[Communications] Fwd: Late Summer Newsletter • Water Access for All Gardens • Community Garden Profiles • Perennial Distribution Sept 25

Mon Sep 21 19:45:19 CDT 2020

Can someone respond to this?

Lorraine

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Mamie Gray <mamiegray2012 at gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Communications] Late Summer Newsletter • Water Access for All
Gardens • Community Garden Profiles • Perennial Distribution Sept 25
To: Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com>
Cc: Kimberly George <hikimg at gmail.com>

What is the email address for B. Sanford? Mamie

On Mon, Sep 21, 2020 at 6:24 PM Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com> wrote:

> Can you get in touch with this person please?
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Amy Olson via Communications <
> communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
> Date: Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 6:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [Communications] Late Summer Newsletter • Water Access for
> All Gardens • Community Garden Profiles • Perennial Distribution Sept 25
> To: B. Sanborn <sanborn.bo at gmail.com>
> Cc: <communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
>
>
> Hello B.,
>
> Oh wow, I’m sorry about that! Thanks for letting us know the link is
> broken.
>
> Here is the correct link to the form:
>
>
> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1H4zzY1LhH44kAPmuJ8K8sC9gC21uGmA9R1XYbzplQlQ/viewform?edit_requested=true
>
> I just tested it and it works on my end.  Please let me know if you have
> any issues accessing the form.
>
> Thanks!
> Amy
>
> on behalf of CCGA Communications
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Sep 21, 2020, at 5:42 PM, B. Sanborn via Communications <
> communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:
>
> 
> Hi! I want to volunteer for the North Lawndale work days, but the link
> is not working. Thanks.
>
> -B
>
> On Sat, Sep 19, 2020 at 3:27 PM CCGA <info at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Perennial Distribution Sept 25  •  Water Access for All Gardens • News &
>> Updates • Community Garden Profiles
>> View this email in your browser
>> <https://mailchi.mp/d4afd7c2688a/ccga-8th-annual-gardeners-conference-register-1470649?e=4779f517bf>
>>
>> *News for Community Gardeners*
>> *"What we do echoes through the generations."*
>> - Barack Obama, 2020
>> *Pictured here are young adults working with West Side gardens through
>> the Garfield Park Community Council last summer.*
>> Celebrating and Supporting One Another
>>
>> As spring turned to summer, our support for Black lives and for the
>> community gardening community grew and continues to grow with each day. As
>> surely as we tend our gardens, we tend to our neighborhoods and each other,
>> and we reaffirm that growing is an important part of creating resilient and
>> healthy communities in Chicago.
>>
>> In this issue, we have garden stories, news and updates, distribution
>> notes, and awards to tell you about. But first, we want to share a moment
>> we had in dialogue with founding CCGA member Angela Taylor, a committed
>> community activist and garden leader in Garfield Park, to share some
>> thoughts on the importance of staying focused and dedicated to our work in
>> our communities as an antidote to the sadness and unrest that has swept
>> through our city and country this year.
>>
>> *How does community gardening support Black lives? How do community
>> gardens contribute to dismantling racism in our city?*
>> *Here at the Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden, we see the color
>> green. To be afforded the opportunity to work with young people, and watch
>> them learn about gardening and the role farming played in our culture, and
>> then realize the importance of growing not just food, but growing a sense
>> of community as well is amazing to witness. All of this seems to bring
>> about a better appreciation for life.*
>>
>> *From your work with young people, what can you suggest that will bring
>> us to a more creative and conscious dialogue about Black and Brown lives?*
>> *If we could sometimes stop talking and just listen, we could learn a lot
>> about what the needs of others are, and become open to learning new ways of
>> getting things done.*
>>
>> *What are some practices for creating more loving, resilient
>> relationships among each other in our communities as we work for and
>> support racial justice?*
>> *This is a tough one, but here you go... In everything we do, we should
>> first consider how we would want to be treated, cared for, and responded
>> to. *
>>
>> *In what way do you see gardens as a place for healing and empowerment?*
>> *Community gardens are considered a healing space. Early in the morning,
>> before the community wakes up, taking a walk in this quiet space sets the
>> tone for the day: Being one with the earth, becoming inspired in our
>> day, and to clear our mind to be able focus on what is in front of us.  *
>> *"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our
>> struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month or a year, it is the
>> struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in
>> good trouble, necessary trouble.”*
>>   - John Lewis
>> Has your garden been affected by the 2020 Chicago Water Hydrant Policy?
>> We want to hear from you. There is help!
