Chicago Community Gardeners Association

Neighborhood Housing Flag Installation
2014-07-11 01:30 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | IL
Come out and join us as we hold a small ceremony to commemorate the hanging of our light pole banners.
These banners, made possible by Historic District residents, a matching grant from Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, corporate sponsors and elected officials, will be hung on light poles on the District’s perimeter along Pulaski Rd, Cermak Rd and Kostner Ave.
The purpose of the banners is to highlight our distinction of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places and to attract new investments by families and businesses in this 100 year old, intact community.
Our brief ceremony will take place in Unity Park at 1900 S Kostner Ave. this Friday, July 11th at 1:30 pm.
Hope you can join us.
Paul Norrington, Vice-President
K-Town Historic District Association “Celebrating History and Cultivating the Future”
Voicemail: (224)325-5843
P.O. Box 24072 Chicago, Il 60624
ktowndistrict@yahoo.com
facebook.com/KTHDAssociation

2nd Story: Share Your Garden Story - NEW DATE
2014-07-09 18:00 - 20:30 | Hermitage St Community Garden, 5643 S Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
2nd Story will share four distinct storytelling opportunities in community gardens in across Chicago.
Monday, June 23rd: Fulton Garden, 4427 W. Fulton in Garfield Park
Thursday, June 26th: Ruby Garden, 1557 W. Schreiber
Monday, June 30th, La Huerta Roots and Rays Garden, 1513 W Cullerton St
Wednesday, July 9th, Hermitage St Community Garden, 5643 S Hermitage Ave
All events will run from 6:00- 8:30 pm
Stories gathered at these events will be used to create a unique performance scheduled to take place at the 35th Annual American Community Gardening Conference in Chicago, August 7th-10th, 2014.
Make sure to attend at least one workshop if you are interested in participating in the performance. 2nd Story staff will be on site to provide you with additional details of your participation. Check out the event flyer for more information.

2nd Story: Share Your Garden Story
2014-06-30 18:00 - 20:30 | La Huerta Roots & Rays Garden, 1513 W Cullerton St, Chicago, IL, United States
2nd Story will share four distinct storytelling opportunities in community gardens in across Chicago.
Monday, June 23rd: Fulton Garden, 4427 W. Fulton in Garfield Park
Thursday, June 26th: Ruby Garden, 1557 W. Schreiber
Monday, June 30th, La Huerta Roots and Rays Garden, 1513 W Cullerton St
Wednesday, July 2, Hermitage St Community Garden, 5643 S Hermitage Ave
All events will run from 6:00- 8:30 pm
Stories gathered at these events will be used to create a unique performance scheduled to take place at the 35th Annual American Community Gardening Conference in Chicago, August 7th-10th, 2014.
Make sure to attend at least one workshop if you are interested in participating in the performance. 2nd Story staff will be on site to provide you with additional details of your participation. Check out the event flyer for more information.

South Shore Farmers' Market
2014-06-29 12:00 - 17:00 | Rainbow Beach Park, 79th & South Shore Dr., Chicago, IL, 60649, United States
South Shore Farmers’ Market provides fresh produce and healthy food. We support local, urban and sustainable growers, producers, processors; and to educate the community about healthy food, cooking, eating, food production, and growing edible gardens. South Shore Farmers’ Market upholds environmentally-friendly and sustainable practices.

Soil in the City: Enhancing Urban Soils for Living Landscapes and Healthy Communities
2014-06-29 08:00 - 2014-07-02 17:00 | Crowne Plaza, 160 E Huron, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
Update: full conference schedule now available!

