September CCGA Coordinating Meeting - Hybrid
2025-09-16 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.
This is the virtual Zoom meeting link for our monthly meetings:

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]
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.

Cover Crop Workshop - Gary Comer
2025-09-19 17:00 - 19:00 | IL
AUA’s Urban Cover Crop Workshop
Friday, September 19 | 5–7PM
Gary Comer Farm – 7200 S. Ingleside, Chicago
Food, farm tour, and workshop included.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/urbansmall-scale-cover-cropping-tickets-1603603574459

Fall Equinox Yoga - Maxwell St. Garden
2025-09-20 11:00 - 12:00 | IL
Maxwell’s Fall Equinox Yoga Finale Session on September 20th @ 11 am !
1150 W 13th Street, Chicago
https://www.maxwellstreetgarden.org/
maxwellstreetgarden@gmail.com | Tel: +1(630) 210-1589

Growing Home Backyard BBQ - Englewood
2025-09-21 14:00 - 17:00 | Growing home, 5814 S Wood, Chicago, IL, 60636, United States
Growing Home Backyard BBQ Fundraiser
Sunday, September 21 · 2 – 5pm
5814 South Wood Street Chicago, IL 60636
$25 – $100

Join Growing Home for our annual Backyard Barbecue on Sunday, September 21, 2025—a festive farm-to-table friendraiser celebration of food, farming, and community! This event showcases the vibrant spirit of Greater Englewood through:

Incredible bites and beverages from talented local chefs and caterers
Live music and entertainment throughout the day
Tour of Growing Home’s urban farm, gardens, and block spaces
Interactive raffles and games
Plus, hear from a Growing Home program alumni speaker, sharing their journey and impact

This event will uplift and support Chicago’s local food system—and proceeds directly benefit Growing Home’s workforce development programs, food access initiatives, and community healing work.

Growing Home's 4th Annual Backyard Barbecue
2025-09-21 14:00 - 18:00 | Growing Home Urban Farm, 5814 South Wood Street Chicago, IL 60636, Chicago, IL, 60636, United States
Join us for a festive evening at Growing Home’s annual Backyard Barbecue, a celebration of food, music, and community! Enjoy delicious bites from local chefs, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities—all set against the backdrop of our USDA-certified organic urban farm in Englewood. Guests will also have the opportunity to take guided tours of our beautiful farm and learn about our mission to build a more equitable Chicago through food, jobs, and community.
📅 Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025🕒 Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM📍 Location: Growing Home Urban Farm, 5814 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60636
Come connect with neighbors, support local good food, and celebrate the harvest season with us. All are welcome!
Learn more & RSVP: growinghomeinc.org/events

Pollinator Steward certification Day 1
2025-09-25 09:00 - 16:00 | The Plant, 1400 W. 46th Street, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Pollinator Steward Certification
September 25th, 9 am – 4 pm, and September 26th, 9 am – 4 pm
The Plant 1400 W. 46th St., Chicago IL 60609
The Pollinator Steward Certification (PSC) program, offered by Pollinator Partnership, empowers people with the scientific know-how to make a real difference for pollinators, people, and the planet. This course is ideal for agricultural managers, farmers and growers, home gardeners, and anyone that wants to do more to support pollinators.

Topics include an introduction to the world of pollinators, how they live and thrive, and how we can help. Details will be provided on habitat creation for pollinators for both urban and agricultural landscapes. Additional information on pollinator identification and how to monitor your plants for Budburst, a community-focused, data driven approach to conservation (a program of the Chicago Botanic Garden) will be provided.

Join us for this FREE workshop at The Plant (1400 W. 46th St., Chicago IL 60609) on September 25th (9:00 am to 4:00 pm) and September 26th (9:00 am to 4:00 pm) to learn from Chicago based scientists and practitioners. Space is limited to 45 attendees.

