The 61st Street Farmers Market: A Hub for Food Access, Education, and Community in Chicago's South Side

Something special is happening right here in the heart of Woodlawn.

The 61st Street Farmers Market, a program of Experimental Station, has become more than just a place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables on Saturdays—it’s a vibrant hub where our community comes together to learn, grow, and support one another.

In addition to providing access to healthy food for 63,984 community members over 35 market days in the year, the Market is working year-round to build a healthier, more connected community through food, education, and wellness programs.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

Emily Cross

SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, 61ST STREET FARMERS MARKET

Emily joined the Experimental Station in May 2021. As a part of her role as a Senior Program Manager, she manages the 61st Street Farmers Market, leads youth gardening and healthy eating classes at Carnegie Elementary, coordinates adult classes, and helps maintain the Jackson Park Terrace hoop house. 

Her love of agriculture began in her grandfather's garden and led to over a decade of community gardening, urban farming, education, CSA management, and selling at many markets throughout Chicago. 

She loves connecting with people of all ages over food. You’ll find her in the garden, excitedly pointing out the latest discoveries—strawberries, asparagus, chive blossoms!—or just hanging out with a bumblebee, admiring its beauty.

Through her work at Experimental Station, Emily continues to grow vibrant, food-centered communities—one garden, one class, and one shared meal at a time.

Joy Joshua

FOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM ASSISTANT, 61ST STREET FARMERS MARKET

As the Food Education Program Assistant at Experimental Station, Joy plays a key role in coordinating youth and adult food education programming at community sites such as Carnegie Elementary School and Jackson Park Terrace (JPT). 

Her journey into agriculture began three years ago as a resident gardener at JPT. There, she grew a diverse range of crops—corn, cantaloupe, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, and more—an experience that sparked a deep passion for growing food and sharing knowledge with others.

Before joining the nonprofit sector, Joy worked in the corporate world. In 2022, she made a purposeful pivot toward creative and community-centered work by launching Journey and Thingz, a mobile arts business offering jewelry-making and creative workshops across Chicago. Through this venture, Joy promotes empowerment through accessible, hands-on art experiences. 

One of Joy’s favorite parts of the week is spending Saturdays at the hoop house garden and the 61st Street Farmers Market. These visits allow her to connect with local farmers, vendors, and community members—fostering relationships, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening community bonds. 

Kelly Jones

HEAD GARDENER, 61ST STREET FARMERS MARKET

Kelly is passionate about food systems and gardening, and it’s no surprise that she is the Head Gardener at Experimental Station. In this role, she focuses on growing as much food as possible for the lovely residents of Jackson Park Terrace, maintaining a thriving hoop house garden space for both children and adults to enjoy.

Kelly’s journey into gardening began at a young age in her grandmother’s garden, which featured a beautiful pear tree, various fruits and vegetables, and her signature flowers. When not exploring the garden for bugs, snakes, and toads, she would help her grandmother with weeding and harvesting produce for lunch. These cherished memories continue to inspire Kelly’s work and commitment to educating others about the importance of food systems.

Before joining Experimental Station, Kelly worked as a farmer at the Gary Comer Youth Center. This position involved educating others about food deserts and the importance of food sovereignty. She was responsible for setting up the farm stand, harvesting produce for local pantries and restaurant partners, and handling general farm maintenance.

What drew Kelly to Experimental Station was the 61st Street Farmers Market and its peaceful and lively energy. What makes her stay are the people that she gets to connect with every day at work, whether it's with co-workers, vendors, or other passionate gardeners that live in the neighborhood.