The theme of this conference is “restoring our available urban land and optimizing local resources, while protecting environmental and human health and enhancing socio-cultural dialogue.” The conference will focus on three themes: (i) Urban Gardening, (ii) Green Infrastructures, and (iii) Greening Brownfields. This conference is for anyone working with planning, designing, constructing, and/or maintaining urban infrastructures and outdoor areas, including engineers, landscape architects, designers, biosolids management leaders, contractors/consultants, developers, builders, city planners, arborists, foresters, urban gardeners, researchers, and educators. Conference attendees will be eligible to earn up to 15 professional development credits (PDHs/CEUs).
Registration is $250.00 by April 15, 2014. After April 15, the registration price is $300.00.
Abstract submission for poster sessions will be available until March 31, 2014. Students are encouraged to submit poster abstracts. Please contact Dr. Lakhwinder Hundal to submit your abstract or if you have questions.
More information is available on the conference flier.
Update: full conference schedule now available!

Pullman Garden Tea and Tour
2014-06-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Historic Pullman Visitor Center, 614 East 113th Street, Chicago, IL, 60628, United States
20th Annual Garden Walk for Historic Pullman Garden Club
The Historic Pullman Garden Club, with co-sponsors the Historic Pullman Foundation and Pullman State Historic Site, invite you back to the Victorian era of the 1880s during the Garden Tea and Tour on Saturday June 28, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Victorians passed the summer days more leisurely than we do today and so can you, as you step back in time within this picturesque neighborhood. Tickets include a light summer-themed tea, including finger sandwiches, home-baked sweets and strawberries, all accompanied by refreshing iced tea or lemonade.
You can enjoy one of the guided walking tours of the historic district (departing at 11:30 and 1:30), or use the self-guided tour map and stroll at your own pace. The tour will wind through the row house lined blocks to visit the public gardens, select personal gardens, plus the newest addition to the district, a community food garden.
The tea and tour showcases the entrance to the Pullman Historic District, our beloved Gateway Garden. Over a decade ago the Gateway Garden was funded through a grant from the Chicago Botanic Gardens, making it possible, through a collective effort of neighbors, to clear, plan and plant an empty lot fallen victim to urban blight. Gateway Garden is now a haven to butterflies, honey bees and lovers of growing things, and is a part of the NeighborSpace community garden network.
Tickets for the event are $12 in advance by emailing historicpullmangardens@gmail.com or calling (773) 568-2441 until June 26th, and $15 on the day of the event. The day begins at the Historic Pullman Visitor Center, 11141 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago. The Pullman Historic District can be reached by taking the 111th Street exit west off of I-94 or via the Metra Electric Train Line, exiting on the 111th St/Pullman stop.

Chicago Botanic Garden School Gardening Conference
2014-06-28 08:00 - 16:00 | IL
Professional Development Opportunity for Educators
On June 28, 2014, the Chicago Botanic Garden is hosting the 16th School Gardening Conference “Next Generation of School Gardening”, for all grade levels. This conference provides an inspiring showcase of presentations, from tips to starting a new garden, to ways to make the garden a vital part of the curriculum. This year’s conference will focus on connecting gardening to Next Generation Science Standards, and incorporating into classroom curriculum. Please forward the link below onto any teacher, administrator, librarian, informal educator, or anyone else who may be interested.
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b8d5a8ce718556733498bee3e&id=f18245d20d&e=f9bb6078e7

2nd Story: Share Your Garden Story
2014-06-26 18:00 - 20:30 | Ruby Garden, 1557 W. Schreiber, Chicago, IL, United States
2nd Story will share four distinct storytelling opportunities in community gardens in across Chicago.
Monday, June 23rd: Fulton Garden, 4427 W. Fulton in Garfield Park
Thursday, June 26th: Ruby Garden, 1557 W. Schreiber
Monday, June 30th TBD
Wednesday, July 2 TBD
All events will run from 6:00- 8:30 pm
Stories gathered at these events will be used to create a unique performance scheduled to take place at the 35th Annual American Community Gardening Conference in Chicago, August 7th-10th, 2014.
Make sure to attend at least one workshop if you are interested in participating in the performance. 2nd Story staff will be on site to provide you with additional details of your participation. Check out the event flyer for more information.

