Frequently Asked Questions

A: It is a natural, biological process that breaks down organic matter without oxygen, resulting in two bi-products: biogas and nutrient-rich compost. We’re harnessing the powers of this proven technology to begin diverting Chicago’s millions of pounds of food waste per month from landfills. Learn more here.

An urban farm cultivates, processes, and distributes food in or around urban areas. Green Era partner Urban Growers Collective and their collaborators have spent 20+ years creating community-based food systems that grow, prepare, and distribute produce within local neighborhoods. The Green Era Campus is the latest evolution in this decades-long impact.

Worldwide, 1.4 billion tons of food are wasted every year. That food waste is sent to landfills, releasing methane during its decomposition. To put those emissions into context: if food waste were a country, it would be the world's third-largest emitter behind China and the U.S. Green Era is intervening in this crisis in a comprehensive way: diverting food waste from landfills, and giving it a second life as Renewable Natural Gas and nutrient-dense compost.

By diverting food waste from landfills, Green Era can offset approximately 42,500 tons of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases absorb heat and release it gradually over time, like bricks in a fireplace after the fire goes out. Increases in greenhouse gases have tipped the Earth's energy budget out of balance, trapping additional heat and raising Earth's average temperature. Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are responsible for about two-thirds of the total energy imbalance that is causing Earth's temperature to rise.

Climate change and environmental injustices have deadly consequences for communities of color, and Green Era exists to create environmental equity. 68% of Black American live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant, compared to 56% of white Americans, and Black children are 2-3 times more likely to die of an asthma attack than their white counterparts. Everyone deserves a healthy, sustainable, and thriving environment to live in, and Green Era is a crucial investment in community-centered sustainability solutions. We’re doing this by transforming vacant, toxic land into community green spaces, creating new green jobs, providing educational opportunities for youth, and distributing affordable fresh produce to neighbors. In addition, we provide public outreach and tours to community groups and businesses interested in becoming more ecologically conscious. Because racism is systemic and structural, our response to it must be as well. To learn more, visit our Impact page.

Through decades of redlining and disinvestment, this under-resourced neighborhood has struggled to build wealth and get ahead. Auburn Gresham has one of the highest food insecurity rates in all of Chicago and a 13% unemployment rate (nearly double the Chicago average). The Green Era Campus is laying the foundation for lasting economic growth and community empowerment. “Always Growing, Auburn Gresham,” a collaboration between the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC), Green Era, and New Pisgah Community Service Organization, won the inaugural $10M Chicago Prize to propel Auburn Gresham forward and enable the neighborhood to reclaim its own future.

Green Era is a partnership of multiple entities, all committed to a shared vision of an equitable, sustainable future for all: Urban Growers Collective NFP, Green Era Educational NFP, and Green Era Sustainability LLC. Visit our Partners page to learn more.

Green Era began collaborating with the community for five years years before construction started. Beginning in December 2015, Urban Growers Collective attended monthly Town Halls at the Woodson Congressional Library to engage with residents and address their concerns and understand their needs. In 2016, Auburn Gresham residents, community leaders, and stakeholders embarked on a yearlong Quality-of-Life community input and planning process to establish our second 5-year community plan and a set of strategies and projects to make that plan a reality. The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, a partner in the development of the Green Era Campus, led the Quality-of-Life planning process and engaged over 1,500 residents. The resulting plan, entitled Your Voice Matters, highlights comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies to ensure all residents can experience lifelong learning and grow into “high quality, healthy, and richly-fulfilled lives.” Unfortunately, the planning process was not accompanied by access to funding, capital, or resources, which are often lagging in communities of color. Our vision has thus tackled complex community development head-on. 
Since the Quality-of-Life planning process, the Auburn Gresham, Always Growing team that includes Urban Growers Collective, Green Era and Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation has been regularly engaging the community to plan for the two cornerstone projects. Regular community engagement opportunities have included Aldermanic town hall meetings, community zoning meetings, community design charrettes, United Way Neighborhood Network meetings, and business subcommittee meetings. In our community-centered design process, we hosted hands-on sessions for students at Simeon Career Academy’s Technical Career Education program to design potential campus layouts and community uses. 
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Six blocks away from the Green Era Campus, our partner Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) is renovating a long-vacant, highly visible building at 839 W. 79th Street into the Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub, which will provide a full-service Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), pharmacy, and social services such as college prep training, job training and placement services, and co-working and community spaces. GAGDC is also constructing new affordable housing units to ensure that the community that welcomed in Green Era is the community that benefits from it. 
We will continue engagement through comprehensive programming and intentional partnerships with grassroots, community-led organizations, urban farmers and small business owners, and other local stakeholders. 

You can purchase produce and compost in person at our Farm Stand. For hours and information, click here. To order online, visit our shop.

To see current job openings, click here.

Yes! To learn more about our educational opportunities and internship programs, click here.

Green Era has several spaces available for event rental. Click here to learn more.

We thrive off partnering with others. Contact us to tell us more about yourself/your organization and how you’d like to collaborate.

Please send any media inquiries to: media contact info. You can also view our press kit here.

If you’d like a member of Green Era to speak to your organization or at your event, please contact us with the details at least 6 weeks in advance.

The Green Era Campus relies on the support of generous donors. Currently, Urban Growers Collective is raising $11 million in funds for Phase 2 of the Green Era Campus construction. This includes the Community Education Center, Event Plaza, Community Farm Stand, Amphitheater, Edible Forest and Walking Trail, and for the greenhouse and farm. To learn more or to make a gift, visit our donation page.

For any donations to our Phase 2 capital campaign, or any on-site programming including farming, education, training, and food access, please make your donation out to Urban Growers Collective.

For any donations to our Phase 2 capital campaign, or any on-site programming including farming, education, training, and food access, please make your donation out to Urban Growers Collective.

For any donations to the anaerobic digester and site improvements, please make your donation out to Green Era Educational NFP.

All of your donations are tax-deductible and used exclusively for charitable purposes. You will receive a receipt via email after making any contributions. You can donate here. Thank you!