About Us
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We are proud to be the oldest and largest community garden in the Chicago Park District. Our garden's history dates back to before the Great Depression when the concept of Victory Gardens was initiated following its creation during World War I. During World War II, we embraced the title of Victory Garden and contributed to the war effort, just like many other gardens across the country. Since then, our garden has evolved alongside our city and community. From the Great Depression to the technological age, through the rise of urban farming and the transformation of Chicago's south lakeshore, the Rainbow Beach Victory Garden (RBVG) has remained a welcoming space for individuals to engage in a seed-to-table gardening experience. We have had the honor of having the late George Beadle, a Nobel Prize winner in Genetics and a former President of the University of Chicago, as a member, and our garden was featured by ABC Channel 7 News as the last remaining Victory Garden in the city. Additionally, former First Lady Michelle Obama acknowledged our garden's history in her 2012 book, *American Grown: The Story of the White House Garden and Gardens Across America.*
Who We Are Today
The RBVG is proud to celebrate its 80th anniversary, supported by our dedicated members who collectively bring over a hundred years of gardening experience. We are committed to connecting with a new generation of gardeners, young families, and community residents like those before them, aim to uphold the garden's mission: to create a peaceful and safe space that fosters respect for community and the Earth. Link here if you would like to join the RBVG.