6062Trees/Sembrando Bajo el Sol Workshops
2014-06-25 16:00 - 18:00 | 6062Trees/Sembrando Bajo el Sol, 2608-2612 S. Trumbull , Chicago, IL, United States
Workshops: health, planting, aerobics, art, fabric & crafts.
Contact Maria Herrera (312-504-0323) with questions.

CCCG: Citywide Community Gardener Meeting
2014-06-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Openlands Conference Room, 25 E Washington St, 16th Floor, Chicago, IL, United States
Join us for the next CCCG meeting as we work together to create a strong network of community gardens, leaders and members.

Mr. Keeler's Pumpkin Eaters/Jardin de la Calabaza Workshops
2014-06-24 16:00 - 18:00 | IL
Workshops: health, planting, aerobics, art, fabric & crafts
Contact Maria Herrera (312-504-0323) with questions.

2nd Story: Share Your Garden Story
2014-06-23 18:00 - 20:30 | Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden, 4427 W. Fulton, Chicago, IL, United States

Friendship Garden/Jardin de la Amistad Workshops
2014-06-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Friendship Garden/Jardin de la Amistad, 4246 W. 27th St., Chicago, IL, United States
Friendship Garden/Jardin de la Amistad
Workshops: health, planting, aerobics, art, fabric & crafts
Contact Dr. Israel (773-332-7887) or Maria Herrera (312-504-0323) with questions.

Slow Food Chicago's Sweet Summer Solstice Potluck
2014-06-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Christy Webber Landscapes, 2900 W Ferdinand, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
June 21st is the longest day of the year! Enjoy those extra hours of sunshine by joining Slow Food Chicago, the Chicago Honey Co-op, and Christy Webber Landscapes for our annual Sweet Summer Solstice Potluck Supper! We’ll provide a main course and beverages, you can bring chairs or a blanket, and a potluck dish for sharing – salad, side dish or dessert.

Screening: Jens Jensen - The Living Green
2014-06-19 20:00 - 22:00 | Millenium Park, Millenium Park, Chicago, IL, United States
Celebrate the urban conservation movement in one of the world’s most spectacular urban settings, Thursday, June 19. Join director Carey Lundin, WTTW program host and producer Geoffrey Baer, and planting designer of Chicago’s Lurie Garden, Piet Oudolf for the free Millennium Park premiere of Jens Jensen The Living Green on The Screen at Pritzker Pavilion.
For this historic event, Millennium Park will partner with Chicago’s WTTW (PBS) for a first-ever simultaneous broadcast, screening this award-winning documentary about a pioneering landscape architect described as “Poet of the Prairie, Maker of Public Parks and Prophet of Conservation.”
Jens Jensen The Living Green traces the inspirational story of a penniless Danish immigrant who came to Chicago in the 1880s and became a champion of the environment. As timeless and relevant a story today as it was then, Jensen (1860-1951) fell in love with the peaceful, wild prairies located just west of the bustling metropolis. The prairie became his inspiration, as this conservation hero fought to infuse the calming beauty of nature into the industrial urban squalor.
Jensen’s vision of a sustainable city was in his time revolutionary, as he transformed the lives of Midwesterners with prairie-style parks and community gardens – urban oases that fed the soul and body. In a legendary career that combined art, architecture and activism, Jensen helped save the Indiana Dunes and created unforgettable, natural public spaces for Chicago’s west side, including Humboldt, Douglas and Columbus parks, as well as the Garfield Park Conservatory.
“Jensen’s message could not be more relevant,” said Carey Lundin, the film’s director and co-producer, and president of Viva Lundin, which produced the project. “As humanity has moved off the farms and into cities, as countries like China move into their own industrial age, and as our world experiences the ravages of climate change, we need conservation heroes now more than ever.”
Visit the film’s Facebook page or tweet @JensJensenMovie to join the conversation. A tweetup from the Millennium Park event will begin June 19 at 7 p.m. No tickets are required and seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Grab a few friends and join this celebration of sustainability in Chicago!
Event schedule
5:30 p.m. Piet Oudolf speech, Chicago Cultural Center
6:30 p.m. Loops and Variations concert
7:00 p.m. Tweetup begins at @JensJensenMovie
7:45 p.m. Geoffrey Baer of WTTW introduces the film, along with director
Carey Lundin and Piet Oudolf
8:00 p.m. Film shown simultaneously on The Screen in Millennium Park and
Chicago’s WTTW (PBS)
9:00 p.m. Informal Q&A at the stage, following the film
Reserving seats

