Last Friday, October 14th, we were proud to mark the opening of the first urban farm under the passage of the City of Chicago’s new urban agriculture ordinance. Our new farm, on S. Honore Street between 58th and 59th Street in Englewood, will be planted for the growing season in Spring 2012, and will significantly expand our growing capabilities within Englewood.

Breaking ground: Doris Jones, New Communities Program Manager of Teamwork Englewood; Ben Helphand, Executive Director of NeighborSpace; U.S. Senator Dick Durbin; Harry Rhodes, Executive Director of Growing Home; Alderman Toni Foulkes; Fred Daniels, Growing Home Urban Farms Assistant; Alicia Berg, President of the Board of NeighborSpace; Gerardo S., 2011 Growing Home Graduate; and Jasmine E., 2009 Growing Home Graduate.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin honored us, not only with his presence, but with his sincere and knowledgeable speech about the promise of Engl ewood, and the importance of healthy food and restored pride in the community. The senator also took time to visit with transitional jobs program graduates, and neighbors of the new farm.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin speaking to 2011 tranisitional jobs graduate, Adrian D.

Alderman Toni Foulkes also joined us, and emphasized the pride that families can take in feeding their families when given the opportunity–highlighting that our most recent graduates are the newest ambassadors for healthy jobs and food in Englewood.

Alderman Toni Foulkes, and President of the Board of NeighborSpace, Alicia Berg, congratulating Growing Home graduate, Gloria P.

The new farm site will be preserved on behalf of Growing Home and the Englewood community by NeighborSpace, a non-profit land trust. While this will be NeighborSpace’s 79th community openspace in the City, this is the first time NeighborSpace has acquired land to be used for an urban farm.

Part of the Honore Street Farm development team: Tim Murakami, Growing Home’s Urban Farms Manager; Rashmi Ramaswamy of SHED Studio; and Larry O’Toole, Growing Home Special Projects Manager.

Associate Director of Growing Home, Rebekah Silverman, with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin at the Wood Street Urban Farm in Englewood.

2011 Growing Home graduate, Nicholas G., at the Wood Street Urban Farm with his family.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, and Executive Director of Growing Home, Harry Rhodes.

You can view more photos of the day on our facebook page. You can also read WBEZ’s report about the event here.

Again, our beautiful photos were taken by Andrew Collings.