Economic Sustainability : Organic Victory Garden

Dordan is headquartered in Woodstock, IL, which is a community dedicated to more sustainable processes of production and consumption. From weekly farmers markets to the windmills that dot the horizon, Woodstock culture is unique in its preference for locally produced goods and services.

This cultural preference manifests itself in the high concentration of small-scale farmers in Woodstock who provide organics and other foodstuff to the local restaurants. It is a unique, local and arguable closed-loop economy in which those that reside in Woodstock often grow the produce consumed by Woodstock.

One local farmer, who sustains her family by selling organics to local restaurants, found herself in a bind winter 2010 because the plot she had been using was no longer available. Without land upon which to grow produce, this local farmer would be unable to provide for her family or the local restaurants and community. Upon catching word, Dordan volunteered its land to be converted into an organic garden; in doing so, the local farmer could continue to sustain her family and the consumption habits of the Woodstock community, contributing to the sustainment of the local economy.

Check out the pictures below to see the conversion of Dordan's land into an organic garden!

Pictured: Our farmers! Emily at left; her father Phil at right

Pictured: The plot!

Pictured: Phil measuring and staking out the plot

Pictured: Phil tilling the plot

Pictured: Irrigation system that moves rain water collected via roof throughout plot

Pictured: Dordan compost applied to plot

Pictured: Segregated plot

Pictured: Seedlings ready for plot

Pictured: Seedlings planted

Pictured: Organic garden plot, early summer 2011

Pictured: Beans, species A, summer 2011

Pictured: Beans, species B, summer 2011

Pictured: Lettuce, summer 2011

Pictured: Peppers, summer 2011

Pictured: Tomatoes, summer 2011