The Talking Farm
The Talking Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 2.5-acre urban farm in Skokie, Illinois, producing over 21,000 pounds of sustainable produce annually and delivering 12 educational programs and 3,000+ learning hours to schools, youth organizations, and community members across the Chicago metro area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSkokie, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Talking Farm does
The Talking Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 that operates a 2.5-acre full-production urban farm, the Howard Street Farm, on Howard Street in Skokie, Illinois. The organization combines sustainable agricultural production with a broad educational programming portfolio targeting schools, youth organizations, and community members across the Chicago metropolitan area, particularly Skokie and Evanston. Its core products and programs include the Howard Street Farm itself, the Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program (8-15 week stipend), the FarmHand Certificate Program ($200 fee, 50 volunteer hours within 12 months), multiple school and community garden partnerships, and farm-to-table produce distribution. The underlying technology stack is traditional urban agriculture: organic growing methods, three hoop houses (30'x72') for season extension, a water recycling irrigation system developed with the University of Illinois under an EPA grant, integrated pest management, and a processing shed with walk-in cooler.
TTF serves four primary customer segments: local community members seeking fresh produce and education, schools and youth organizations (including Y.O.U., Evanston Township High School, Niles North High School, Tot Learning Center, John Middleton Elementary), local restaurants and wholesale buyers, and corporate sponsors and individual donors. The revenue model is a hybrid of produce sales (CSA membership at 50+ participants, farmers markets in Skokie and Andersonville, restaurant and wholesale channels), modest program fees ($200 certificate fee), food pantry donations (approximately 10% of produce), grants (e.g., Skokie Community Foundation), and corporate and individual donations. The organization is 100% community-supported, with no venture capital or major institutional funding, and operates with a small staff of 7 plus a 6-person board under President Wendy Aeschlimann. Annual production exceeds 21,000 pounds of produce against a stated 60,000-pound target, and the organization delivers 12 educational programs totaling 3,000+ learning hours per year.
The Talking Farm firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Talking Farm
- Legal name
- The Talking Farm
- Website
- https://thetalkingfarm.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Talking Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 2.5-acre urban farm in Skokie, Illinois, producing over 21,000 pounds of sustainable produce annually and delivering 12 educational programs and 3,000+ learning hours to schools, youth organizations, and community members across the Chicago metro area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Talking Farm industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Agriculture
- NAICS
- Other Crop Farming (1119)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)
Keywords
Where The Talking Farm is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Skokie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Talking Farm business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Produce Sales: Revenue from selling sustainably-grown produce through multiple channels including farmers markets, restaurant sales, wholesale accounts, and a farm membership/CSA program with weekly produce boxes.
- FarmHand Certificate Program: Certificate program requiring a $200 fee for participants who complete 50 hours of volunteer work across various farming disciplines within 12 months.
- Sponsorships & Donations: Funding from corporate sponsors at Fellow Level, founding sponsors, and individual donors. The organization is 100% community-supported.
- Grant Funding: Grant funding from organizations such as Skokie Community Foundation for educational programs and partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | FarmHand Certificate Program fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Talking Farm product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Talking Farm operates a 2.5-acre full-production urban farm (Howard Street Farm) in Skokie, Illinois, that grows and distributes locally-grown vegetables through farmers' markets, a CSA/membership program, local restaurants, wholesalers, and food pantries. It complements production with a portfolio of hands-on educational programs (internships, the FarmHand Certificate Program, and school- and community-based teaching gardens) covering urban agriculture, biodiversity, horticulture, and sustainability for learners of all ages.
Product overview
The Talking Farm is a 501(c)(3) urban farming nonprofit that operates primarily through its 2.5-acre Howard Street Farm in Skokie, Illinois. The organization functions as a unified program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings include urban agricultural production distributed through farmers' markets, food pantries, and a membership program, combined with comprehensive educational programming including the Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program (8-15 week stipend sessions) and FarmHand Certificate Program (50-hour flexible volunteer-based learning). Educational partnerships extend the farm's reach through school garden programs at multiple sites including Y.O.U. Elementary Programs, John Middleton Elementary, Niles North High School/Green Thumbs Club, Tot Learning Center, Orchard Village, Yachad Chicago, Edible Acre at Evanston Township High School, and the NSERVE Summer School Class. The portfolio also includes retail channels through the Andersonville and Skokie Farmers Markets and direct Produce & Egg Shares subscriptions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Howard Street Farm: The 2.5-acre full-production urban farm operated by The Talking Farm on Howard Street in Skokie, Illinois.
Products and services
- Howard Street Farm A 2.5-acre full-production urban farm on Howard Street in Skokie that produces locally-grown vegetables distributed through farmers' markets, food pantries, a farm membership program, and local restaurants. Includes Fields 1–8, three hoop houses, a demonstration garden, a processing shed, and a walk-in cooler.
- Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 21,000 pounds of produce grown annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Talking Farm
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Talking Farm technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Talking Farm partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Youth Opportunities United (Y.O.U.)coreMulti-year partnership developing Y.O.U. F Cubed: Food, Farming, Future program for high school students. TTF designed and built raised-bed garden at Y.O.U. headquarters in Evanston with year-round educational programming on gardening, cooking, and farmers market operation.
- Orchard VillagecoreGrowing multi-year partnership where TTF cultivates organic urban garden providing fresh produce to Orchard Village's clients. Over 20% of garden produce donated to local food pantry. Funded by Skokie Community Foundation grant.
- Evanston Township High School / Edible Acrecore2009 partnership converted empty lot into 5,000 sq ft organic garden providing 2,500 pounds of produce annually for school cafeteria. Includes apple/pear orchard, Edible Wall, and Edible Tower.
- Sketchbook Brewing CompanycoreExclusive partnership for hops grown and harvested at Howard Street Farm for use in craft brewing.
- Yachad Chicagominor2021 partnership where Yachad participants (individuals with disabilities) work alongside TTF staff to volunteer at the farm and learn about urban farming.
- Niles North High School / Green Thumbs ClubminorSummer internship program hiring five students to work on farm and sell at Skokie Farmers Market. Winter greenhouse seedling growing partnership.
- West MonroeminorCorporate sponsor providing funding through West Monroe's Giving Friday program and Day of Service where employees volunteer at the farm.
- Boltwood EvanstonminorRestaurant hosting farm dinner events with TTF produce, with 56-116 attendees per event.
- Skokie Park DistrictcoreLandowner partner providing 20-year Use Agreement (plus 10-year extension option) for 2.5-acre Howard Street Farm site. Founding sponsor of The Talking Farm.
- Village of SkokiecoreMunicipal partner granting special zoning designation for urban farming operations. Founding sponsor providing crucial early support.
- Tot Learning CenterminorNeighboring preschool developing curriculum teaching pre-school students basics of growing food with own raised-bed garden and farm tours.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Talking Farm competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dig Deep Farms: Alameda County, CA social-enterprise urban farm providing produce, education, and job training in food-insecure communities. Comparable to The Talking Farm in its urban production tied to food access and educational outcomes.
- Urban Adamah: Berkeley, CA urban farm and Jewish education center offering paid fellowships, youth programs, and farm production with CSA distribution. Comparable to The Talking Farm in pairing urban agriculture with structured educational programming.
- Soul Fire Farm: Petersburgh, NY BIPOC-led farm focused on food sovereignty, farmer training, and youth programming. Comparable to The Talking Farm in centering educational programming and food access alongside production-scale farming.
- Greensgrow: Philadelphia-based urban farm nonprofit operating a 1-acre production farm with CSA, farmers markets, and educational programming. Directly comparable to The Talking Farm in combining urban agricultural production with community education and food access in a dense metro setting.
- The Food Project: Boston-area urban and suburban farm operating production sites with intensive youth employment and educational programs. Comparable to The Talking Farm in combining urban produce operations with a deep youth education mission.
- Brooklyn Grange: NYC rooftop soil farm operating multiple production sites with CSA programs, educational workshops, and farm-to-table events. Highly comparable to The Talking Farm's integrated model of urban production, education, and community engagement.
- Bonton Farms: Dallas urban farm nonprofit addressing food access in an underserved neighborhood through production, education, and farmers markets. Directly comparable to The Talking Farm in combining urban production with a strong community/mission orientation.
Broad incumbents
- Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: 80-acre farm education center in Pocantico Hills, NY with extensive educational programming and a farm-to-table restaurant. Comparable to The Talking Farm in mission but operates at a significantly larger scale and budget.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Talking Farm social profiles
Digital presenceThe Talking Farm financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Talking Farm leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The Talking Farm funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Talking Farm M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Talking Farm
What does The Talking Farm do?
The Talking Farm operates a 2.5-acre full-production urban farm (Howard Street Farm) in Skokie, Illinois, that grows and distributes locally-grown vegetables through farmers' markets, a CSA/membership program, local restaurants, wholesalers, and food pantries. It complements production with a portfolio of hands-on educational programs (internships, the FarmHand Certificate Program, and school- and community-based teaching gardens) covering urban agriculture, biodiversity, horticulture, and sustainability for learners of all ages.
Is The Talking Farm a public or private company?
The Talking Farm is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Talking Farm founded?
The Talking Farm was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Talking Farm based?
The Talking Farm is headquartered in Skokie, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Talking Farm make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Produce Sales are the primary driver. The others are farmHand Certificate Program, sponsorships & Donations and grant Funding.
Who are The Talking Farm's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dig Deep Farms, Urban Adamah, Soul Fire Farm, Greensgrow, The Food Project, Brooklyn Grange and Bonton Farms. Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Talking Farm have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Talking Farm.
What industry is The Talking Farm in?
The Talking Farm's product category is Urban Agriculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAOAA, Agricultural Production & Farm Operations. Its NAICS code is 1119 and its SIC code is 100.