As a hub of Woodlawn’s community, each week, 61st Street Farmers Market partners with local organizations and individuals to bring you market programming that fosters curiosity, education, artistic expression, and health.
Among many great offerings at the Market School stall, you can participate in arts and crafts with E-Tegami Chicago and Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange, learn more about local ecology with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, grab a free houseplant from Envision Unlimited’s Garden Program, and free grow kits from Chicago Grows Food.
At our Sprout Station stall, our partners from Hyde Park Neighborhood Club and Chicago Public Library’s Blackstone Branch will facilitate activities that spark your little ones’ imagination with crafts and story times.
Musical performances bring a special energy to market days, and we’re thrilled to welcome back the South Side Suzuki Cooperative, and a local jazz trio on select market days. Stay tuned for the dates.
Lastly, we’re privileged to host local health care providers including Friend Health Center and the UChicago Chapter of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative. These organizations will provide health resources and screenings.
Every week, we gather at the 61st Street Farmers Market to learn from each other, share values and knowledge, and work toward a healthy and equitable future for all. Thank you to all of our partners and community members who are making this a reality each week!
This week, we are highlighting two partners who will be attending the market once a month to share the fun and knowledge.
Chicago Grows Food
Chicago Grows Food has partnered with the 61st Street Farmers Market since 2023 to pass out hundreds of free grow kits, seeds, seedlings, and educational materials.
Founded by Elizabeth Berkeley in 2020, Chicago Grows Food is on a mission to reduce barriers to gardening as a way of combatting food insecurity, improving health outcomes, and creating a community of gardeners and advocates throughout Chicagoland.
This year, Elizabeth will be back at our market monthly, sharing grow kits and knowledge with our market community. If you missed her on May 16, she will be back on June 13 to give away free grow kits, gardening resources, answer questions, and chat about all things gardening.
If you want to learn more, CGF also provides a wealth of knowledge and resources through their newsletter and social media channels. Whether you want to know what’s in season, are looking for gardening tips and tricks, need help with a plant, or have a story or recipe you’d like to share, CGF’s newsletter is a one-stop shop for every gardener. Sign up now to receive it!
E-Tegami Chicago
We’re excited to welcome back E-tegami Chicago and its founder, Danielle Stolz, for another season of creative fun at the 61st Street Farmers Market!
E-tegami is the Japanese art of designing a seasonal postcard and sending it to a loved one. As Danielle puts it, we live in a world with fewer opportunities for contemplative moments and one where communication takes place digitally, the physical nature of e-tegami gives us space to connect with friends and relations through a tangible, creative act.
Danielle will be back at the Market on June 27. Join her to create watercolor postcards using seasonal fruits, vegetables, and plants, and connect with friends and the community.
This year, we’re especially proud to congratulate Danielle and E-tegami Chicago for receiving a DCASE Neighborhood Access Program (NAP) Grant to support and expand this community favorite. With more spots added this season, even more neighbors will have the chance to craft, connect, and send a handmade piece of art to someone they love.
Follow E-tegami Chicago on Instagram @etegamichicago.
