2009 Finalists
Instutite for Green Business Certification, Inc
The Institute for Green Business Certification, Inc (IGBC) is a third party accrediting organization serving the U.S. with 13 offices, Canada with 2 offices, South America, Asia and soon to be South Africa and the U.K.
We provide environmental management and sustainability consulting to businesses... more
Voting for the 2009 People's Choice Award has been closed! Thanks to everyone! Join us at the Goodman Theatre
Organic, year-round urban farm
Growing Home
Growing Home's Wood Street Farm was created to help residents in one of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods - Englewood - meet a goal established during the community's resident-driven, planning process: to develop "an urban agriculture district to provide business, job training and employment opportunities while improving the availability of fresh produce." Englewood is a "food desert" - a location with little access to food considered necessary for a healthy diet. Growing Home is a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides job training for homeless and low-income individuals through its non-profit, organic, agriculture businesses. The Wood Street Farm is Chicago's only farm that grows food year round (even in winter), and Chicago's only certified organic farm. Wood Street is Growing Home's third certified organic farm. The other farms are located at 5045 S. Laflin, Chicago and in Marsailles, Illinois. The Marsailles farm was established in 2001. The Wood Street Farm was begun in 2007 when Growing Home installed raised growing beds and hoop houses for year round growing on an abandoned lot that hadn't seen any new construction in 30 years. This year, Growing Home completed construction on a multi-purpose building at the site that includes a permanent attached greenhouse, processing and storage space and rooms for offices and community meetings. A final phase will include a green roof, solar panels and a "power tower" with photovoltaic panels or a wind turbine to provide energy for the site. Wood Street produce is sold at a farm stand on the site, to Charlie Trotter's and other high end restaurants, at a new Englewood Farmers Market at 65th and Ashland, and at the Lincoln Park Green City Market. Participants in the job training program are homeless or low-income and most have been incarcerated. About 100 people have completed the program since 2001. About 65% of those who have completed are in stable jobs and about 90% have stable housing. The job training program lasts seven months: from April to October. This period allows participants to train throughout an entire growing season so that they have the chance to see the entire farming process from seed to sale. Interns spend four days per week with staff and work at all farm sites. Participants are paid and work through a curriculum that focuses on skills such as planting, cultivating, and harvesting organically, and also food and nutrition education, and basic life skills, including personal money management. In addition, they learn marketing and sales skills. Many interns graduate from the program and continue on to finish the GED, enter college, or enroll in other skills training programs.
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Each year The Chicago Innovation Awards are chosen by a panel of innovation experts. This year you can join them in the first ever Chicago Innovation Peoples Choice Award!
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Discussion
Phyllis MitzenAugust 19th, 2009
Great Concept.
Phyllis MitzenAugust 19th, 2009
Great Concept.
DovAugust 20th, 2009
At least there's one innovation on the list that's actually dedicated to Chicago...
Kate BensenAugust 20th, 2009
The best, most innovative urban farm. Great job training.
Colleen DuffyAugust 20th, 2009
Love it
Priscilla TaylorAugust 20th, 2009
Terrific Concept!
Adam LevinAugust 20th, 2009
I am a strong believer in using organic gardening to empower people by helping them develop job skills and a belief in their ability to create. Great job with Growing Home.
Michele GazzoloAugust 20th, 2009
what's not to love?
Julie KingAugust 20th, 2009
Innovation: education (food considered necessary for a healthy diet, agriculture, problem solving, and business), community participation, and better use of urban land. In addition, a successful non-profit program that improves lives by providing job training and employment opportunities.
Mary Ann LachmanAugust 21st, 2009
Visit or volunteer at one of the Growing Home farms and you see the tremendous benefit this innovative program brings to the community.
Simone DavisAugust 21st, 2009
With the low quality of produce in Englewood, this program definitely will help these interns learn about nutrition as well as offer the benefits of employment. For an area marked with high rates of obesity and other health issues, this is great!
Ruth GaglianoAugust 21st, 2009
Great vision for how to really improve Chicago from the roots up! Thank you Growing Home, you're truly awe-inspiring for anyone who wants real progress made.
melissaAugust 21st, 2009
we are in our second yr of the CSA and i could not say enough great things about this organization. the good they do really hit home when we visited the farm last yr--i was amazed at how much they accomplish with so little.
this is the one to vote for
Laura DonnellyAugust 21st, 2009
Bravo to Growing Home: innovation with heart.
