Hidden Gems: Blue Island Community Gardens & Urban Agriculture
Blue Island has a rich and diverse heritage of agriculture and local food production, which is somewhat unique for an older, industrial community. Elements can still be found in many places around town, including our local community gardens. Visit the gardens below and discover 2 of Blue Island’s Hidden Gems. Sign up to garden or volunteer and honor this piece of our community’s cultural heritage.
CALIFORNIA GARDENS COMMUNITY GARDEN (CG2)
CG2 is located in the at the SE Corner of 141st/Francisco – next to the Tommy A. Brown Sports Association (2805 141st St, Blue Island, IL 60406).
Plots: The garden consists of 24 plots, of the following sizes:
# Size Cost for 2012
(12) 4’x10’ raised bed plots $10
(8) 4’x8’ Accessible/Senior raised beds $10
(4) 10’x10’ plots $25
(4) 10’x10’ food pantry/community plots Volunteers needed
**Local girl scouts will be tending 2 food pantry plots as a part of their 100 yr anniversary service**
MEMORIAL PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN
The Blue Island Park District invites you to join the Memorial Park Community Garden (MPCG), located behind the Memorial Park Pool at 12801 S. Highland. The MPCG is a great place to experiment with new herbs and vegetables and swap gardening advice with other gardeners. Members are welcome at weekly Weds night meetings that include many gardening related lessons. Only 22 plots are available, so contact the Blue Island Park District at 708.385.3304 and claim your plot today. $25 Registration Fee ($35 Non-Resident)
Volunteers Needed: CG2 Community Garden Build Days
BICDD and volunteer partners are finishing construction of California Gardens Community Garden (CG2) and looking for volunteers to help finish construction and installation of key infrastructure so that our gardeners can get started.
Garden Construction & Planting Dates
Location:SE Corner of 141st/Francisco – next to the Tommy A. Brown Sports Association (2805 141st St, Blue Island, IL 60406)
5/8: 9am Construction & Installation of Raised Beds
5/15: 9am Construction & Installation of Raised Beds
5/16: 6:30pm Planting Food Pantry Plots
5/22: 9am Construction & Installation of 10x10 plots, Shed & Canopy
Please contact Sandy at 708.979.2479 for more info or to volunteer. Or just show up at one of the above build dates to help.
Fence Needed
We’re also desperately in need of a fence and looking for donations.
California Gardens Community Garden
The California Gardens Community Garden (CG2) was started in 2011, through the Cook County CPPW Model Communities program. Our premiere growing season begins 2012. A whole-hearted thanks to all who helped create this garden, especially the local businesses and residents who donated service, time and muscle.
Historic Improvements to School Meals Will Mean Healthier Kids in Blue Island
Last week, USDA announced new meal requirements that will raise standards for the 1st time in more than 15 years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. The healthier meal requirements are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let’s Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama.
The final standards make the same kinds of practical changes that many parents are already encouraging at home, including:
- Offering both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
- Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;
- Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties;
- Serving proper portion sizes based on the age of children; &
- Increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.
Check out the Before & After menu comparison below
“Healthy Seal” Program to Launch in Spring 2012
Walmart has announced that in spring of 2012 they will introduce the new “Healthy Seal” on the package front of its private brand “Great Value”. These seals will be supported by a nutritious food standard designed to increase vitamins, minerals, whole grains, fruits and vegetables in food products, while limiting saturated fat, sodium and added sugar. Walmart will also offer this seal to its suppliers for their national brands that qualify. “This effort will complement the front-of package nutrition labeling system already being discussed by the food industry,” states Lorenzo Lopez, media relations director for Walmart.
Walmart has been collaborating with Michelle Obama in support of the Let’s Move! campaign since January 2011. The Healthy Seal program is 1 of 3 elements in their Nutrition Charter.
Skeptical about the motives of this corporate giant? You’re not the only one. Walmart has yet to release the scoring system driving the Healthy Seal program. Only time will tell whether or not this was just another corporate marketing ploy or a marketing ploy that will actually make a positive difference.
Blue Island Food Day Recap
October 24, 2011 marked the 1st ever national Food Day in the US. Food Day was created to bring attention to the issues of obesity, support sustainable farming, and make real food available to everyone. The day was observed in all 50 states with more than 2,000 events nationwide.
Mayor Peloquin proclaimed the date the official “Blue Island Food Day”. The city was host to several Food Day events, including a Model Community program dinner at Restaurante Tenochititlan. There, guests dined on award winning healthy entrees that included baked whitefish and roasted stuffed poblano peppers, all prepared by Tenochtitlan’s chef, Felipe Escamilla.
A youth guitar duo provided musical entertainment while guests mingled and began the discussion on food access and affordability. A raffle was held with proceeds earmarked for 2 local food pantries: Salvation Army Cross Generations and the St. Benedicts Food Pantry.
Diners dropped off canned goods and other nonperishable nutritious food items as part of another Blue Island Model Community program Food Day event: our 1st annual Food Day, Food Drive! Overall, the dinner was a huge success; bringing people together and moving towards a healthier Blue Island!
NFL Play 60 A Day
In 2007 NFL launched a national youth health and fitness campaign “NFL PLAY 60 A DAY.” This campaign focuses on increasing the wellness of young fans, by encouraging them to get 60 min of physcial activity a day.
The NFL has a list of partners in this project all working together to tackle childhood obesity, including Nicelodeon, Cartoon Network, KaBOOM!, Gatorade, and the American Heart Association.
This Campaign is supported by coaches and players year round, but prominent durring the key calander events such as Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Thanksgiving, and durring the draft.
To date, the NFL has dedicated over $200 million dollars to youth health and wellness through “NFL PLAY 60.”
Visit www.nfl.com/play60 for more information, or to take the “PLAY 60 A DAY” Pledge!
