Prospect Heights Community Garden plans to grow

The Prospect Heights Police Outreach Program Community Garden enabled 12 families to grow their own organic vegetables. One of the garden plots, tended by the Prospect Heights Garden Club, provided fresh vegetables for distribution at the food pantry.

The police outreach program thanked the city council for approving the idea; the Chicago Executive Airport for allowing use of the land; the garden club for providing a $500 grant; Pesche's Garden Center for donating more than $300 in plants, seeds and compost; and Fries Automotive Center for donating a 250-gallon water tank.

"It has been a very heartwarming experience to see families and friends help each other dig, plant, and nurture their plants," said Marcia Jendreas of Prospect Heights Police Outreach. "Current gardeners and other residents are asking to continue and expand this program next year, and we hope to grow the garden to about 24 10x10-foot plots."

Next year, the Indian Trails Library hopes to offer on-site gardening classes for kids. Applications for plots will be available at the library after Jan. 10.