The Talking Farm was founded as a way to reconnect Evanston and Skokie residents with the source of their food, to provide a local source of fresh, organic produce, and to educate and unite the community around one of our most basic and culturally important needs: the food we eat.

The urban farm we envision is two to three acres of land to provide local organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, native plants, and ornamentals through all four seasons for sale to the entire community, including households, schools, soup kitchens, restaurants, and hospitals. This could take place at a farmstand, farmers' markets, or direct contract to local food purveyors. We estimate our farm can produce approximately 15,000 meals annually. We intend to grow our food using organic and sustainable practices, without chemicals or pesticides. A central building will house a community teaching kitchen, classroom, tool storage, and work areas, as well as a greenhouse that would produce food year-round.

The farm would provide economic development, education and job training, but would also act as a community gathering spot enriching residents through classes, harvest festivals, holiday events, food tastings, and cooking demonstrations, to name just a few. The entire farm operation would be a living classroom of sustainable and even permaculture practices, including organic farming, composting, renewable energy (solar, wind, biodiesel and geothermal), green building methods, food processing and preservation, natural lifecycles, nutrition and health.

This vision is most easily achieved through partnering with other committed organizations. Indeed, Evanston and Skokie have rich partnership opportunities that The Talking Farm has begun to cultivate: local city governments, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; park districts, public and private schools; college and university departments; local farmers; the business community; local restaurants; civic organizations; the interfaith community. Urban agriculture is an active and growing economic engine in the Chicago metropolitan area, giving us access to region-wide partnerships, expertise, technical assistance, and financial support, both in the research and implementation phases.

An urban farm offers a rich opportunity for community cohesion through a share in a fundamental community asset. We believe Skokie and Evanston have the progressive leadership to endorse this vision. We know we have the citizen passion, commitment, intelligence, and elbow-grease to bring production of a most basic human need back to the community.