A North Lawndale initiative-based urban garden, BEET Chicago, will be holding a Community Garden Spring Planting Event this Sunday, May 21, 2023. People can join them for the event at 4056 West Cermak Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The group, along with volunteers, will be planting seed seedlings to prepare the garden for the growing season. Ultimately, BEET Chicago is working “to bring empowerment and education together through the cultivation of gardens and community.”
BEET Chicago
They chose the name beet because they are a rooted vegetable. “We believe FOOD (from the ground #roots), COMMUNITY (the roots that raise you), and EDUCATION (the roots of learning) are crucial, especially in the low-income, underserved communities of Chicago,” according to BEETS Chicago’s flyer.
On their Instagram page, @beetchi_northlawndale, they wrote, “We are SO excited to get season #5 started at the garden! Come join us on Sunday from 10am-2pm for a garden clean up, compost refill and bed prepping!” They added a link for people to signup to join them to help plant the community garden.
Food Insecurity
The reality of living in an area where fresh vegetables are sparse is something the North Lawndale community has had to face for years. Food insecurity is a massive problem, especially in Black and Latin communities. Last year, Northwestern University Institute for Policy Research professor, Dr. Diane Schanzenbach, released data saying that minority households experience food deficiencies the most. In Schanenbach’s data, about 120,084 were Black, 77,000 were Latinx, and 35,775 were white homes in Chicago that faced food insecurities.
Food Insecurity is defined as the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs. This condition doesn’t need to be consistent, however, at some point throughout the year, it happens, according to the USDA. One aspect of poverty is a lack of food, especially in communities like North Lawndale.
This is why BEET Chicago and its volunteers work in the local garden. Everyone who joins them this Sunday will receive some food to take home with them.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
BEET Chicago: Flyer and Instagram Page
The Chicago Reporter: Chicagoans Don’t Escape Food Insecurity
USDA: Definitions of Food Security
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Tim Sackton‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Lori L. Stalteri‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
