Friends,
On July 4, 2023, during the aftermath of the derecho, Kaye Barnes of Operation Taproot placed the first plants of the Pillsbury Mills Community Garden. Even with the late start, the garden provided nearly 200 pounds of produce to the Pillsbury Mills neighborhood before the season ended. This year with a full season of growing to work with, the 15 standing bed garden is on track to produce double that amount with nearly 70 pounds of produce already distributed.
The Pillsbury Mills Community Garden is a collaboration between the SIU School of Medicine Office of Community Care’s Operation Taproot and Moving Pillsbury Forward. With the full support of the MPF team, Operation Taproot is able to care for the garden directly on the mill grounds. There, the Office of Community Care team grows fresh produce for distribution within the neighborhood and connects with community members.
I personally want to thank the Moving Pillsbury Forward team for their unwavering and generous support for Operation Taproot and the Pillsbury Mills Community Garden. Without this support, the community garden would not have happened. Thank You!
Kaye Barnes
Operation Taproot is an initiative of the SIU Office of Community Care that places Community Health Workers in community gardens to be a visible resource for those who are facing social challenges to their health. You can find Operation Taproot representatives at Pillsbury Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9-11am, and at the Enos Park Neighborhood garden on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9-11am
Thanks for being a part of this important community project.
~ Team Pillsbury
