Taylor Street Farms is a community garden built on the lot of a former subsidized housing complex. The garden is maintained and operated exclusively by volunteers, and individual garden plots are rented out on a first-come-first-service basis to families and individuals who can grow and harvest fruits and vegetables of their own.
The garden and its grounds are open to the public for quiet contemplation, admiration, and a place to learn about and see how food is grown.
A Unique Opportunity
In 2002 the Chicago Housing Authority closed several aging publicly subsidized housing units and razed several buildings to make way for new development. The economic recession of 2008 put an indefinite hold on much of the redevelopment plans, and in its wake the Little Italy section of the University Village neighborhood was left with numerous empty lots. Neighboring residents sought this newly vacant land as an opportunity for neighborhood beautification and community building, as well as a resource for food security and environmentally-friendly urban agriculture. In 2010 after many months of fundraising and collaboration with city officials and the University Village Neighborhood Association, Taylor Street Farms opened for its first season of growth.
In Spring of 2010, six neighbors explore the idea of starting a community garden.
Six months later, we had 30 planted beds, a partial fence, and a compost bin.
By Spring of 2011, our membership had grown to 80 members!
Our Farm
- Welcomes visitors.
- Donates food to shelters.
- Provides compost bin for community.
- Gives tours to local schools.
- Teaches youth about gardening and our native environment.
- Demonstrates cooperation.
- Responds to enthusiastic queries.
- Cultivates goodwill among neighbors.
- Provides a space for native plants, birds & insects to thrive and provides a place to connect with nature.
