Home & Garden
'iGrowLemont' Breaks Ground on Community Garden, Plans Planting Day
The group will begin planting vegetables at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 19, at the Lemont Township Community Center. All produce will be donated to local food pantries.
A Lemont group is preparing to plant dozens of crops that will soon benefit local food pantries.
"iGrowLemont," a new initiative to promote community and healthy living, broke ground May 11 on a community garden. The garden, located on Alba Street near the Lemont Township Community Center, will be used to stock the Lemont food pantries with fresh produce, supply vegetables for free cooking demonstrations and will also be sold to raise money for the Lemont General Assistance Fund.
The groundbreaking was attended by more than a dozen volunteers, Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves, and trustees from the village and Lemont Township, which donated the land.
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On Sunday, May 19, iGrowLemont will hold a planting party beginning at 10 a.m. Co-founder Ashley Vass said volunteers are needed to plant cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, onions, peas, lettuce, radishes, carrots, celery, cabbage, squash, zucchini and more.
iGrowLemont was founded earlier this year by Vass and two of her friends, Lemont resident Caroline TeSelle and Petal Play Design owner Viviana Grasso. Its mission is to cultivate community by providing opportunities and resources that will enhance the well-being of Lemont residents, Vass said.
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In addition to providing for the local food pantries, the community garden will also supply produce for free cooking demonstrations. By teaching residents to prepare healthy meals—and also providing occasional fitness classes—iGrowLemont hopes to improve the overall well-being of the Lemont community.
"The idea is to get the community involved in planting the garden, and teach them ways they can live and eat healthier," Vass said.
Donate to iGrowLemont
Those who wish to volunteer should contact Ashley Vass at 301-848-3209 or email igrowlemontinfo@gmail.com.
Monetary contributions and/or gift cards to Ace Hardware, Menards, Home Depot, Lowes or other home and garden centers can be mailed to P.O. Box 493 in Lemont, IL, 60439. Checks should be made payable to iGrowLemont. PayPal donations are accepted through www.igrowlemont.com.
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