The Stellar Work of Star Farm Chicago
Also, word up about the July 24 farm dinner at The Talking Farm in Skokie
The Stellar Work of Star Farm Chicago
I had heard a lot about the great work being done since 2016 by Star Farm Chicago and its urban farming operations in South Side Chicago’s under-resourced Back of the Yards neighborhood. I have shopped at their farmers market stands and became acquainted with Stephanie Dunn, the nonprofit’s dynamic executive director.
And yesterday (July 7), I finally paid my first (but not last) visit to the flagship Star Farm location on 50th Place, a short zig-zag off Halsted Street. The context was a tour and discussion organized by the Alliance for Health Equity’s Food Workgroup.
Back of the Yards got its name because it was adjacent to the Union Stock Yards, which played a major role in the rise of the industrial food system for more than a century until decentralization of meat processing caused its closure in 1971. The Yards produced grim living and working conditions but also provided jobs for the blue-collar, largely immigrant population, and the community has struggled financially and socially over the half-century since the shutdown.
Star Farm Chicago is one of several forward-looking, food-focused projects seeking to restore hope and opportunity to Back of the Yards. As described by Stephanie, Star Farm has five growing sites scattered around the neighborhood, providing jobs, healthy food and economic energy.
“Right now, we have about 20 employees working for us, and we're a really big local hiring initiative for the community,” Stephanie said. She added, “When you purchase from a local farm or an urban farm, it's really nice, because all that money is going right back into the immediate economy.”
Star Farm Chicago is adding a new farm site nearby that Stephanie says will double its current production of about 10,000 pounds of produce per year, and is renovating a long-abandoned building into a farm store that will also include a certified shared kitchen, which will provide opportunities for local residents to build new businesses around value-added food products.
Star Farm Chicago also provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities (several of whom were on-site during Thursday’s event), community gardens, an incubator farm for BIPOC women growers, and landscaping and compost services for other urban farms and backyard gardeners. All of Star Farm Chicago’s operations are organic, using only compost for soil enhancement in their raised beds and hoop houses and employing integrated pest management techniques such as growing plants and flowers that are known to deter insect infestation.
The farms also bring a lot of natural beauty to their urban environs, as you can see in the photos below.
If you would like to visit Star Farm Chicago, they hold a weekly farmers market on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 940 W. 50th Pl. Their next Family Garden Day is Wednesday, July 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 5136 S. Laflin. They also welcome the public to their series of special events, the next of which is a Summer Brunch on Sunday, July 24.
Note to readers: Because the weekly farmers market schedule ran late (Wednesday) this week, I won’t repeat the weekend schedule as is customary on Fridays. Please click the button below to access the schedule.
July 24 Farm Dinner at Skokie’s The Talking Farm
I am happy to share the word about the farm dinner that my friends at The Talking Farm are holding on Sunday, July 24 at their Howard Street Farm in north suburban Skokie. Without further adieu, here are the details provided by The Talking Farm, a nonprofit farm with an educational mission.
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After a 2-year hiatus, we are bringing back our Farm Dinners! We are pleased to partner with Libertad for this 4-course, sit-down fundraiser dinner served on the farm with produce grown steps from your table!
Chef Mark Mendez from Libertad (formerly of Vera and Carnivale in Chicago) has a special flair with Mexican, Spanish and pan-Latin flavors and will be treating this hyper-locally grown produce to a trip across the border! Your ticket will include passed appetizers while you explore The Talking Farm’s 2.5-acre urban farm in Skokie, and a sit-down, 4-course meal (including dessert), served family-style, prepared by Chef Mendez and his team right on the farm. A true local farm-to-table experience!
After dinner, in case you’re still hungry, we’ll wrap up the night with our tradition of s’mores, spirits, and cordials by bonfires.
A portion of your ticket includes a tax-deductible donation to The Talking Farm and supports its urban agriculture educational programs and 2.5-acre urban farm.
$200/person includes beer or wine inclusive of tax+tip. Members receive a 20% discount (please check your email for a special link to buy discounted tickets). Please note: only vegetarians may be accommodated – no other dietary restrictions can be accommodated.
Menu (subject to change)
Passed Appetizers
Cucumber, spicy whipped feta (V)
Pisto manchego toasts (V)
Trout ceviche tostada
First Course (seated, family-style)
Beet salad, queso fresco, greens tortilla strips, green onion ranch (V)
Second Course
Roasted carrots, mole poblano, toasted sesame seeds (V)
Third Course
Skirt steak, braised collard greens, chimichurri, pickled chiles (Vegetarian option available)
Dessert
Seasonal dessert