Evanston Grows received the 2024 Peace Award from local Quaker community Evanston Friends Meeting during the Evanston Grows 3rd annual Seedling Sale Fundraiser outside the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center.
Evanston Grows is an urban farming organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture, food access and community empowerment.
“Peace in any community starts with a full belly,” Evanston Grows Board President Jean Fies said.
The presentation of the 2024 Peace Award took place at 12:30 p.m., across the street from the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center at Where Faith Grows Farm, the result of a new Evanston Grows partnership with Faith Temple.
The seedling sale offered organic vegetable seedlings for a small donation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with proceeds going to support the Evanston Grows free summer farm stand program.
Evanston Grows was chosen for its outstanding contributions in fostering food security and promoting environmental sustainability through urban farming initiatives, according to Justice and Earthcare Committee Clerk of Peace Julie Pantoga who represented Evanston Friends Meeting.
“What is especially impressive here is that Evanston Grows meets with community members for open dialogue before beginning any new project and that their community support includes the offering of free produce.” Pantoga said.
Executive Director Laurell Sims said Evanston Grows was founded in 2021 to bring together community partners and diverse stakeholders including non-profits, community gardens, private residences, schools and businesses to address solutions for food inequity and food injustice.
According to the Evanston Grows website, farms and community garden projects are based on community partnerships to cultivate and sustain health equity by increasing edible gardens throughout the city with a special focus on providing access to gardening resources.
Site Director of the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston Tiffany Culpepper says the eggplants were a big hit and kids loved the fried green tomatoes and also made smoothies.
“There is just nothing like a child having their senses heightened to the experience of planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables for themselves,” Culpepper said.
Gina Grillo is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
