Growing Home
is a two-acre, USDA-Certified Organic urban farm, workforce development center, and BIPOC-led non-profit social enterprise located in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. It grows about 150 varieties of vegetables, which it sells at affordable prices at a weekly farm stand and other local markets during the growing season. It received a $5,000 grant to purchase pest-resistant mesh netting to install on three existing hoophouses. This integrated pest management-focused project will address the struggles Growing Home is experiencing with pest pressure on a number of its crops. The addition of mesh netting will reduce the time it takes to protect crops from pests and increase yields without the use of chemicals.
“These upgrades have strengthened the structure and reduced pest damage, though some decrease in air flow was noted. Growing Home plans to address this by increasing pruning in future seasons. The materials are durable, and we expect significant benefits in upcoming seasons,” said Ezra Lee, farm and director.
