Drip irrigation systems are an excellent way to systematize and automate watering, a fundamental element to farming. They are extremely versatile systems that serve small gardens, medium-sized farms, hoop houses, vegetables, perennials, and even orchards. They greatly conserve water when compared to hand watering or sprinklers by delivering water directly to the soil and plants鈥� root systems鈥揳 more efficient way for plants to absorb water compared to absorption through the leaves, and safer for plant health. These systems are, however, by no means perfect. They are made principally of polyethylene plastic, which is both recyclable and a common pollutant found in landfills, the environment, and in organisms. Additionally, growers often use treated municipal water with these systems when untreated water would suffice. Lastly, they require regular maintenance like repairing leaks and winter storage, as opposed to passive systems. 

We at 海角社区 supply growers with equipment, provide technical assistance, and design and install irrigation systems, so we as an organization should provide some insight as to what they are, what they are not, and how to maintain or change your system. If you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns you are welcome to contact us at water@auachicago.org or visit the Water Access Program page for more information on all things water access.

Getting Started

First things first, drip irrigation systems operate best at low pressure鈥揵etween 10 and 20 PSI. Too little pressure, and the system won鈥檛 charge and emitters won鈥檛 drip. Too much pressure, and the system will leak and eventually the parts will break. Both residential spigots/bibs and city hydrants operate at far higher pressure than a drip irrigation system needs, so a PSI regulator is required. In many cases, fine tuning by partially closing the valve may be necessary. When doing so on a hydrant with a reduced pressure zone device (RPZ), the valve on the hydrant should always be completely open. I.e you should turn the nut on the top of the hydrant counterclockwise until it can鈥檛 turn anymore, completely opening the valve underground. Partially opening the underground valve can cause a leak, resulting in soil displacement, and a hefty repair bill. If you are partially opening a valve to fine tune pressure, make sure it is either at the RPZ or a part of your system. 

Rain barrels or tanks can be used in conjunction with drip irrigation systems, as long as they can reach the requisite PSI. Raising barrels and tanks off the ground is helpful (it is ~.50 PSI for every foot raised) and a full tank produces more pressure than a low one, but a pump may be needed depending on the size of the area to be irrigated.

Design 

Systems are designed to fit the plot. There is no one size fits all design that is replicated over and over, but there are trends that require the same approach. When designing an irrigation system, it is important to remember that there are infinite ways to design an effective system, and really only a few ways to do it wrong. Optimizing your materials and resources, and developing a simple and straightforward design are rules one and two. Stick with those, and your system will run smoothly and maintenance will be quick. Lastly, remember that systems are changeable鈥搃t is very easy to add or subtract portions of a zone as needed.

Raised or In-ground Field Beds 

In Chicago, field beds are often raised to place a barrier like geotextile fabric and avoid contaminated soils, but not always. You will see some in-ground if the native soil has not be disturbed by development or industry. Either way, the approach to irrigation is roughly the same. 

Fields containing multiple beds are the easiest to irrigate, because they require a single long header, and perpendicular connections to run the drip tape the length of the bed. Fields can also be linked by running the header between fields, creating larger zones that are fully automated. 

More on site and system design later. 

Raised Garden Beds 

Raised beds are both very easy to irrigate and very difficult. Raised like field beds to prevent contamination, raised garden beds are also raised to increase accessibility and ergonomics. Doing so is very important鈥揵ecause everyone should be able to be involved in their food system鈥揵ut it often calls for a slightly more complex approach. 

Given that there are multiple garden beds to irrigate, the header must run up, across, down, and between beds (which will likely require burying the header, but more on that later), taking a series of 90-degree right turns. This means a series of connections, and more places that require maintenance checks. 

It is here that we have to decide what makes more sense for us, the growers: 

• Design a complex system to meet our needs鈥搊ne that may require a lot more maintenance. 

• Simplify the system and go with an option like an oscillating sprinkler. 

We鈥檒l have to think critically about the system we intend to design, the effectiveness of that system, and about our capacity for maintenance over a growing season. 

Materials 

The following is a brief, non-exhaustive list of the principal components you will commonly find as a part of a drip irrigation system. 

PSI regulators lower the PSI of the water source to an appropriate amount for the given system.

Header connects both the hose to and the drip tape to. Often, it runs perpendicular to the drip tape.

Tape emits water at a predetermined rate to plants. Often runs directly next to the plants and can assist with measurement, and spacing.

