Ginkgo Organic Gardens - Chicago

I can faintly remember a community garden of sorts in my hometown (population 180) when I was growing up. It was an area just north of the ball diamond on the edge of town where people who lived in town could grow things. Practically everyone who lived in that little town had enough space where their houses were; I'm not sure why they wouldn't garden there. But someone gardened in this designated spot. I remember seeing them do it.

In Chicago, real estate can be scarce, and if you live in an apartment, you don't have any at all. So in various locations throughout the city, there are places that are set aside as community gardens, where residents can "grow their own." Spring Fling attendees got to visit one of these gardens - the Ginkgo Organic Gardens in Wrigleyville.

What makes the Ginkgo Organic Gardens special is that they use the produce grown there to feed the hungry by donating it to various organizations that distribute it to those in need.

Ben Helphand (in the blue shirt), from NeighborSpace, which oversees the operation of the gardens, speaks to the Spring Flingers.

Each year, they grow about 1500 pounds of fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs.










The labor is all volunteer and work days are scheduled for every Saturday, April through November.

For more information, visit the Ginkgo Organic Gardens website, or their blog, Ginkgo Gardens Journal.