Growing Home Inc.
Civic and Social OrganizationsIllinois, United States51-200 Employees
Growing Home Inc. operates high-production USDA-certified organic farms in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, using farming as a pathway to employment for people facing barriers such as criminal records, homelessness, or low education. As a mid-sized nonprofit, it combines fieldwork, classroom instruction, and personalized case management to teach transferable skills and prepare participants for full-time roles in Chicago's food and farming sectors. The organization cultivates more than 30,000 pounds of organic produce each year on just under an acre of city land and sells at multiple local venues, including Green City Market, Logan Square Farmer's Market, IMAN's Fresh Beats and Eats, and its Wood Street Farm Stand in Englewood. During the pandemic it maintained the program with hybrid formats and prioritized distributing the majority of food to Englewood residents at no cost, while expanding online cooking demos and nutrition and growing classes. Recent development notes indicate a planned expansion of Wood Street Farm in West Englewood to include a USDA-certified produce processing facility, reflecting ongoing growth of the organization's farming operations.