Each summer, the Openlands Project of Chicago sponsors a Neighborhood Youth Garden Corps (NYGC) program. High-school aged youth are hired to work in a designated neighborhood assisting gardeners and maintaining gardens. In addition to their gardening activities, two groups of teens in this summer's NYGC program conducted Garden Mosaics activities in two gardens: the Mississippi Garden in North Lawndale and the El Coqui Garden in Humboldt Park (photo below). Youth researching the Mississippi garden included: Aleekia, Christine, Whitney, Xavier, Justin and Joshua. They were supervised by Crystal Scott. The group working with the El Coqui garden were led by Issac Thotz and included Yara, Miles, Alexander, Jakeshiva, Tenyce, and Iris.

The Mississippi Garden
As the name suggests, the Mississippi garden is run primarily by Ms. Annie Lott who grew up in Mississippi. She transformed the vacant lot adjacent to her home into a garden about five years ago and is now in her early 90's. The garden is, however, open to the community and various neighbors help Ms. Lott. They enjoy using the space and sharing in the produce. The teens learned that Ms. Lott grows an array of plants that are used not only for food but also for medicinal and ornamental reasons. For example Ms. Lott plants a number of vegetables for food, such as corn, radishes, lima beans, string beans, onions, and cabbage. Ms. Lott grew up on a farm in Mississippi and grows a number of vegetables that reflect her heritage, such as okra, turnip greens, and collards. She also has some plants that she uses for multiple purposes. Cucumbers are used both for food and for cosmetics. Amaranth can be used as a vegetable (like spinach) or a grain. Ms. Lott plants amaranth with corn because she finds it is a good companion plant. She plants various flowers such as roses and lilies because of the beauty they bring to the garden.

In order to start her garden each year, Ms. Lott buys some seeds, receives donations of some plants from greening organizations, and uses seeds she saved from her plants such as beans and mustard. She starts her seeds in April and plants out flowers in May. During the season, volunteers help in the garden and when it is harvest time, she shares the produce with neighbors and with her church. She also freezes some of the vegetables and dries the beans so she can eat from her garden during the winter. At the end of the season she adds dead plants and leaves to the garden. Ms. Lott maintains that gardening and eating from the garden keep her healthy.

The El Coqui Garden
The El Coqui garden was started eight years ago as a cooperative effort between the Von Humboldt School Learning Lab and community members. Students from the school do some of the planting, but volunteers maintain the garden during the summer. The garden manager, Carmen Arroyo, coordinates all uses of the garden and is involved in scheduling school and community activities.

The El Coqui garden, named for a species of Puerto Rican frog, is divided into two spaces. The front half of the garden has mostly perennial flowering plants such as hostas, coral bells, irises, and peonies along with an open grassy space for social gatherings. The second half has raised beds filled with vegetables and a compost bin. Squash and beans are grown together, and tomatoes, peppers, onions, spinach, and okra are mixed in beds with flowers such as tulips, petunias, and impatiens. The raised beds are also home to herbs including rosemary, sage, thyme and even fruits such as melons and strawberries. Some of the plants such as chili peppers and cilantro reflect the Puerto Rican heritage of a number of community members.

Many community members (adults and children who speak English, Polish, and Spanish) are involved with the El Coqui garden in various ways throughout the year. In the winter they plan for the garden. In early spring they write grants to get money to keep the garden going. By late spring they are starting seeds and students from the school come over to start planting. In the summer they enjoy gathering in the garden for work sessions, picnics and potlucks, and giving tours. The garden has a barbecue, a gazebo and lots of benches to encourage people to get together. The garden is always open and many people visit during the week. To celebrate the end of the season they host a harvest festival.