EVERYBODY DESERVES GOOD FOOD
sola gratia means by grace alone, and thus
. . . may we share our gifts with the hungry.
. . . may we be good stewards of the earth.
. . . may we build a community of cooperation and care.
Nearly 30,000 residents of Champaign County alone are living in food insecurity.
Sola Gratia Farm started out in 2012 with four acres and a prayer, but from the very beginning we have been true to our mission of sharing our bounty with those in need and being good stewards of the land.
Much has changed in thirteen years but we continue to work hard to bring food and education to those in need, as well as the entire community.
We have more than 250 families in our weekly CSA membership now, and sell produce at the Urbana Market at the Square as well as other retail and wholesale outlets. Even more importantly, by the end of November, 2025, we have already donated more than 19,000 pounds of fresh produce this year alone to 15 partner organizations, including the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Wesley Food Pantries, the Jubilee Café, plus our own free neighborhood markets.
We grow food all year long. With our new land and facility, we can now do even more.
The more you give, the more families we can feed with healthy, local produce grown by organic standards.
for another way to support us, consider
THE EDIBLE WINDBREAK PROJECT
Putting Down Roots for Future Generations
Someday we will look back at pictures of our new farm from the current day and marvel at how simple and bare it all looked. Hard to imagine, isn’t it, given that it’s already full of vigorous, healthy produce? However, this fall, with the help of over 80 volunteers, we planted 472 trees for our edible windbreak (eventually a total of over 1200 will be planted including our perennial alley cropping). Envision our farm surrounded by diverse and productive fruit trees, nut trees, and evergreens!
Why support our Edible Windbreak Project?
Lasting Impact: Trees planted today will bear fruit and nuts for years to come.
Diversity and Resilience: A mix of species means a healthier ecosystem.
Protection: The trees will create a windblock for our crops.
Sustainability: wildlife habitat, water conservation, soil protection, carbon sequestration and shade cooling.
Your support, by sponsoring a tree, will help us plant roots—literally and figuratively—that will benefit our community for generations to come. You can sponsor a tree for a minimum of $100 per tree. Your tree will have a permanent tag with the name of whomever you would like to honor.
What are we planting in the windbreak?
Pawpaw
Spicebush
Norway Spruce
American Plum
Northern Pecan
Swamp White Oak (sold out)
Hybrid Poplar
Crab Apple
Juneberry
Willow
Dogwood
Persimmon
Given that we are a working farm you won’t always be able to visit your tree, however we will hold an open house every year when you can visit your tree on the farm and see how it is growing.