Pollinator Steward Certification - Day 2
2025-09-26 09:00 - 16:00 | The Plant, 1400 W. 46th Street, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States

Cookbook Club and Potluck - Pilsen
2025-09-26 18:00 - 20:00 | El Paseo Community Garden, 966 W. 21st St, Chicago, IL, United States
El Paseo Monthly Potluck Dinners
Sept 26, 6 – 8 pm
944 W 21st street, Chicago

Native Fruit Trees - Saulk Village
2025-09-27 11:00 | It Takes a Village Community Farm, 2500 223rd Street, Saulk Village, IL, 60411, United States
Native Fruit Trees Workshop
It Takes a Village Community Farm
2500 223rd St., Sauk Village IL 60411
Saturday, September 27th, 11am – 1pm
With the Morton Arboretum
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPMinaZp4ns1etOS_IXKihy0LdhlVFo2kMom1Kg8xeL1PT3Q/viewform

Farm to Fork Feast - Naperville
2025-09-27 16:00 - 20:00 | McDonald Farm, 10 S404 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville, IL, United States
IL Stewardship Alliance Farm to Fork Feast
Sat Sept 27, 4 pm at McDonald Farm in Naperville
$150
Join us for an evening of local food, fellowship and celebration as we honor our local food and those who produce it. The Farm to Fork Feast supports our mission to bring farmers and eaters together to build a more just, local and regenerative food and farm system.
Together, we will enjoy a Latin-American inspired menu artfully prepared by Northern Fork, a local food silent auction and fellowship on McDonald Farm in Naperville.
Tickets include access to the event, open wine and beer bar, and your chance to bid in the silent auction.

Food Waste and Composting - Saulk Village
2025-10-04 11:00 - 13:00 | It Takes a Village Community Farm, 2500 223rd Street, Saulk Village, IL, 60411, United States
It Takes a Village Community Farm
2500 223rd St., Sauk Village IL 60411
October 4th: Food Waste and Composting 11am – 1pm
with The Contemporary Farmer Inc.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPMinaZp4ns1etOS_IXKihy0LdhlVFo2kMom1Kg8xeL1PT3Q/viewform

Boone Co. Farm Stroll
2025-10-05 10:00 - 17:00 | IL
Boone County Farm Stroll
Sun October 5, 10 am – 5 pm
Free self Guided tour of nine diversified family farms

Strawbale Pick Up - CCGA gardens only
2025-10-12 | New Horizons Community Garden, 401 S Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Neighborspace is offering straw bales for gardeners to pick up available on a first come, first served basis. Please come early in the day to ensure you get what you need for your garden.
New Horizon Community Garden
401 South Central Park
Chicago, IL 60624

Ogle Co. Farm Stroll
2025-10-12 11:00 - 16:00 | IL
Ogle County Farm Stroll
Sun October 12, 11 am – 4 pm
Free Self Guided tour of ten diversified family farms

NRCS Field Day - West Pullman
2025-10-14 16:30 - 18:30 | IL
We Sow We Grow
October 14, 2025, 4:30 – 6:30 pm
11958 S Union Ave, Chicago, IL 60628

As part of Illinois Extension’s Summer Technical Assistance Field Day Series, in partnership with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), we are hosting a field day focused on Navigating FSA & NRCS Programs for Urban Farmers. Extension educators, along with Farmer Natasha Nicholes, will discuss conservation practices at We Sow We Grow. We’re thrilled to welcome Joseph Bridges and Alicia Lozano, the USDA NRCS Soil Conservationists for Cook County who will be on site to meet farmers and answer your questions about applying for reimbursement programs. Reimbursable conservation practices that are available to small scale urban growers will also be discussed.
Free to attend but pre-registration is required: https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2025-10-14-nrcs-field-day-we-sow-we-grow

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 Jesse Schaffer at jschaff@illinois.edu or 312-585-9128

Green Soapbox Panel Discussion: Scaling Sustainable Foodways in the Midwest
2025-10-16 18:00 - 21:00 | Edelman, 111 N Canal St, Chicago, 60606, United States
For nearly 15 years, Delta Institute has hosted “Green Soapbox” events as opportunities to connect the community with expert panelists on a wide array of critical climate conversations. This fall, we will be exploring the topic of Scaling Sustainable Foodways in the Midwest.
About this year’s topic
Food plays a vital role in our lives—and it is also one of the most consequential factors in the fight against climate change. In the United States, the agriculture sector contributes about 11% of the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, about 30-40% of all food that’s produced in the US ultimately ends up as food waste!
On October 16, expert speakers will join us to discuss how to scale regenerative agriculture to overcome climate challenges and embrace innovations to the food system, including aspects that address soil health, food waste, and more. Join us for food and drinks as we discuss sustainable food technologies, impacts on agriculture, and everything else you might want to know about how local food systems are adapting to today’s climate challenges.

Yoga - South Shore
2025-10-18 09:00 - 10:00 | IL
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 | IL
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 | 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.

Soil Lead Screening - UIC
2025-10-25 11:00 - 13:00 | IL
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 | IL
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 | IL
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 | IL
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 | IL

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