VIP and general admission seats are free, and available on a first-come first-served basis. Note that a concert precedes the film, so the audience is advised to arrive before the concert for a best choice of pavilion or lawn seating.
When you arrive at Millennium Park, be sure to check in at the patron services booth to sign up for an electronic program, purchase a DVD of the film and get a wristband and goodie bag if you’ve reserved VIP seats.

Veggie Bingo at the Hideout
2014-06-18 17:30 - 20:00 | The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia, Chicago, IL, 60642, United States
Get your gambling and veggie fixes met at the same time with Veggie Bingo at the Hideout, all summer long.
From 5:30 to 8:00 pm, every Wednesday from June 18th to August 20th, the Hideout will host Veggie Bingo. The proceeds benefit NeighborSpace community gardens. Each night’s grand prize bingo winner takes home a big bag of organic vegetables from Irv & Shelley’s Fresh Picks.

Xochiquetzal Peace Garden Gazebo Celebration
2014-06-14 17:00 - 21:00 | Xochiquetzal Peace Garden, 1903 W 23rd St, Chicago, IL, United States
Celebrate Xochiquetzal Peace Garden’s new gazebo.
Friends-Music-Food
Music by local musicians and groups from Whittier Dual Language Elementary School, which is directly across the street from the Xochiquetzal Garden/Gazebo. Food by local chefs. Early arrivals can participate in an art experience – painting in the Gazebo mural! Tent provided in case of rain. Proceeds support music and gardening programs at Whittier School. Family friendly event.
$25 in advance, $30 at gate, $15 for Whittier families & Students/Seniors

Composting Inside & Out
2014-06-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), 445 N Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
GTU Certificate Tracks: CS, LIL
SPEAKER: Amber Gribben, Urban Worm Girl, L3C
Audience: General
In this workshop, we will discuss the benefits of composting, review the differences between typical outdoor composting and worm composting; the pros and cons of various worm bin designs; instruction and hands-on demonstrations of the set up of both a DIY and commercial worm bin; review of the proper use and benefits of worm castings; and introduce other methods of indoor composting including Bokashi. We will have demonstration materials available for your review, and you are welcome to bring in your own bins for advice on design or use.

Slow Food Chicago Farm Roast at Goose Island
2014-06-08 14:00 - 17:00 | Goose Island Beer Company
2014 is Slow Food’s 25th anniversary as a global movement and we thought it an apt time to expand our annual pig roast to support and promote more of the region’s great farms. Chefs this year will each cook a different animal from a different farm – ranging from bison to pork – and we’ve appropriately changed the name of the soiree to The Farm Roast. Without further ado…
The 2014 Farm Roast Chefs
Ashlee Aubin, Wood
Keith Carlson, Dia De Los Tamales
Greg Gunthorp, Gunthorp Farms
Andrew Hroza, Goose Island Brewpub
Alex Pilas, Eataly
Sean Sanders, Browntrout
Kim Gracen, Heartland Cafe – Vegetarian Entree
Patrick Cloud, Bang Bang Pie Shop – Dessert
In addition, the event will incorporate items from the Ark of Taste, Slow Food’s living catalog of over 1100 delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction. Admission price includes a commemorative glass for drinking a selection of Goose Island beers. Rumor has it that there may be a special Ark of Taste brew in the works…
Have fun! Eat well! Do good!
Ticket Sales are now open! See you on June 8, 2014 from 2-5 p.m. at Goose Island’s new event space at 605 N. Sacramento.

As always, this event is 21 + over (please bring I.D’s). The event will be held rain or shine.

