History

DIGG was born in January 2009, when Daniel Ray Pickrel, who had worked on community gardens in Cleveland, contacted Sue Hemp about developing gardens in Decatur and providing work and learning opportunities for residents. Sue is affiliated with the Decatur Jobs Council, which seeks to help disadvantaged workers find jobs or start their own small businesses. She thought community gardens in Decatur sounded like a great idea.

Our first meeting was held in February 2009. Since then, DIGG has grown to over 60 members. We have received grants from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis; a start-up loan from the Northeast Community Fund; and donations of time, money, and garden necessities from several groups and individuals. We started planting at five sites, four in the central Decatur area and one on East Grove Road.

Along the way, DIGG partnered with United Cerebral Palsy to provide a community volunteer service opportunity for six UCP clients, young people who were looking for a summer learning and service activity. The young people helped plant flowers and shrubs (donated by Rich Starshak of the Garden Path) at the St. James Garden.

DIGG also partnered with the Macon County Community Health Foundation, which provided a grant to pay three young women working through Reasonable Service (a faith-based non-profit assisting needy people). The three teens worked at Toad Hill, learning basic job skills and gardening.

DIGG filed Articles of Incorporation on June 24, 2009, to incorporate as Decatur Is Growing Gardeners (DIGG), Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.

DIGG is registered with the Illinois Attorney General and in February 2010 was granted 501(c)(3) (tax-exempt) status by the Internal Revenue Service.