Bloom a Community Garden for Farming Nutritious Produce and Fostering Fresh Relationships in the Neighborhood
From Dirt to Community: The Unifying Power of Loomis Street's Urban Oasis
With a city motto proclaimed as Urbs in horto, translating to "City in a Garden," the Loomis Street Community Garden blooms vibrantly, as a testament to Chicago's vibrant and collaborative communities. Strategically nestled in the heart of the West Loop, this communal space provides West Loop natives with an opportunity to plant, grow, and share not only fresh produce but also the camaraderie that the soil nurtures.
The dedicated efforts of the Skinner Park Advisory Council (SPAC), in conjunction with the Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago, sustain and enhance the garden, making Loomis Street the only public green haven in this fast-evolving neighborhood. This urban oasis boasts 30 land plots for rent and a communal garden area spanning approximately 25% of the total space, generously shared with neighbors in need, local food pantries, and seniors nearby.
Images: A raised garden bed ablaze with life, volunteers readying a generous planter
SPAC President May Toy, a long-time West Loop resident, attests that the garden has sparked new connections. "It's not about what we do for our neighbors,” Toy says, “it's about what they do for us by being part of this community."
Images: Volunteers laboring hand-in-hand under the sun
What lies beneath the Soil: The Essence of Community Gardens
Community gardens are the speckles of green life in urban landscapes where neighbors collaborate on shared spaces, sowing the seeds of teamwork and community development. These spaces represent urban agriculture and serve as a sanctuary of green, nurturing vibrant public spaces.
The roots of community gardening stretch back to the 1890s when Americans sought solace in these collaborative projects during times of recessions, wars, urban decay, and environmental injustice. Now, these green spaces offer a plethora of physical and mental health benefits, delivering a perfect balance of exercise, relaxation, and the simple pleasure of connecting with nature.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) endorses this communal spirit through its People's Garden initiative, gathering gardens nationwide that focus on local food production, sustainability, and enhancing community ties. The People's Garden's versatile forms range from food-producing plots, wildlife habitats, conservation areas, to outdoor classrooms. By joining the network, gardens gain access to resources, visibility, and knowledge sharing focused on sustainability, education, and local food resilience.
Images: A pollinator-paradise garden nestled among allotment plots
Seeds of Growth: The Intertwined Link between Food Access and Health
Community gardens can help bolster kids' access to a balanced diet and inspire them to expand their culinary horizons. Beyond the traditional garden crops, the Loomis Street Community Garden nurtures kid-friendly fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, and sensory plants like lavender and lamb's ear.
"We encourage kids to try things they might not usually," said Toy. "Encouraging them to grow their produce sparks curiosity, leading to healthier choices."
A 2016 study identified a correlation between living in food deserts and increased childhood asthma risk. Children without access to fresh produce experienced higher asthma rates. Another study suggested that a diet rich in plant-based foods like fresh fruits and vegetables could safeguard against asthma development and improve asthma symptoms.
Community parks also combat community-wide violence by providing safe havens for residents and fostering a sense of belonging and unity within neighborhoods. Sufficiently designed and maintained green spaces have the potential to reduce violent crime and gun violence, making communities safer places to live.
Images: Little community members gleefully harvesting tomatoes
From Roots to Fruits: The Benefits of Community Gardens Galore
A seed sprouting into a flourishing plant symbolizes the tremendous impact of planting a community garden within a neighborhood. A community garden holds the power to build a resilient local food system, while empowering residents to take charge of their shared spaces and celebrate their community's diversity.
SPAC gathers each National Public Lands Day to host annual park clean-ups, plantings, harvesting, and educational events to engage the community and preserve their beloved green haven. Every gardener renting a plot is obliged to devote 2.5 hours each month during the summer to assist with garden and park maintenance. Volunteers dedicate their Sundays to tending to the garden and preserving a clean and welcoming space.
"We are creating a better world for everyone here," said Toy. "At the end of the day, this garden is truly about people inspiring one another."
Despite the mounting demand for garden plots, SPAC distributes plants and seedlings to ensure the garden's bounty benefits as many people as possible. They also collaborate with other city programs, such as sharing plants with participants in the Chicago Police Explorers Program, ensuring the garden's reach expands within the Chicago community.
Images: A beautifully tended allotment plot
Ready to Blooming Sensation: Establishing Your Own Community Garden
Feeling that pang of inspiration to plant your roots deep within the soil of your very own community garden? Here are some valuable resources and advice from Toy to help you succeed:
"In the beginning, it can be challenging for people to grasp the essence of a community garden," Toy warns. "Communicating the message that it's about the community, not individual effort, is vital."
- Read "10 Steps to Starting a Community Garden" from the American Community Garden Association. Establish a planning committee, carry out a resource assessment, and set ground rules for participation to set things off on the right track.
- Become a Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador by following the straightforward steps to create a garden with educational lesson plans. You can submit photos and share your story in the Smithsonian Gardens' Community of Gardens digital archive.
- Connect with Master Gardeners trained by USDA's Cooperative Extension System. These volunteers offer gardening, planting, and harvesting wisdom nationwide. The Junior Master Gardener program empowers kids from every walk of life with hands-on gardening education.
- Visit Your Local Cooperative Extension, managed by your state's land-grant university and a network of local or regional offices staffed by experts in gardening and nutrition.
- Remember to check with your local extension office to ensure that your soil is safe for growing before you embark on your gardening journey.
- Consult USDA's online "VegU" resource library for a wealth of information and resources to expand your garden knowledge.
Toy shares a few insights gleaned from her years of volunteer leadership for the garden:
- Combating theft requires opening the garden to the community, fostering a shared sense of ownership.
- Balancing the garden's finances calls for a dash of frugality and a pinch of creativity. Seek out in-kind donations, and invest garden fees back into the garden. Together, we can cultivate a brighter and greener future.
"Today, the [Loomis Street Community Garden] stands as one of the reasons that people feel attached to this community," said Toy. "This garden is for everyone."
Images: Floriestation amidst the ornamental flower garden of Loomis St. Community Garden.
Health and Environment Sustainability
- Community gardens, such as the Loomis Street Community Garden, serve as speckles of green life in urban landscapes, promoting urban agriculture and fostering vibrant public spaces through collaboration and teamwork.
- Rooted in the 1890s, community gardening emerged as a response to challenges like economic recessions, wars, urban decay, and environmental injustice, offering physical and mental health benefits, and connecting residents with nature.
- By joining the People's Garden network, initiated by the US Department of Agriculture, community gardens can gain access to resources, visibility, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities focused on sustainability, education, and local food resilience.
- Community gardens, like Loomis Street, can help children access a balanced diet and cultivate curiosity about fresh produce, which can lead to healthier choices and reduce the risk of asthma and other health issues.
- Well-designed and maintained community gardens can combat violence and improve community safety by providing safe havens and fostering a sense of belonging.
- Dedicated volunteers at community gardens, like the Loomis Street Community Garden, contribute to maintaining the garden, preserving clean and welcoming spaces, and inspiring one another, reflecting the values of resilience, sustainability, and environmental education.
- To establish a successful community garden, one can consult resources such as the American Community Garden Association's "10 Steps to Starting a Community Garden," becoming a Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador, connecting with Master Gardeners, and visiting their local Cooperative Extension, while ensuring the soil is safe for growing food by checking with the local extension office.
