Our guest today is Laurell Sims, Co-Founder & CEO of Urban Growers Collective in Chicago, here to talk about food accessibility and the development of community-based food systems. Urban Growers Collective (UGC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was co-founded by Laurell Sims and Erika Allen in the fall of 2017. Working closely with community partners, their approach is to demonstrate and to support communities in developing systems of their own where food is grown, prepared, and distributed within the community itself.
Urban Grower's Collective operates 8 urban farms on 11 acres of land, predominantly located on Chicago’s South Side. These farms are production-oriented but also offer opportunities for staff-led education, training, leadership development, and food distribution. Each farm utilizes organic growing methods, intensive growing practices, and year-round production strategies to best maximize growing space.
In this conversation, we talk about the numerous programs operating within UGC that are helping not only to bring food to underserved areas but to facilitate youth involvement and outreach programs for positive community impact. 
Laurell is active in the Chicago Food Policy Action Council and formerly served on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Chicago and Green City Market. In 2011, Laurell was selected as a Bold Food Fellow, a State Department exchange with farmers from Uganda and Kenya, and has managed development projects with urban farms in Haiti. In her spare time, Laurell is a volunteer magician for Open Heart Magic which provides bedside magic for hospitalized children.
Topics Discussed:

How Laurell came to the Urban Grower's Collective


ReVision Urban Farm in Boston

The impact of the urban farming movement 

The eight farms and programs within in the Urban Grower's Collective

Healing aspects of community spaces

Fresh Moves Mobile Market

Linkup Illinois for food assistance

Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark

Prescription for Health, Howard Brown Health Center


Food Justice and privilege 

Food waste in Chicago

How policy and racism affect grocery store access

Farm Bus in Richmond, Mark Lilly

Midwest Foods Wholesaler

USDA Food boxes

April Jones on The Good Dirt

Julia Skinner on The Good Dirt

The challenge of land access, particularly for BIPOC growers


Green Era Urban Farm in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood in Chicago

The anaerobic digester as mitigation for food waste

Soil contamination and remediation

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste

Chicago Food Policy Action Council


Connect with Laurell & the UGC:

Urban Grower's Collective website

On Instagram @urbangrowerscollective



Donate or Volunteer with the Urban Grower's Collective!


About Lady Farmer:

Our Website

@weareladyfarmer on Instagram


Join The Lady Farmer ALMANAC


Leave us a voicemail! Call 443-459-1950 and ask a question or share what the good dirt means to you!

Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com


Original music by John Kingsley. The Good Dirt podcast is edited and engineered by Aleksandra van der Westhuizen and produced by Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.
Statements in this podcast have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not to be considered as medical or nutritional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and should not be considered above the advice of your physician. Consult a medical professional when making dietary or lifestyle decisions that could affect your health and well-being.