At gardens throughout Evanston, residents do more than just grow plants— they find beauty, community and a space for connecting to the Earth. From Norris University Center’s Wild Roots garden to the West End Garden to the Twiggs Canal Gardens, students and residents nurture flowers and produce food side-by-side. Email: luciabarnum2024@u.northwestern.edu Twitter: @luciabarnum Email: avivabechky2025@u.northwestern.edu.
Left with 1,000 pounds of fresh produce from the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center gardens at the start of the pandemic, long-time gardener Jean Fies decided to distribute the leftovers to District 65 families picking up lunches. The experience made Fies realize the potential Evanston gardens have to combat food insecurity. She reached out to like-minded organizations.
In a corner of Perry Park, Evanston residents gather to pull out weeds and plant new seeds at West End Garden. But beyond the soil, something else is growing: a community grounded in abolition. Master Gardener Tiffany Christian said abolition involves tearing down prisons and getting rid of policing, but it also extends to making.