Photo Credit: David Raica and Cary Park District
When the Cary Park District—located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago—first dreamed of community gardens, they were just considered resident rental-garden plots. A larger idea germinated, however, and eventually the Cary Park District-Hoffman Park Give Back Demonstration Gardens were born. Now in the gardens’ fifth season, volunteers have harvested approximately 5,000 pounds of fresh organic produce and donated it to the Cary-Grove Food Pantry.
A variety of volunteers serve the 600-square-foot garden space to provide fresh produce. In fact, the concept really took off when we invited members of the Northern Illinois Special Recreation District (NISRA) to tour the gardens. They took a keen interes,t and before we knew it, we had visitors and helpers at the gardens from all walks of life.
Here are a few things the park district learned along the way about demonstration gardens: