Growing Chicago Gardens at Morganway Community Garden

September 24, 2012 12:30 pm CT

By Guest Blogger Jeannette Kravitz, founder of OurEcoWorld.org and Executive Director of sponsorKIDS Charities 

On September 12, my friend and volunteer, Angela, and I were invited to be part of a gardening adventure with the Driving the Midwest team. Volunteers like us traveled to the South Side of Chicago to help reinvigorate the Morganway Community Garden. During the event, we shopped at Lowe’s, picking up beautiful arbors, planter boxes, roses, lavender and more to help finish what garden president Juanita Love and nonprofit NeighborSpace started fifteen years ago.

A big thrill for us was the chance for Angela to drive the amazing GMC Sierra truck to Lowe’s for the pick up. Angela is petite, and being in a truck for the first time, especially a luxury one, was something she will never forget. What a great sport she was. We sent photos to her family in Romania; they will surely get a big kick out of Angela in such a big truck! Knowing her the way I do, her family wouldn’t expect anything less!

Together with the Driving the Midwest and GMC teams, we spent the afternoon digging and planting. Many neighbors stopped by in appreciation and to chat, but it was us who truly got the most out of this day. The garden provides a place of peace in their neighborhood, and it’s truly a place for the community to come together. We left it a little better for them at the end of the day.

Without a host of volunteers and companies like GMC and Lowe’s, this work would have been more difficult and the accomplishments would have been fewer. I appreciate the sponsors who made it possible for me and Angela to do positive things with urban farming in this community. The more people we get connected to community gardens, farm2table and farm2school efforts, the more our city comes together in harmony. Thanks to all who made this happen!