Prosperity Gardens

By Rusti Mullins

Cool Bike Racks!

May 28, 2014 - As we were driving through the city of Champaign, we came across a small piece of heaven. The day was warm, the humidity rising as rain clouds in the distance made their approach. Buildings surrounded us. Nick pulled the car into a large parking lot next to what appeared to be two sculptures, one of a fork and spoon and the other of a shovel and pitch fork. Several cars filled the spaces including a small school bus that had recently been painted green as the blue tape around the windows indicated. When we got out of the car, it was a great surprise to find a small urban garden. The scent of the dirt enveloped our senses as we walked between the beds where broccoli, kale, peppers, and spinach were growing. I felt the peace and joy that seems to always surround small gardens.

The Prosperity Gardens is a gem in the middle of the city. After a few moments we were greeted by Nicole Bridges, who works for the organization. She was very excited to tell us about their work. We learned from Nicole the Prosperity Gardens works in conjunction with the local high school, middle and elementary school and the University of Illinois. High school students have the opportunity to work in the gardens and learn how to grow their own food not to mention elementary students have a lot of fun learning about growing plants. She told us of plans to have a small greenhouse by the end of summer as well as the green bus parked in the parking lot was to be used as a mobile market for the gardens so the volunteers could take their produce around the city. It was a breath of fresh air to know there are people who wish to see the next generation discovering where their food comes from.


After leaving the Prosperity Gardens, we headed on to the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment at the University of Illinois. There we learned of the different things they are doing to encourage changes in the way students and the community live. We were told the chancellor of the university is really pushing sustainability and energy conservation and the students are very involved in these efforts as well by encouraging bike riding and energy saving strategies.