Teacher spends own money, gives time for community garden WASHINGTON PARK, IL (Belleville News-Democrat) — Derissa Davis’ energy seemed to know no bounds on May 8 as she pursued her community’s vision of turning an abandoned lot into a vegetable garden that will serve families in the surrounding food desert. “Everything we grow, we’ll give away,” said Davis, a fourth grade reading teacher at James Avant Elementary School. The idea for the Tiny Children’s Garden started with a group of third graders who sent letters to the village mayor describing what they’d like to s...