Our Legacy Initiative (OLI) has launched The OLI Patriotic Garden, a movement inspired by the Victory Gardens of World War I and World War II. During the war efforts, American families came together to grow their own fruits and vegetables to help ensure the nation had plenty of fresh food during a time of need.
Nearly a century later, OLI is reactivating that same spirit of community and self-reliance, in Aurora.
Through the OLI Patriotic Garden initiative, OLI is giving away free patio-size garden beds to Aurora residents. The beds are made possible with support from The Dunham Foundation, Home Depot, Advocate Health Care and the City of Aurora.
Aurora residents can request a free patio-size garden bed by visiting www.oligardens.org and following instructions to sign up. Garden beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
The only requirement: Participants are asked to donate any surplus fruits and vegetables from their garden to a local food pantry, extending the same spirit of shared abundance that defined the original Victory Garden movement.
—Al Benson