Chicago Community Gardeners Association

Harvest Festival - Chgo Botanic Garden
2024-10-19 10:00 - 2024-10-20 16:30 (America/Chicago) | 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
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.

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

Planting for Pollinators in Small Spaces Workshop
2025-03-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Garfield Park Conservatory Community Room, 300 N. Central Park, Chicago, IL, United States
You can help pollinators even if you have limited space! Three hands-on community gardeners will share their considerable experience planting Chicago parkways, corner gardens, containers, and other small spaces. The CCGA Resources team will distribute free packets of seeds for easy to grow, pollinator-friendly annual flowers, as well as pollinator-friendly annuals.
WHERE: The Community Room at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park in Chicago
WHEN: 10:00am – 11:30am on Saturday, March 15, 2025
QUESTIONS: Please email CCGA Resources member Mamie Gray: mamiegray2012@gmail.com
To register, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUs8r7heDu7VI3Hkboj5mnwEK0cUXxeuaarfnYiRj7TDYxtg/viewform

March CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2025-03-18 18:00 - 19:00 | IL
Update:
The March 18 2025 meeting will be a hybrid format. You may join us in person at the Richard M. Daley Branch, Chicago Public Library, 733 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 or on Zoom at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82680460687?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 826 8046 0687
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Dial in number: 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 826 8046 0687
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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.

Gardeners Exchange Extravaganza - Morgan Park
2025-03-22 10:00 - 14:00 | morgan park presbyterian church, 2017 W 110th Place, Chicago, 60643, United States
The 2025 Gardeners Exchange Extravaganza will take place March 22, 10 am – 2 pmMorgan Park Presbyterian Church, 110/Longwood, Chicago
Bring your family and your garden tools, seeds, and stories to swap with other gardeners. It’s free to attend and you can drop in at any time. For Questions, Rev. Linda Wygant graceseedsministry@gmail.com

Rituals of Remembering - Austin
2025-03-22 12:00 - 14:00 | Mercy Garden of Peace and Healing, 4910 W Quincy Street, Chicago, IL, 60644, United States
Rituals of Remembering Event
Looking Towards Light March 22, 12-2 PMMercy Garden of Peace and Healing4910 W Quincy StChicago, IL 60644Rituals of Remembering is a creative workshop series in Mercy Garden of Peace & Healing designed and led by interdisciplinary artist Alyssa Martinez (aka A.Martinez) that aims to deepen our experience of remembering departed loved ones through group discussion and art activities. Join us for this beautiful event! RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/rituals-of-remembering..

MidFex Grafting Workshop
2025-03-23 13:00 - 16:30 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
2025 Grafting Workshop Sunday March 23 – Midwest Fruit Explorers

Community Garden Kick Off and Seed Distribution - Blue Island
2025-03-29 10:00 - 11:30 | Blue Island Public Library, 2433 York Road, Blue Island, IL, 60406, United States

Seed Starting - Blue Island or Virtual
2025-03-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Hope Center, 2552 135th St, Blue Island, IL, 60406, United States
FREE Seed Starting Workshop
Sat March 29, 2 – 3:30 pm
@ Hope Center
2552 135th St, Blue Island, IL or attend virtually
RSVP now to grab your free kit & start your garden with confidence!

RSVP Here: https://forms.office.com/r/TDZf60xNMA
