Chicago Community Gardeners Association

McHenry Co Farm Stroll
2024-09-29 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | IL
Once a year these diversified farms open their barn doors to the general public.
Sunday September 29, 10 am – 4 pm
A free self-guided tour of 11 family farms in McHenry Co.
download the map at https://mchenrycfb.org/sites/default/files/Farm%20Stroll%20Brochure%202024_10.pdf
McHenry Co Farm Stroll 9.29.24

Applying Permaculture to City Ecosystems - Beverly
2024-10-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Beverly Art Center, 2407 W 111th Street, Chicago, 60655, United States
The Garden Club of Morgan Park/Beverly Hills will host its annual FREE community event at the Beverly Arts Center on Wednesday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. The speaker is Annamaria Leon Diblik, who will speak on “Ecosystems in the City and How to Apply Permaculture Principles.”
Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system.

Farm to Fork Feast - Naperville
2024-10-12 15:00 - 18:00 | McDonald Farm, 10 S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville, IL, United States
Our second annual farm-to-fork feast will bring together farmers, eaters and food system leaders from northern Illinois for an evening of fellowship and the finest local food sourced from nearby farms.
Together, we will honor Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s first 50 years as a changemaking organization and toast to our food and farm future.
Saturday, October 12, 2024 @ 3:00 PM
McDonald Farm, 10 S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville, IL 60565
Farm to Fork Feast 2024

October CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2024-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 | IL
Please join us for our monthly coordinating meeting. Representatives from all the working groups come together to coordinate our actions. All community gardeners and supporters are invited to attend.
CCGA coordinating meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, except for July & August. Click on the link next to the bullet to download the document(s) listed below.
NOTE: Most CCGA Coordinating meetings are being held via Zoom. In-person meeting locations may switch between The Hatchery Chicago & the Chicago Center for Green Technology.
If you want to attend the coordinating meeting and are not already a member of one of the CCGA working groups, please send an email to: communications@chicagocommunitygardens.org and request to join the monthly meetings.
NOTE: All CCGA coordinating meeting minutes are available for you to review on the website. Look under the menu tree at ‘Who We Are’ and then ‘CCGA Organization’ and you will see links here for the coordinating committee documents by year.

Seed and Plant Swap
2024-10-16 16:00 - 19:00 | dan ryan woods Pavillion, 8700 S Western Ave, Chicago
Seed Swap and Plant Exchange
Wednesday October 16 from 4pm-7pm.
Dan Ryan Woods Pavillion, 87/Western, Chicago
No registration required
Questions: Call or Text: 312-415-2970
Jessica.Becker@cookcountyil.gov

NRCS Field Day @ Growing Home
2024-10-17 16:30 - 18:00 | Growing home, 5814 S Wood, Chicago, IL, 60636, United States
NRCS field day at Growing Home 10.17.24
NRCS Conservation Practices Field Day
Thursday October 17, 2024, 4:30 – 6 pm
Growing Home, 5814 S Wood, Chicago
Meet the Natural Resources and Conservation Service Field Agents and hear from Growing Home farmer Ezra Lee about the conservation practices implemented on this diversified NFP farm, and their experience with these contracts.
Free but please register at go.illinois.edu/NRCSFieldDay
To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Sarah Batka at 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

Share the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration - Oak Lawn
2024-10-19 10:00 - 13:00 | IL
91724
Share the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration!
Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mt. Zion Lutheran/New Generation COGIC
10400 S. Kostner, Oak Lawn
Please RSVP at https://forms.gle/PZ9orVHYNUxmrg1m6
Questions call/text (773-495-7865) or email graceseedsministry@gmail.com.

Harvest Festival - Chgo Botanic Garden
2024-10-19 10:00 - 2024-10-20 16:30 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Midwest Fruit Explorers Harvest Festival
Saturday October 19, 10 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday October 20, 10 am – 4:30 pm
See and taste unique varieties of apples, persimmon, asian pears, nuts, figs and other rare fruits from this backyard growers club. They’ll have delicious varieties of apples for sale and you can taste fresh pressed cider from our old fashioned press.
Garden admission applies
Harvest Festival

Help us plant trees in Bronzeville!
2024-11-09 09:00 - 12:00 | IL, United States
Volunteers Needed! Team up with the Chicago Region Trees Initiative to plant 11 trees at Urban Juncture and the Bronzeville Community Garden. Join us for this fun event! No experience is necessary. Just bring water and wear closed-toed shoes.
Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/urban-juncture-tree-planting-tickets-1021807893917

November CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2024-11-19 18:00 - 19:30 | IL

Webinar: Using Balance Sheets for Farm Planning
2024-12-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
The course has two components. Free templates will be provided.
Part 1: a 1-hour virtual lecture on why/how to use balance sheets, followed by discussion and Q&A.