A barb connects the drip tape to the header. The valve allows you to turn the tape on and off.

An elbow is used to make a right turn with the mainline tubing/header.

The hose start is used to thread a hose into at the beginning of a system.

End caps are used to terminate the system.

These fittings are used to 鈥渃ouple鈥� or 鈥渟ister鈥� two pieces of mainline tubing/header.

These fittings are used to divert the water in two directions.

Used to punch a hole in the header for a fitting like a barb.

*All parts pictured above at 戮 inch. 

**While common industry parlance, the use of gendered language when referring to plumbing parts can be avoided. 

***Single use tools like punches can be helpful, but a serrated knife is very effective for both punching and cutting. 

Dripworks, a company that sells materials for all sorts of irrigation systems, publishes free tools including and. 

The Site

We would be remiss if we only talked about the system, and not about the design of the farm that the system is cut to fit. 

Fields beds containing multiple beds that are both long and wide are significantly more optimal use of space by prioritizing growing space and minimizing lawn or impermeable surfaces. Moreover, the same amount of building materials (such as cedar lumber used for raised beds) generates much more growing area when arranged in large fields containing multiple beds as opposed to many smaller, individual raised beds. 

When this isn鈥檛 possible or appropriate (due to accessibility or other needs), long beds are greatly preferable to wide beds or square beds. With a wide or square bed, a system using soaker hoses is a much better option than drip irrigation. Each connection (where a cut is made or a fitting is used) is a place where a leak can form, pressure can be lost, and maintenance will be inevitable. Remember, keep the design simple and straightforward. 

Typically and despite an honest effort, farms are rarely ADA accessible. They are often pretty hazardous to workers as well. Irrigation systems contribute to the hazards by creating many trip risks and are often destroyed by mowers. We strongly advocate for burying the mainline tubing 2-3 inches when they run between beds, or wherever it may create a trip hazard. This presents a problem: if there is a leak, the mainline will have to be dug up and reburied. It is, however, a preferable solution to hazards presented by the irrigation system. 

Maintenance

The following is a quick maintenance checklist you can implement on at your site: 

Task: Installation of fittings and drip tape. 

Interval: After the last hard frost, when your water can be turned on, or ~April 15. 

Notes: Freezing weather can damage systems, equipment, and hydrants. Systems can be reinstalled, and tested once ambient temperatures are above freezing. 

Task: Test the system.

Interval: Whenever a zone is completed, it should be tested. If there is a buried header, test before you bury. 

Notes: Check each connection, the inflation of the drip tape, check for leaks, and make sure the entire system is charging. This is done by going to the furthest point and seeing a properly functioning system.

Task: Site walk to check for leaks.

Interval: Weekly, and whenever a bed tended to (after harvests, after weeding, after mowing, etc.) 

Notes: If there is damage to the header or drip tape, either repair it with a sister or recycle it. Leaks always get worse. 

Task: Fittings and drip tape removal for winter storage.

Interval: By first hard frost, when your water access method calls for cessation of use, or October 31. 

Notes: The states that RPZs should not be used in freezing weather. It is at that time that your system should also be stored to prevent damage.

Task: Redesign of the system to meet your garden or farms鈥� needs. 

Interval: Anytime, but with special emphasis outside of the growing season. 

Notes: This can happen anytime, but is best done when there are no plants growing, and when you can give the design your focus. 

If you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns you are welcome to contact us at water@auachicago.org or visit the Water Access Program page for more information on all things water access.

鈥�Chicago Growers Listening Session: Co鈥慍reating Policy to Grow Our Future鈥�

March 13th at the Chicago Food Policy Action Council鈥檚 21st Food Justice Summit, AUA organized a listening session for the Urban Agriculture Plan.

Over the next few years AUA, in collaboration with partners throughout Chicago, will be focusing our efforts on co-creating an urban agriculture plan. The purpose of this listening session is to receive grower's feedback on experiences as a gardener or farmer in Chicago.

We are interested in hearing more about what challenges encountered as an urban farmer and what opportunities are envisioned for Chicago. We are gathering and collaborating on ideas that should be included in the urban agriculture plan to make growing food, medicine, habitat and ornamentals more accessible in Chicago.

We organized the session into break out discussions on soil health, water policy, resources needed for growers in Chicago. More details soon!

