Community agencies launch garden with food pantry customers

Saturday, June 4, is planting day for 10 families looking forward to learning how to grow their own vegetables.

Nunda Township has donated part of its township garden plot to a pilot program launched by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, University of Illinois Extension and several other community partners, including McHenry County Department of Health.

Dubbed "Garden Connect," the program joins Crystal Lake Food Pantry patrons interested in garden tips with volunteer gardening experts interested in sharing their know-how.

According to Carol Waggoner, a registered nurse from McHenry County Department of Health and a Garden Connect pilot team member, "Garden Connect is a win for everyone involved. Not only do families get to keep the food they grow, the coordinating organizations reap the reward of seeing people acquire a multitude of benefits gained by growing and eating vegetables."

Benefits to Garden Connect participants are many. Gardening fosters a sense of camaraderie and community, good old-fashioned fun. Indirect health benefits include fresh air and exercise. Add to that the sense of accomplishment gained from learning a new skill.

Garden Connect is the brainchild of Shelbi Ball, AmeriCorps Vista Volunteer with the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Shelbi reached out to the University of Illinois Extension who offered volunteer Master Gardeners to provide their expertise and is supplying nutrition education, including recipes.

Jacqui Hebein, area manager from the Northern Illinois Food Bank met with the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, which enthusiastically promoted the project to customers. Also on board is the McHenry County Medical Reserve Corps. The MRC is contributing volunteers, medical and nonmedical, to help with garden-related tasks and educating gardeners about the health benefits they can expect.

Brenda Dahlfors, Master Gardener program coordinator from U of I Extension, said "Garden Connect is a project in its infancy. We're excited to be part of the ground floor of this pilot, which we hope to expand to multiple locations next year. Our Master Gardeners are thrilled to share their knowledge with participants. To paraphrase the old expression, "Give a man a vegetable; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to garden; and you have fed him for a lifetime."

To learn more about Garden Connect, call Shelbi Ball at the Northern Illinois Food Bank at (708) 646-6127.