Steve Hughes is the Founder of Otis Fresh Market, a community farmstand and for-profit farm across the street from Breathing Room.
Steve has provided education to new farmers for decades in both the Englewood + South Shore neighborhoods. After moving from its original location, Steve began building soil and has transformed from the longtime vacant lot across the street from Breathing Room, where he lived for a short time. Since 2016 he has been selling produce to neighbors from the farm stand at the sidewalk and offering farming education to volunteers and interested neighbors.
Currently, they are in the process of building out a socially-distanced community workshop area + are planning a harvest farmers market this Fall. They hope to begin accepting SNAP benefits in time for their first full growing season in 2021.
Interview conducted by Mah Nu
Shot by Andrew Degner
Edited by Paul Brennan
Produced by Matthew Gladly
#onlythingsinseason #otisfreshmarket #urbangarden #guerillagardening #vacantlot #chicagofarmer #urbangardening