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To ensure reliable access to water, growers often seek access to municipal water via hydrants. For hydrant use, a  is required. In many cases, custodian caps (a magnetic lock secured to the top of a hydrant) have been placed on hydrants to prevent use whether or not the current person or organization seeking access caused the city to place the custodian cap on top of the hydrant in the first place. A collar, a metal band placed around the top of the hydrant to prevent turning with a key, functions the same as a cap. For more information regarding hydrant access broadly, please refer to the Chicago Growers Guide鈥擴pdated Hydrant Permit Policy. 

To request custodian cap removal, growers must meet the following requirements: 

• There cannot have been previous misuse of the hydrant. Misuse is not explicitly or publicly defined. 

• The alder of the ward where the hydrant is located must pen or email a letter of support on official letterhead to the Department of Water Management. 

• The applicant must be prepared to meet the other hydrant permit requirements which include permission to operate on the land from the land owner, up to date payment of property taxes, the ability to pay costs associated with hydrant permit (namely, the flat seasonal rate for usage and insurance).

If you or someone you know are seeking hydrant access, please check the right of entry status, and property taxes before seeking custodian cap removal. An HUP will not be issued even if a cap is removed if these requirements are not met. 

With all requirements met, protocol is as follows: 

• DWM will perform a site visit after the HUP application is received. 

• DWM Leak Desk will review the hydrant to confirm if there was any history of misuse or complaints for the hydrant.

• The commissioner of the DWM then reviews the removal request, and an invoice is sent to the individual, organization, or business that sought removal. In 2025, a payment of $950.00 is required to remove the cap. This figure is an estimate, and the actual amount is often between $50.00 and $200.00 more. 

• Payment must be made at a . 

• Following payment, a work order is placed, removal is scheduled, and the cap is removed. 

In many cases, removal from start to finish took over a calendar year. In some cases, removal took as little time as seven months. Because of this, it is advisable for growers to consider a multi-faceted approach to water access including sharing water, and rain water harvesting in the interim.

For support with custodian cap removal, be sure to fill out for tailored support. Please reach out to water@auachicago.org and if you have questions or encounter issues in the process of obtaining a hydrant permit.

In February 2020, the Department of Water Management (DWM) released a memo outlining changes to the Hydrant Permit Policy. These changes were made without consulting Chicago鈥檚 agricultural community and created several significant financial and administrative barriers for growers who normally access water from the hydrant. 

Since then, 海角社区 (AUA) has worked in coalition with farmers, gardeners, and food system leaders throughout Chicago to advocate for a more just and equitable hydrant permit policy. As a result of those efforts, the City recently established an (see page 2-3). For further reading on Chicago鈥檚 Municipal Code, please see section on hydrant usage. 

Updated hydrant policy as of February 2026

• There is an annual increase in the seasonal rate 3%-5% depending on Consumer Price Index (up from $136.16 in 2025 to $138.68 in 2026 for gardens under 3000 square feet, and an additional $59.49 in 2026 for every 3000 additional square feet up from $58.41 in 2025 ) that is applicable to both farms and gardens.

• Changes the RPZ certification requirement from every 6 months to once per year.  

• Removes the non-profit requirement for farms and gardens.

• Aligned zoning and water policy鈥揷ommunity gardens using the hydrant can be up to 25,000 square feet and can make 鈥榠ncidental sales.鈥�

The updated water policy does not:

• Provide funding support for the cost of RPZ purchase, installation or certification; or the purchase of a hydrant cap and key. If you require financial assistance, AUA may be able to help. 

• Recognize that the new process puts additional financial and administrative burdens on farms/gardens including  temporary hydrant use agreement, legal fees, insurance requirements, and a complex application process (see page 2).   

• Acknowledge that several large gardens and farms previously used 2 inch RPZ valves to ensure adequate water pressure and flow rate. The new policy requires the use of a 戮 inch RPZ valve.

• Guarantee timely removal of any custodian cap that may be present on a hydrant prior to permit processing. 

At AUA, we recognize that this updated policy still presents significant financial and administrative barriers for growers looking to access water via hydrants. That is why we are continuing to work in coalition with Chicago鈥檚 urban agricultural community and Department of Water Management to ensure a more equitable hydrant permit policy for the start of the 2026 growing season. 

Terminology on Hydrants and Access

Hydrant - A fixture in a street or other public place consisting of a barrel, valve, and 4 陆 in opening by which an individual may access a water main. There are 47,000 hydrants located in the City of Chicago. Only 18 inch high hydrants may be used via a Hydrant Use Permit (HUP).

