Organic gardening and caring for alpacas is a far cry from working on North Michigan Avenue and eating lunch along the Chicago River. But that’s Jenny Jeck’s story.
Jenny began her seven-month stint as a Providence Volunteer Minister at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC) on Jan. 5.
The scenery is a little different since the last time she volunteered at WVC during the summer of 2003 when she stayed busy harvesting vegetables and weeding.
“I like being here for the beginning of the growing season when they’re planting, ordering seeds and getting the beds ready,” she said. “I’m excited to experience the winter months so I can get a sense of the whole growing season. And I haven’t worked in a hoop house before.”
WVC staff built a hoop house, a type of greenhouse, in 2009 with grant money. This allows the growing season to last longer. Currently, there is lettuce and spinach growing in the hoop house.
This St. Xavier University graduate will also be instrumental in the advocacy work at WVC. The main issues she’ll be researching and acting on are water, local food and slow food.