Eden Place Urban Farming Workshops

reprinted from Carl West/TBTNewsService.com
Published: February 2, 2017

Eden Place Farms, a subsidiary of Fuller Park Community Development Corporation, is hosting a four-part series of farming workshops for families or individuals interested in learning the techniques of urban farming. The Saturday workshops will be held on February 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 4911 S. Shields Avenue in Chicago.

Urban farming has garnered a lot of attention in the past decade. It allows consumers to make their food as “local” as possible. Michael Howard, president/CEO of the non-profit Fuller Park Community Development Corporation, has worked the land for over 17 years in the small Fuller Park community. As an early advocate for growing and consuming home-grown food, Howard has taught hundreds of people to farm in small gardens, on rooftops, and on open space plots.

“By growing what we need where we live, consumers can decrease the ‘food miles’ associated with long-distance transportation of food,” stated Howard. “Families can get the freshest produce for little money and are encouraged to eat foods that are in season,” he added.

The plots of land that will be assigned to the Eden Place farmers who complete the workshops are a part of the 3.5-acre open space land owned by Fuller Park Community Development Corporation. As an organization that has focused on environmental conservation and stewardship for nearly 25 years, the workshops will teach the following:

What, how and where to plant
How to grow in raised beds
How much and how often to add compost and water
How to manage insects and pests and how to work with “good bugs”
How to save and possibly make money in urban farming

Interested parties must call Eden Place Farms at 773-624-8222 to register. The workshops are free. For more information, contact Redessa Harris at 773-536.4230 or redessaharris@sbcglobal.net.

Keywords: farmers market, garden, Large lots, urban farming, workshops