Final report for ONC25-171
Project Information
In this project, Sola Gratia Farm (SGF) partnered with 6 vegetable growers in Champaign County, Illinois, in order to educate on and demonstrate how sustainable growing practices can enhance their capacity to supply food. Partner gardens were participants in Solidarity Gardens, a collaborative initiative managed by Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office (CTSO), SGF, Urbana Park District, and Champaign Park District to increase local food production. Solidarity Gardens collaborates with 1) skilled gardeners to support them in increasing production of nutritious, fresh, local produce, and 2) emerging gardeners to develop food production skills in order to address their and their neighbors’ food needs. Working with the first group (our partner gardens), we identified gaps in knowledge and skills needed to support garden productivity and developed 6 hands-on educational workshops to educate on these topics (which included seed starting, season extension, seed saving, season planning, companion planting, recommendations for growing high-value crops, measures for maximizing tomato production, and networking for mutual support among gardeners). These workshops were advertised to the public and especially gardeners in the second group (our larger network), reaching nearly 100 new and intermediate gardeners and providing all participants with opportunities to discuss and address challenges of managing a small-scale growing operation to be ecologically and economically sustainable while ensuring gardener well-being. The 6 workshops and a further 4 gardener gatherings helped gardeners gain skills while increasing networking and relationship-building.
All participants in the workshops and gatherings learned new skills and several followed up with us by sharing ways they implemented these techniques in their gardens. Additionally, a number of participants became more involved in Solidarity Gardens. Since Solidarity Gardens operate on an entirely voluntary basis, opportunities for connection have been valuable in helping interested individuals gain confidence and support to engage with the project and ensure continued food production into the future.
- Educated nearly 100 growers on agricultural methods that are economically viable, ecologically sound, and maintain gardener wellbeing.
- Assisted 6 growers to implement and maintain sustainable agriculture methods in their gardens, materially increasing their sustainability and mitigating pressing challenges that prevent them from operating their gardens at a high level of productivity.
- Deepen relationships between growers by collaboratively planning and practicing how to grow more sustainably.
- Develop capacity at SGF for future grower education on sustainable agricultural practices.
Cooperators
Research
N/A
N/A
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
SGF hosted a total of 6 on-farm workshops/field days in 2025 and early 2026 to educate beginning and intermediate growers on a variety of topics related to managing farms and gardens for maximum productivity and effectiveness. Topics of workshops included: seed starting, season extension, seed saving, season planning, companion planting, recommendations for growing high-value crops, and measures for maximizing tomato production. Topics were chosen based on conversations between SGF staff and growers participating in Solidarity Gardens to address the most significant skill gaps affecting productivity. Workshops were also open to the public, and especially advertised to individuals who had worked with Solidarity Gardens before. Each workshop included a comprehensive overview of the topic at hand, including hands-on demonstrations. Participants were provided brief technical guides to take away as well as supplies to implement the discussed techniques in their gardens. Workshop attendance was substantially higher than projected, and multiple attendees went on to become more involved in the Solidarity Gardens, including one attendee who became a part-time staff person supporting other gardens.
In addition, 4 gatherings were held for Solidarity Gardens participant growers to discuss challenges and share experiences and skills. Attendees of these gatherings worked together to troubleshoot problems, share successful practices, and discuss needed resources. Discussions included sharing best practices for applying soil amendments, recommendations for irrigation systems for different spaces, creating plans for collaborative resource access (such as bulk seed purchases for multiple growers), companion planting and row cover for pest management, and the viability of various mulches for weed suppression. These gatherings were valuable as they provided gardeners an opportunity to address timely issues throughout the season. There were some leadership transitions among Solidarity Gardens over the course of the project, and gatherings also helped to provide a support network for new leaders.
To extend the reach of the project efforts, the technical guides produced for the workshops were intentionally created to serve as standalone educational items after the completion of the project, allowing them to be shared broadly with future Solidarity Gardens growers, through SGF's many partnerships with gardeners, farmers, and food system leaders, and on SGF and/or Solidarity Gardens' website. Three of the six guides were also translated into Spanish and French, providing additional reach to gardeners that primarily read in those languages. Also, due to the popularity of the workshops, additional funding has been acquired to offer repeat workshops (with some additions) throughout 2026.
Learning Outcomes
soil amendments
disease prevention
season extension
seed saving
companion planting
seed starting
crop planning
trellising
Project Outcomes
By creating a framework for gardeners to gain skills, troubleshoot problems, and seek technical support, the project has (and will continue to) improved the ecological and economic sustainability of gardens that are key to enhancing the local food supply. Growers have informed us that they have implemented practices they were taught in order to decrease labor needs, improve plant health, increase productivity while managing costs, and support long-term planning and natural resource conservation. Plans are in place to continue to offer the workshops and gatherings and share the technical guides that were developed during the project, which we anticipate will continue to amplify the project's effectiveness.
Additionally, the workshops and gatherings created a space for new gardeners to gain skills and confidence and make connections with established gardeners, supporting growth of the labor and leadership force in small-scale growing locally. Several workshop attendees went on to become active participants in Solidarity Gardens, in part because the project provided resources and created a network of trusted technical support providers to assist them. We are seeking ways to maintain this aspect beyond the project period, as we believe it is significant in increasing garden productivity.
Information Products
- Growing Food Security: Champaign County Partnerships with Sola Gratia Farm
- Tomato Management Guide
- Seasonal Planting Guide
- Garden Planning Guide (English)
- Garden Planning Guide (Spanish)
- Garden Planning Guide (French)
- Garden Planning and Companion Planting Presentation
- Seed Starting Guide
- Seed Saving Guide
- Common Crop Growing Guide