A program of the CCCG Connecting Chicago Community Gardeners Network taught and organized by gardeners, for gardeners.

Facilitating the event will be Kirsten Akre, Dr. Shemuel Israel (North Lawndale Greening Committee), and Ellen Newcomer (Austin Green Team) in the Garfield Park Conservatory Community Room.

It has been a long cold winter, but spring is around the corner. Even before the soil warms, you can be ready to get your garden growing. Come to this workshop for inspiration and hands on tips for success.

All three instructors have been working in community gardens through out the city for over 15 years or more. We will discuss spring soil tips, easy early crops that can be sown directly in the garden, common spring pests and tips to avoid hungry animals from feasting, a few tips on starting seedlings indoors and starting your own sweet potato slips.

To help everyone start growing, we will have plenty of seeds to share thanks to Neighborspace. In addition, because eating the food is why we grow, we will taste recipes from a few of the spring crops thanks to Dr. Israel.

Update

For your reference, here are some of the handouts and lecture materials that were used at the workshop:

• Let’s Get Growing – complete workshop outline
• Soil blocking
• Sweet potato slips