Cross Connection - a point in a plumbing system where it is possible for a non-potable substance to come into contact with the potable drinking water supply. Ex. connecting a backflow device and hose to a hydrant for agricultural use. 

Backflow Prevention Device - A device used to prevent backflow (backsiphonage and backpressure). For growers in Chicago, a reduced pressure zone (RPZ) valve is required for HUPs.

Hydrant Use Permit (HUP) - The permit required for contractors to access water. Farmers and gardeners are considered contractors in the eyes of the City of Chicago. 海角社区 30 farms per year apply for water access via a hydrant.

Custodian Cap - A magnetic cap placed on the top of a hydrant functioning as a lock and preventing use. In 2025, a payment of $950.00 is required to remove the cap. This figure is an estimate, and the actual amount is often between $50.00 and $200.00 more. 

Potable Water - Water that is safe to drink. Potable and treated municipal water are often synonymously used.

Non-potable Water - Water that is unsafe to drink. In the eyes of the DWM, water that has left the hydrant is considered non-potable and should only be used for irrigation. 

2026 Temporary Hydrant Use Permit Application Process

The following information serves as a guide for acquiring necessary equipment and navigating the City鈥檚 updated hydrant permit policy. If your farm or garden is planning to apply, we encourage you to start the process early in the calendar year. Contact AUA鈥檚 Water Access Steward, Tucker Kelly, at water@auachicago.org, and AUA can support you throughout the process. Additionally, fill out this , and sign up for . 

AUA has secured funding to support growers with hydrant equipment costs. If your farm/garden is in need of funding support for RPZ鈥檚 or hydrant fittings and keys, please . Funds and equipment will be distributed on a first come first served basis. 

Before you begin, please determine if there are unpaid fines or taxes associated with the lot on which you intend to garden or farm. All fines and taxes must be paid up to date before an HUP can be approved. 

Step 1: RPZ Unit, Hydrant Fittings & Keys: 

The total cost of purchasing, installing, and certifying a reduced pressure zone (RPZ) backflow device is likely the single largest expense in the process of getting hydrant access. 

Prior to 2019, vacuum breakers could be used for backflow prevention. The new policy requires the professional installation and certification of an RPZ unit by a bonded Cross-Connection Control Device Inspector. Reach out to AUA if you鈥檇 like to provide or receive a plumber recommendation. 

After testing the device at the hydrant you intend to use, the plumber should provide you with a that notes the location of the hydrant and RPZ, the serial number of the RPZ, and indicates that the RPZ is certified. They will also submit necessary paperwork to the Department of Water Management. After getting your RPZ certified, a DWM inspector will visit your site (see Step 5) to inspect the RPZ and place a seal on the test sheet. The test sheet is a required attachment for the online hydrant permit application (see Step 5).

Hydrant fittings and keys can cost up to $300. In previous years, the Department of Water Management (DWM)  provided hydrant fittings, also known as caps, and keys to community gardens but they are no longer being distributed. A standard City of Chicago hydrant has a 4 陆鈥欌�� opening. In order to connect a hose to a hydrant, you may need 2 fittings and an RPZ. The fittings pictured on the right provide the appropriate gauge to reduce the 4 陆鈥� hydrant opening to a standard 戮鈥� hose. The fittings featured are a 4 陆鈥欌�� to 2 陆 鈥欌�� and a second fitting further reducing water flow from 2 陆 鈥欌�� to 戮 鈥樷��. 

Hydrant keys are available for purchase online in varying shapes. If you do not already have the necessary hydrant fittings and key, AUA can offer assistance finding alternatives.

 A custodian cap may need to be removed to access water from the hydrant. These caps are used to prevent illegal tapping of hydrants. As of 2024, the DWM requires a fee of $950.00 to remove a custodian cap. Similarly, if there is a collar on the top of the hydrant that prevents use, follow the same steps to remove as you would with a custodian cap. You can learn more about the process of removal here. 

AUA offers assistance in navigating the custodian cap removal process if you find that your closest hydrant has one. 

Step 2: Temporary Hydrant Agreement 

As part of the updated permitting process, the farm or garden will need to enter into a . If you do not own the land, work with the landowner to ensure you have permission to farm/garden on the land for the entire growing season. If you are operating a farm or garden on city-owned land a signed "right-of-entry" agreement with the City is needed. 

As part of this agreement, proof of insurance that is relevant to your operation (see page 4 of Temporary Use Hydrant Agreement) is needed. Importantly, insurance does not have to be in effect when applying for the permit, but you will need to show proof of insurance that meets the Agreement's requirements before the permit can be issued. AUA can provide you recommendations for insurance providers. 

