Recent Community Involvement

Levy Vegetable GardeN

In 2021, GCE members designed and planted a demonstration garden of eight raised vegetable beds at the Levy Senior Center on Dodge in Evanston.  GCE volunteers are there from 9 to10:30  a.m. on Mondays and Fridays starting in May to mentor volunteers who are interested in vegetable gardening.  As a bonus we interact with people in the community when they stop by to share their stories and recipes from childhood. Starting in June the Levy Senior Center hosts a farm stand run by Evanston Grows to give away locally grown, free organic vegetables.

FOUNDERS FUND

GCE’s Founders Fund project proposal focused on two initiatives aimed at increasing the amount of fresh, organic produce that our partner, Evanston Grows (EG), can grow in community food gardens and share with local, food-insecure residents. The first involved the establishment of a new urban food garden on an untended plot of land next to the Vineyard Church in Evanston’s 8th Ward. With materials purchased with the Founders Fund, along with the hard work of Evanston Grows staff, GCE members and countless community volunteers, we are pleased to report that the Vineyard food garden has become a reality! In addition to Vineyard, the Founders Fund was awarded to support the expansion of one of EG’s existing food gardens at Eggleston Park. EG has also realized this project, doubling the size of Eggleston and making other needed amendments there. With the increased productivity of both Vineyard and Eggleston, EG shared well over 4 tons of fresh, organic produce with those in need in 2023 – double what it shared the year before!

In addition to these garden projects, the Founders Fund was to help EG realize educational projects and programs directed at making gardening – and its benefits – more accessible to all. Over the coming months, EG is planning the installation of a butterfly garden and a native garden at Eggleston as well as programs this winter for seniors around topics such as “food as medicine” and healthy eating.

GCE and EG are thrilled to have this opportunity to work with GCA to promote the growth of urban, community food gardens.