Yoga - South Shore
2025-10-18 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago)
Yoga in the garden
Sat 10/18 at 9 am
2301 E. 71st Street, Chicago
crandongarden@neighbor-space.org

Thanksgiving Celebration - Oak Lawn
2025-10-18 10:00 - 13:00
Share the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church/New Generation COGIC, 10400 S. Kostner Ave., Oak Lawn
Program – 10 a.m.-Noon
Thanksgiving Feast Noon-1 p.m.
Register by October 13

Harvest Festival - Glencoe
2025-10-18 10:00 - 16:30, 2025-10-19 10:00 - 16:30 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Saturday and Sunday, October 18/19, 10am – 4:30pm
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
A display of nearly 100 different apple varieties that are grown by our members in their own back yard. Many other types of fruit grown by members are also exhibited including European and Asian Pears, Quince, Hardy Kiwis, Pawpaw, Figs, Plums, and Persimmons
We feature tasting and sales of 10-15 different varieties of fantastically flavorful apples that you can’t find in your grocery store. We offer award-winning apple cider for sale from local orchards and a live demonstration of operating an old-fashioned cider press.
2025 Harvest Festival – October 18-19 –

October CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2025-10-21 18:00 - 19:00
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.

Soil Lead Screening - UIC
2025-10-25 11:00 - 13:00
Community Soil Health and Lead Screening Event
October 25th from 11:00am to 1:00pm
UIC Plant Research Laboratory (Greenhouse)
1020 S Union Ave, Chicago IL 60607

Halloween Party - W Garfield Park
2025-10-25 17:00 - 21:00
Haunted Warehouse Party
Chicago Tool Library
Saturday, October 25th, 5:00–9:00pm
4015 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
Haunted Warehouse Party at the Tool Library! | Chicago Tool Library CO

Day of Dead Celebration - Morgan Park
2025-11-01 16:00 - 21:00 | Edna White Community Garden, 1812 W Monterey Ave, Chicago, IL, 60643, United States
Day of the Dead celebration.
Edna White Community Garden 1812 W Monterey Ave, (111th Street) Chicago
Sat Nov 1, 4 – 9 pm
We will have a fire, s’mores, DIY candy apples, a movie and crafts for kids. Musician? Bing your instruments for music by the fire. Accepting donations for local families in need. Please bring non perishable food for the food pantry. There is a parking lot and restrooms avail at the police station next door.
https://www.facebook.com/events/760161933489465

Green Corn Festival - Albany Park
2025-11-02 13:00 - 18:00
Green Corn Festival
Sunday November 2nd, 1 – 6 pm
at two locations Global Garden 4815 N Sacramento, and American Indian Center, 3401 W Ainslie St,. Chicago

Native seed saving guided walk
Corn husk doll making
Openlands Tree tours
Fall pollinator scavenger hunt
Pumpkin smash composting station
Community meal + story time by the fire
Farm & Art Market
———Ticketed Workshops———
U-pick 5 Veggie bunches (Every half hour from 1:00 – 4:00 PM) $30
Fermentation & Canning Workshop (1:00 –2:00 PM) $15
Corn Mush Class (2:00 – 3:30 PM) $15
Kanastohale Class (3:30 – 5:00 PM) $25

Seed Saving Workshop - Blue Island
2025-11-02 15:00 - 16:30 | Blue Island Public Library, 2433 York Road, Blue Island, IL, 60406, United States
Seed Saving Workshop and Cookbook Recipe Collection
Sun November 2 @ 3pm
Blue Island Public Library, 2433 York St, Blue Island, IL
No Registration necessary. All Are welcome. Spanish resources available. Hosted by our friend Val Kehoe.

Houseplant Swap and Bingo - Avondale
2025-11-02 15:00 - 18:00
AGA Houseplant Swap and Bingo
Sun, November 2nd, from 3 to 6pm
upstairs at Chief O’Neill’s.
Be sure to join our AGA Houseplant Facebook group to get in on any pre-swap negotiations (but there will be plenty of swapping happening on event day, too)!