Step 3: Create a statement on letterhead

Draft a statement on organizational letterhead stating that you are 鈥渁cknowledging, agreeing to, and shall follow all the General Rules for Hydrant Use鈥� and acknowledging that 鈥渨ater from hydrants is not potable water and shall be used for gardening only.鈥� Read the from the Department of Water Management for reference to this language. The following information should be included in your organizational letterhead: logo (if applicable), farm or garden name, mailing address, contact name, phone & email, date and a signature. 

Here is a suggested language for the letter: 

[Farm/Garden Name] hereby requests a temporary hydrant permit (HUP) to irrigate crops for the 2025 growing season. [Brief description of Farm/Garden]. The closest hydrant to our location is [address or cross streets of hydrant you wish to use]. We acknowledge, agree to, and shall follow all the General Rules for Hydrant Use. We also acknowledge that water from hydrants is not potable water and shall be used to grow crops only. 

Step 4: Submit the Application

Visit to access the online application. As part of the application, you will need to submit: 

• Your official statement on letterhead 

• RPZ test sheet

• The Temporary Hydrant Agreement

• A photo of the hydrant 

You will not need to purchase insurance until after the application is submitted. 

After your application is approved, you will receive an invoice emailed from the city that will need to be paid before a permit will be released. A link will be provided by the DWM to an online portal to make payment.

The one-time annual costs are as follows: 

• $136.16 in 2025 for gardens under 3000 square feet

• $58.41 for every 3000 additional square feet

Importantly, a permit will not be issued if the entity or landowner has any unpaid taxes, fines, etc. to the city, county, or state. 

For more support navigating the online application, . Instructions on how to fill out the application begin at minute 13:00. You can contact AUA鈥檚 Water Access Steward Tucker Kelly at water@auachicago.org, and AUA can support you throughout the process. Additionally, you fill out this , and sign up for . 

Step 5: DWM Site Visit: 

After receiving your online application, a DWM plumbing inspector will conduct a site visit with you to calculate your farm or garden鈥檚 square footage and inspect your RPZ device. Importantly, the inspector will calculate the total square footage of the lot鈥搃ncluding space between beds, uncultivated areas, etc. A member of AUA can be present with you at the site visit if you would like additional support. You will only have to complete this step the first time you apply for an HUP. Following your first successful application, you only need to submit the requisite materials for application. 

After conducting the site visit, the plumbing inspector from DWM will work with you to ensure a completed submission of your application by finalizing the Temporary Hydrant Agreement, proof of insurance, and payment of permit fee (based on square footage). 

Step 6: Stay Engaged!

Even with the updates to the policy, obtaining a hydrant permit from the City is a very challenging process. We encourage you to stay involved in our collective advocacy efforts to support urban agriculture in Chicago in 2026 and beyond. Our city government needs to hear your voice! It鈥檚 only through collective action that we can advance policies that give space for urban agriculture to thrive. 

Please be sure to for tailored support.  Do not hesitate to reach out to water@auachicago.org if you have questions or encounter issues in the process of obtaining a hydrant permit. 

The  for community gardens and farms is open, and NeighborSpace and 海角社区 are partnering to support growers with the crucial step (of which there are many!) of recertifying backflow devices.

From February 7-March 14:

Drop off your RPZ at the Center for between 8 am and 8 pm in the metal cart in the lobby. (Sometimes, the front desk clerk has stepped away and has locked the doors but should be back soon.) It鈥檚 recommended to call the front desk to let them know you are on your way at 1-312-743-7230.

After you drop your RPZ off,  please take a picture of your unit in the cart, note date and time, and email your garden information and photo of your unit with the serial number visible to water@auachicago.org and rcline@neighbor-space.org.

If you need a new RPZ, you can email the Water Access Steward at  water@auachicago.org. Reminder that first time HUP applicants will need an initial certification and site visit with the Department of Water Management, and are not applicable to recertification. 

Starting now:

Get your application started . You will need a simple letter from your garden to upload into the application.

Here is a suggested language for the letter: 

[Farm/Garden Name] hereby requests a temporary hydrant permit (HUP) to irrigate crops for the 2025 growing season. [Brief description of Farm/Garden]. The closest hydrant to our location is [address or cross streets of hydrant you wish to use]. We acknowledge, agree to, and shall follow all the General Rules for Hydrant Use. We also acknowledge that water from hydrants is not potable water and shall be used to grow crops only.

