Meet the 2019 Cookfresh Community Urban Garden Grant Recipients
Imperial Towers Community Garden, located in Chicago, is a community garden set in a concrete urban setting. Residents look to foster personal connections and add beautification to their property through individual and cooperative growing spaces with the purpose of bringing fresh produce, herbs, flowers, and learning opportunities to its gardeners, as well as peaceful observation to all residents. Grant funds will be used to purchase seedlings, tools, plantings, and supplies for the garden.
Urban Autism Solutions-Growing Solutions Farm, located in Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhood, is an urban ag and vocational learning site that is specifically designed for young adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is a 1.2-acre farm with over 100 raised beds, fruit trees, cooling, and hoop house with classroom space. Grant funds will be used to purchase seedlings and mulch for the garden’s beds.
Roots Community Garden is located in Palatine. The garden is a collaboration among many community businesses, churches, agencies, schools, and volunteers providing food for the underserved in Palatine while providing educational opportunities and hands-on activities for all volunteers. Grant funds will be used to purchase seeds, plantings, flowers and gardening supplies to be used in the garden.
Smart Farm of Barrington is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run educational farm with an annual garden that provides produce to neighbors in need while educating the community about the benefit of local food, sustainability, and a healthy lifestyle. Grant funds will be used to purchase seed, soil, and mulch for the garden.
Sankofa Community Garden, located in Chicago’s Wrightwood neighborhood is a new community garden created to provide space for community members to learn gardening practices and grow healthy food for themselves and their families in an effort to support education, nutrition, exercise, fresh food availability, and more in their neighborhood. Grant funds will be used to purchase plants, seeds, tools, and materials to support plant life.
Sauk Village Community Garden will join families to learn about gardening: healthy eating and cooking: and planting to harvesting fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits while learning horticulture techniques. The garden looks to add more beds to extend their vegetable production. Grant funds will be used to purchase fresh soil, tomato cages, mulch, and garden tools.