OREGON — The Master Gardeners of Ogle county are excited to share their news. In early January 2020 the gardeners submitted a Growing Together Illinois grant.
The Illinois Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program combined forces to impact hunger on a local level. Through this collaboration, funds are provided to local Master Gardener projects that will expand healthy food access to limited resource individuals and families. A goal is to establish community partnerships and capacity to sustain improved food access. The Growing Together Illinois program is affiliated with the multi-state “Growing Together” initiative of innovative partnerships expanding food access.
The Master Gardeners received notice of congratulations that the project is awarded funds. Cultivating Community at The Kitchen Table, the Master Gardeners of Ogle county got a special treat in December 2019 to enjoy a meal at The Kitchen Table, 7034 S. Klondike Road in Rochelle and wanted to embrace their mission statement which reads: “To help change the way people interact with their food and one another. We want to do our part to alleviate hunger and promote health by offering local, high quality foods on a pay what you can basis.”

The Master Gardener volunteer group will utilize grant funds to develop a kitchen garden onsite at The Kitchen Table’s facility and will assist The Kitchen Table volunteers in developing the garden as a model food demonstration garden. In conjunction with The Kitchen Table volunteers, the Master Gardeners will plan, plant, maintain and harvest produce as a distribution site, so participants can pick up donated produce when they come to have a meal at the community café.
The garden will be used to demonstrate best practices in local gardening/food production, such as composting, integrated pest management and container gardening. Training and education on growing, as well as safe harvest/ handling of produce, will be offered.
The SNAP-Ed educator will partner with The Kitchen Table to assist in promoting and having the garden-grown fresh produce on site as and added opportunity to consume fresh produce. In addition, The Kitchen Table staff will be educated on policy, systems and environment changes that encourage guests to make healthy food choices.
Also, the Master Gardeners plan to offer multiple educational programs for all community members café customers during the growing season. Current plans are to partner with two of Ogle County 4-H Youth clubs in Rochelle — Hub Hickory Nuts and Ogle County Clovers — to offer workshops during the 2020 growing season. The workshops included Container Gardening, Vermicomposting and Harvesting the Bounty to name a few.
Anyone wanting further information regarding the project, volunteering, or attending a future workshop is urged to contact Liz Sosa, University of Illinois Extension Program Coordinator at 815-732-2191 or Sosa6@illinois.edu.