CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week's Difference Maker is Plant Chicago, a nonprofit based out of the Back of Yards neighborhood on the Southwest Side, where organizers are focused on planting seeds for a greener future in the city.
“Plant Chicago's mission is to cultivate local, circular economies,” said Executive Director Jonathan Pereira.
Pereira said his team operates out of a former firehouse on South Marshfield Avenue near West 45th Street.
“Our program areas encompass a lot of education programs, food access work and small business support, and we are in the process of renovating this former firehouse, decarbonizing it, [and] turning it into a shared-use, indoor farm,” he said.
The building served as a Chicago Firehouse for truck company No. 33 from approximately 1908 to 1978. Plant Chicago was established in 2011.
Denise Covarrubias, Plant Chicago's food access manager, said they’re aim is to make locally and sustainably grown food more accessible to their neighbors, especially those who call the Southwest Side home. Locally grown food, she added, “tastes way better” and creates less food waste.
Pereira and Covarrubias took WBBM on a tour around the building, which has as much charm as it does potential.
We were shown aquaponics — a system for growing plants in water with the help of live fish — as well as beehives and chickens. Pereira said they don't eat the chickens; instead, they eat the eggs.
“Once you name them, you can’t eat them,” Covarrubias said of the chickens, semi-joking.
Plant Chicago keeps busy year-round with beekeeping classes, farmers markets, hosting k-12 school groups, and more.
“We have food scrap drop-offs as well,” said Pereira. “Residents can drop off their food scraps for free for composting. Groups from all over the city, actually all over the world have come and done hands-on workshops with us here, utilizing indoor farming equipment, and doing all sorts of exciting things here.”
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