Chicago Community Gardeners Association

The Newberry Library Colloquium -- City in a Garden: Uncovering the History of Urban Agriculture in Chicago
2014-03-26 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | The Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL, 60610, United States
Courtney Wiersema, Graduate Scholar in Residence & PhD Candidate, University of Notre Dame
Though nineteenth-century Chicago is often remembered for its stockyards and grain elevators, these industrial food systems represented just some of the many ways that the city’s residents put food on the table. A diverse group of Chicagoans also practiced urban agriculture, using backyards and side streets to raise pigs, chickens, fruits, and vegetables. This talk will use source materials available at the Newberry to explore the practice and meaning of agriculture in Chicago.
In the Towner Fellows’ Lounge.

The Cooperation Operation: How interdisciplinary approaches have the power to reinvent urban space
2014-03-23 15:00 - 17:00 | IL
The Historic Pullman Garden Club and Historic Pullman Foundation present:
The Cooperation Operation: How interdisciplinary approaches have the power to reinvent urban space
This is the third event of the annual Winter Lecture Series, held the 4th Sunday of January, February and March 2014. All events are free, refreshments will be served, and we welcome everyone and anyone interested! Please feel free to pass this information to others.

CCCG 2014 Conference - March 22 @ 10 am to 3 pm
2014-03-22 10:00 - 15:00 | Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CCCG 2014

Registration is required.
Click here to see a program of CCCG 2014 events.

There are hundreds of community gardens sown across Chicago. Though we all garden in our unique neighborhoods, we are bound by common challenges, opportunities and visions of a greener city. The 2nd Annual CCCG is a day for Chicago’s community gardeners to connect, learn, share ideas, and work together to grow strong roots for the future of community gardening. Register today to hear exciting speakers and learn about new skills and resources in a variety of workshops, participate in the CCCG Seed Swap and Garden Consignment Shop, and meet like-minded gardeners from across the city. We hope you can join us.
Who should attend?
You, and other community gardeners from across Chicago. New community gardeners and seasoned experts alike are welcome.
Where exactly on Navy Pier?
The meeting space will be held at Navy Pier in rooms 301-312. To access these rooms go to Entrance 1 (where Riva Restaurant is located) halfway down Navy Pier, and take the elevator or stairs to the third floor.
How much does it cost to attend?
CCCG is free for Chicago community gardeners to attend. We are however asking for a suggested donation of $15 (when you register or at the door) to cover expenses.

Light breakfast and lunch will be served.
Community Gardeners who attend CCCG will have access to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show.
You will be asked to answer questions regarding your garden, session, and child care needs after ticketing.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CCCG 2014

Registration is required.

Beekeeping for Community Gardeners and Urban Farmers
2014-03-19 15:00 - 17:00 | CSU Aquaponics Center, 9601 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL, 60619, United States
The March meeting of the Roseland-Pullman Urban Agriculture and Community Garden Network will feature beekeeper Marc Korton discussing “Beekeeping for Community Gardeners and Urban Farmers.”
Marc Korton has been an urban beekeeper for over 30 years. He maintains nearly two dozen hives in his Pullman backyard and in the southern suburbs of Chicago. In a good year, his bee colonies produce over a thousand pounds of honey and pollinate millions of wildflowers and plants in the process.
This presentation will introduce local community gardeners and urban farmers to the fascinating world of “apiculture” (beekeeping) and how it can greatly improve the productivity and health of your gardens/farms. Marc will guide through the process of establishing a bee colony and the types of skills and equipment needed to care for a colony. He will be bringing some of his tools of the trade and some of his recent crop of honey.
All are welcome.

GROW Woodlawn 2014 Kick-Off
2014-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Southside Gospel Church, 863 E 64th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States
GROW (Garden Resources of Woodlawn) is a group of Woodlawn volunteers, mostly gardeners, networking together to share resources, build community, and green and beautify Woodlawn. Come join us. Help us decide on GROW 2014 projects and goals. Meet other gardeners. Hear what’s new about gardening in Woodlawn.
This event is for Woodlawn community gardeners and yard gardeners, experienced gardeners, and also newbie green-thumbers.
Please RSVP if you will be attending this event by sending an email to info@growwoodlawn.org.

Let's Get Growing! Spring Tips for the Community Gardener
2014-03-15 13:00 - 14:30 | IL
A program of the CCCG Connecting Chicago Community Gardeners Network taught and organized by gardeners, for gardeners.
Facilitating the event will be Kirsten Akre, Dr. Shemuel Israel (North Lawndale Greening Committee), and Ellen Newcomer (Austin Green Team) in the Garfield Park Conservatory Community Room.
It has been a long cold winter, but spring is around the corner. Even before the soil warms, you can be ready to get your garden growing. Come to this workshop for inspiration and hands on tips for success.
All three instructors have been working in community gardens through out the city for over 15 years or more. We will discuss spring soil tips, easy early crops that can be sown directly in the garden, common spring pests and tips to avoid hungry animals from feasting, a few tips on starting seedlings indoors and starting your own sweet potato slips.
To help everyone start growing, we will have plenty of seeds to share thanks to Neighborspace. In addition, because eating the food is why we grow, we will taste recipes from a few of the spring crops thanks to Dr. Israel.
Update
For your reference, here are some of the handouts and lecture materials that were used at the workshop:

Let’s Get Growing – complete workshop outline
Soil blocking
Sweet potato slips

Urban Livestock Expo
2014-02-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W 111th Street, Chicago, IL, 60655, United States
Angelic Organics Learning Center, Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), and the Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts again present the Urban Livestock Expo on February 22, 2014 from 10AM to 1PM at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W 111th Street in Chicago.
The Expo offers the chance to network with new and experienced urban livestock keepers and learn about raising chickens/poultry, bees, goats, and rabbits in the city. The Expo’s focus is raising animals responsibly in backyards, with representatives of many urban livestock groups, projects, and businesses on hand to tell visitors about opportunities for learning, visits, apprenticeships, sources of supplies, networking, and more.
Participants include new and experienced livestock keepers, experienced instructors, organized networks like the Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts, Windy City Bees, and the Goat Guardians Guild; organizations that support, train and advise on livestock topics; and businesses that provide supplies and services to people keeping livestock in the city.
