Chicago Community Gardeners Association

Community Tomato Tasting and Seed Saving Demonstration
2015-09-19 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Global Garden, 2974 W. Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Taste heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes and collect the seeds from your favorites!
Choosing tomatoes from pictures in seed catalogs just isn’t the same as choosing one tomato based on taste at a tomato tasting/seed swap!

Bring your best homegrown or farmers’ market heirloom or open-pollinated tomatoes to share for a tasting and discover new favorites! We’ll show you how to collect and ferment seeds from tomatoes at the tasting for planting next year, and get deep into discussion on tomato reproduction for high-quality seed.

Don’t have tomatoes? No problem! We’ll have different varieties on hand to share.

Windy City Harvest: Home-Scale Aquaponics
2015-09-19 09:00 - 13:00 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Arturo Velasquez Institute Greenhouse
Andy McGhee, Windy City Harvest aquaponics coordinator

Yoga in the Garden at Vedgewater
2015-09-13 09:00 - 10:00 | Vedgewater, 6300 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL, United States
What’s more peaceful than sun salutations in the garden? Come join us for a free yoga class at Vedgewater, taught by an experienced professional instructor, Mary Beth Johnson. The class will be geared toward gardeners and the ailments that can come with gardening (knees, wrists, low back, etc). This class is open to students of all levels, no previous yoga experience required!

Tomato Fest
2015-09-12 12:00 - 16:00 | Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, 3501 N. Kilbourn, Chicago, IL, 60641, United States
Join local food and gardening advocates as we highlight the many ways you can enjoy your bountiful tomato harvest all year long.
The Chicago Park District, Slow Food Midwest Ark of Taste Committee, Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and the Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance will be on hand to highlight the many ways we can prepare and preserve a taste of summer throughout the year.
Join us for a day full of Tomato Love, including a special guest lecture by Jennifer Jordan, author of Edible Memory: The Lure of Heirloom Tomatoes and Other Forgotten Foods, as well as tours, tastings, a cookbook swap, workshops, demos, a salsa dance class and a homemade salsa contest!
This event is free and open to the public!

What's Happening in the Garden? - Peterson Garden Project
2015-09-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Global Garden, 2974 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Join us for our free class, What’s Happening in the Garden?, taught in a different Peterson Garden Project community garden every month. For the month of September, we’ll talk about:
-adjusting the garden to cooler temperatures
-fall pests and diseases and what to do about them
-pulling spent plants and tidying
-what to plant now for a fall harvest

September Bike Ride: We Ride Juntos
2015-09-09 18:00 - 21:00 | Green tomato cafe – meeting place, 3750 W. Ogden Ave., Chicago, IL, United States
Community partners from North and South Lawndale will be hosting a neighborhood bike ride as part of the Sustainable September Ride Series organized by Slow Roll Chicago and Chicago Sustainable Leaders Network!
Everyone will be able to ride along a route that will highlight assets and sustainable initiatives in both communities.
This ride is open to everyone regardless of biking skills or age.

Windy City Harvest: Excel for Small Farm Crop Planning
2015-08-29 08:00 - 17:00 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Arturo Velasquez Institute Greenhouse
Erin Matson, Windy City Harvest apprenticeship instructor
$39
This workshop will cover how to utilize Excel to plan out a season of continuous annual vegetable crop production on your small farm or community garden plot. A crop plan excel template typically used for a ¼-1-acre farm site will be provided. Students will learn how to calculate: planting dates, spacing, row feet, seeds needed and also how to project harvest dates with yield estimates. Small Farm Crop Planning is recommended as a prerequisite to this course.

Ravinia in the Garden - Saturday August 22nd, 2015
2015-08-22 17:00 - 21:00 | Kuumba Tre-Ahm Community Garden., 2908 W. Warren Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
“RAVINIA IN THE GARDEN”
Join us as we celebrate a productive 4th Season. Network with friends and learn about new additions to the garden landscape. Enjoy live entertainment and delicious food. Support our first Fundraiser at Kuumba Tre-Ahm Community Garden. Date: Saturday, August 22, 2015 Time: 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm (rain or shine) Place: 2908 W. Warren Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612 Cost: $20 cash per person (No checks please) RSVP: totouchalifeinc@yahoo.com
ENTERTAINMENT BY THE DAVE JORDAN QUARTET & PATRICK MARTIN, SINGER/GUITARIST ~Refreshments ~ great food, including dishes prepared from fresh garden produce
Bring your lawn chair for seating & BYOB Silent Auction All proceeds benefit To Touch A Life, Inc. 501(c)(3)

