Photo Cred: DeKalb County Community Gardens

Due to the recent increase in food insecurity, the DeKalb County Community Gardens has really stepped up their services to provide for thousands of families in our community through their mobile food pantries, door to door deliveries, and more.

For those who would like to help their efforts, you can volunteer your time or donate food! DCCG is accepting shelf -table foods as well as fresh vegetables from your own gardens.

They are also one of the many great non-profits participating in Give DeKalb County next week. Your financial donations will go a long way to help continue their mission to provide food to our community!

AND…the Walnut Grove Vocational Farm is officially open today! The greenhouse is open by appointment. You may also shop through their plants online at dekalbgardens.org


Per the DCCG Spring Newsletter: 

RESPONDING TO COVID-19

DCCG is on the front-line of the current COVID-19 public health crisis. DCCG takes the health & safety of staff, clients, volunteers and supporters seriously. We are vigilantly keeping up with cleaning & sanitizing all areas of operations and keeping strict social distancing practices. Food insecurity in our community has jumped with the impacts of the current health crisis.

Our response:

* Increased our mobile food pantries to meet the 120% increase.

* Collaborated with VAC & Elder Care Services to deliver groceries to homebound seniors.

* Ramped up services at our newly opened Genoa Area Community Food Hub. This past March, the Hub served 93 families for the month compared to 33 families for the entire month of March last year.

* Engaged our WGVF participants via social media.


DONATIONS

DCCG is accepting donations of fresh vegetables for distribution at the Genoa Area Community Food Hub and Grow Mobile. They are also seeking shelf-stable foods like canned vegetables, canned fruits, boxes of cereal, packaged meal kits, canned soup, etc. You may drop donations at the DCCG warehouse on Bethany Rd in DeKalb.

DCCG also appreciates your monetary donations.  For every dollar, DCCG gets $8 of food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.


Photo Cred: DeKalb County Community Gardens

WALNUT GROVE VOCATIONAL FARM

The greenhouse is now open to customers for shopping!

Walnut Grove Vocational Farm
33600 Pearl Street, Kirkland, IL 60146
779.212.9543

Hours of operation:
April 28 – May 31, 2020
Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday 11 am – 4 pm
Closed Mondays

You must schedule an appointment to shop in the greenhouse. Please call 779-212-9543. It is also required for everyone to wear a mask while in the greenhouse.

Order Your Plants Online

There are many unusual annual flowers, more than 70 tomato varieties and 40 pepper varieties to choose from. Pick the plants up at Walnut Grove Vocational Farm or have them delivered to your doorstep.

Walnut Grove Vocational Farm Prairie

Looking for a place to get outside and enjoy the spring weather while still keeping a social distance? The Prairie at Walnut Grove Vocational Farm is always open and free. We recently had a visiter at the prairie that counted 13 different species of birds. There were song sparrows, vesper sparrows, white-breasted nuthatch, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, wood ducks and brown-headed cowbirds to name a few. Prairie trail parking is available on Wolf Road.