Seed Swap - River Forest
2025-11-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Thatcher Woods Pavillion, 8030 Chicago Ave, River Forest, IL, 60305, United States
Seed Swap at Thatcher Woods
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 9:00am-11:00am
Thatcher Woods Pavilion, Chicago Ave
west of Thatcher Ave, River Forest
Conservation@Home: Seed Swap – Forest Preserves of Cook County

November CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2025-11-18 18:00 - 19:00

Seed and Plant Exchange - Dan Ryan Woods
2025-11-22 10:00 - 14:00 | dan ryan woods Pavillion, 8700 S Western Ave, Chicago
Seed Swap and Plant Exchange
Sat Nov 22, 10 am – 2 pm
Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion 87/western, Chicago
Native Seed Presentation at 1030am and 1230pm
Seed Keepers and Soil Steward Presentation at 1045am and 1245pm
Bring a mug; warm beverages provided

Webinar - Nonprofit Business Structure Basics
2025-12-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
Tuesday December 9, 2025 @ 6 pm
Nonprofit Business Structure Basics
Farmers don’t just grow food because they enjoy it; they farm to provide their community with good food and good jobs while stewarding the earth’s resources. Does that mean the nonprofit business structure is a good choice for a farm? This webinar session tackles that question, while also addressing other business structures that incorporate social benefits, including benefit companies and social purpose entities. From wealth-building limitations to IRS criteria and the influence of a board of directors, the session breaks down the decision-making factors that farmers need to consider.
Presenter: Rachel Armstrong, Farm Commons
Registration Required at https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/legal-training-for-illinois-small-farms-webinar-series
University of Illinois • U.S. Department of Agriculture • Local Extension Councils Cooperating. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Sarah Batka sbatka@illinois.edu or 217-300-8636

December CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2025-12-16 18:00 - 19:00

Fruit Tree Pruning Webinar
2025-12-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Fruit Tree Pruning Fundamentals Virtual Workshop
Wednesday, December 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Cost $5
Join our comprehensive apple pruning workshop and discover the essential skills that separate thriving orchards from struggling trees. This class will teach you the science and artistry behind proper pruning, empowering you to maximize your harvest while maintaining healthy, beautiful trees for years to come. The skills you learn in this course will prepare you to prune your fruit trees in the dormant season of mid-December to late February when pruning should be done.

Since 2017, Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, has taught fruit tree pruning classes for Northern Illinois growers, both commercial and noncommercial. His approach uses a color coding systems to help you visualize the cuts you need to make this season, the shape your tree currently is or is heading, and the confidence to take his suggestions and put into action. This unique approach combines education with consulting and coaching without stepping foot on your orchard.

What You’ll Learn
In this workshop, you’ll master both the theory and practice of apple tree pruning through detailed classroom instruction and personalized tree analysis:

Pruning Timing and Strategy – Learn when to prune for optimal growth and fruit production throughout the seasons, understanding how timing affects tree health and harvest quality.
Tree Anatomy and Assessment – Identify different types of wood and buds, understanding how each contributes to your tree’s overall health and productivity.
Proper Cutting Techniques – Master the fundamental cuts and tool selection methods that professional orchardists use to maintain healthy, productive trees.
Tool Maintenance and Care – Develop essential skills for keeping your pruning tools sharp and properly sanitized to prevent disease transmission between trees.
Tree Training Methods – Discover techniques for shaping young orchards and establishing strong branch structures that can support heavy fruit loads.
Disease Prevention and Management – Learn how strategic pruning improves air circulation and light penetration to reduce disease pressure naturally.
Fruit Thinning Strategies – Understand when and how to thin fruit for larger, higher-quality apples and reduced stress on tree branches.
Personalized Tree Analysis – The highlight of our class is examining photos of your actual trees to develop specific, actionable pruning plans you can implement immediately.

Why Attend This Class
Proper pruning is the difference between a productive orchard and a disappointing harvest. Many apple growers struggle with overgrown, diseased, or poorly shaped trees that produce small, low-quality fruit. You may also be encountering heavy crop loads every other year. This class will save you years of trial and error, helping you avoid common mistakes that can permanently damage your trees. You’ll learn techniques that commercial orchardists use to maximize both fruit quality and quantity, while developing the confidence to make decisions that will benefit your trees for decades.

