Food security and access are at the forefront of conversations and media attention as a global food crisis threatens the health of people around the world and right here at home.

At The GardenWorks Project, we are committed to our mission to empower, educate and support food growers of all levels to feed themselves and their community, especially now as more families turn to food growing as a way to achieve a healthy diet and maintain access to fresh produce.

Because Everyone Deserves Fresh Produce.

This belief is foundational to everything we do at The GardenWorks Project. Here are some of the ways:

• Building home and community gardens to increase access to fresh produce;
• Promoting a neighbors helping neighbors approach to strength our local food economy;
• Empowering households with the tools and knowledge to properly nourish their family and friends;
• Facilitating home gardeners to donate extra produce to local food pantries;
• Helping local farmers decrease food waste in their fields, gleaning their extra produce to donate to local food pantries.

We want everyone to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and the nutrients they need for the well being of themselves and the environment.

Because Growing Changes Lives.

Being the only organization of its kind in western Chicagoland, we have seen how teaching people to grow food for themselves improves, not only their physical health, but also their emotional well being. Learning to garden is healing and empowering, bringing people together to care for the earth and one another. It empowers families to create something with their own hands while giving the opportunity to connect to our heritage and history.

The support of our community has allowed The GardenWorks Project to grow the last 10 years. And in this growth, we’ve seen how Growing Changes Lives. Like Lori, who started our program during the pandemic, and enjoys watching her 2 year old harvest and enjoy(!) chard and kale from the garden. Or Mike at Freedom’s Path at Hines VA, who found “sanctuary” in the garden during the pandemic. Or LuAnn, who calls her garden “a lifesaver” after finding renewal and nourishment from her home garden following a season of loss.

Because Generosity Changes Everything.  

Since 2012, The GardenWorks Project has established more than 650 home gardens and 23 community gardens to improve access to fresh produce for over 1700 clients – those in our community that need it most.

In our 11th year, we are PROUD to be part of the virtual community fundraiser, Giving DuPage Days, a celebration of generosity in DuPage County.  We aim to raise $12,000 to build on this momentum and expand our reach and impact.  With these funds, we can further our reach with more home and community gardens and expand our impact into hard to reach, unconventional environments.

Here’s how your gift will make a difference:

$25 – Provides seeds and seedlings for a food garden.

$50 – Provides Garden to Table nutrition curriculum for a household in English or Spanish.

$100 – Supports one balcony garden for a family without access to land.

$250 – Installs one raised-bed garden, seedlings, soil, tools and all.

$500 –  Provides a composting system for a community garden, promoting sustainability and allowing food waste to be returned to the soil rather than landfills.

Giving DuPage Days is a celebration of HOPE and community coming together to make a difference in our region. Together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable food system.  Together, we can create stronger, healthier communities in western Chicagoland

Join the movement by contributing to The GardenWorks Project on May 2 – 6 at:

https://www.givingdupageday.org/organizations/the-gardenworks-project

Help us change everything.