Eat to Live Englewood Urban Garden and Farm Development

Collaborative Partners: Angelic Organics Learning Center and Real Men Charities, Inc.

Eat to Live Englewood is a comprehensive neighborhood development project at 70th Place and Princeton Avenue, comprising a half-acre urban farm, an adjacent community and learning garden, and linked food enterprises and retail spaces. Growing out of efforts to invigorate green initiatives and improve health and food access in Englewood, E2L is championed by current 6th ward Alderman Rod Sawyer; other key collaborators include the City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, the Center for Urban Transformation (CUT), the Chicago State University Aquaponics Center, the Illinois Friendship Foundation, and Elihu Yale Elementary School. The City of Chicago contracted WRD Environmental landscape architects to develop a concept plan for the E2L Farm and surrounding “campus,” and the Conservation Design Forum to design construction plans to guide site preparation. The E2L team will install growing systems, including nearly 8,000 square feet of high tunnels for growing organic vegetables year-round.

Eat to Live Englewood will provide area residents with a permanent space for food production, community learning, and healthy, disease prevention education to reduce healthy disparities and recreational activities. Angelic Organics Learning Center and Real Men Charities, Inc will continue to host community education workshops on urban agriculture techniques, healthy food preparation, exercise and health. The Eat to Live Farm and Garden are located next to Elihu Yale Elementary, a Chicago public school, and will engage students, teachers, parents and neighbors both in and outside the classroom. Eat to Live’s mantra is “Everything Good Grows in Englewood.”