Raised bed gardens are installed in a vacant lot across from the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin. Volunteers from the Nielson Corporation assisted. Elgin is piloting using vacant lots for community gardens. Children from the Boys and Girls Club will learn gardening skills as they grow food.
Funds were awarded to garden projects to improve accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Lifespring Ministries in Aurora installed a garden and changed food policies requiring more fruits and vegetables to be used in communal meals.
- Assi Homes-Batavia Apartment uses their garden produce to stock their on-site food pantry. They have also installed playground equipment.
- Village of Gilberts launched an effort to boost backyard gardens.
- Western Avenue School in Geneva installed its garden. It includes an orchard, berry bushes, and space for the children to grow produce. The garden has been integrated into school curriculum.
- The Elgin Community Garden Network in cooperation with the City of Elgin installed new gardens for the 2012 season.
- Highland Fellowship Church installed gardens onsite. The gardens will serve low income neighbors and include food preservation classes.
- Pushing the Envelope Farm provided hands on, demonstrations classes for children throughout the county on the value of growing food. Children planted their own micro greens to take home.