Urban Composting and Community Gardening

Resource Center assists community organizations and schools in recovering vacant lots for community use.  Residents have created flower and vegetable gardens, recreational open space for community festivals, children's gardens and nature walks on land that was previously a neighborhood eyesore.

COMPOSTING SITE: The Resource Center operates a full scale composting facility at 1325 E. 70th Street, our main recycling yard. We receive grass clippings, leaves, sod and yard trimmings from landscaping companies, horse manure from the Chicago Mounted Police stables, and food from grocery stores and University of Chicago cafeterias. The result of this mix is a rich organic material perfect for improving one's garden soil. We also provide a compost/soil mixture for gardeners who are creating raised beds or need more topsoil.

COMPOSTING EDUCATION: To promote backyard composting, the Resource Center provides written information on backyard and worm composting, sponsors composting contests, and partners with the City's Department of Environment to present composting workshops for Chicago residents.

Compost is a beneficial amendment to sandy or clay, light or heavy soils.  It provides the organic matter to make any soil an alive growing environment.  One-half to three inches of compost once or twice a year is essential.  Sustenance compost contains no chemical additives thereby eliminating any soil "burn" due to overuse.