 If you don鈥檛 have your RPZ test certification yet, mention that in your letter. Also, upload a pdf that says 鈥淩PZ testing in process鈥�-  you can add the RPZ test certificate later. Make sure to keep track of your reference number that you will get via email. Your confirmation number and reference number are not the same thing, so just make sure you check AutoResponse@CityOfChicago.org in your junk mail if you are looking for your reference number. Please see the following image:

Next Steps:

A plumber will test RPZ鈥檚 for gardeners/ farmers the last 2 weeks of March and complete the paperwork that is required after the testing. Unlike in years past, this testing is not happening on one day and you do not need to be in person during this testing.

Pick up your RPZ after March 28, 2026  at 445 N Sacramento Blvd. You will have a report attached to the RPZ that you can now upload to the application. Simply take a photo/ scan with your note app on your phone, make sure everything is eligible, upload to application, and this will move you to the next step of the hydrant use permit application process.

As in years past, you will need to make sure you have insurance naming the water department and a legal agreement. If you are a NeighborSpace garden, let NeighborSpace know that you need a certificate of insurance for the water department by emailing rcline@neighbor-space.org. If you are not a Neighborspace garden. 海角社区 can supply references for insurance providers. 

Once the agreement is in place, and the tested RPZ document is in the system, DWM will confirm that the application is approved and ready for invoicing and will follow up with an invoice to the garden contact.

To pay online, go to this . Otherwise you can make payment at the   with two paper copies of the invoice, or pay at one of the four city of using your payment ID. Payment can not be made at EZ payment stations. 

Once the invoice is paid, the garden contact will send the receipt to the DWM who will then follow up with the actual HUP permit in an email.

For assistance with the process, you are welcome to reach AUA at water@auachicago.org.

You can find a step by step guide for HUP assistance here and an explainer on custodian cap removal here.

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ChiBlockBuilder颅颅 2026

The City of Chicago has published available parcels of land for sale through the ChiBlockBuilder Program Urban Agriculture Land Access Application.  All listed parcels have been cleared of phase I and II environmental testing.

To view all lots available visit ChiBlockBuilder

For lots approved for Urban Farms and Community gardens please review this excel sheet (additional tabs within sheet). 

For 2027, if you would like to request a city-owned lot to be listed for sale, the alder of the ward must give approval to the Department of Planning and Development 6 weeks (by February 13, 2027) before the ChiBlockBuilder Application opens on April 1st and October 1st of each year.

Additional links:

Zoning 101
Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights / AUA Collaboration




Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)

- Department of Planning and Development (DPD)

A Story too Common

It took two years, starting when she made her first call to Neighborspace, for Vera Watson to have the custodian cap on the hydrant outside Neighbor鈥檚 Way Garden, her Austin flower and vegetable garden, removed. The magnetic metal cap prevents opening with the standard hydrant or pigtail adjustable key. Why caps are placed on hydrants across the city is unclear. Often, 鈥渕isuse鈥� is the given reason by the Department of Water Management. In almost all cases, the grower seeking to start the often years long process for removal is not the reason the cap is placed on the hydrant in the first place, but they are the ones financially responsible for the removal. 

海角社区 (AUA) has supported Mrs. Vera with technical assistance to navigate the city鈥檚 processes for custodian cap removal, and permitting process for a Hydrant Use Permit (HUP). Through the water access program, AUA has provided the necessary equipment for hydrant access, funding to support cap removal, and rain barrels to help in the meantime. Certification of backflow devices for all seeking HUPs has also been provided through a partnership with Neighborspace.

As required by the Department of Water Management (DWM), partially completing an application for an HUP for use by farms and gardens is the first step in the process. This gets the applicant and hydrant of interest in the City鈥檚 system. Next, the DWM plumbing inspectors review the hydrant for any history of misuse, and, if the City is satisfied, the applicant can pay for the removal. As of 2024, $1,055.00 (up from $950.00 in 2023) is the fee required to have a custodian cap removed. 

In May 2024, Mrs. Vera鈥檚 cap removal was approved, and the fee was paid at the Office of the City Clerk. In July, the cap was removed. Mrs. Vera鈥檚 next steps were to complete the application for the HUP. By that time, it was too cost prohibitive and late in the year to pay the city鈥檚 annual rate for a permit and only be able to use the hydrant until October 31 when HUPs across the city expire due to the likelihood of freezing temperatures. 

