Chicago Community Gardeners Association

Fruit Tree Pruning Webinar
2025-12-17 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | 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
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.

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.
https://www.geographicsociety.org/event/gsc-february-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

Urban Farm Plan Showcase - Mt. Greenwood
2026-02-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W 111th Street, Chicago, IL, 60655, United States
We’re hosting our first ever Urban Farm Plan Showcase!
Featuring five of our past trainees in the Cook County Extension Master Urban Farmer Training Program.
Please join us
Saturday February 21, 10 am to 12 noon at
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W 111th St, Chicago, IL
Come out to the Ag High School to support these urban farmers as they present their business plans in front of YOU, our supportive audience and a panel of judges. We will network and celebrate their accomplishments together with a buffet lunch to follow. Friends, families, students and general public are welcome to attend.
Please register by Feb 13 so we have an accurate guest count.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Batka at 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu.

Seed Swap - Humboldt Park Library
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Humboldt Park Branch, 1605 N Troy St, Chicago, IL, 60647, United States
Seed Swap
Saturday, February 21, 2026
1:00PM – 3:00PM
Humboldt Park Library
1605 N. Troy Street
Chicago IL 60647

Want to grow some plants but not sure what? Have more seeds than you need? Stop by our Seed Swap!

A variety of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds will be available. We will also have guests from the Field Museum, UIC Heritage Garden, and Openlands on hand to share resources!

LINK: https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/696963c794297d3600a56c48

Fruit Tree Pruning - Rogers Park
2026-02-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Triangle Park, 1750 W. Juneway Terrace, Chicago, IL, 60626, United States
Learn to cut with confidence at one of Cook County Extension’s fruit tree pruning workshops this winter. After a demonstration and introduction to the principles of pruning, our instructors will guide you through hands on implementation.
You are welcome to join us for one or all of these workshops:
Feb 7, 10 am – 12 noon at Farmworks in Chicago (westside) (in partnership with Neighborspace)
Feb 20, 10 am – 12 noon at 71st & Crandon Organic Garden, at 2301 E 71st St, Chicago, IL 60649 (in partnership with Neighborspace)
Feb 22, 2 – 4 pm, Triangle Park Community Orchard, 1750 W Juneway Terrace, Chicago
March 4, 10 am – 12 noon, It Takes a Village Farm, Sauk Village
https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/winter-fruit-tree-pruning-workshops
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Sarah Batka at 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu.

Fruit Tree Pruning - Sauk Village
2026-03-04 10:00 - 12:00 | It Takes a Village Community Farm, 2500 223rd Street, Saulk Village, IL, 60411, United States

School and Community Garden Training - Virtual
2026-03-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
School and Community Garden Training
Mondays from 6 – 8 pm on Zoom
March 9 – Introduction, getting started and volunteer engagement
March 16 – Vegetable Gardening
March 23 – Ornamental and Native plants, incorporating curriculum
Free but Registration is Required
2026 School and Community Garden Training. Final Flyer

Tree/Shrub Distribution - East Side
2026-03-14 12:00 - 15:00 | George Washington High School, 3535 E 114th Street, Chicago, IL, 60617, United States
Bare Root Tree-Shrub Distribution
Sat March 14, Noon – 3pm
George Washington High School 3535 E 114th St. Chicago, west front lawn
Pecan, Chinese Chestnut, Hazelnut, American Plum, Elderberry
Reserve your trees here

School and Community Garden Training - Zoom
2026-03-16 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom

March CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2026-03-17 18:00 - 19:00

Pullman State Historic Site Garden Club Clean Up
2026-03-21 09:30 - 12:00 | Pullman State Historic Site, 610 East 111th Street, Chicago, IL, 60628, United States
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is hosting a Garden Clean Up event on Saturday, March 21, 2026. We invite neighbors from near and far to enjoy a morning together weeding the gardens and grounds of the Pullman State Historic Site. Participants who register at https://tinyurl.com/pullgardencleanup26 before Monday, March 16th at 9am will receive a free t-shirt. Lunch will be provided.

Lecture: Nathan Barrett – Pullman’s Landscaper
2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:30
The Historic Pullman Garden Club and Friends of Pullman invite you (and your friends & neighbors) to the third scheduled Winter Lecture event at the Florence Lowden Miller Center, 614 E 113th St, Chicago IL. On Sunday March 22nd, 2026, at 2pm, Pullman Garden Club member Andreas Morgen will present “Nathan Barrett – Pullman’s Landscaper”, a talk about the man who designed the gardens of Pullman, the Hotel Ponce de Leon in Florida, and the Naumkeag estate in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The program is free, and everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served.
For updates or to add to your calendar, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/898683466113147

Grafting Workshop - Glencoe
2026-03-29 13:00 - 16:00 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
Find out what grafting fruit trees is all about. Learn the whys and hows with experienced grafters. A variety of member donated scion wood will be available. The purpose of the grafting workshop is to learn how to graft. Nonmember beginners will learn how to graft selected apple varieties on apple rootstock.
If you’d like more information about grafting see the Grafting Page.
Sunday March 29, 2026 , 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. THIS SESSION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and the less experienced or novice grafter. Please arrive on time. Lecture begins at 1:00 sharp.
Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois. Go to the Linnaeus Room in the Regenstein Center building.
Rootstock is $6 each, Cash only.
No Pre-Registration Necessary

Plant and Seed Swap - Evergreen Park
2026-04-18 10:00 - 13:00
Plant and Seed Swap
Sat April 18, 10 am – 1 pm
part of Earth Day Celebration
Evergreen Park Library, 9400 S Troy, Evergreen Park

Seed Swap - Oak Lawn
2026-04-18 12:15 - 13:00
Sat April 18, 12:15 – 1 Pm
Oak Lawn Public Library
9427 S. Raymond Ave.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Come to share seeds from your garden or start a garden with seeds that have been donated by your Oak Lawn neighbors and generous companies like Sow Right Seeds and Baker Creek Seeds. Also learn about local sources for native plants and seed.
https://www.olpl.org/event/seed-exchange-26828

April CCGA Coordinating Meeting
2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:00

Seed Swap - Tinley Park
2026-04-22 16:30 - 18:30
Wed April 22, 4:30 – 6:30 pm
Studio 67
Harmony Square, 6700 North St, Tinley Park, IL 60477
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10101973667172292&set=pcb.[REDACTED]