Part 2: an in-person guided work session where you will have the opportunity to input your own data in to an Excel template, share results, and/or discuss solutions to potential cash flow problems that may be revealed after completing the worksheets. Instructors and students will collectively brainstorm solutions.

Virtual Webinar Balance Sheets:
Wednesday December 11, 2024, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Learn how Balance Sheets can benefit your farm business planning and how they can be used for forecasting and decision making.

In-Person Work Session: Friday December 13, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm at 8753 S. Greenwood Chicago, IL 60619. Bring your laptop and farm data for this day-long work session. The Cook County Local Food Systems and Small Farm team will be on hand for one-on-one coaching. Lunch will be provided for the in-person session, and everyone who attends will receive a copy of Fearless Farm Finances. You MUST have attended the virtual session in order to attend the in-person session.

Cost: The Virtual session is at no cost.
The in person session requires a $10 refundable deposit to ensure attendance.
Instructor(s): Kathryn Pereira, Extension Educators, Local Food Systems and Small Farms. In person session also guided by Sarah Hoerner of Compeer Financial.

If you have any questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate, Sarah Batka at 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

Workshop: Using Balance Sheets for Farm Planning
2024-12-13 09:00 - 15:00 | U of I Extension Chicago office, 8753 S Greenwood #100, Chicago, IL, 60619, United States

December CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2024-12-17 18:00 - 19:30 | IL

Native Plant Seed Swap and Giveaway
2025-01-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Schaumburg Library, 130 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL, 60193, United States
Come join us for a day of learning about natives. Just starting out? Come learn why natives are important and how to garden with them, and get free seeds. Have an established garden? Share your seeds and your knowledge.We’ll have stations on site prep, winter sowing, and master gardeners to help with plant selection. We’ll also have a spot to pick up extra plastic pots or drop off ones you don’t need.

Questions about donations/swapping:
Q: How do I bring seeds if I want to swap or pass mine out?Best practice for swapping would be smaller packets labeled with Latin and common names.But if you threw milkweed pods or flower heads in well labeled ziplock or paper bags, that’s great too. (Just remember plastic isn’t best when the seeds are still drying).And while we try to clean up the seeds as much as we can, we don’t have the machinery to make the seeds look as perfect as they do when you buy them so expect some chaff in the packets. And we wouldn’t expect your seeds to look perfect either. There will be extra tables to set up for swapping and chatting.
Q: I want to donate seeds but I don’t have time for the swap. What container should they be in? How to drop off?If freshly picked, a paper bag/breathable bag would be best so seeds can dry. If older, shouldn’t matter.Please label, ideally with the Latin name. Please no cultivars or general names like “Rubeckia”.(However, we did accept a large bag of aster seeds last year because she knew it was one of three native species she collected but forgot to label the bag at the time. These seeds go to a friend that’s converting farm land to prairie)How much you want to put into it is up to you. We rather you give us whole coneflowers heads than nothing at all, but we appreciate the people that give us clean seeds.You can drop off at the event even if you don’t plan to swap or stay.

https://www.schaumburglibrary.org/events?id=12076440

Native Landscape Design Workshop - Zoom
2025-01-21 17:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Are you passionate about green spaces, eager to learn new gardening skills, or curious about making native plants shine in your home landscape? Join us for this free, two-part native landscape design workshop. The Introduction to Native Landscape Design Lecture allows you to learn design principles and explore native plant selection to create beautiful, drought-resistant landscapes that benefit wildlife. The Individualized landscape coaching sessions (Lecture required as a prerequisite) allow for personalized advice on your landscape.
Pre-Registration is required at https://go.illinois.edu/NativeDesign

January CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2025-01-21 18:00 - 19:00 | IL

Webinar: Vegetable Production Planning
2025-01-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
The course has two components. Free templates will be provided.
Part 1A: a 1 hour virtual lecture on vegetable production planning, followed by discussion and Q&A.
Part 1B: a 1 hour virtual lecture on cash flow worksheets, followed by discussion and Q&A.

