Working with people is the  joy of our work here at In the Gardens, whether it is helping them discover a love of fresh food as they grow and harvest, or guiding them to greater balance in their actions with self and others through mindfulness practice. It is in our interactions with the people that we serve and employ, our volunteers, and our donors that we fulfill our mission. Here are some of the distinct ways that we measure our success:

• We see happy faces on children as they harvest food they grew with their own hands.

• Our interns take their learning back to their own communities, as well as reach forward for career advancement in the growing of food. They also come back to visit and even to help out!

• The recipients of our donated fresh food always express their gratitude, and the enjoyment that all involved feel when we meet and get to know one another is palpable.

• People share stories with us about how mindfulness has increased their focus, productivity, calm, happiness and compassion with others.

• Our gardeners are thrilled when we use our own gardens’ seeds to produce viable plants in future seasons.

• Greater Chicagoland organizations such as Triton College and Windy City Harvest refer intern candidates to us, and many other people seek us out to volunteer their time.

• Our harvest is shared with neighbors and the broader community in our annual celebrations, where people learn about what we do, get to know one another and share their own garden pointers and success stories.

If you have a success story or photo from your experience with In the Gardens, please let us know, so we can include it in our list.

Our spring fundraising is beginning, and we will soon send you information on how you can participate. In the meantime, we invite you to join our mailing list on our website, like us on Facebook, and spread the word to your friends, family and co-workers so we can build our mailing list.