On a hot Chicago summer day, sometimes there is nothing sweeter than biting into a juicy peach or watermelon. Most of us can buy these summer-time treats at our neighborhood grocer – or, if we’re lucky - at one of the city’s many farmer’s markets.

But for residents living in some south and west side neighborhoods, grocery stores are few and far between. These food deserts deprive residents of nutritious food choices and healthy eating habits.

Earlier this year Mari Gallagher’s, Research & Consulting Group in Chicago released a study on food deserts. The study identified over 600,000 Chicagoans living with distant or no grocery stores nearby. The report also stated that people living in these food deserts were more likely to suffer from diet related diseases and premature death.

But even at our favorite corner store, finding affordable, fresh produce can be difficult.

These obstacles drove some residents to create their own community gardens - such as Graffiti and Grub. Created by parent and activist La Donna Redmond, the organization is located between two food deserts in Washington Park and Englewood. Graffiti and Grub is one community-based solution to food deserts.

On this episode of Community Media and You, we’ll talk with La Donna and her partner Wil Seegars about Graffiti and Grub’s beginnings and other Chicago food deserts.