Sustain DuPage Garden

What is the Sustain DuPage Garden?

We are a quarter-acre communal garden located on the grounds of the Theosophical Society (Olcott Arboretum) in Wheaton, IL. The garden is our place to grow together as a community, learning new techniques and putting sustainability principles into practice. Our volunteers are given first pick of the harvest, with the remaining produce going towards our other mission projects, such as Community Cooking and the Food Security Squad. The Creators project is also served by the SD Garden, with our various flowers, dyes, and fiber plants. Nothing is wasted, especially with our Compost Crew returning all scraps into healthy soil.

Although led by our Gardeners Organizer, we take a communal, collaborative approach to managing and planning the garden, with volunteers stepping up to lead specific projects, crops, or experiments. Our participants represent a diverse range of expertise and gardening traditions, so we’re always learning from each other. The SD Garden is also our social hub, where we come together for celebrations and gatherings of all types. During both work sessions and breaks, it is not uncommon for various volunteers to be leading teaching moments or workshops. Volunteers sometimes like to eat dinner in the garden before a worknight or share homemade snacks during workdays. Please note our garden is located on a vegetarian and alcohol-free campus. We respectfully ask you not to bring any meat, alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes to the garden or grounds.