What to Expect
This comprehensive classroom workshop combines expert instruction with personalized guidance for your specific trees. Before class, you’ll have the opportunity to submit photos of your fruit trees, which we’ll analyze together to create customized pruning plans tailored to your orchard’s unique needs.

Who Should Attend
This class is perfect for backyard fruit tree growers looking to improve their harvest, homesteaders wanting to establish productive orchards, and anyone who has inherited apple trees and wants to care for them properly. Further, this class is designed for new commercial orchardists, whether adding to their farm or just getting started.

Balance Sheets Workshop - Chatham
2025-12-19 12:00 - 16:00 | U of I Extension Chicago office, 8753 S Greenwood #100, Chicago, IL, 60619, United States
Farm Balance Sheets
Friday December 19, 2025
in person at 8753 S. Greenwood, Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60619from 12 noon – 1 pm
Bring your lunch to our office and enjoy a 60-minute lunchtime presentation covering the what, why and how of farm balance sheets. Participants will receive a spreadsheet template & have the opportunity to contribute to a group learning activity.
1 – 4 pm
An optional guided work session follows the noon presentation. You will have the opportunity to input your own data into an Excel template, share results, and/or discuss solutions to problems that may be revealed after completing the balance sheet. Instructors and students will collectively brainstorm solutions. Light snacks & coffee/tea provided. Bring your laptop, a brown bag lunch, and farm data for this afternoon work session.

Cost: There is no cost to attend, we just ask that you pre-register: https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/farm-balance-sheets

Instructor: Kathryn Pereira, Extension Educators, Local Food Systems and Small Farms.
If you have any questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Sarah 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

AGA Avondale Almanac Premiere Event
2025-12-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Revolution Brewing – Brewery & Taproom, 3340 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
Come celebrate our 3rd annual AGA Avondale Almanac + Wall Calendar release! Yule is the perfect time to pick up your 2026 Almanac and start dreaming of 2026 garden plans. Friday 12/19 @ 6-8p at Revolution Brewing.
Our fully local made by neighbors Alma is 80 color pages including comprehensive planting calendar, weekly suggestions to keep up with your garden chores, local photos + nature facts, and so much more! This is our 4th edition and every year gets better thru hard work of of neighbors! Last year the theme was SOIL, this year ROOTS, next… STEMS!

January CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:00

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop - Winnetka
2026-01-21 10:00 - 12:00
Jan 21, 10 am – 12 noon at Backyard Flower Lab, Winnetka
Jan 21, 1 – 3 pm at the Talking Farm, Skokie
Feb 7, 10 am – 12 noon at Farmworks in Chicago (westside) (in partnership with Neighborspace)
Feb 20, at Passion of Pullman, Chicago (southside) (in partnership with Neighborspace)
Feb 22 TENTATIVE at Triangle Park Chicago (northside)
date TBD at It Takes a Village Farm, Saulk Village
https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/winter-fruit-tree-pruning-workshops

Sarah Batka
Local Foods Small Farms Program Coordinator
U of I Extension, Serving Cook County
direct phone 217-300-8636
sbatka@illinois.edu

Fruit Tree Pruning - Skokie
2026-01-21 13:00 - 15:00 | The Talking Farm, 3669 Howard St, Skokie, IL, 60076, United States
Cook Co Extension is hosting a series of fruit tree pruning workshops this Jan/Feb. Programs are free to attend and open to the public, We just ask that you pre-register. Bring your tools if you have them and dress for the weather. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. I will be on site for most (if not all) of these programs.
Jan 21, 2026, 10 am – 12 noon at Backyard Flower Lab, Winnetka
Jan 21, 2026, 1 – 3 pm at the Talking Farm, Skokie
Feb 7, 2026, 10 am – 12 noon at Farmworks in Chicago (westside) (in partnership with Neighborspace)
Feb 20, at Passion of Pullman, Chicago (southside) (in partnership with Neighborspace)
date TBD in Chicago (northside)
Feb date TBD at It Takes a Village Farm, Saulk Village.

