Veggie Rx is a new weekly program that provides free produce to SNAP participants, incorporates healthy cooking demonstrations, and a low-cost farm stand to community members at the Loyola Center for Health at Elmwood Park. This partnership between PP4H, Windy City Harvest, and LUHS aims to increase access to fresh, locally grown, affordable foods to residents in Proviso Township.  Each week, participants receive recipes, produce, and support to increase their fruit and vegetable intake. 
 
As an example, on Thursday, October 18, fifteen VeggieRX participants enjoyed a Tangy Asian Salad dressing prepared by the team, and received a free bag of produce that included swiss chard, sweet peppers, baby red beets, lettuce mix, Asian greens, and purple carrots grown locally by Windy City Harvest. 
 
The pop-up farm stand offers produce grown at the Proviso Partners Giving Garden in Maywood at affordable prices and has reached record breaking sales for the season! 
 
Please join us every Thursday from 4-6pm at 7255 W Grand Ave, Elmwood Park, now through November 15, 2018.  Anyone can participate in the cooking demonstration and farm stand, but to receive a bag of produce, you must be an active SNAP participant.
 
For more information, ask your healthcare provider or contact Mary Mora at mdanza@luc.edu • 708.531.5929

Co-sponsored by the Cook County DPH and Loyola University Health Sciences, the theme of this year’s food summit was “How to Make Good Food Widely Available and Cheap".

At the Pre-Summit Urban Farms Tour on the morning of October 5, participants saw two local urban farms, the Proviso Giving Garden and the OK Farm*, (a program developed by the organization Opportunity Knocks).  Both gardens were developed on land donated by ReUse Depot at 50 W. Madison Street, Maywood, IL

The participants heard each farm’s story, and how they support social and business enterprises that are making a difference to local communities and residents. Chris Epps led the Giving Garden tour.

Opportunity Knocks is dedicated to providing opportunities and resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they may pursue their educational, occupational and social interests.

History of the OK Farm
The OK Farm was conceived in late 2015 as a way to give the Warriors a role in the local sustainable food movement by creating a ‘seed to jar’ experience with our Knockout Pickle production.  The idea was to plant, grow and harvest the key supply requirements in order to produce a locally grown and locally made pickle.   

​The Farm was launched in April through a land partnership with our friends at Reuse Depot and a tremendous amount of support from many others in terms of volunteer hours, landscape/garden supplies and equipment.  In a short period of time, we turned a 2,500 square foot field off Madison Street into lush, handicap-accessible urban farm.  

The Giving Garden is experimenting with a CSA for Fall 2018. Depending on community interest and involvement, this may turn into a year-wide program! For a set fee, participants will get a weekly box of vegetables. All vegetables are from the Giving Garden and will change as the season changes and what is being harvested that week.

For more information, contact garden manager Chris Epps at christopherepps823@gmail.com
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