During its six growing seasons, the Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest has grown more than 1,000 pounds of produce and partnered with multiple food banks and community non-profits to provide healthy, sustainable, affordable food sources for West Bloomington residents.
Co-founder Jan Turner started the urban farm with her child, Col Connelly, in 2016. What started as a modest high school project with just a few volunteers has recently seen a big expansion, including hiring a farm manager, Caleb Phillips, and adding paid apprenticeships for area youth.
While the garden lays dormant during the cold months, Sunnyside created a unique fundraiser to support its ongoing efforts.
“In 2019, we realized that the garden needed more energy,” Turner said. “Caleb Phillips came along and found that he could help move the garden into the direction it is now going. He’s doubled the produce output. He has good ideas about the mission. He’s implemented the apprenticeship teams, mainly from the Boys & Girls Club.”
An art exhibit and online auction featuring more than 80 artworks at The Coffeehouse & Deli in Uptown Normal is aimed at expanding the apprentice program. Turner said they want to add between six and eight more apprentices to provide opportunities for youth to mentor others and gain “soft skills” as they enter the workforce.
Last year, Connelly and their partner collected pieces from local artists after the garden received two donated paintings by Twin City artist Ken Holder.
“We thought, how can we sell these paintings to benefit the garden?” Turner said. “Let’s open it up to other artists and have a show.”
Hesitant to assume the title of “curator,” Turner took the lead for this year's show, collecting submissions from local artists by posting notices at Illinois State University and other artist-gathering spaces. Connelly provided additional support bringing the auction together. And husband and wife team Matt Erickson and Lisa Lofgren, from Bloomington’s cometogetherspace, installed the exhibit that can be viewed mainly along the long south wall of the Coffeehouse. A few additional pieces are tucked into other corners of the café.
“Coffeehouse is a great place to show because it has this great big wall,” Turner said. “It’s a nice setting. People are sitting around looking at the artwork. I thought it was a good, natural fit to be here.”
Images of the art also can be viewed online, with all bids taking place on biddingowl.com. Saturday is the final day to place bids, which will be counted at 5 p.m. during a reception from 4-6 p.m. at the Coffeehouse & Deli. Proceeds from each sale are a 50/50 split between the artists and Sunnyside Community Garden.
