Social Issue: Food and Sustainability

Unity Gardens FOCUS: Unity Gardens is a uniquely dignified free food model that supports over 40 open gardens, free gardening classes, and summer wellness programs like Garden Camp, chef potluck picnics, and more through a seven-acre urban ecosystem. ACTIVITIES: Assist with planting food, serving as Garden Camp counselors, maintaining the garden, hosting events, and selling at our […]

Prairie Winds Nature Farm FOCUS: To provide nature and farm education, with an emphasis on sustainability, by hosting farm visits and day camps for youth. ACTIVITIES: Assist visiting groups, help maintain permaculture gardens, and manage animals used for farm production and in educational programs. HOURS: MON–FRI 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; SAT–SUN 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. REQUIREMENTS: Background […]

Kankakee Wetlands Organic Gardens FOCUS: To nurture a neighborhood where we value, care and respect our 16,000 year old soil and each other. ACTIVITIES: Fall and spring activities in our permanent no-till growing beds and foot paths involve: covering our soil by planting cover crop seeds, shredded leaf mulch or woven ground cover, aerating the soil, building […]

Green Bridge Growers FOCUS: To produce fresh, healthy food using sustainable agricultural innovations such as aquaponics, while providing training and employment to under-resourced young adults on the autism spectrum who have aged out of available services and confront a 90% unemployment rate. ACTIVITIES: Larger groups of volunteers can assist our trainees in work related to constructing our […]

Common Goods Co-Operative Grocery FOCUS: To work together to make healthy food available at affordable prices in our local community; to source the food and other goods as locally as possible; and to educate members about the benefits of good nutrition and the practices of healthy, ecological eating and environmental responsibility. ACTIVITIES: Serve at Market and Community […]

Bertrand Farm, Inc. FOCUS: To connect people to local food production in order to promote sustainable agriculture, health, and earth stewardship. ACTIVITIES: Participate in running a working urban farm, including animal care, field production, and youth education. Assist with website updates, marketing literature, grant writing, and research. HOURS: Flexible scheduling REQUIREMENTS: 18 +; background check; TB test PLACEMENTS: up to […]