City Farm: A mobile farm in Chicago

City Farm: A mobile farm in Chicago

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Barefoot Bubby at City Farm wine dinner in Chicago (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)
City Farm grows on a pie slice plot at the corner of Clybourn and Division in Chicago across the street from not one but two Starbucks locations. The above grade, compost rich land overlooks what was once the site of perhaps the most notorious housing project in the country, Cabrini-Green.
The one acre farm land was once valued at $5 million at the height of the real estate boom, but now might sell at $3.5 million, if the prospective buyer finds financing. If the land, owned by the Chicago Housing Authority, does sell, urban farming pioneer Ken Dunn will simply move the sustainable, non-profit farm, literally, one excavator bucket at a time.
City Farm is a mobile farm, improving and using available land until the community needs it back.
Asparagus, cucumber, and City Farm sorrel gazpacho by by FIG Catering in Chicago (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)
CHA first told Dunn about the possible sale two years ago, and last gave him notice in October 2012. “They haven’t told us this year, but I’m keeping open the possibility that we might have to move at the end of this season if they forgot to call us,” he said.
He says they’re supposed to notify him by the beginning of the growing season. “But our growing season is year round,” Dunn said. City Farm has hoop houses they built out of recycled and reused materials. He said generally it’s understood that locally the beginning of the growing season is April 15, the last freeze date.
“We’ve moved four locations in the last 25 years,” Dunn said. “It’s no big deal that we have to move.”
Shredded City Farm carrot salad with fig and blue cheese by FIG Catering in Chicago (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)
City Farm does have a farm stand at the Clybourn front gate. Right now, their hours vary so you need to ring the big brass bell to summon a farmer working the fields or hoop houses, most likely farm co-manager Dan Hurowitz. He said by popular demand they’ll soon keep more regular hours and post them to their Facebook page. You can also find their produce Sundays at the Logan Square farmers market, as well as top restaurants across Chicagoland, including Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.
Grilled pork pinchos with romesco, City Farm garlic scape potato salad, wilted chard, and lacinto kale by FIG Catering in Chicago (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)
The dinner was cooked on site by FIG Catering, a quietly environmentally friendly business owned by husband and wife team Justin and Molly Hall, head chef and pastry chef respectively. As small catering company owners, they’re sometimes barkeeps, servers, bus people, and dishwashers too.
Goat's milk flan with market strawberries (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)
Dunn, who founded the farm’s parent organization the Resource Center, was recently named a “Sole of the Year” by Barefoot Wines. They hosted a media dinner in his honor at City Farm last night. He’s one of seven “big hearted souls [who’ve] dedicated themselves to helping others” across the country.” Dunn’s portrait and story now appears on bottles of Barefoot Impressions red wine. “It’s the simple impression of one good soul who creates a positive change for everyone,” they say.
View more photos from the City Farm and Barefoot Wine dinner in Chicago.
Dan Hurowitz and Ken Dunn at City Farm in Chicago (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)