So, a third calendar year passes and Neighbor鈥檚 Way Garden still doesn鈥檛 have access to water. 

Neighbor鈥檚 Way Garden

Before the lot was Neighbor鈥檚 Way Garden, it was a parking lot for the owner鈥檚 rusting cars. 鈥淗e had cars out here, and he was angry that we got together and had the city move them, because there were so many rats.鈥�

The landowner passed away, and the bank re-established control of the lot, but it remained vacant. 

Mrs. Vera, her grandson, neighbors, landscaper friends, and her block club took care of the lot, remediating the soil with wood chips, cutting the grass, removing unwanted plants, and hardscaping the borders of soon-to-be beds with chunks of sidewalk. The bank, impressed with their work, gifted her block club the $250.00 a month they would have paid landscapers. After fifteen years, the bank sold the lot to Mrs Vera for $6,000.00 in 2020. 

During the summers, Mrs. Vera鈥檚 grandson worked alongside her, doing all the odd jobs required to turn a vacant lot into a garden. 鈥淗e loved it over the summer. He would come here at 6:00 in the morning, and start working. He鈥檇 be through at 10:00, go home, take a shower, get his money, go and get him something to eat, and go home and take a nap, get dressed up, and at 4:00 come out and sit on the porch with me.鈥� 

Over the years many have been involved in Neighbor鈥檚 Way, but there is not an organization鈥揻ormal or informal鈥� taking care of the garden.

鈥淚鈥檓 just at the mercy of people helping me now.鈥�

Nor is there an organization financially backing the garden. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 been basically me taking my lunch money鈥攚hatever I could鈥攖o get it this far.鈥� 

Through thrift, sweat, and asking for help, Mrs. Vera鈥檚 garden has outgrown the lot where it started. It has traveled under the fences on three sides, into a neighbors鈥� yards, and onto the tree lawns nearly to the end of the block. Her garden features canna lilies, zinnias, day lilies, and, recently, vegetables Mrs. Vera gives away to her neighbors. Pink and red hibiscus, her most prized and prolific flower, is planted in nearly all parts of her garden, and her adjacent neighbors鈥� gardens. Every fall she buries them in wood chips she gets donated by tree cutters, and every spring she digs them, splits them, and the garden grows her neighbor鈥檚 way. 

Early Years

Mrs Vera grew up going to a , and on her family farm working truck patches of beans, peas, and okra in Mississippi. Her father, a farmer and carpenter, introduced her to gardening with a small plot and quarter. 

鈥淲hen I was 14, my dad built me a garden in the front yard, and I [...] I ordered seeds[.] You could get five packs of seeds for a quarter. So I taped a quarter to a piece of paper and put it in an envelope.鈥�

She moved to Chicago in 1967 with her husband. 

鈥淎nd when I got married and left home at 19 years of age, the four o'clocks were still blooming.鈥� 

She has spent all 57 years in three residences in Austin. She has always had flowers and a garden. 

鈥淚鈥檓 from the south, and my grandfather taught me that people live in places, and people stay in places,鈥� she says. 

She believes gardening creates community鈥揷onnection and a sense of place. For Mrs. Vera, a garden is both a means to an end and an end in itself. 

鈥淎 little old lady that lived across the street there, she would get up every morning and open those blinds right there. She had cancer, and it just did her heart good to look out here, and see it was just paper and grass, and how pretty the flowers was. And she died and she always tell me [...]: that鈥檚 what what encouraged [her] to keep going.鈥� 

And it keeps Mrs. Vera going as well. 

鈥淧eople who know me know I love beautiful things. So you can鈥檛 just give me anything. Give me the beauty. I鈥檒l take a flower over a dollar.鈥�

Today

In August, Chicago 鈥渉ad an average temperature of 83.7 degrees, which is 1.2 degrees above normal鈥�, and received 2.60鈥� of rainfall, 1.65鈥� fewer than average for August according to NOAA. Had it not been for Mrs. Vera鈥檚 practice of heaping wood chips around the base of her plants, many of the long established plants would have been severely stressed at best by the weather. 

An increasingly hot and unpredictable climate, a slow moving process for getting growers the access to water their farmers and gardens need, and a lack of policy to address these concerns and ease the process for water access at nearly every level of government means a difficult road for the senior gardener. But she is unmoved. 

鈥淚f you could do it in the dust of Mississippi, you can do it anywhere.鈥� 

Presently, Mrs. Vera has plans to start the application process (which must be completed annually) for an HUP in January, so she has all the necessary materials in place for the permit which can be issued as early as April 1. 

