Local farmers discuss urban agriculture at two-day summit on Chicago’s Southwest Side

The Midwest Urban Farmers Summit was an opportunity for Chicagoans to get hands-on information on urban agriculture and farming from experts in the industry through a series of workshops and presentations. The two-day event was held at Plant Chicago, a non-profit that does circular economy programming in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Bread donations from the Chicago Bread Club were provided for the event. A seed swap and soil sample testing were also things to participate at the event.

Summit attendees talk about the workshop on a family of sharecroppers they just finished. Many of the workshops at the summit encouraged group discussion and collaboration.

Many of the food and beverage options available at the summit vegan as well as fruit- and plant-based. People were also encouraged to bring their own homemade goods to share.

Bread donations from the Chicago Bread Club were a popular food option at Sunday's summit.

Summit attendees talk during a break on Sunday Feb. 16.

A group of urban farmers listen to a presentation on the economics behind farming in the city.

The summit was planned so that local farmers in Chicago and the Midwest could, in part, discuss ways to promote economic growth, equity and productivity

A presenter leads a workshop on how to empower black and brown farmers at the Midwest Urban Farmers Summit in Chicago.

Jacqueline A. Smith, a presenter at the 2020 Midwest Urban Farmers Summit, listens as an attendee details their history in urban agriculture.

A summit attendee listens as someone talks about why urban agriculture is important to them.

Summit attendees enjoy a potluck meal during a lunch break on Sunday Feb. 16, 2020.

	By Maia McDonald, Environmental Health and Wellness Editor, The Real Chi

On Feb. 15 and 16, Chicagoans braved the cold for the Midwest Urban Farmers Summit, an event aimed at discussing multiple aspects of living and working in the agriculture field in Chicago and the Midwest. This weekend, people attending the summit had the opportunity to attend a number of workshops, panels and presentations centered around various parts of urban agriculture, including beekeeping for beginners, indigineous agricultural knowledge, creating healing gardens for Chicago’s disenfranchised young people and more. A popular discussion during the summit centered around ways to increase visibility as well as empower black and brown farmers working in urban agriculture. Summit attendees were also encouraged to bring their own homemade and -grown food to the summit, with fruits, veggies, beverages, meals and more being shared for a communal potluck. 

Plant Chicago, a non-profit that does circular economy programming and other work related to sustainability, hosted the event at its Southwest Side headquarters in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Sunday. The Urban Canopy and Advocates for Urban Agriculture along with other local organizers collaborated to organize the two-day event in order to better facilitate economic growth, productivity, equity and discussions around policies relevant for growers. Promoting “resource- and knowledge-sharing,” establishing “concrete plans and goals for urban farm-specific research,” providing “a platform for economic data-sharing,” and building “towards a more collaborative, equitable community across the region” were other goals in mind during the development of this event. More information on the summit can be found here.