Ekar Farm connects people to community, and community to the earth. Ekar grows sustainably produced fruits and vegetables to address food insecurity. Rooted in the Jewish vision of creating a more environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually connected world, we believe these values and these tasks are EKAR, a Hebrew word that means “the most important thing.”

Ekar is relocating to a larger space on the campus of Shalom Park, an assisted living center in Aurora. Our new site will provide more space for crops and education, as well as opportunities for intergenerational programming. Additionally, it will allow us to better serve food-insecure communities that are geographically closer. Our new community has an average household income that is 50% lower than our current location, with a larger proportion of people living at or below the poverty level.

Relocation Timeline

Phase 1: October 2024 – Spring 2025

1) Work the soil

2) Develop an irrigation system

3) Build storage and install temporary infrastructure

4) Add fencing on the property

5) Deconstruct the current farm

6) Move tools, farm supplies and program materials

Phase 2: Spring 2025 – Summer 2025

1) Build a greenhouse

2) Finish the phase 2 planning process

3) Begin education and programming on new site

Phase 3: Summer 2025 – Fall 2025

1) Build an accessible, intergenerational garden space

2) Create, modify, and implement new educational programs

Phase 4: Fall 2025 – Summer 2026

1) Construct a Food Hub

2) Celebrate!

How much money is needed and by when?

Ekar needs to raise $320,000 by December 31, 2024 for phase 1 and 2.

Building accessible, intergenerational gardens and a Food Hub will cost an additional $750,000 and

needs to be raised by December 31, 2025.

How Judaism informs our work

Judaism began as an agrarian religion. Even today, our calendars follow a series of harvest cycles and celebrations.

The Jewish agricultural laws states that one’s land and produce are never entirely one’s own. Jewish farmers have an obligation to dedicate a certain percentage of one’s produce to feeding the poor, to leave some of the harvest in the fields for those in need, and place a limitations on agricultural production; allowing the land to rest every seven years.

As found in Judaism and in other religious and Indigenous traditions and texts, an earth-based, agriculturally centered justice system can create a just society. Our traditions tell us the earth can provide only to the extent we take care of each other, everyone who is hungry eats from all fields. These ideals for creating a society that systemically delivers equity for all remain urgent and relevant in our time.

The following Jewish values inform the why and how we do our work

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