Phoenix Farms Non-For-Profit

We aim to make fresh produce accessible to all families in our community.

About

We are a non-for-profit organization created by the Phoenix Farms student organization at the University of Chicago. Our goal is to establish food forests around the Woodlawn, Hyde Park, and Washington Park areas to establish sustainable food sources within these communities.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Marek Piechowicz
Marek is an amatetur beekeeper and helped to found the Phoenix Farms NFP. He enjoys tending to hives, talking about the importance of pollinators, and cultivating pollinator-friendly gardens.

Grace Martin

Grace is a UChicago alum ('19) and current Master in Public Policy candidate at Harvard Kennedy School. A lifelong gardener and Chicagoan, she got involved with Phoenix Farms during college as a beekeeper. After serving as a Peace Corps agriculture volunteer in Cameroon, she joined the Board of Phoenix Farms Nonprofit to continue the mission of bringing healthy, sustainable food systems to Chicago neighborhoods.

Jules Eng

Jules is a recent UChicago alum (‘23) who has a passion for all things sustainability and food. An amateur gardener and honey taster, she is interested in bringing equitable food systems to the Southside.

Tess Teodoro

Formerly co-president of the UChicago student branch of Phoenix Farms, Tess is passionate about environmental justice in her adopted home of Chicago. She joined Phoenix Farms as a Journeywoman Beekeeper in 2018 and was part of the inaugural board that incorporated as a federally-recognized nonprofit in 2020. From talking about honeybees while on-the-ground in Woodlawn and Hyde Park to expanding our community partners across the region as we grow our food forest initiatives, Tess loves working towards more sustainable, equitable, and livable urban spaces in the Midwest.

Asher Jaffe

For over 2 years, Asher worked on-site at our Food Forest and helped build and strengthen relationships with nearby people and organizations throughout Hyde Park, including First Presbyterian and Komunda Community Garden. With a strong passion for gardening and the environment, Asher hand-picked crops and plants to be planted within our lot, including complimentary plants to our fruit trees, and helped maintain the general upkeep of the Forest.

Elena Gdula

Elena is the current undergraduate (‘25) UChicago intern for Phoenic Farms NFP, and works on-site with general Food Forest upkeep, planting and pruning crops and plants, updating our website, and fostering community relationships. As a Geophysics and Environmental Sciences major with a big passion for sustainability and conservation, Elena enjoys gardening, cooking, and educating others about the importance of our environment.

Hours & Location

Address

6400 S Kimbark Ave Chicago, IL 60637

Plot across from First Presbyterian Church Main Entrance

Hours of Operation

Food Forest open 24/7

Contact

phoenixfarms.nfp@gmail.com

Our Partners

Phoenix Farms RSO

UChicago’s premier beekeeping (Harper Hives) and gardening (Avant Garden) RSO. Comprised of a mixture of undergraduates, graduate students, and university employees; boasts the highest hives in Illinois south of the Chicago Loop and a garden with some of the most unique crops in the city.

5801 S Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

Email: phoenixfarms@lists.uchicago.edu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucphoenixfarms/

Website: https://voices.uchicago.edu/phoenixfarms/