SEGMENT: BACKGROUND
Harry Rhodes>ISM Interviews M-Z>ISM Interviews M-Z, Segment 5
| Next Segment-> |
- BACKGROUND
- Grew up in Wilmette, enjoyed gardening. Moved to Israel for college in bible and Jewish thought, then back to study urban and regional planning at Madison Wisconsin. His professor, Jerry Kauffman, an urban planner, who wrote about urban farming, came to observe him. Interested in non-profit organizations that help people and bring about change. Worked with Jewish-Muslim groups. Used experience to get knowledge for urban farming. Les Brown of the homeless coalition, started Growing Home. Brought Harry in in 2001 to organize it. Operates an organic farms; Marseilles, IL on a former federal land (weather station). McKinney Act helps give surplus land to groups who help the homeless. Second farm is at the Su Casa Catholic Worker, is a market garden (2003). In 2006 started the third on in Englewood, which is starting a farming district. Goal is job-training with a six-month organic farming curriculum. Ex-convicts need a safe place to learn a trade so they can join the work market. They learn marketing, sales, math, growing things, soil.