Third Annual Gardens of Englewood Tour - Saturday August 22nd, 2015
2015-08-22 10:00 - 15:00 | Sherwood Peace Association, 6101 South Princeton Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60621, United States

LVEJO Sustainability Dinner
2015-08-14 18:00 - 22:00 | Chicago Cafe Banquet Hall, 2600 W 35th St, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL, United States
We are celebrating our Environmental Justice victories!
Please join LVEJO on August 14, 2015 to celebrate the opening of La Villita Park, the 3rd anniversary of Chicago Coal Power Plants closure, access to the 31st street bus and many more! We look forward to sharing our future goals and projects in place for a sustainable La Villita.
Fundraiser Dinner To Benefit:

LVEJO’s Youth Leadership Development and Environmental Stewardship Programs
Semillas de Justicia Community Garden
Equitable Community Redevelopment of the former Crawford Coal Power plant, decommissioned 31st BNSF rail line, and the 31st Collateral Channel

Program:

6 pm: Registration & Networking
7 pm: Program & Presentation
8 pm: Nine-course Mexican comfort food buffet dinner
9 pm: Cumbia music and dancing, raffle, silent auction

Suggested Donation: $50 individual*
For more information email events@lvejo.org or call at (312) 857-6626
#LVEJODINNER2015 #SUSTANIABLELV #ITTAKESAVILLAGE #LVEJO2020 #EJ4LV
*Your donation may be tax deductible under law. Please consult your tax advisor

Much Ado About Dirt
2015-08-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Winthrop Harmony Arts Garden, 4919 North Winthrop, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Much Ado About Dirt
Brought to you by After School Matters’
Green Scene Summer Stock Teens
August 12, 2015 at 12 pm
Winthrop Harmony Arts Garden
4919 North Winthrop, Chicago, 60640
In case of rain:
Bezazian Library Auditorium
1226 West Ainslie, Chicago 60640
Featuring the talents of:

Banke Andeolu

Ilia Aguirre

Ngozi Amadikwu

Jennifer Atunez

Brain Chung

Esther Kalu

Kevin Lam

Natalia Moreno

Innocent Muragwa

Andrew Neth

Khang Nguyen

Eric Niyonkuru

Sharon Osawe

Devene Parker

Martie Sanders & Caroline Andres, Directors
Special thanks:

Rosalind Morris

Helen Lee

Charlotte Long

Nicole Richwalsky

CCGA Summer Perennial Plant Distribution
2015-08-07 11:00 - 14:00 | New Horizons Community Garden, 401 South Central Park, Chicago, IL, 60624, United States
Our friends at Elite Growers have notified the CCGA Resources Committee that they have more perennials to donate to Chicago Community Gardeners, so we will host another Summer Perennial Distribution.
Location & Date –
Friday August 7th, 2015 starting at 11am
New Horizons Community Garden
401 South Central Park
(southeast corner of Van Buren and Central Park)
Note: Parking is available on both Central Park and Van Buren
To Pre-Register –
Please email the following information to Mamie Gray (mamie@uic.edu):
NAME of community garden,
ADDRESS of community garden,
EMAIL contact for community garden.
(Pre-registration is not complete without this information.)
Schedule –
11:00 am On-Site Registration
SIGN-IN at the Picnic Tables & Pay $5 Fee for each garden
VISIT the Plant Information Area
A number will be given to each Community Gardener, whether pre-registered or not, both groups go in numerical order.
12:00 p.m. Plant Distribution – Pre-Registered Community Gardeners
1:00 pm Plant Distribution – All Other (non-registered) Community Gardeners
Want to Volunteer?
Call Ellen Newcomer at 224-522-1255.
There will be two shifts: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Windy City Harvest: Small Farm Season Extension
2015-08-01 09:00 - 12:00 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Arturo Velasquez Institute Greenhouse
Britt Calendo, Windy City Harvest PCC wellness farm coordinator.
$39
Learn how to extend your spring or fall growing season to 9-months or even year round production. Explore what crops and varieties perform best in Chicago. Specific techniques will be covered such as using row cover, building simple low tunnels and cold frames or even creating protected cultivation in a hoophouse. This workshop includes a hands-on basic low tunnel build out activity. This workshop is instructed by Britt Calendo, WCH PCC Wellness Farm Coordinator.

The Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden Annual Iced Tea Social
2015-07-18 10:00 - 17:00 | Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden, 4427 W. Fulton, Chicago, IL, United States
Come on out again this year and enjoy the gardens of Garfield Park. There will be food, fun and lots of family entertainment

Summer Perennial Plant Giveaway
2015-07-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Sherwood Peace Community Garden, 257 W. 61st Street, Chicago, IL, 60621, United States
Hello Chicago Community Gardeners,
Our thanks to Elite Growers, who are contributing a truck load (or maybe two) of perennials to CCGA for our Summer Distribution!
On Friday July 17, the CCGA Resources Committee will have a Summer Perennial Plant Distribution at the Sherwood Peace Community Garden, 257 W. 61st Street. Please register in advance by emailing your name, the name of your community garden, and the garden’s address to Mamie Gray at mamie@uic.edu. Pre-registration is not complete without all of this information.
When you come to the garden, please check in and pay the $5 registration fee at the gazebo. From 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., we will distribute groups of plants to those community gardeners who are pre-registered. At one p.m., we will begin distribution to community gardeners who did not pre-register.
Questions? Call Ellen Newcomer 224 522 1255 or Pat Jackson 773 829 6111. See you there!

Edgewater Glen Garden Walk
2015-07-12 12:00
See 20 urban gardens in this compact, easily walkable route. Imaginative use of small space, shady conditions, ponds, and many ‘Poison Free’ gardens where no pesticidesherbicides are used are among the special garden features exhibited. Adults are $5 and include a chance to win Gethsemane gift certificates with children free.

Bowmanville Garden Walk
2015-07-11 09:00 - 16:30 | Bowmanville Greenspace, 5384 North Bowmanville Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States
The Bowmanville garden walk features hosted gardens, where the garden owners are there to welcome you into their garden and talk about their efforts. The hospitality overflows.
This garden walk hosts an Ask the Master Gardener table at the Welcome booth, where University of IL Master Gardeners are there to talk gardening look at any cutting or photo you bring and help solve problems and plot your next steps.
The garden walk includes an amateur photography competition. The winning photograph is featured in the next year’s Garden Walk posters, signage and promotional materials.
Welcome table is on Bowmanville Ave at Bell Ave. (near 5384 N Bowmanville Avenue)
The Bowmanville Garden Walk is a Rain or Shine event!

Illinois Farm to School Policy Workshop
2015-06-29 20:00 - 22:00 | University of Illinois Chicago, Jane Addams Hull House 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
With farm to school programs kids win, farmers win and communities win!
Join Illinois Stewardship Alliance, in partnership with the Illinois Farm to School Network, for one of two exciting workshops highlighting successful local farm to school projects, the U.S. Farm to School Act of 2015 and what you can do to support more farm to school efforts throughout Illinois!
Do you want to support more farm to school programs but don’t know where to start? Want to grow a garden with students but don’t know where to find the money? Learn from the experts and hear about how you can advocate for and support this important work! You will leave feeling inspired, empowered and ready to help make farm to school a reality in Illinois. These workshops are open to the public and geared to all walks of life not just food system professionals. Come learn, think and take action!
Jane Addams Hull House Museum on the UIC Campus, Monday June 29th at 6pm
For More Information
Email Wes King at wesATilstewards.org

Summer Solstice Potluck
2015-06-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Christy Webber Landscapes, 2900 W Ferdinand, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
We would love to have CCGA members join Chicago Honey Co-op and Slow Food Chicago for our annual Sweet Summer Solstice potluck.

The most affordable fundraiser in Chicago is happening on June 20 at Rancho Verde (headquarters of Christy Webber Landscaping), just East of the Center for Green Technology at Sacramento and Ferdinand. Besides our tours of the beehives on the green roof, you can take a peak at Christy’s sheep, goats, chickens and donkey (yes, donkey).

There will be beer from Revolution Brewing, wine from Candid wines, bread from Baker Miller and fish from Fortune Fish and Gourmet.

All you have to do is buy a ticket for $15.00 bring a blanket or chairs to sit on and a potluck dish for sharing (salad, side dish or dessert).

