Chicago farm's jobs training initiative has graduated 264 aspiring urban farmers

While serving probation for a misdemeanor in 2019, Deshawn Willingham saw a flyer at his probation officer’s office for an urban farming apprenticeship program.

That flyer set a course for a new career for the South Shore resident. Today, Willingham grows a variety of organic vegetables from collard greens to Swiss chard on 22 acres near south suburban Lynwood.

“I fell in love with the idea of farming right away,” said Willingham, 50, “and never had a problem with the work,” referring to the labor-intensive nature of farming. “You’re out in nature and it’s therapeutic.”

Windy City Harvest is the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture and jobs training initiative, which has helped cultivate the careers of hundreds of aspiring urban farmers such as Willingham as well as nourish communities that lack access to healthy food.