MWRD soil enriches South Side community garden projects

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has formed a new partnership with an
urban gardening organization that will foster sustainable farming practices that will soon lead to a bountiful harvest.
The MWRD will provide its exceptional quality (EQ) composted biosolids to be incorporated at 72 community gardens overseen by the ChicaGRO Intergenerational Growing Projects organization.

The EQ biosolids are produced during the water treatment process by composting biosolids with woodchips,
which makes for an excellent soil enhancer. On May 14, the MWRD Commissioner Kari Steele and other
MWRD staff joined the ChicaGRO Intergenerational Growing Project as it turned a vacant South Chicago neighborhood lot into a backyard community garden. Located at 8450 S. Escanaba Ave., the garden will become a source of fresh produce for many residents living in what is considered a food desert.
“Because of partnerships like this, the sustainable practices started at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago can be transferred straight to our very own communities,” said Commissioner Steele, who was on hand to kick off the planting day event in South Chicago. “