Proceeds will benefit Slow Food Chicago and our new partner organization, Chicago Honey Co-op Training Center

CCGA Resources Committee Mini Plant Distribution
2015-06-20 08:00 | New Horizons Community Garden, 401 S Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
This Saturday, June 20, the CCGA Resources Committee will offer more free vegetable, herb and flower seedlings, as well as seeds, to community gardens. Here are the details:

WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. til the plants and seeds are gone
WHERE: New Horizons community garden, 401 S. Central Park, Chicago (this garden is at the corner of Van Buren and Central Park, just a block north of the Eisenhower Expressway on the east side of the street)
WHAT: the plants include: curly parsley, flat parsley, winter savory, Greek oregano, French thyme, sweet marjoram, basil verde a piccole, rosemary, cauliflower romanesco, Kaitlin cabbage, ‘Gypsy’ broccoli, nicotiana ‘fragrant cloud’ and cactus flowering zinnias. Seeds: Rattlesnake Master beans and miscellaneous sunflowers. If you have any seedlings or seeds to share, please bring them!
COST: there is no charge.
This is a small (less than 400 plants) distribution; we will limit each garden to 20-25 plants and it is first come, first serve.
Questions? Call Ellen Newcomer 224 522 1255. Hope to see you!

Talleres GardenKeepers 2015
2015-06-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Biblioteca / Toman Library, 2708 S Pulaski, Chicago, IL, United States
South Lawndale/ La Villita: En Español (in Spanish)
Donde: Biblioteca / Toman Library 2708 S Pulaski.
Cuándo: 27 de Junio de 10:00 am a 12:00 pm/June 27- 10:00 am to 12 noon
Los múltiples usos de las hierbas / Herbs Workshop.
Venga a aprender sobre cultivar hierbas para cocinar, comer y beber/learn about growing herbs for eating, drinking and cooking.
La cuota es de $15 por taller si se registra para ellos por separado o $15 para su primer taller con cada taller adicional de $10 si se registra para ellos juntos.
Para más información contacte con nosotros en 312-863-6255 o gardens@openlands.org

Hideout Veggie Bingo
2015-06-10 17:30 - 20:00 | The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia, Chicago, IL, 60642, United States
Every Wednesday through August join the Hideout and NeighborSpace for bingo, beer, and free hot dogs*–still courtesy of our friends at Hot Doug’s–plus veggie dogs!
Hideout Veggie Bingo games raise money each week for Chicago-area community gardens. We have a bounty of prizes from local growers and food producers, including Metropolis Coffee, Peasants’ Plot, Local Foods Grocer & Distributor, Crumb Bread, Co-Op Sauce, Central Pickling, Green Grocer, Urban Accents, and Agate Publishing. Plus our Grand Prize: a giant bag of organic vegetables and fruit from IRV & SHELLY’S FRESH PICKS (freshpicks.com).
Bingo cards are $4 each, 3 for $10. Kids are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult; your dogs can hang on the patio, but please don’t bring them into the bar.
Doors open at 5:30. Bingo starts at 6.

Let's Build! Hermitage St Community Garden Workday
2015-06-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Hermitage St Community Garden, 5643 S Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Come celebrate our community and veterans and help us build food gardens.
PLEASE REPLY BY JUNE 1st to Cordia Pugh at cordia.pugh@att.net
Hosted by Cordia Pugh, Lawrence Bass, Paula Sneed, and Courtney Bass.
Event Schedule

10am: Building Begins
11am: Welcome Ceremony
1pm: Lunch
4pm: Building Ends

The event will take place rain or shine (but lets all hope for shine!)
This will be the even of the summer! A DJ will spin upbeat tunes and there will be face-painting for the kids! RSVP and let us know if you will bring additional guests. Feel free to bring a towel or mat to sit on during breaks.

Xochiquetzal Peace Garden and Whittier School - Spring Fundraising Gala
2015-05-30 18:30 - 20:30 | National Museum of Mexican Arts, 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL, 60608, United States
A Celebration of Whittier School with Music, Art, Short Stories, and Vegetables Starts from Xochiquetzal Peace Garden.
Visit the National Museum of Mexican Art’s display, ‘The House on Mango Street,’ by Mexican-American author Susan Cisneros from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Hear Whittier choristers and violinists, meet short story writers from Whittier’s community, purchase vegetable and flower plants from Xochiquetzal Community Gardeners , and enjoy appetizers, drinks, and music for dancing.
Bring friends and make new ones! Funds raised support Whittier’s three school choirs and the Xochiquetzal Peace Garden, where all Whittier’s children do spring planting.

