PO Box 425Harvard, IL 60033 US
Mentoring Gardens - History
20+ years ago we had a vision to open an educational center to "fill in some gaps" and encourage "find-a-need-and-fill-it" projects where students creatively become part of solutions. This meant figuring out ways to support the projects rather than 'asking for handouts'. A solution manifested itself as Mentoring Gardens Kitchen & Market. Yes, we could have signed up to sell other people's candy, crafts, or cookies, but how much more fun is it to get kids in on the action of researching innovative ideas, market-testing recipes, and the many steps involved in creating and operating a new business venture
Mentoring Gardens - Today
While many students have been involved at various stages, a few of them stayed to see the day we'd officially have our own full-time dedicated commercial kitchen, which we moved into January 2020. Our plans for a grand opening were put on hold due to the pandemic, and this has been the prolonged moment for all of us to learn the next stages of what it takes to "stay" in business. Though a rough time it seems, we're grateful for a full-time accessible kitchen and thankful for the many customers who return day after day to buy our granola and other goods at markets, stores, and on our website.