Part 2: an in-person guided work session where you will have the opportunity to input your own data in to an Excel template, share results, and/or discuss solutions to potential problems that may be revealed after completing the worksheets. Instructors and students will collectively brainstorm solutions.

Virtual Webinars:
Part 1A: Rescheduled from Jan 15 to January 21, 2025, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Vegetable Production Planning using Excel
Part 1B: Wednesday January 22, 2025, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Cash Flow Worksheets
In-Person Work Session:
Part 2: Friday January 24, 2025 from 9 am to 3 pm at 8753 S. Greenwood Chicago, IL 60619. Bring your laptop and farm data for this day-long work session. The Cook County Local Food Systems and Small Farm team will be on hand for one-on-one coaching. Lunch will be provided for the in person session, and everyone who attends will receive a copy of Fearless Farm Finances or The Lean MicroFarm. You MUST have attended the virtual session in order to attend the in person session.
Cost: Part 1 virtual sessions are at no cost.
Part 2 – The in person session requires a $15 refundable deposit to ensure attendance.

Instructor(s): Kathryn Pereira, and Zack Grant, Cook County Extension Educators, Local Food Systems and Small Farms.
If you have any questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate: Sarah 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

Webinar: Cashflow Worksheets for Farm Planning
2025-01-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
The course has two components. Free templates will be provided.
Part 1A: a 1 hour virtual lecture on vegetable production planning, followed by discussion and Q&A.
Part 1B: a 1 hour virtual lecture on cash flow worksheets, followed by discussion and Q&A.

Part 2: an in-person guided work session where you will have the opportunity to input your own data into an Excel template, share results, and/or discuss solutions to potential problems that may be revealed after completing the worksheets. Instructors and students will collectively brainstorm solutions.

Virtual Webinars:
Part 1A: Rescheduled from Jan 15 to January 21 2025, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Vegetable Production Planning using Excel
Part 1B: Wednesday January 22, 2025, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Cash Flow Worksheets
In-Person Work Session:
Part 2: Friday January 24, 2025 from 9 am to 3 pm at 8753 S. Greenwood Chicago, IL 60619. Bring your laptop and farm data for this day-long work session. The Cook County Local Food Systems and Small Farm team will be on hand for one-on-one coaching. Lunch will be provided for the in-person session, and everyone who attends will receive a copy of Fearless Farm Finances or The Lean MicroFarm. You MUST have attended the virtual session in order to attend the in-person session.
Cost: Part 1 virtual sessions are at no cost.
Part 2 – The in-person session requires a $15 refundable deposit to ensure attendance.

Instructor(s): Kathryn Pereira, and Zack Grant, Cook County Extension Educators, Local Food Systems and Small Farms.
If you have any questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate: Sarah 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

Production Planning and Cashflow Workshop
2025-01-24 09:00 - 15:00 | U of I Extension Chicago office, 8753 S Greenwood #100, Chicago, IL, 60619, United States
The course has two components. Free templates will be provided.
Part 1A: a 1 hour virtual lecture on vegetable production planning, followed by discussion and Q&A.
Part 1B: a 1 hour virtual lecture on cash flow worksheets, followed by discussion and Q&A.

Part 2: an in-person guided work session where you will have the opportunity to input your own data in to an Excel template, share results, and/or discuss solutions to potential problems that may be revealed after completing the worksheets. Instructors and students will collectively brainstorm solutions.

Virtual Webinars:
Part 1A: Rescheduled from January 15 to January 21, 2025, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Vegetable Production Planning using Excel
Part 1B: Wednesday January 22, 2025, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Cash Flow Worksheets
In-Person Work Session:
Part 2: Friday January 24, 2025 from 9 am to 3 pm at 8753 S. Greenwood Chicago, IL 60619. Bring your laptop and farm data for this day-long work session. The Cook County Local Food Systems and Small Farm team will be on hand for one-on-one coaching. Lunch will be provided for the in-person session, and everyone who attends will receive a copy of Fearless Farm Finances or The Lean MicroFarm. You MUST have attended a virtual session in order to attend the in-person session.
Cost: Part 1 virtual sessions are at no cost.
Part 2 – The in-person session requires a $15 refundable deposit to ensure attendance.

