Applications for the 2022 Grower Apprenticeship are now closed. Interested in the 2023 Grower Apprenticeship? Sign up for the waitlist here and we’ll let you know when applications open for 2023.
The Urban Growers Collective Grower Apprenticeship Program provides new and emerging growers with hands-on training in urban agriculture production and cooperative business models as a foundation to increasing food security, food sovereignty, and economic opportunity within the Chicago region.
This program is designed for individuals who are just beginning their farm learning and are ready to contribute to the food system in their communities as members of the farming profession and will provide participants with the tools and skills to begin their own urban farming project at the conclusion of the full program. It is not designed for individuals who are looking to lease land to activate or expand an existing farm operation. We are happy to refer you to other resources if that is your primary goal.
The program model for the Grower Apprenticeship has evolved from UGC’s Farmers for Chicago Incubator Program, which was established in 2015, and is built upon the previous 13-year legacy of Growing Power’s Commercial Urban Agriculture Training Program. Throughout our time supporting emerging growers, we’ve seen the need for a full spectrum, sequential training and mentoring program that encourages skill development through hands-on practice, collective knowledge sharing, and community building – without the financial pressure or time-consuming nature of starting and maintaining an independent farm business.
