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CSA Learning Center

Contact Name & Title: Rasha Abdulhadi, Urban Program Facilitator
Address: CSA Learning Center, Chicago office 6400 S. Kimbark Ave FL 2
City, State & Zipcode: Chicago, IL 60637
Phone:
Email:
Web Address:

Project Description:


Godwin Apkan receives goats from Tom
Spaulding, director of the CSA Learning
Center, to begin his herd.
In 2005, the CSA Learning Center launched a pilot program to provide access to agricultural and farm business training to beginning refugee and immigrant farmers in the Chicago region. The pilot program engaged immigrant farmers from South and Central America, Eastern Europe, and West and Central Africa.  By connecting with the field days and Farm Beginnings course offered through the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT), the pilot program offers advanced training and mentorship to gardeners and farmers working with urban agriculture projects in Chicago.  Through funding from the USDA-Risk Management Agency, we developed Farm Dreams, a single session risk and resource assessment course designed to assist potential farmers make decisions about their farm business goals.  In the near future, the CSA Learning Center plans to offer access to advanced farmer training, land, and markets in Chicago through an urban farmer incubation center in partnership with other organizations, including Growing Home, Inc.

Mission: The CSA Learning Center empowers people to create sustainable communities of soils, plants, animals, and people through educational, creative, and experiential programs offered in partnership with Angelic Organics, a vibrant biodynamic community supported farm.
Sponsoring Organization: CSA Learning Center @ Angelic Organics
Immigrant Communities Served: Latin America, Eastern European, and West and Central African
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Agricultural Crops & Products: Vegetables, flowers, herbs, beekeeping, soapmaking, vermiculture, goats, chicken, ducks, biodynamics
Areas of Expertise: Farmer Training Curriculum, Farm Beginnings, Mentorship, Marketing, Community Development, Urban Agriculture
Useful Resources and Materials: Please contact us for sample curricula or more information.