T'ai Chi Chih in Burling Park
2014-06-03 07:30 - 08:30 | Burling Park of Lakeview, 2931 N Burling St, Chicago, IL, United States
Deborah Sitron, our neighbor and nationally-certified T’ai Chi Chih instructor, will again be offering classes in Burling Park.
T’ai Chi Chih is a series of gentle movements and one pose that is easy to learn and brings peace of mind, improved health and inner calm. You need not be a physical dynamo to practice T’ai Chi Chi–just a willingness to learn.
Our 2014 summer session runs 8 weeks starting Tuesday, June 3. Sessions are weekly, starting at 7:30 am on Tuesday.
You can pre-book all 8 sessions for $120, or attend a single class for $20.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Friends of Burling Park to help maintain our community green space.

When: Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 am.
Start: Tuesday June 3rd (note: no class on June 24th)
Cost: 8 week package: $120; walk-in/single class $20; pay by check/cash.
Donation: 10% to Friends of Burling Park

Mozart's Community Garden Garage Sale Fundraiser Saturday May 31, 2014
2014-05-31 10:00 - 15:00 | IL
Mozart’s community garden has had a spectacular first growing year! Now that we are in to season 2 we are having our annual fundraiser, a garage sale, this Saturday May 31, 10am-2pm in the parkway at 1001 N Sacramento blvd., Chicago IL 60622 across from the Allstate Soccer Arena in Humboldt Park.
Please spread the word and come shop! If you just so happened to spring clean and need to get rid of stuff, we take donations. Please contact Jess: jrbader43@yahoo.com.
Keep in mind this is our only fundraiser and we do not charge our gardeners more than a nominal fee to keep gardening a joy for the whole community.

Tree Giveaway at Humboldt Park Family Adventure Day
2014-05-31 10:00 - 14:00 | Humboldt Park, 1440 N Humboldt Dr , Chicago, IL, 60622, United States
This Saturday, join the Chicago Park District for Family Adventure Day at Humboldt Park from 10-2pm.
One of the activities that will take place near the fieldhouse is a free native tree giveaway. Come take an oak, maple, redbud, tupelo, crabapple, or other sapling. We are seeking people who have space for these wonderful native trees and will provide advice on which trees are most suitable to plant.
Contact kathleen.soler@chicagoparkdistrict.com with any questions.

Bag-Your-Own-Bulbs at Garfield Park Conservatory - FREE
2014-05-30 09:00 - 17:00 | IL
JUST ADDED — Free bulbs for gardeners! One day only. See info below:
We have more than enough tulips and are happy to give them out to the community gardeners. We didn’t get through bagging all the ones that came last night and we expect more – if folks want to come by tomorrow between 9am-5pm and bag their own they are more than welcome to. We’ll be in the Market Place which is located off of Central Park Ave north of the staff parking lot/south of the Metra tracks. Folks can find us there.

Volunteers Needed at a Community Garden in South Shore
2014-05-29 10:00 - 12:30 | IL
Looking for volunteers to assist with planting at the 7032 S Merrill Community Garden from 10A to 12 : 30P on Thursday, May 29th. Please email Iyonna Rivers at iyonnarivers8@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

*POSTPONED* Connecting Chicago Community Gardens (CCCG) Meeting
2014-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Maxwell Garden, 1150 W 13th street, Chicago, IL, 60608, United States
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Openlands along with our partners at NeighborSpace and gardeners from the Connecting Chicago’s Community Gardens (CCCG) network invite you to join us as we plan community gardening events for the summer and promote activities which strengthen the community garden network of Chicago. Please join us, represent your community garden/neighborhood, and share your ideas!
Free and open to all!
RSVP required to gnaveda@openlands.com

