Youth and volunteers finish building the new garden

The garden at Fairgrounds Valley House Project grew from a conversation with community youth in the winter of 2006. Youth wanted to create a new garden at the Fairgrounds Valley Housing Project, in order to provide opportunities and education for the kids there. So, they wrote (then received!) a grant proposal to the In Youth We Trust Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois entitled “Diamond in the Rough: Making the Community Better One Garden Bed at a Time.” On May 6, 2006, over 60 people helped build and plant 8 lovely raised garden beds. The garden produces amazing broccoli! In 2006 and 2007 we
worked alongside the youth organization Camaraderie Arts to bring gardening to youth in the community.