DeKalb County Community Gardens, a relatively new local non-profit, was one of three North American community garden projects from all across North America to receive a $15,000 grant. DCCG was chosen from a field of nearly 100 community garden projects in the U.S. and Canada.
The Gardens for Good competition was sponsored by Nature’s Path, an organic foods company based in British Columbia, Canada. The gardens were chosen based on the number of on-line votes they received, and also based on the work their project does. After the on-line competition narrowed down the gardens from nearly 100, to nine. Then a panel of judges studied the grant applications and the work of the nine projects. The judges then selected three to receive $15,000 each to continue their work, one from Canada and two from the United States. The other U.S. winner is Occupy Madison Village Garden in Madison WI.
“We are very grateful for everyone who took time to vote for DCCG every day earlier this summer. This is truly a community award, grant, and honor.” Said Dan Kenney, executive director of DeKalb County Community Gardens.
DCCG was formed in 2012 as a grass roots effort to provide increased access to fresh grown vegetables for food insecure individuals and families. Since their beginning DCCG has expanded to establishing gardens in over 50 locations all around the County. DCCG has put in and helps coordinate gardens at schools, churches, low-income housing sites, food pantries, senior citizen facilities, day-cares, community meal sites, businesses, and municipalities. The community garden group has worked with partners that include churches, businesses, schools, Kishwaukee hospital and health system, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb County Community Action Office, DeKalb County Health Department, RAMP. Opportunity House, DeKalb County Mental Health Board, DeKalb County Community Foundation, DeKalb County Farm Bureau, Dawn Equipment, The Doug and Lynn Roberts Family Foundation, The Gracie Center, nursing homes, food pantries, low-income housing sites, and municipalities, over 70 partnerships in all.
This past year DCCG also launched their Walnut Grove Vocational Farm Program, which provides horticulture and agriculture training for individuals with special needs. The participants learn skills that allows them to become more engaged in the community. The farm has two greenhouses, an acre of vegetables, orchard, and produce stand. The farm also has a ten acre savannah oak prairie restoration project underway. Participants can come as individuals or as a part of their transition programs. The program also provides individualized training programs to facilitate career training. The farm is located at 33600 Pearl Street, just north of Kirkland. The farm is open 9am to 1pm Friday and Saturday for vegetable u-pick. Also the farm has high quality mums, fountain grass, and flowering kale for sale.
In their first four growing seasons DCCG has raised over 70,000 pounds of fresh food for food pantries and community meal sites. This was accomplished with the help of over 300 volunteers a year.
“DCCG is truly an example of a community project! It is a great model for bringing people together to address a community issue. The community gardens assist in the fight to end hunger in DeKalb County, but also helps address issues related to health, the environment, local economy, and social issues. I often say, that all areas of a community come together in the gardens.” Kenney added, “This project would not be possible if it were not for the support of the community in so many ways. We cannot say thank you enough!”
DeKalb County Community Garden‘s annual Local Flavors Harvest Benefit will be on Sunday September 18th at Tapa La Luna. Tickets are available through the Egyptian Theatre here.
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