THE ROOF CROP FOUNDATION

THE ROOF CROP FOUNDATION

THE ROOF CROP FOUNDATION

THE ROOF CROP FOUNDATION

THE ROOF CROP FOUNDATION

Creating community-oriented green spaces to build thriving urban communities and help mitigate climate change.

Our Apiaries

Every green space needs pollinators.

Our mission, in partnership with The Hive Supply Company, is to install as many hives as we can, and to support and rejuvenate collapsing bee populations. Today, we manage over 100 hives in Chicago, providing maintenance, honey, and honey-based products to our communities and to the partners that host our hives.

All profits from the purchase of TRCF honey and honey infusions go toward our grant fund, which develops apiary programs for schools and community gardens.

Our Community

Our newest project is a Community Hive in Muster Point, a thriving gathering point located in East Garfield Park.

Here, we’re centred around a propagation greenhouse that will serve as the headquarters for our Urban Agriculture Plant Start program. In addition to the propagation house, Muster Point will have an outdoor gathering space where small community businesses and non-profit organizations can host events or sell their goods.

EDUCATION

We’re not just cultivating spaces, we’re cultivating minds! In partnership with local community organizations, our Urban Agriculture Plant Start program educates hundreds of students from across the Chicagoland area. We teach them urban farming practices, provide insight into where our food comes from, and share the benefits of sustainable agriculture and seasonality.

Young adults participating in our program help harvest on the rooftop farm, engage in live demonstrations, and participate in cooking and eating the food they harvested at our onsite partner restaurant, Maxwell’s Trading.

DONATE HERE

As a token of our appreciation for your support, TCRF will send you a little something back. Because as the say, it´s nice to give, but even nicer to receive.

View our current Donation Gifts below; your donation receipt will include the tax-deductible value of your contribution.

Block Image
WITHA $50 DONATION

The Roof Crop Honey

A honey sampler stack with a trio of 2oz jars of raw honey, hot honey, and rosemary honey.

Block Image
WITHA $100 DONATION

The Roof Crop Honey

Pick two of our most popular 8oz jars of honey with a dipper.

Block Image
WITHA $250 DONATION

Chocolate and Honey Sampler

Choose two of our 8oz jars of honey, plus receive a five piece box of chocolates curated in collaboration with Katherine Anne's Confections.

Block Image
WITHA $500 DONATION

The Roof Crop Gift Box

A deluxe 'Bee My Honey' gift box featuring a five piece box of chocolates, our raw chili pepper infused and our raw rosemary infused honey blend.

Block Image
WITHA $1000 DONATION

Third season workshops

Receive a ticket to 2 complimentary Third Season by The Roof Crop workshops.

Block Image
WITHA $1500 DONATION

Dinner at Maxwells

A private tour of The Roof Crop greenhouse and garden, dinner at Maxwells for eight people.

sponsored hives

Since their donation in 2022, the hives at Kenwood Gardens have produced more than 1,600 pounds of honey! In 2026 TRCF will support a CPS elementary school in establishing its own apiary and provide hands-on education for students about beekeeping and pollinators.

VOLUNTEER WITH TRCF

The Roof Crop Foundation is seeking volunteers to support plant propogation, apiary care, community education events, and fundraising initiatives. Explore our volunteer opportunities and complete the Volunteer Intake Form to get started.

HIVE EXTRACTIONS

Each fall, The Roof Crop Foundation hosts honey extraction events at our partnering gardens and buildings. From removing frames from the hives to spinning them in our hand extractor, participants experience the process firsthand. This event engages the curiosity of our community members and offers a chance to get up close with their neighboring bees.

recent educational partnerships

Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwells Trading works with a cohort of students from the Gary Comer Youth Center.

Community volunteers learn about our favorite pollinators, bees, while assisting in foundation efforts.

The Roof Crop Foundation in the News

Photo Credit: Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago

The Roof Crop, Maxwells Trading Partner To Teach South Side Youth Interested In Urban Ag Careers

CONSULTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ericka Schnitzer-Reese

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Erling Wu-Bower

APIARY COORDINATOR

AJ Appeldoorn-Orozco

THE ROOF CROP FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James Hughes, President

Tracy Boychuk, Secretary

Cynthia Salvatori, Treasurer

Chris Abraham

Warren Aftahi

Kirk Bacastow

Kerry Fitzpatrick

Nicolette Jurgens-Tamminga

Rich Pryce-Jones

Josh Tilden

THANK YOU FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF OUR GENEROUS DONORS

LG Group

Midwest Groundcovers

Midwest Trading

Columbia Green

Jonathan Ford

Chrysti Eigenberg

Lynsey Sorrell

Lauren Wolven

Kirk Bascatow

Sam Irwin

Alex DeSorbo-Quinn

Petros Kaimakis

Nicolette Jurgens-Tamminga

Paula Miller

Chris Craven

Ellen Alderman

Elaena Hoekstra

Cynthia Salvatori

Jennifer Albert

Rick Baylis

Victoria Moore

Joshua Moreno

Caroline Mears