Instructor(s): Kathryn Pereira, and Zack Grant, Cook County Extension Educators, Local Food Systems and Small Farms.
If you have any questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate: Sarah 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

National Seed Swap Day
2025-01-25 | IL
Today is National Seed Swap Day!
Find an event near you at Extension’s interactive map.
go.illinois.edu/SeedSwaps
to have your event added to the map, please email Sarah at sbatka@illinois.edu or call 217-300-8636

Food Safety for Community Gardens - Zoom
2025-01-25 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Food Safety Workshop Flyer

Urban Ag Resources Winter Workshop
2025-02-05 09:30 - 13:00 | Eden Place, 4911 S Shields, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
In partnership with NRCS, FSA, and Illinois Extension, we will host an in-person Winter Workshop on February 5th to connect urban farmers to available resources and celebrate the IAM-Chi Grant Kick-Off for 2025.
Come learn about what the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Illinois Extension, Advocates for Urban Agriculture, Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District, The Conservation Fund, and other partner organizations can do to support your urban ag operation. You will meet the USDA’s Urban Team, learn of Financial Assistance Programs, partner organizations, and how to apply for the IAM-Chi Grant Program. Lunch will not be provided.
Register Here!

This event will be an opportunity to network and reconnect with other urban farmers and learn about the IAM-Chi program and other USDA resources for urban growers, hosted at Eden Place Farms, 4911 S Shields Ave, Chicago, IL 60609 from 9:30 am – 1 pm.
If you have any questions, contact Jesse Schaffer at Jschaff@illinois.edu

Stateline Fruit and Veg Conference - Rockford
2025-02-17 09:00 - 15:30 | NIU Rockford Conference Center, 8500 E State Street, Rockford, IL, United States
University of Illinois Extension is excited to present the 29th Annual Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference at NIU-Rockford in Rockford, Illinois. This conference addresses common issues facing fruit and vegetable growers, hoping to provide the most up-to-date information to ensure a successful growing season and business.

February CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2025-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | IL

School and Community Garden Training - Zoom
2025-02-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-04 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
School and Community Garden Training 2025
This free three-part training series will help you gain the knowledge and confidence to start your school or community garden! Join Illinois Extension educators in Cook County to jump-start your garden planning. Attendance at all three sessions is highly recommended for new gardens requesting on-site assistance from Illinois Extension in Cook County.
Registration is free but required.
Learn more at go.illinois.edu/gardentraining2025
February 25, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM – Introduction, Getting Started, and Volunteer Engagement
March 4, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM – Vegetable Gardening
March 11, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM – Ornamental Gardens and Curriculum

Busting Soil with Slum Busters - North Lawndale
2025-03-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Slum Busters Garden, 1954 S Trumbull Ave, Chicago, IL, 60623, United States
Saturday, March 8, 2025 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM CT

Slum Busters Historical Garden, 1954 S Trumbull Ave, Chicago, IL 60623

Hosted by Slum Busters
Join Slum Busters for a discussion and live demonstration on how healthy soil can improve our overall lifestyle through our senses, On Saturday, March 8th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Each participant can expect their own planting equipment, soil, seeds, index card, and writing materials.
Please REGISTER at https://secure.everyaction.com/CMgL0A_UjUKpLzNZFGdFUw2
If any questions or concerns please contact ShiRita Robinson at shirita.robinson1@gmail.com

March Lunch & Grow: Conversations with Conservationists and Gardeners
2025-03-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
March Lunch & Grow: Conversations with Conservationists and Gardeners Lunch & Grow: Conversations with Conservationists and Gardeners

Chicago Grows Food is hosting a monthly event that will be a space to learn from an expert about what to focus on each month in your garden. Additionally, this is an opportunity to engage and grow with the gardening community. Come with questions or listen to others. Either way we will be here to chat.us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/whc9WmHzTCuwvXWyuhcXnQ

Jr. Master Gardener Facilitator Training
2025-03-15 09:00 - 16:00 | dan ryan woods Pavillion, 8700 S Western Ave, Chicago
Jr. Master Gardener Facilitator Workshop
Saturday March 15, 9 am – 4 pm
Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, 87/Western Ave, Chicago
Learn how to implement the Jr. Master Gardener program in your classroom or community setting and receive your Food Handler Certification.
$30 Register at https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/junior-master-gardener-train-the-trainer-workshop
2025 JMG Workshop Flyer
