUNCES NEW PLAN; FARMERS FOR CHICAGO.
Related articles
- Chicago tackles the next big challenge in urban ag: Growing farmers (grist.org)
- Emanuel Announces Network For Urban Farmers (chicagoist.com)
- New program to turn vacant Chicago lots into farms (sfgate.com)
Tom Nefeldt
March 16, 2013 at 5:45 pm
I passed this BLOG link on to Mike Nowak of WCPT. Mike is a well seasoned broadcaster, and is currently doing a Sunday Morning show on WCPT (820 AM, 92.7 North, 99.9 South and 92.5 West) on all things Green from Gardening to the Environment. He’s on 9am to 11am. He’s a huge proponent of Urban Gardening. He’s also a really great guy, with a wonderful sense of humor. Hope you two touch bases.
brittaj
March 16, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Thanks Tom…appreciate it:).