Taking a break after a garden session

In Northwest Rockford, Roots & Wings youth gardens are growing organic vegetables and motivated, empowered youth. Since our first garden broke ground in 2002, we have sprouted five gardens with neighborhood community organizations.

Youth work together to plan, plant, tend, and harvest from their gardens. Vegetables inspire cooking projects from ranch dressing to chocolate beet cake. Youth learn how their food choices can help care for the earth and themselves. In the garden, we practice teamwork and learn to solve problems peacefully. Through art projects and community celebrations, we welcome others to the garden and share what we are learning.

Several times a year, the youth visit Angelic Organics Learning Center. We work hard and learn about healthy food, but also play and grow together. We help in the fields, milk goats, collect eggs from the chicken, and learn about organic farming through hands-on experience.

Roots & Wings encourages at-risk youth to become leaders, with teens helping teach younger kids about gardening and food. Youth leaders market their produce through the summer, earning money, job skills, and public speaking experience.

Youth work together on community-wide projects, like the new Fairgrounds Valley garden, and give tours and presentations to the broader community. Experienced youth leaders have attended national and regional youth gardening events.

Our Gardens

• Camaraderie Arts/Fairgrounds Valley
• Concord Commons
• Friends’ House
• Northwest Community Center
• Salvation Army Kilburn Community Center

To invite our youth leaders to speak to your organization or find out how your group can start a Roots & Wings garden, contact Deb Crockett, Program Director, at 815.389.8455 or deb@learngrowconnect.org.

Learn how you can volunteer your time or make a gift to support Roots & Wings.

A United Way Community Solutions Provider