May 21 Perennial Distribution
Thanks to the generosity of Matthew Frazel and Adam Peterson at the UIC Plant Research facility, Resources has lots of native milkweed, echinacea, etc., to distribute to community gardeners…
Recent Posts
The Power of Pollinators
While we all garden for pleasure and the delight in fresh picked foods, we add another dimension when we support pollinators. In Illinois alone there are 500 species of native bees—metallic green and blue bees, nothing like the fuzzy yellow and black iconic honey bee.…
Making a Garden Hand Washing Station Can Be Easy
Although medical professions and epidemiologists have made it clear that fresh greens or garden produce cannot transmit the COVID-19 virus, it can persist on different surfaces for a few hours up to an entire day depending on a combination of parameters such as temperature, humidity,…
Disinfecting Rain Barrels to Stay Safe
With our heightened awareness on hygiene, we’re also thinking about how to disinfect our rain barrels before using them for the upcoming season. If there is any concern that organic debris, sediment, or dust entered the barrel during the previous growing season, disinfection will be necessary. It’s…
For Earth Day (or any day) – Make a Seed Bomb!
We’ve been staying indoors to stay safe, children are learning remotely, and any space feels smaller and too familiar when it’s the only space we can occupy. Here’s an indoor garden activity to spark some creativity and make you think beyond the four walls. Make…
New Community Gardening Forum!
We are announcing the launch of the CCGA Community Gardening Forum just in time for the growing season. So, if you have questions about how to start seeds, where to find a plot in a garden or a brilliant idea to share, that is what…
An April Seed Distribution is Taking Place!
The CCGA Resources Committee is holding a COVID-safe seed distribution. Simply email May Toy with your seed ‘wish-list‘ and a package of seeds will be assembled and available for a contact-less pickup. May’s email is: mtoy@skinnerpark.org Full details on the seed distribution are below.
Guidelines for Chicago’s Community Gardeners Amidst COVID-19
We all have been wondering about how to best interact with our community gardens during a stay-at-home order. We know that when we shelter in place, we are doing what’s best for our communities and fellow Chicagoans. We strongly encourage everyone to stay home to…
CCGA 8th Annual Conference: POSTPONED
In light of the changing situation around COVID-19, we are postponing our 8th Annual Conference scheduled for March 21, 2020. We are supporting the guidance of Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health in doing all we can to minimize the impact of…
So many seeds! Another successful Resources event on March 7
Over the winter, the CCGA Resources Committee was the recipient of many, many herb, flower, and vegetable seed packets from reputable seed companies known for providing fresh, non-GMO seeds. They have been generously grouping packets and donating these to seed libraries and distributing them at…