Growing a Future

Growing a Future

Summary

We have started with an afterschool group of 4th through 5th graders. We had two sustainable agriculture farmers come in and talk with the students about what is sustainable agriculture and how it is different from the agriculture they see happening around them in our county. They also did a seed starting activity with the kids. The seedlings will be transplanted soon to the school garden.

We also had a community seed starting event in March. We had adults, young adults, teens, and small children together making seed blocks, planting, labeling, etc. It was a great event. We then took the seeded trays to the local high school for the FFA students to tend in the greenhouse. When they were completed we then planted them in our large four acre community garden.

We have expanded our project to include over 36 different sites, totaling 10 acres. We are working with over 40 different partners and sponsors throughout the county.

DeKalb County Community Gardens (DCCG) is partnering with the DeKalb County Community Services Department and the County WIC program to have a large garden at the outreach campus. On April 27 we had over 50 volunteers of a wide age range from 80 plus years old to 3 year olds. We built 30 garden beds, filled them and planted 14 of them. These will provide educational, and leadership skill opportunities to many young people as we are partnering with Northern Illinois University students on this project as well.

DCCG is also partnering with the DeKalb Youth Service Bureau to involve at risk youth in caring for two garden sites, our Mayor’s community garden behind city hall, as well as a near by senior citizens day care facility. The youth will have leadership building activities as well as providing a valuable community service.

DCCG is also partnering with the local YMCA, where we are expanding to 8 garden beds, and involving youth in the summer program. We will be holding mini farmers markets at the Y for when parents pick up children they can also visit the farmer’s market to buy produce the children raised in their gardens at the Y.

Another partnership has been formed with the city of Genoa, in the northern part of our county and with their local park district. Together we are converting a vacant city block into a large 70 bed community garden as well as another farmer’s market. This project will involve the local youth from the schools, the sports teams, and FFA in helping to raise and sell the food.

We have learned the time is right for providing these opportunities. The projects above are only a few of the many great projects this effort has led to. Our greatest obstacles is keeping it all coordinated and moving forward; and of course dealing with the weather conditions.

DCCG has held Garden Build Orientation Day where we had over 45 attend to learn the steps of building raised beds, and planting. We also arranged for a local sustainable farmer present on natural farming practices.

The local media has run several articles on the work of DCCG and the many gardening project we have hosted.

We will also be holding educational programs. DCCG, in connection with the local University of Illinois Extension, will be offering programs covering watering tips, growing information, canning and freezing materials, etc. before our bi-monthly meetings.

DCCG has taken the lead in forming a DeKalb County Local food Security Council. The council is made up of representatives from the local food pantries, community meal locations, Live Healthy DeKalb County initiative, the university, and others who care about the issue of food security.

Work Plan for Next Year
Over the next year we have many objectives. They include working toward becoming self-sustaining by producing produce that can also be sold to local restaurants, and stores. The goal of DCCG is to rely less on grants and more on providing a continuous and sustainable revenue stream. Making this change will allow DCCG to employ local citizens and broaden our impact on the community.

DCCG is also beginning the process of forming a partnership with the DeKalb County Forest Preserve and Northern Illinois University to create a sustainable agriculture farm and learning center. We hope to take over 10 to 20 acres of forest preserve land and develop a learning center that can serve the experiential, research, and service learning needs of local school districts, NIU Environmental Studies, community college, and others in our region.

Collaborators: