Chicago is converting thousands of vacant city owned lots into working urban farms through a $1 per parcel land sale program, workforce development pipelines and nonprofit farm networks that now span more than 50 acres across the South and West Sides. The City of Chicago’s Food Equity Council opened a new round of urban agriculture land access applications in April 2026 through its ChiBlockBuilder platform, making 66 additional parcels available to experienced growers willing to commit to at least 10 years of food production. That expansion arrives alongside a broader network of established programs and organizations that are reshaping how the city feeds itself, trains workers and reclaims land that sat dormant for decades.
Key Takeaways
- The City of Chicago is selling vacant city owned lots to urban growers for $1 per parcel through the ChiBlockBuilder platform, with a new round of 66 lots opening in spring 2026.
- The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest program operates 10 urban farms and gardens, delivers over 240,000 pounds of produce annually, and trains more than 70 individuals per year with an 80 percent job placement rate.
- Urban Growers Collective, a Black and women led nonprofit, cultivates eight farms across 11 acres on Chicago’s South Side and expanded to a 30 acre peri urban farm in Chicago Heights in 2024.
- The $2 million Community Growers Program, launched in 2023 through the Chicago Recovery Plan, funds site preparation and land transfers through the nonprofit land trust NeighborSpace.
- Food access remains a structural challenge in Chicago, where research has shown that nearly 80 percent of African American residents live in low food access areas.
How Does Chicago’s $1 Lot Program Work for Urban Farmers?
The City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection administers the Urban Agriculture Land Access program as part of the city’s Food Equity Council. Selected applicants can purchase city owned vacant lots for $1 per parcel through the ChiBlockBuilder land sale platform, provided they commit to using the land for urban agriculture for a minimum of 10 years. The program targets lots that are environmentally cleared, zoned for community garden or urban farm use, and have no competing development applications.
Before title transfers, applicants must demonstrate measurable progress toward establishing their farms, which can include obtaining a produce merchant license, securing a business license and completing initial site preparation within one year of selection. The city’s March 2026 spring lot announcement made approximately 500 lots available at market rates for new construction, 55 for affordable housing and 66 specifically designated for side yards, open space and urban agriculture.
The lot program sits within a broader investment framework. The Community Growers Program, designed in partnership with the Food Equity Council, launched in 2023 as a $2 million investment in urban agriculture aimed at increasing food equity in communities with a history of disinvestment. NeighborSpace, a nonprofit urban land trust, serves as the lead delegate agency, providing grants and ongoing technical assistance to growers while managing the development of multiple urban agriculture sites.
What Role Does Windy City Harvest Play in Chicago’s Urban Farm Network?
Windy City Harvest, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture program, operates 10 urban farms and gardens across the South and West Sides. The network delivers over 240,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually and provides free produce boxes to more than 3,300 individuals each year through its VeggieRx program.
The workforce pipeline is where Windy City Harvest distinguishes itself from a typical community garden initiative. Windy City Harvest offers paid, hands on training to more than 70 individuals each year, with roughly 80 percent securing employment in the food systems industry after completing the program. Since 2013, the program has helped launch and support more than 30 small farm businesses. The Farm Incubator Program, developed with assistance from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, reduces the financial risk of starting a farming enterprise by providing mentoring, business courses and technical support.
A June 2026 feature in Chicago Magazine described the program as operating at the intersection of growing food, improving health and creating job opportunities, noting that the model challenges the idea that food access, economic opportunity and community health are separate issues. The Farm on Ogden, Windy City Harvest’s flagship facility at 3555 W. Ogden Avenue, serves as a community hub offering free classes in nutrition, cooking skills and produce preparation.
How Is Urban Growers Collective Scaling Food Production on the South Side?
Urban Growers Collective, a Black and women led nonprofit founded in 2017, operates eight urban farms totaling 11 acres, primarily on Chicago’s South Side. The organization also established a 30 acre peri urban farm in Chicago Heights in 2024 and is a strategic partner in the nine acre Green Era Campus renewable energy facility and hub for urban agriculture in Auburn Gresham. Across those sites, Urban Growers Collective produces over 23,000 pounds of produce annually, distributed through farmers markets, a Collective Supported Agriculture subscription program and Fresh Moves Mobile Market buses that deliver directly to underserved neighborhoods.
Urban Growers Collective’s South Chicago Farm Stand at 9001 S. Mackinaw Avenue opened its 2026 season on June 6, accepting cash, credit, SNAP, EBT and FMNP payments. The organization also runs a seasonal Youth Corps program for Chicago residents ages 14 through 19, providing hands on agricultural training and job skills development.
Why Does Urban Agriculture Matter for Chicago’s Food Access Gap?
The structural case for urban farming in Chicago is tied directly to food access disparities that have persisted for decades. Research has shown that African Americans make up only around a third of Chicago’s total population, but that nearly 80 percent of African American residents live in low food access areas. Food deserts in Chicago overlap closely with neighborhoods marked by high poverty rates and concentrations of vacant or abandoned buildings, creating the conditions that the $1 lot program and nonprofit farm networks are designed to address.
The city’s approach treats urban agriculture as a tool for both food production and neighborhood stabilization. Vacant lots that once signaled abandonment become working green spaces that generate produce, create jobs, train workers and anchor community activity. Whether through city run land programs, institutional workforce pipelines like Windy City Harvest or grassroots nonprofits like Urban Growers Collective, Chicago’s urban agriculture ecosystem is building a network that connects vacant land to food insecure tables at a scale that few other American cities have attempted.
FAQs
How can Chicago residents apply for a $1 urban agriculture lot?
Applications are submitted through the City of Chicago’s ChiBlockBuilder platform during open application rounds. Applicants must demonstrate experience growing edible produce, a commitment to the local community and sufficient financial resources to maintain the site. The city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection verifies eligibility.
What is the VeggieRx program?
VeggieRx is a produce prescription program operated by Windy City Harvest through the Chicago Botanic Garden. The program provides free boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 3,300 individuals annually, targeting residents in neighborhoods with limited access to affordable, healthy food options.
Where can Chicago residents buy produce from urban farms?
Urban Growers Collective sells produce through its South Chicago Farm Stand, farmers markets, a Collective Supported Agriculture subscription program and Fresh Moves Mobile Market buses. Windy City Harvest distributes through its Farm on Ogden community hub and partner distribution channels.
What qualifications do growers need for the $1 lot program?
Applicants must be individuals, nonprofit organizations or business entities in the City of Chicago capable of holding a land title. They must demonstrate experience in growing edible food, connections to the community they intend to serve, a detailed community engagement plan and a 10 year commitment to using the site for urban agriculture.
