Urban Farm To Host Orchard Planting Day For The Community

Urban Farm To Host Orchard Planting Day For The Community

It Takes A Village Community Farm, in partnership with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, EARTHDAY.ORG, and PayPal, will plant 40 fruit trees with the community on Mother’s Day Weekend.

Chicago, IL, (May 2, 2023)– Just Roots Chicago, a southside nonprofit organization working in collaboration with communities to develop and expand access to local, sustainably grown food, is hosting a Community Orchard Planting Day from 9 AM-12 PM on Saturday, May 13th at It Takes A Village Community Farm in Sauk Village, IL (2500 223rd Street, Sauk Village, IL 60411). This event is possible thanks to support from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF), EARTHDAY.ORG, and PayPal.

Volunteers can sign up here or by contacting Sean Ruane at sean@justrootschicago,org. Community members will have the opportunity to plant a variety of fruit trees and learn from FTPF’s trained arborist. The trees will provide the community with beauty and bounty for generations to come.

“We are honored to collaborate with Just Roots and the community it serves to create a source of sustainable, organic, perennial nutrition for families across the region through this vibrant orchard—along with all the environmental benefits these trees will provide for generations to follow,” shares Cem Akin, Fruit Tree Planting Foundation’s TreeEO. 

We appreciate the support of PayPal in honor of Earth Day 2023,” said Aidan Charron, EARTHDAY.ORG’s The Canopy Project coordinator. “Each tree planted does its part to restore the environment, and with the added benefit of increased food security for the local community, this is an especially meaningful win-win.”

It Takes A Village Community Farm is a partnership between Just Roots Chicago, Grace United Church of Christ, and Good Vibes Farm. The farm is designed to produce over 50,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables annually for Sauk Village and neighboring communities. The farm also provides free educational programming, job training, and a variety of community building initiatives.

“During this fractured time in our universe, being able to share in a way that brings God’s people together makes my heart flutter. Working together, growing together, eating together, learning together has great potential for creating an environment for healing and I’m so looking forward to it,” said Rev. Melody Seaton, Senior Pastor of Grace United Church of Christ.

All of the food grown at It Takes A Village Community Farm is culturally affirming, grown organically, and goes directly back to the community. 50% is donated to food pantries and mutual aid organizations, while the other 50% is sold at affordable prices through Just Roots’ Community Supported Agriculture program, weekly farm stand, farmers markets, and partnerships with local health clinics and schools.

Some photos of the farm are available here.

About Just Roots:

Just Roots Chicago works in collaboration with communities to develop and expand access to local, sustainably grown food. Founded in 2017, Just Roots operates two sustainable urban farms in partnership with community organizations in the Chicagoland region:

• It Takes A Village Community Farm (Sauk Village — 2500 E. 223rd Street) in collaboration with Grace United Church of Christ and Good Vibes Farm.

• Saint James Community Farm (Bronzeville — 2936 South Wabash Avenue) in collaboration with Saint James Catholic Church & Food Pantry.

Follow Just Roots Chicago on Facebook and Instagram at @JustRootsChicago

About Fruit Tree Planting Foundation:

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat climate change, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as public schools, city parks, community gardens, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries. FTPF’s unique mission benefits the environment, human health, and animal welfare—all at once! 

About EARTHDAY.ORG:

EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at: https://www.earthday.org.