Little City, Big Growth.

2024 was a monumental year for Little City’s Dorothy Rose Horticulture Center as it celebrated 50 years of helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities grow.   

From the earliest days in the unmistakable A-Frame, to the garden beds and community gardens of today, Little City’s horticulture program has always believed there are lessons to be learned in connecting with nature.   

Though it started primarily as a therapeutic program, the horticulture program has grown to unlock a world of skills for those we serve. Today, the program has 10 participants on the vocational track who are developing job skills. From planting and cleaning, to customer service and running the annual Harvest Stand, the vocational track offers participants the therapeutic benefits of gardening while developing high-level job skills that could lead to community-based employment.   

One participant who embodies the tremendous growth of the horticulture program over the years is Karen.  

Unlike all the other participants, Karen is neither a Little City resident nor part of the Community Day Services program. She represents a growing effort at the horticulture program to allow more people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the community to be part of the work at the center. The vocational program has kept her busy since she retired from a long career at Jewel-Osco.  

“Karen is very helpful and very knowledgeable and has been a really great fit,” said Wayne Johnson, horticulture manager. 

“She has a love for plants and flowers and was looking for a way to stay busy. She wanted to give us a try and it has been great. We hope to open up a lot more opportunities like this for others in the community.” 

Karen was just one of 45 participants who made the program’s 50th anniversary a year to remember. There were more than 2,300 hours of classes throughout the year and a successful Spring Plant Sale and Fall Harvest Stand that combined generated more than $35,000 in revenue for the thriving program. 

Together, participants sold 2,500 plants and sold more than 2,000 pounds of tomatoes along with other fruits and vegetables including zucchini, melons, garlic, onions and more. 

While the annual events were a big hit in 2024, a special summer celebration truly captured the 50th anniversary milestone as participants, supporters, and families gathered to look back on the program’s history and celebrate the amazing work being done today. 

2025 is poised to be an even bigger year for the program as they have expanded planting areas and continue to broaden their handiwork. Participants are learning to use plants and herbs in creative ways including making poinsettia planters, potpourris, bath soaks, candles, and more.   

Jackie Kenyon, horticulture specialist, said the program continues to be one of the most popular at Little City and is always looking for new ways to grow.   

“It’s always amazing to see new people come in and try it and really fall in love with working with the plants and getting their hands dirty,” Jackie said. “And we’ve had people here for so long that you can really see the skills they have developed and how they take on more responsibility. It is always very rewarding.”