Garage Sale Fundraiser for Mozart’s Community Garden
2015-05-30 10:00 - 15:00 | The Parkway at Sacramento Blvd and Augusta St, Sacramento Blvd and Augusta St, Chicago, IL, United States
The Mozart Gardeners are seeking donations for the 3rd Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser. Donate your old, toys, tools, clothing —anything that isn’t broken—to our garage sale and all proceeds will go directly to fund the cost of lumber, landscaping cloth, paint, soil, seeds, tools, and more.
To arrange your donation, please contact Jess at jrbader43@yahoo.com.
Thanks for having pride in your community and helping us grow!

Montrose Metra Community Gardens - Spring Plant Exchange
2015-05-30 10:00 | Montrose Metra Community Gardens, 4400 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL, United States
(rain or shine – we are gardeners, after-all)
Bring a Plant – Take a Plant – and leave happy! Exchange as many plants as you like.
Please note the name of the plant and whether it does best in sun or shade; trade extra seedlings, too.
Clean out your garage! Bring tools or garden accessories, or whatever else you think someone would benefit from.
Come out to see the creation of our new community gardens.
Too many native plants in your garden? Bring a piece of your garden to this new space.
MMCG will gladly plant them in the gardens.

Chicago Youth Centers ABC Polk Bros. Garden Peace Party
2015-05-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicago Youth Centers ABC Polk Bros., 3415 W. 13th Place, Chicago, IL, 60623, United States
“Peace”
End of School Year Garden Party
RSVP 773-762-5655
-CYC Sunshine Youth Garden Tours
-Poster Exhibit
-2nd Annual Garden Hat Contest
-Lawn Games
-Safe Summer Resources
-Summer Program Sign Up

11th Annual Seeds of Service
2015-05-16 22:00 | Humboldt Park Field House, 1440 N. Sacramento Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60622, United States
Join AmeriCorps Project YES! for our 11th Annual Seeds of Service community garden project! Seeds of Service is a day of service to support local community gardens in Humboldt Park. The purpose of Seeds of Service is to raise awareness about community gardening and to mobilize community members in volunteerism. Through this day of service, we hope to support the important work that gardens and organizations in Humboldt Park are doing to build community and fight hunger.
Over the past 10 years, Seeds of Service has organized over 500 volunteers. This year we have established partnerships with 9 community gardens and hope to work with over 100 volunteers. We welcome members of the Humboldt Park community and beyond to support this day of service.
We are looking for adult volunteers (18 years or older) to prepare community gardens for the spring and summer. Tasks may include constructing garden beds, planting, weeding, and more. No experience is necessary to participate.
The event will take place from 9:30am-2:30pm on Saturday, May 16th. Registration will begin promptly at 9:30am at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse (1440 N Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60622). Participants will then attend a 30-minute educational gardening workshop before heading out to the gardens. To register online, please visit http://goo.gl/Fc8SDc.
Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. We will be gardening rain or shine!
If you have any questions, please contact Claire Unger at cunger@nush.org or (773) 969-5539.

Windy City Harvest: Pest & Disease Control
2015-05-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Arturo Velasquez Institute Greenhouse
Rosario Maldonado, Sales Coordinator, WCH Apprenticeship & Corps
$39
Have you had troubles with pests getting to your crops before you can? Learn how to take preventative measures to make sure you do not invite pests or disease in the first place. This workshop will also cover: common vegetable pests in Chicago, their life cycle and how to use sustainable sprays or barriers to control. Common diseases will also be identified. Everyone will do a “scouting” pest and disease walk of the AVI farm site.

CCGA Seedling Distribution
2015-05-16 09:00 - 10:30 | Embassy Church, 5848 S. Princeton, Chicago, IL, 60621, United States
The CCGA Resources Committee has grown hundreds of vegetable and flower seedlings for community gardeners, and we will have two plant distribution days this month. For a $5 donation, you will receive tomato/basil/kale/pepper plants and summer annual flowers, as well as participation in the raffle for beautiful house plants and miscellaneous donated garden stuff.
If you have a sheltered location to acclimate these seedlings (they will be fresh out of the greenhouse), please come to 445 N. Sacramento at 9:00 next Saturday, May 9. We will check everyone in starting at nine, and will distribute the plants at 9:30. Bring a box to carry your plants home, please!
On Saturday May 16, we will distribute the rest of the seedlings at Embassy Church, 5848 S. Princeton (go to the parking lot on the southwest side of the church). Same time, same donation.
Please register here so we know how many gardeners to expect.
Questions? Call Ellen Newcomer at 224 522 1255. See you soon!
