Urban Agriculture Apprenticeship Program

What is the Urban Agriculture Apprenticeship Program?

Note: We are currently accepting applications for the 2023 program! Click here to apply.

The Urban Agriculture Apprenticeship Program is an introductory experience working in urban agriculture, with on the job training and education. 

The apprenticeship is part of A Just Harvest’s mission to fight poverty and hunger in the Rogers Park and greater Chicago community via economic and community development. Specifically, the apprenticeship program focuses on providing jobs, building skills and education aimed at preparing participants for success in the urban agriculture related careers and in the workforce in general. Through their work the apprentices bring value to the community by developing and maintaining green spaces, providing mentorship to the children in the afterschool and summer programs, growing food for the community and more. This program is an opportunity for apprentices to be supported in their growth and development as individuals, community leaders, and mentors. 

The apprenticeship covers skills and topics including: 

  • Organic growing:
    • food: vegetables, herbs, fruit
    • landscaping: flowers, native plants, ornamental perennials
    • houseplants
  • Working in 3 distinct grow spaces: Anthony’s Garden, Gale Academy’s Greenhouse and our Hoophouse.
  • Sales and distribution: selling seedlings, produce and cut flowers through farm stands, plant sales and to restaurants. Team AGUA also does free distributions through our Community Kitchen to make sure none of the food we produce goes to waste.
  • Running our garden education programs for elementary students: teaching and mentoring the students of Gale Community Academy
  • Sustainability, environmental justice, food justice, plant and environmental science.

Together we aim to create and nurture collective healing through cultivating plants and more!

Fun Fact!

In 2020, Team AGUA produced 342 pounds of produce for the community's nutrition and wellbeing!

Through the work the apprentices do we are able to grow food for the community, make it affordable and accessible, provide beautiful spaces for the community to enjoy, demonstrate food production to the community, increase awareness and interest in food production, teach others how to grow food and about all the things they are learning and much more.

farm stand article in block club chicago

How to apply?

2023 apprentices begin in February! Applications are open now, until all positions are filled. To learn more about the program details and qualifications and to apply click here.