Compost Giveback Gives back to local communities
This compost giveback season, WasteNot is making it easy to give back to your community. We're partnering with three local nonprofits, and you get to choose where your free compost goes! Don't have much of a green thumb? You can still help local neighborhoods thrive. Learn more about our partners and their missions below.
Windy city harvest
Windy City Harvest is one of Chicago’s largest urban agriculture programs. With over 10 urban farms and gardens, the organization provides over 200,000 pounds of fresh produce to Chicagoans experiencing food insecurity each year. The initiative was launched in 2003 with a focus on youth programming, but now offers a space for everyone.
In 2018, their Farm on Ogden opened in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, providing a central hub for educational programs and community events. At the Farm on Ogden, Windy City Harvest enrolls over 70 people each year in paid training, helping them secure jobs in the food systems industry. Their VeggieRx program, launched in 2016, provides boxes of fresh produce to over 3,000 community members per year, with a focus on individuals with diet-related illnesses.
By donating your finished compost, you’re directly contributing to the fight against food insecurity in Chicago. You can learn more about Windy City Harvest’s incredible work here.
Global Gardens CHICAGO
Global Gardens Chicago was formed with a mission to transform an empty lot in Albany Park into a beautiful urban garden. In 2012, 42 refugee families came together to make this happen.
As a nonprofit, Global Gardens works to improve urban access to fresh vegetables while providing opportunities for newly arrived refugee families. The farm provides these families with land, tools, seeds, and training in order to build on the strengths of refugees from rural backgrounds, all while giving them an opportunity to reconnect with the land. Working in the gardens gives these families a supplemental income, food security, and economic opportunities in their new home in Chicago!
Over 75 refugees now grow at Global Gardens, growing fresh and organic vegetables that are then used for home consumption or sold. By sharing your free giveback, you will be contributing to these gardens and supporting local refugees!
Read more about how Global Gardens got started and the work they’ve been doing here.
BUILD Chicago
BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago's West Side. BUILD stands for Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development, as a testament to their support of urban youth to help them build hope, resilience, and a path to a promising future.
Since 1969, BUILD has been dedicated to inspiring hope and offering opportunities so youth facing systemic obstacles can achieve positive futures. Serving over 6,500 youth annually across Chicago neighborhoods, BUILD provides a comprehensive range of programs designed to empower young people and foster community engagement. Through these engaging programs, BUILD remains steadfast in its mission to empower youth, reduce violence, and contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
The shared compost giveback will directly benefit BUILD’s Austin Grown Program. This program gives Chicago youths the confidence to plant and grow food, as well as maintain the farm’s shed and greenhouse. These practical skills are paired with educating participants on sustainability, food justice, and the economics of green jobs. By sharing your free giveback, you will be contributing to this urban agriculture program and supporting local Chicago kids!
Read more about BUILD Chicago’s mission and initiatives here!
COMPOST GIVEBACK NOTES
If you choose to receive your finished compost: Check out this guide on how to use your bag of nutrient-rich compost in your gardens or house plants!
To determine free giveback eligibility: Check your inbox for claim instructions and follow the directions on how to claim your free bag!
