Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois Department of Agriculture is pretty proud of a community garden on the Illinois State Fairgrounds that has been used by the public for years now.

“Today, the garden is operating at 93 percent capacity, representing 82 households from across our community,” said Kristi Jones, Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture.  “Gardening connects us to agriculture in a very personal way.  It reminds us where our food comes from, encourages healthy lifestyles, and creates opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together.”

The community garden on the infield of the Illinois State Fairgrounds was the backdrop Wednesday for a ceremony marking the first-ever “Community Garden Day” in Illinois, as proclaimed by Governor JB Pritzker.  It also was where Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher gave the department a proclamation thanking them for their community garden.

That was, however, after Buscher admitted she sometimes does something you’re not really supposed to do at a community garden.

“When I visit the Enos Park Community Garden, there seems to always be a child who wants to eat blackberries,” said Buscher, with a laugh.  “They feel if they find an adult to go with them, that they will not get in trouble, and I am always the one that will go with them.  We sneak blackberries and eat them in the community garden.”

Doing that may speak to a larger lesson that could be learned about community gardens, that State Sen. Doris Turner thinks may get kids to eat their vegetables.

“We have so many opportunities for our kids to come out and actually see where their food comes from.  It doesn’t just magically appear on the shelf at County Market,” said Turner (D-Springfield).  “They also expand their horizons, because they already have it made up in their mind — ‘Ooohhh, ick.  I don’t like broccoli.’  They come out here, and they see it growing.  They get to feel it.”

Then, Turner says, their parents can cook what’s grown at home, and kids realize that it’s not as bad as they thought.

Turner says community gardens also can help bring people together and lessen food insecurity.

There are a number of community gardens in Springfield, in addition to the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  Ones are also available at Enos Park, University of Illinois Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, and other spots.