Seedling sales and Workdays at the Howard Street Farm
2014-05-24 10:00 - 14:00 | The Howard Street Farm, 3669 Howard St, Skokie, IL, United States
*ATTENTION: In response to requests, we have added a non-Saturday date for Seedling Sales. We will be selling seedlings this coming Sunday, May 25th from 10 am to 2 pm.*
Choose local, lovingly, and organically-grown seedlings for your garden this year. The Talking Farm will offer 21 different varieties of home-grown seedlings at our sales at the Howard Street Farm, starting with cold weather hardy varieties then moving on to warm weather varieties as spring progresses (update: warm weather seedlings now available).
Sales run on the Saturdays between May 3rd and June 7th, and on Sunday, May 25th, from 10 am to 2 pm. Each seedling sale date will also be a work day, so feel free to get your hands dirty and shop at the same time!
Our selection of cool weather seedlings includes:
peas, kale, bok choy, cabbage, leeks, oregano, parsley, sage, fennel, red and yellow seed potatoes, and raspberry and strawberry plants.
Our selection of warm weather seedlings includes:
tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumber, zucchini, melon, basil, thyme, dill, rosemary and other herbs
Seedling sales support The Talking Farm.
Details:
2014 Seedling Sales at The Howard Street Farm
3669 Howard St., Skokie
(behind the Tot Learning Center)
10 am – 2 pm
Saturdays, May 3 – June 7; Sunday, May 25

Meet Mike Nowak at Christy Webber Farm and Garden
2014-05-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Christy Webber Farm and Garden, 2200 W. Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Meet Mike Nowak, Garden Expert & Radio Personality
Bring your toughest garden questions.
Prizes and raffles!

Bush Community Garden of Hope and the Children's Garden of Hope Tour
2014-05-17 11:00 - 16:00 | IL
First tour: 11 am – 12 pm
Second tour: 12 pm – 1 pm
There will also be an easy bike ride leaving from the gardens at 2 pm to visit the two new parks and some other community gardens in the area. Tours should be all done by 4 pm.
This tour day is being organized by Sue Dixon and Karen Roothaan, representing the Bush Homeowners and Tenants Association and Trees R Beautiful

Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse Plant Sale
2014-05-17 10:00 - 14:00 | Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, 3501 N. Kilbourn, Chicago, IL, 60641, United States
Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse will offer more than 150 varieties of organically-grown vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings. Customers can expect a wide variety of open-pollinated and heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Other highlights include an assortment of herbs, greens and onions. This year will feature many new plants selected for city gardening in small spaces and containers. These seedlings are grown with the support of a team of dedicated volunteers who make this Plant Sale possible. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about plant selection and planting. This yearly fundraiser supports the greenhouse and our work to connect kids to nature and healthy foods.
Also Available at the Plant Sale: Perennials and other plants donated by volunteers of the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, organic compost, and light snacks. In addition, a cookbook compiled by the Friends of Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse will be available for purchase. Look for the Friends of Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse tables just outside the main gate to the gardens.
Plant Prices ($2.00 to $5.00) CASH ONLY
Age Range: All

McKinley Park Community Garden Organic Plant Sale
2014-05-17 10:00 - 12:30 | McKinley Park Community Garden, 1900 W Pershing Road, Chicago, 60609, United States
The McKinley Park Community Garden will be hosting an Organic Plant Sale on Saturday May 17 All plants are $3 or 4 plants for $10. Plants include nine varieties of tomatoes, six varieties of peppers, three varieties of eggplant and several herbs. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting the community garden and its community and educational programming.
In addition, at noon Jana Kinsman from Bike a Bee will share information about how bees help the garden grow. The community garden added bee hives to its shared space this year. This event is open to the public and to anyone interested in learning more about bees and beekeeping.
The McKinley Park Community Garden is a not-for-profit organization in its second year of operation. It is home to over fifty garden plots. Each plot is farmed by individuals or families that are members of the garden. Additionally, there are five giving gardens that are maintained by the entire garden community. The produce from the giving gardens is donated to local food banks. To foster the love of growing and eating local food and the enjoyment of good company, events such as potlucks, garden tours, a salsa contest, and a harvest festival are held throughout the growing season.
If you would like to become a member of the garden or learn more about it, visit the website at mkpgarden.com.
