support chicago's refugee farmers

Global Garden Refugee Training Farm (501c3 non-profit organization) is 96+ displaced refugee families who grow fresh ingredients for traditional recipes and sell produce to the local community for supplemental income. We provide our farmers with garden plots, resources and tools, and with your help, we can continue creating food security and economic opportunities for Chicago’s refugee community.

There are many barriers for refugees pursuing farming careers in the United States. They might have difficulty with accessing land or financial resources, marketing and business knowledge, or training  in new farming practices for temperate climates. Global Garden Refugee Training Farm was established to aid these farmers. With your support, we can continue to assist displaced refugee farmers with returning to their farming roots by providing fresh, locally grown vegetables for their families and their new neighbors.  

Global Garden provides refugees with access to fresh and nutritious produce all summer. Not only does this cut their grocery bills, but many of the farmers at Global Garden comment on the mental health benefits they receive through connecting with the land and socializing with other refugees. With high depression rates prevalent in refugee populations in the U.S., it is vital to ensure that they have outlets which engender social connections and activities that provide a sense of familiarity and solace.
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Your donation will support programs and training for the refugee families and entrepreneurs who grow and farm with Global Garden Refugee Training Farm. We support 96 families who garden for home consumption and six entrepreneurial farmers who earn income through produce sales to Global Garden’s Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA), our weekly farm stand, restaurants and local food pantries. Your generous donation makes all of our work possible.

Your donation will:

• Purchase seeds and transplants for the 96 families who garden at Global Garden Refugee Training Farm
• Create events and cultural programs where refugees and their neighbors can meet
• Pay for language interpretation for training and cultural programs at the Farm

what the farmers say:

“When I see the vegetables I have grown, it makes me happy and relaxed. My whole family comes together to water the plants and take care of the garden. It is good family time. We are saving on groceries. Now our SNAP benefits are enough because we use them only to buy staples like rice and beans”

“Before, we really didn’t know each other, but now we have more friends. We socialize and our kids play together. We talk about our concerns and problems and share solutions”

“I miss Burma, but growing vegetables and being at the farm brings back the best memories. It makes me want to do my best in my new home”

"Oh, it's so nice to go back to nature. Because there, you know, when you feel the soil on your feet, it's medicine. It makes you healthy"