CHARITY BLOOMS
A non-profit grower
The Farm
Marie's Urban Farm 835 N. Highland Ave Aurora, IL
The Kitchen
The Entertainment Space
The Aviary
The Greenhouse
Charity Blooms has been proud to manage this amazing property since 2018 through the generosity of the City of Aurora and the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry. The Farm has become our Homestead.
This half-acre property was once occupied by 5 houses. Those houses were torn down in 2014 and turned into green space. Since 2018, we have worked with hundreds of volunteers to turn it into a community space that now benefits thousands. Our goal is to grow dozens of varieties of food including fruit, vegetables and herbs. This produce is then donated to the Marie Wilkinson Food pantry. As of 2021 we have won 28 awards for our produce at the Sandwich County Fair!
This property is also a social space. People of all ages and backgrounds gather here to learn, help and play. The property now includes a 500 square foot greenhouse, solar power, a large outdoor kitchen, entertainment space with seating for 32, an aviary, a monarch butterfly education area, pollinator gardens with bee hotel, self-paced activities and automated composting. We teach classes for all ages, host private gatherings and public events almost all year long. Events on the calendar are all open to the public. We appreciate if you make a reservation below so we know you're coming.
If you'd like to visit the farm or volunteer, let us know. We are always interested in meeting new friends, building new partnerships and sharing the love for what we do. We are often described as one of the best kept secrets in Aurora. Stop by and see why!
THE SCAVENGER HUNT
Come alone or bring your team and hunt around The Farm at your own pace while learning fun facts about vegetables. Start by choosing your path color; EASY, MEDIUM, OR DIFFICULT. Then go to the barn and scan that colored QR code for your first task. The QR codes you find will give you part of a phrase, in parenthesis, along with the next task. At the end of the hunt, tell us the completed phrase for a special prize. Do not go out of order or you will miss part of the phrase!
PLAYFUL LEARNING EXHIBIT
The amazing folks at Playful Learning, in cooperation with the Chicago Children's Museum, installed this exciting exhibit in the Spring of 2021. The focus is to teach early elementary math skills in a fun way. It is open to the public from sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year.