Sarah Batka
Local Foods Small Farms Program Coordinator
U of I Extension, Serving Cook County
direct phone 217-300-8636
sbatka@illinois.edu

Everything Local Conference - Springfield
2026-01-28, 2026-01-29, 2026-01-30
Registration Now Open for Everything Local Conference
Jan 28 – 30, 2026
Springfield, IL $100 members / $225 non-members
Registration link

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop - East Garfield Park
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Chicago FarmWorks, 407 N Kedzie, Chicago, IL, United States
Jan 21, 10 am – 12 noon at Backyard Flower Lab, Winnetka
Jan 21, 1 – 3 pm at the Talking Farm, Skokie
Feb 7, 10 am – 12 noon at Farmworks in Chicago (East Garfield Park ) in partnership with Neighborspace
Feb 20, at Passion of Pullman, Chicago (southside) (in partnership with Neighborspace)
Feb 22 TENTATIVE at Triangle Park Chicago (northside)
date TBD at It Takes a Village Farm, Saulk Village

Sarah Batka
Local Foods Small Farms Program Coordinator
U of I Extension, Serving Cook County
direct phone 217-300-8636
sbatka@illinois.edu

C.A.R.E.s 12th Annual Free Seed Exchange
2026-02-07 10:00 - 14:00
C.A.R.E.’s 12th ANNUAL Free SEED EXCHANGE
White Oak Public Library
121 8th Street, Lockport
February 7, 2026, Saturday 10:00-2:00 –
Organic, non-GMO, and heirloom seeds will be available for free. C.A.R.E’s Seed Exchange purpose is to educate the public about Organic, Heirloom and Open Pollinated seeds; learning how to be a “seed saver” and about chemicals that affect nature and your health.
Chat with gardeners and find out how these seeds and seed saving can increase the nutrition, taste, and variety of home grown food while, perhaps finding rare varieties not available in most stores.
Please bring some empty envelopes to hold your seeds, and you are also encouraged to bring your labeled seeds to exchange.
Rain date is 2/14/26, 10:00-2:00

February CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:00

Seed Swap - Avondale
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00
Mappy Hour!
Seed Swap Social
February 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
at Avondale Tap, 3634 W Belmont Ave,Chicago, Illinois 60618

Please join us for this edition of Mappy Hour, inspired by National Seed Swap Day and a love of gardening and nature. The Geographic Society of Chicago invites you to join us in celebrating the spirit of this day by building community at a Seed Swap Social.
We encourage attendees to bring seeds to share—packaged and labeled, purchased, or those saved from your own garden. But don’t worry if you don’t have any seeds to bring. There will be more than enough for everyone, and we’d still love for you to join in the conversation, connection, and exchange of ideas.
Let’s plant Chicago’s future, one seed at a time!
Hosted by the Geographic Society of Chicago, Mappy Hour is a new event series that brings together adventurers, nature lovers, and globally curious minds for evenings of inspiration, connection, and fun.
Mappy Hour – Seed Swap Social!

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop - SouthShore
2026-02-20 10:00 - 12:00
Cook Co Extension is hosting a series of fruit tree pruning workshops this winter. Programs are free to attend and open to the public, We just ask that you pre-register. Bring your tools if you have them and dress for the weather.
Feb 7, 10 am – 12 noon at Farmworks in Chicago (westside) in partnership with Neighborspace
Feb 20, 10 am – 12 noon at the 71st & Crandon Organic Garden, at 2301 E 71st St, Chicago, IL 60649 in partnership with Neighborspace
Feb 22, 2-4 pm at Triangle Park Community Orchard, 1750 W Juneway Terrace, Chicago
March 4, 10 am – 12 noon at It Takes a Village Farm, Sauk Village
https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/winter-fruit-tree-pruning-workshops

Sarah Batka
Local Foods Small Farms Program Coordinator
U of I Extension, Serving Cook County
direct phone 217-300-8636
sbatka@illinois.edu
