Education & Outreach

Sola Gratia Farm is committed to building a community of cooperation and care.

We aim to connect our community around food by supporting everyone in having the means to share fresh, healthy food with each other. To do so, we share sustainable food production and preparation skills, create community spaces around farming and gardening, and provide supportive spaces for people of all ages to develop their own personal, positive connection with food and farming. Our work particularly aims to supply low-income community members with skills, resources, and support.

Major Initiatives

Community Classroom

The Community Classroom is what we are calling our new outdoor agriculture education and demonstration farm. Located on our original 4 acres on the campus of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, the Community Classroom will offer our community unique new opportunities for teaching and learning, outdoor recreation, and productive and meaningful service that feeds our neighbors. We are developing learning gardens planted with a variety of edible annual and perennial plants for people to explore different crops and growing styles, as well as a demonstration farm plot - similar to the plots that we manage on our production farm - from which we will donate all of the produce to our community feeding partners. We’re planning hands-on events and demonstrations to create community learning opportunities, and building up our volunteer program to help people connect with the land and each other while feeding their community. Seating, shaded areas, interpretive signage, and gathering and project spaces will make it an attractive, enjoyable space for all to visit

You can visit the Community Classroom during Community Classroom Open Houses! Check for upcoming dates on our Events page.

Pictured above: part of the proposed design for the Community Classroom.

Farm to School

In July 2020, we began a project to increase access to healthy, local food and agriculture education opportunities in Champaign-Urbana schools. In collaboration with local Urbana School District 116 and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, we developed a Farm to School Planning Report and Action Plan in 2021. Since then, we’ve worked with our collaborators to support school garden spaces, expand agriculture and nutrition education options, bring local food into the cafeteria, and deepen the connection between our local food system and our education system.

For more information about our Farm to School efforts, visit the C-U Farm to School website: www.cufarmtoschool.weebly.com

Solidarity Gardens

We are part of a coalition of local organizations that leads Solidarity Gardens, a collaborative that supports community members in growing food for themselves and their neighbors. Solidarity Gardens supports a network of community gardens around Champaign-Urbana, operates donation sites for home gardeners to share their excess produce (including one at our Community Classroom site), and provides free garden plots to low-income and immigrant gardeners. We have provided educational and coordination support as well as donating seeds, starts, and other supplies for use in community and private gardens. This project is a collaboration with Cunningham Township, Champaign Park District, Urbana Park District, and other organizations. Through Solidarity Gardens, we have facilitated 12,000 extra pounds of produce to be grown and shared in our community!

You can learn more about Solidarity Gardens’ work on the Solidarity Gardens website: https://www.solidarity-gardens-cu.org/

Education and Outreach Programs

We offer a number of educational and outreach programs, usually in collaboration with community partners, including:

  • Public educational events (check out our Events schedule for upcoming opportunities!)

  • Farm tours

  • Sustainable growing workshops

  • Field trips

  • Classroom visits

  • Job training through YES (Youth Employment Service)

  • Garden support

…and other, unique opportunities!

Interested in a program? Connect with us!

We welcome opportunities to connect with more members of our community! If you are interested in one of our programs for your organization or class, please fill out this form. Or, if you have questions or something more unique you’d like to discuss, reach out to Outreach/Education Manager Fiona Munro at outreach@solagratiacsa.com. 

Unfortunately, due to the demands of the farming season, we cannot always honor every programming request. Flexibility in scheduling is appreciated, if possible!