If you’ve taken a tour at The Plant recently, there is a good chance it was given by Shelby, our new Program Manager. Shelby volunteered for us the last year working on the design and plan for our upcoming shared kitchen, as well as giving lots of tours, and we are excited to add him to our staff.

In his new role, Shelby will manage Plant Chicago’s programs and focus on public outreach and education. Visit our Staff page to learn more about him and all of our staff at The Plant. Welcome, Shelby!

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It’s an exciting time for urban farming in Chicago. A string of new projects and opportunities, not the least of which being the 13 square-mile “urban farming district” currently materializing on the South Side, stand as firm proof that farming has its place here and in urban centers across the region for years to come.

With the growing season approaching, now’s the perfect time for farmers to gather as a community to share ideas and practices on how to cultivate a city lot into an agricultural enterprise.

The Midwest Urban Farmers Summit is your chance to be a part of this conversation. Set to take place on March 9th and 10th at the Plant, an inspiring vertical farm and food business incubator in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, the summit will include both moderated panel discussions and “break out” opportunities for farmers to meet and discuss the challenges and successes of their unique environment, from dealing with contamination and managing permanent beds to forming civic and commercial partnerships and achieving both sustainability and profitability.

WHAT: The first annual Midwest Urban Farmers Summit

WHEN: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., March 9th and 10th, 2013

WHERE: The Plant, 1400 W. 46th St., Chicago, IL 60609

COST: $10 – 20 suggested donation (no one will be turned away).

HOW (to contact us): write to mwufsummit@gmail.com or call (779) 772 4142

Scheduled workshop topics include “Organizing urban farming at your school,” “Managing multiple plots for one farm” and “Finding land for nonprofits and for-profit farms,” with more discussions in the works.

Whether an aspiring grower, seasoned farmer or just someone interested in the state of local agriculture, we’d love to see you there. To learn more about the MWUF Summit please visit http://midwesturbanfarmers.org/

• Thursday, 2pm
• Friday, 3pm (not 2pm)
• Saturday, 2pm

Through Thursday, January 31, 2013, the public tour schedule will remain the same:

• Monday, 2pm
• Thursday, 2pm
• Saturday, 2pm

For more information, please see our Tours page. Please check the schedule carefully and make sure you arrive at the right time. We look forward to seeing you soon.