Farming, Chicago Style

You’ve heard of paving over paradise? Students at Excel Academy of Englewood have done just the opposite. They closed out the school year by planting a community garden on campus in a spot formerly occupied by 2,000 square feet of pavement.

Students have been working on the project all year, designing, planning and finally planting in the garden in conjunction with Chicago’s Openlands initiative, an effort to create open and green spaces.

Excel Academy of Englewood received $128,000 in what Chicago calls “Open Space Impact Fees” to pay for the asphalt removal, artwork, growing beds and benches. The garden will be maintained by students, staff and community residents.

Students will install raised beds in the fall that will be used to grow fruit and vegetables.