Patsy BenvenisteAugust 21st, 2009
Growing Home is a major force in getting urban agriculture recognized as a real part of the new green economy -- Congratulations!
Susan LanninAugust 21st, 2009
Growing Home creates ways to fuel minds and bodies. Those trained help educate the rest of us in human potential, how to sustain the earth, and why social justice and celebrating diversity are keys to healthier, more compassionate, more graceful, more innovative living.
Shelley ScottAugust 21st, 2009
Empowering people while also growing nutriitious (and delicious) food in an urban food desert....as a registered dietitian who also works at a health clinic on Chicago's south side, I am incredibly impressed by the work Growing Home does to nourish both the body and the soul.
Carolyn UlrichAugust 21st, 2009
Growing Home is an excellent organization that serves the public good on many levels--providing job training to individuals who are seeking to improve their lives and offering locally grown organic produce to the community. The concept is unique—indeed, innovative—and has deservedly attracted attention from all over the country.
HeleneAugust 21st, 2009
This is an organization that knows how to have an impact. Good going!
luciAugust 21st, 2009
Win win all the way around!
JCAugust 22nd, 2009
Great idea
HSAugust 22nd, 2009
A fantastic venture and great accomplishment. Growing fresh food and new opportunities in the inner city. A model that can and should be repeated across the country.
NancyAugust 22nd, 2009
An innovative way to help the homeless and low-income people. Good work!
Francis FullamAugust 22nd, 2009
Great at so many levels.
Karen KAugust 23rd, 2009
A nurturing project from the ground up.
zinka tAugust 23rd, 2009
Nothing less than fabulous -- program, produce, people, and more! Inspiring work always!!!!
michelleAugust 23rd, 2009
urban renewal, education, job training, organic farming all in one great concept
Ara CroceAugust 24th, 2009
Wonderful program, that can be a model for others
SandraAugust 24th, 2009
Hope others pick up this idea.
Charlene HiemstraAugust 24th, 2009
Great organization run by dedicated people.
JuliaAugust 25th, 2009
Good luck!
Connie DahlAugust 27th, 2009
Keep up the good work.
Judy MaasAugust 27th, 2009
A wonderful venture!
Victoria LoffredoAugust 28th, 2009
I'd never heard of this organization until today. I checked it out and I agree it's a wonderful enhancement to the community and the lives of people they touch all the way down the "food chain". I've recommended it to my company's charitable giving community. I love (and buy) Organic Produce!!
JaneAugust 28th, 2009
I've been receiving summer shares of the vegetables the past 2 years and everything is terrific. I love the social mission.
SteveAugust 30th, 2009
Awesome concept. Here's to your continued success!
J BrinkmeyerSeptember 1st, 2009
This is exactly the type of innovation I want to support in Chicago!
Jennifer WilliamsonSeptember 1st, 2009
Great idea!
Lynn PeemoellerSeptember 2nd, 2009
This is the future of food and farming
Jack TzarfatiSeptember 4th, 2009
What a wonderful organization to promote social and environmental concerns while also providing economic development opportunities to areas that need it most. May this organization and others like it flourish and succeed.
BarbaraSeptember 6th, 2009
Excellent! Growing and eating healthful food should be as much of a part of our daily lives as is breathing. Please keep it up.
Michael BennettSeptember 7th, 2009
This endeavor covers so many essential bases...education, training, healthy eating, etc. Great concept.
Lauri AlpernSeptember 7th, 2009
Great mission, incredible staff and interns and amazing produce! A true testament to innovation in Chicago!
Karen LehmanSeptember 8th, 2009
Growing Home's truly "home grown" innovations can be replicated across this city and other places throughout the nation
Sue DavenportSeptember 8th, 2009
way to go Home - with growing food for family and neighbors!
Lydia MorkenSeptember 9th, 2009
Great model that addresses several important issues at once.
Les KniskernSeptember 9th, 2009
We need new food systems - Growing Home does it right!
Kevin JenkinsSeptember 10th, 2009
This is innovative? Woot woot. Yawn.
ELAINE HARWOODSeptember 10th, 2009
Best program I've heard of in years! The world REALLY NEEDED this! Good luck and God bless!
jessica hillgateSeptember 12th, 2009
someone actually said 'yawn'.. i suggest an innovative device to make soilent green out of callous crackers and feed them to the needy- a device literally powered by douchebaggery. jerk.
Chet SnowSeptember 14th, 2009
UBNICE & Get Lucky Harry.
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