Steel town region program teaches people how to start ag businesses or community gardens in city

Gary Urban Farmer’s Initiative

Joseph S. Pete
NWTimes
Feb 16, 2020

Excerpt:

The recently launched Gary Urban Farmer’s Initiative is teaching residents of the Rust Belt steel town how to grow food in the city in order to start small businesses, plant community gardens, or just put more fresh fruit and vegetables on their family’s plates.

Purdue Extension — Gary is now teaching nearly 30 students at the Gary Career Center about the practice of urban agriculture for its 2020 Gary Urban Farmer’s Initiative Urban Agriculture Certificate Training, as well as making farming tools available for the city’s residents to borrow.

The 12-week course covers advanced farming techniques, working with brownfields and food safety issues. Students are learning how to plant crops, maintain their own farms and create businesses. One student, for instance, hopes to grow tomatoes, garlic and other ingredients in Gary to launch his own locally made barbecue sauce company, Purdue Extension-Lake County educator Anthony Van Gorp said.

Students draft business plans, get introduced to the U.S. Small Business Administration and are given the chance to fill out applications to become certified Women and Minority Owned Small Businesses. The current crop is slated to graduate in April with a ceremony at ArtHouse: A Social Kitchen.

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