WeFarm In The News!

http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=42%2C8%2C8&vid=071609c

Bringing Back the Victory Garden

WeFarm is partnering with CPS(Chicago Public Schools) to make the pilot program "Freshman Connect" a success! Freshman Connect was developed for incoming freshman to develop relationships with their peers and teachers, get a head start on academics and learn about pertinent issues in their community and their world.
Link: http://www.postsecondary.cps.k12.il.us/do_it_now/freshman_connection
WeFarm is specifically working with Senn High School in the Edgewater neighborhood to create a summer long course about gardening. Throughout the course of ten weeks we will building several large raised bed gardens on the school grounds that will hold various fruit and vegetable plants, holding workshops on the importance on local food,composting and a "how-to" on building self watering containers. The last two weeks will be spent on healthy eating that will lead up to the local food festival on the last day.

I am responsible for heading up the Victory Gardens Project, our goal is to take back the the Victory Garden and do away with the militarial WWI and WWII connotation. This will be a community effort and a source for education as well a symbol for hope. Similar efforts are going on across the country
http://www.sfvictorygardens.org/
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/city/article/victory_gardens_an_idea_whose_time_has_come_again/C108/L108/

How It Works...
Find volunteers that would donate space for a victory garden, if not in their own yard a neighbors or possibly a library or local business
We plant and maintain the garden and install a plaque or sign for the specific garden
The garden could be a "victory" over social injustice or poverty OR a victory for urban sustainability, local food and community involvement

With another first lady gardening on the White House grounds, the revival of the Victory Garden could be closer than we thought

Serendipity Day

Today We Farm participated in Serendipity Day at the Alexander Graham Bell School in Wrigleyville. Serendipity Day is a modern day equivalent to a field day, but instead classes attended three workshops ranging from yoga to healthy cooking. With help from the Ag. team the education dream team created a workshop for second graders on backyard gardening. We did a hands on presentation about planting and compost and then the children created their own biodegradable seed pot out of newspaper and planted their own vegetable seeds. The day was enjoyed by all and it was so rewarding to see the children's enthusiasm about their own "garden to go".

Last Friday, the community and education outreach team met with the president of Purple Asparagus, a non profit that promotes healthy eating through workshops and educational programs. (http://www.purpleasparagus.com/) We are partnerning with this organization and in turn will combine our gardening expertise with their incredible curriculum to create workshops and classes for kids and parents alike.

My family has also started experimenting with organic urban gardening in our home. We have cucumbers,tomatoes,peppers and strawberries.

WeFarm America-- http://www.wefarmamerica.com/

Healthy Schools Campaign-- http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/

The Last Few Weeks

We have installed two raised bed vegetable gardens at the Evanston(northern suburb) YWCA and domestic violence shelter. These will provide the residents with fresh organic produce right in their backyard and create an opportunity to bring the community together and provide educational workshops.

The curriculum for educational workshops is in the works, we have two professional teachers on board that will definitely aid our progress. We have been invited to two schools in the Chicago area to head gardening and healthy eating workshops this summer.

Last Friday, Julie and I attended the Healthy Schools Campaign breakfast briefing, a non profit whose goal is the change the quality of food in Chicago public schools and promote fitness and healthy living. Board members spoke as well as Steve McDonnell, the founder and CEO of organic meat company Applegate farms and Janey Thorton, the Deputy Under Secretary for Food,Nutrition and the USDA.
It was very exciting to see so many concerned individuals in one room, taking the initiative and acting for this cause.

I have just started re-reading the Omnivore's Dilemma by Micheal Pollan, and will write about that soon.

Post pictures soon!