Get Involved
Typical volunteer tasks may include weeding, shoveling compost or woodchips, seeding/planting, painting, organizing, and general site beautification.
Individual and Group Volunteer Opportunities are now available. Read below for more information.
Select Saturdays from 12:30pm-1:30pm
Do you want to learn more about the Farm? Interested in volunteering? The Farm Tour and Orientation is for you! It lasts one hour and covers the farm and neighborhood history, our farming practices and programs, and food distribution. The tour and orientation will be followed by a volunteer Community Farm Day.
- New volunteers must attend a tour and orientation before their first volunteer day.
- Youth ages 15 to 17 are welcome to attend with a signed liability waiver by a guardian. Children under the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a guardian.
- You do not have to volunteer in order to attend the tour and orientation. Anyone is welcome to learn more.
Looking to get more involved with the Farm and get your hands “dirty” in the process? Look no further! Typical farm tasks, can include weeding, shoveling compost or woodchips, seeding/planting, painting, organizing, and general site beautification.
- Please sign up only if you can stay the entire time as spots are limited.
- Youth 15 to 17 years of age are welcome to volunteer with a signed liability waiver. Children under 14 are welcome to volunteer with a guardian present and a signed liability waiver.
- This opportunity is open to individuals who have already completed the tour and orientation.
Group Volunteering
Your group will be making a positive impact in the community by lending your hands to support the work of the Farm. We start volunteer groups with a one-hour tour of the space, which provides a better sense of the vibrant history, growing practices, and programs at the Farm. The next two hours will be spent weeding, shoveling woodchips or compost, prepping growing spaces, planting, and general beautification of the Farm.
To schedule your group (5–15 people), contact Director Deja Stout at dstout@chicagolights.org.
- All volunteering is on site at the Urban Farm, 444 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago (intersection of Chicago and Hudson Ave.).
- Questions? Contact Deja Stout at dstout@chicagolights.org.
- Please dress in clothes that can get dirty and close-toed shoes. Bring your own sunscreen if needed.
- Drinking water will be provided, and we strongly encourage that you bring a reusable water bottle.
- For facilities, there is a porta potty and hand-washing station only.
- Plenty of picnic tables in the shade to take a break.
- Please bring your own gardening gloves.
- Please leave any unnecessary valuables at home for the day – we do not have a secure space to hold valuable items.