It Takes a Village Farm: An Initiative of Grace United Church of Christ and Just Roots
It Takes A Village Community Farm is a 3-acre farm in Sauk Village, a suburb just south of Chicago, developed through a partnership between Grace United Church of Christ and Just Roots. The farm produces culturally affirming food for the community, provides free educational programming and job training, and brings people together through events and shared gathering space. Just Roots began in the fall of 2017, when the co-founders began to work together with their community to develop and expand access to sustainably grown food.
Mission
To work in collaboration with the local Sauk Village community to develop and expand access to local, sustainably grown food.
Vision
A world in which every person can access their right to food that benefits their health, community, and environment.
Services
Fruit and Vegetable Production Nutrition Education
Cooking Demonstrations
Volunteer Opportunities
Sustainable Agriculture Workshops Farm Dinners
Community Events
“THE PROGRAM HELPED US TO SOLIDIFY A LOT OF OUR CORE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPACTFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM HAS STRENGTHENED OUR WHY, AFFIRMED THAT THE WORK WE’RE DOING IS VALUABLE, AND HAS SUPPORTED OUR DESIRE TO PIVOT TO BETTER MEET THE COMMUNITY’S NEEDS.”
MICROGRANT PROGRAM IMPACT
For the duration of the program, meals and produce were provided in partnership with the Grace United Church of Christ weekly food pantry, in addition to the development of nutrition education opportunities for young people in collaboration with local chefs. Produce provided through the farm included lettuce, collard greens, beets, turnips, and spinach. Cooking demonstrations were provided to students from Strassburg Elementary and the Chicago Heights / Park Forest school district, as well as participants in the Growing Young Leaders Program, a 12-week program focused on green jobs training, leadership development, and skill building.
Special Thanks to Photographer Blake Bonaparte (@ayeee_itsblake), Brittany Wright of Yo’ Little Business, Southland Development Authority, Real Foods Collective, UI Extension - Local Food Systems & Small Farms Team.
This program is supported by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $25,214,437 to the Cook County Department of Public Health with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official view of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.