In 2022, Ogle County Health Department (OCHD) was awarded an ACTion grant through the CDC to increase food and nutrition security in Lee, Ogle, Carroll, and Whiteside counties. For the next three years, OCHD would get $500,000 a year for a total of $1.5 million dollars. Other grant recipients were in Seattle, WA, Madison, WI, Savannah, GA, and New York City, NY.
For the past two years, OCHD has been building unmanned mini food centers with pantry items available 24/7. Here, anyone can “take what you can or leave what you can.” These sheds can be found at:
- Teen Turf, 235 West Main Street in Amboy
- YWCA of Sauk Valley, 412 1st Avenue in Sterling
- Davis Community Center, 631 South East Street in Mt. Carroll
- Conover Square, 201 N. 3rd St. in Oregon
- Creston Fire Station, 103 E. North St in Creston
- Dixon Public Library, 221 S. Hennepin Ave in Dixon
For the final year of grant funding, OCHD wanted to offer fresh and nutritious food and decided to pursue passive hydroponics and microgreen kits. Through a trial and error process, and a lucky break of being located close to Happy Leaf LED in Oregon, IL, Lewis was able to secure the materials to offer these kits to the community, free of charge.
In January 2025, she reached out to the 26 libraries within the four counties and had 16 respondents, including Prophetstown and Morrison, for free microgreens classes. Each class participant gets a microgreen growing kit valued at $100 that includes seeds, instructions, a bookmark listing the benefits of microgreens, and pamphlets with short and simple recipes. Lewis said she tried many different recipes and tested them on her picky teenagers to come up with her favorites, such as smoothies. Leftover microgreens are great for chickens, goats, and even a fancy bearded dragon, which she has at home.
Kits were provided for up 15 participants at each class, for a total $1,500 investment. The kit comes with the base, seed sorter, superfood mix of seeds, nutrients, a paper towel, and a gooseneck LED light. Each kit has enough seeds for 6-8 trays, and enough nutrient mix for 50-60 gallons. In addition to the kits, each participating library received a shelf with lights, kits, and growing supplies, a $3,500 value, so the microgreens can be available to the community. In total, OCHD will have distributed 640 kits around the four counties, thanks to the grant.
There were 7 adults and 3 children at the class on Thursday, November 6th. Another class will be offered Saturday at 11 a.m., though space is limited (please call the library first). Lewis shows the class how to grow the microgreens and discusses the germination and harvest process. She also provided samples such as broccoli, radish, kale, and basil. The nutritionally dense seeds are ready within ten days and are easy to grow, even for those without a green thumb. A 3/4 cup of microgreens has the same nutritional value of two cups of vegetables.
Thanks to Lewis and the Ogle County Health Department, the Prophetstown library will have a supply of fresh microgreens. To learn more, stop by the library during regular hours!
Microgreens Class on November 6th