海角社区 supports emerging and established growers with technical assistance, mentorship programs, and the annual Capacity Building Grant. For more information on programs, contact us at outreach@auachicago.org.

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URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Protect Black Farmers and Indigenous Land in Pembroke Township Oppose HB 3404 to Stop the Nicor Gas Pipeline!

Pembroke farmers and residents need our collective support for their fight against legislation which seeks to bring costly and dangerous fossil fuel energy via a Nicor natural gas pipeline into Pembroke. The bill, HB 3404, threatens Pembroke鈥檚 world-renowned 3-biome ecosystem--home to the Kankakee Sands and blacks oaks savanna.As a result of Potawatomi and Black stewardship rooted in good relationship with the land and organic farming practices, the area has thrived as a sanctuary for many rare and endangered plant and animal species. Pembroke is also home to a deep history and tradition of Black freedom and self-determination. Founded by Joseph 鈥淧ap鈥� Tetter, wife Mary Eliza, and their children in 1862 after escaping from North Carolina prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, Pembroke Township served as a sanctuary for other runaway and freed enslaved people. The area was an important terminal for the Underground Railroad and experienced continued waves of Black migration through the Great Depression and Great Migration. Pembroke鈥檚 Black farmers continue to steward the land and grow self-sufficiency and self-determination using the knowledge and practices passed down through generations.鈥淧embroke people are resilient. They have deep roots in the local soil. Residents have much to teach the world about how to live as stewards of the land. Drawing on their rich culture and natural environment, community members work to create sustainable livelihoods for future generations.鈥�The community has been fighting off natural gas for over forty years to protect the environment and transition towards renewable energy and a sustainable future. HB 3404 would violate Pembroke鈥檚 residents self-determination and allow the proposed fracked natural gas pipeline to endanger Pembroke鈥檚 rare ecosystem and harm its historic Black farming community. Despite widespread opposition, minimal opportunities for community input, and failure to conduct and present impact studies, the legislation passed through the General Assembly with bipartisan support as a means of 鈥渆conomic development.鈥� Pembroke residents have made it clear that fossil fuel energy such as this pipeline have no place in Pembroke鈥檚 future. On the contrary, the calls for solutions such as renewable and efficient energy, sustainable food systems, and support for farmers.  鈥淧eople here love the earth. This natural gas pipeline has nothing to do with the wellbeing of our community. We don鈥檛 have to have it for our livelihood or economic development.鈥�The bill (HB 3404) now sits on the Governor鈥檚 desk. The future of Black farming in Illinois depends on your solidarity and action. 

We only have until August 29, 2021 to get calls and letters in opposition to Governor Pritzker. 

Below are 3 steps you can take. TAKE ACTION NOW 

1. Call the Governor鈥檚 office at 217-782-6830 to demand that Pritzker veto HB 3404 and ensure impact studies, public process, community involvement, and NO eminent domain

   1. Sample script from IEC: 

      鈥淎s a concerned resident of Illinois, I urge you to protect public safety, preserve pristine agricultural land, and prevent a utility rate increase by using your veto powers on HB3404. This legislation only offers a false solution to the very real problems faced by a community disinvested for decades. By giving a guaranteed contract to Nicor Gas to build unfettered into Pembroke township, the last remaining historically black farming community in Illinois, without scrutiny of relevant agencies, critical public safety protections, and only meager public input, Illinois residents will suffer. Instead of assessing alternatives, this bill would saddle Pembroke families and farmers with fracked gas infrastructure well past your proposed end date for gas in Illinois. As you know, it's time to invest in clean energy, not double down on harmful fossil fuels. Amending this bill is an important step in protecting Illinoisans from poor public health outcomes, rising utility costs and the increasingly perilous impacts of the climate crisis.鈥�

   2. Send email letters through the following pages:

      • Illinois Environmental Council:

      • Illinois Stewardship Alliance:

   3. Uplift Pembroke鈥檚 efforts against the Nicor natural gas pipeline by sharing these calls to action among your networks and social media platforms!

To learn more

1. WBEZ,

2. Chicago Sun-Times,

3. Natural Resources Defense Council,

Follow and support the organizations on the frontlines: 

Black Oaks CenterBlacks In GreenIllinois Environmental CouncilIllinois Stewardship AllianceNature Conservancy Pembroke Farming Family AssociationIyabo Farms