WICKER PARK — Work that began in April is paying off in August for a group of two dozen senior citizens who grow their own food in gardens behind a high-rise tower operated by the Chicago Housing Authority in Wicker Park.
Maggie Tovtyk and her husband, Myron Tovtyk, were tending to two gardens on Saturday, including one that belonged to a neighbor who can no longer work in her own garden, Maggie said.
Maggie Tovtyk, 66, is growing cucumbers, beets, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and parsley, while another neighbor, 79-year-old Evgeniya Stasev, is only growing cucumbers this year after previous seasons of growing more produce.
Tovtyk said there are about 240 residents between the tower at 1414 N. Damen Ave. and the "annex" at 2020 W. Schiller St. and those who are doing the most gardening in the 30 subdivided gardens are from Poland, Italy, Ukraine, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Originally from the Western Ukraine city of Lviv, Tovtyk has been gardening behind her building for the past three summers and bought seeds from a trip to the Ukraine to plant in her garden, she said.
While she eats from her garden every day and particularly enjoys lettuce sprinkled with sugar and topped with sour cream, Tovtyk said she also shares her produce with Anna Becaga, 84, who is growing only flowers.
Yvette Nieves, a services coordinator for the apartment complex, is responsible for making sure that the residents who want to garden are able to secure a spot at the beginning of the season.
"We have a meeting in March and set aside rules and spots," Nieves said.
Nieves said the gardens are free for the residents who also have access to donated soil and seeds.
Nieves said when she arrives at work around 7:45 a.m. there are "always" residents in the garden.
"To have the garden is good for them, it's a wonderful thing. Last year the garden was a mess because of the weather. But this year it's beautiful," Nieves said.
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