>> *Illustration by Sunshine Cahill or @sunshine.saqimax (via IG) courtesy
>> of AUA.*
>>
>> During the last few months, CCGA has heard from community gardeners that
>> the new rules the Department of Water Management has enacted for fire
>> hydrant water access is crippling for them. Acquiring, installing, and
>> certifying a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) unit for any community garden can
>> be cost-prohibitive.
>>
>> CCGA contacted Sean Ruane, the executive director of AUA (Advocates for
>> Urban Agriculture), and we became a signatory on a letter they developed to
>> garner public support for this issue and advocate for more inclusivity of
>> community gardeners.
>>
>> The need for advocacy for the unique water access needs of community
>> gardens is evident. CCGA seeks to develop a position and proposal to
>> present to the City of Chicago for long-term solutions needed by community
>> gardeners. The increase in the fee from previous years in the new hydrant
>> policy is not as much a hardship as are the costs of the RPZ, inspections,
>> and liability insurance. We look forward to working collaboratively with
>> community gardeners, AUA, the City, and others to find sustainable
>> solutions.
>>
>> *There is much more to this issue, and we want to hear from more of our
>> community gardeners!* We've developed a simple survey and would greatly
>> appreciate your participation. The goal of the survey is to gain a clearer
>> picture of how community gardeners in Chicago access water and to determine
>> where support is needed.
>>
>> Take the CCGA Water Access Survey
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=ce392c8f8e&e=4779f517bf>
>>
>> *For those who need assistance now,* AUA has compiled a resource guide
>> and funding to help farmers/gardeners navigate the updated policy on their
>> website, and we encourage you follow the link below! Please reach out to us
>> if you have any other questions at
>> communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org.
>>
>> AUA Water Access Resources & Growers Guide
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=52d86791f2&e=4779f517bf>
>> Show off your garden: the CEGA 60-second video challenge ends September
>> 30!
>>
>> The Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards (CEGA) is honoring gardens for
>> a fourth year—though with a twist, thanks to COVID-19. The ongoing pandemic
>> made it impossible to ramp up the gardening competition in time to take
>> advantage of the summer growing season. Instead, CEGA has launched its
>> first-ever *60-Second Garden Video Challenge*.
>>
>> The competition is FREE and open to anyone who has a garden or who
>> belongs to a garden, whether it’s a community garden, church or school
>> garden, or even a business garden. Gardeners create one-minute videos of
>> their gardens and upload them for the CEGA team to review them for social
>> standards considerations, and then they are posted on the CEGA YouTube
>> Channel
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=a51104a9c2&e=4779f517bf>.
>> Viewers then use the “thumbs up” to vote for their favorite videos and
>> those that receive the most votes will be posted on the CEGA website and
>> on its social media pages. Those gardeners will receive a certificate, and
>> more prizes are in the works! Videos will be accepted now through *September
>> 30*.
>> Find out more and enter your garden video!
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=4a9d8188c2&e=4779f517bf>
>> Register for the CCGA Resources Committee Fall Perennial Distribution on
>> Friday, September 25
>> *STORIES FROM CHICAGO'S COMMUNITY GARDENS*
>> El Paseo Community Garden is granted a Creative Placemaking Award
>>
>> El Paseo Community Garden enhances the quality of life for Pilsen
>> residents through community building, stewardship, conservation,
>> placemaking, partnerships, programming, and community gardening. The
>> converted brownfield site provides opportunities to socialize with each
>> other, plant and grow food, play, or simply be outside and enjoy the
>> wildlife and fresh air the native plants provide. The garden and adjacent
>> land it stewards provides over 34,000 square feet of public green space for
>> the neighborhood and as a backyard for neighbors in the adjacent senior
>> living and affordable housing apartments. The garden sits along a path with
>> a monarch butterfly prairie on one side and raised beds on the other.
>> Gardening is offered through private allotment beds or collective beds.
>> Collective beds eliminate waiting lists for allotment beds and allow anyone
>> to get involved. Free food beds are included on the perimeter of the
>> collective beds for visitors.
>>
>> The leadership team at El Paseo Community Garden applied for the
>> MacArthur Foundation Creative Placemaking Award and by the end of 2019,
>> they were notified they were finalists. On May 6th they were recognized via
>> a virtual ceremony and awarded $15,000 along with it. The Acevedos credit
>> their founders Sallie and Ron Gordon and their land trust, Neighborspace,
>> for trusting them to carry on their vision. Gratitude is also expressed to
>> all the organizations who have provided support through sponsorship,
>> partnerships, and various donations. The success of our garden is possible
>> by the countless volunteers that help maintain the space and provide
>> programming. Congratulations, El Paseo!
>>
>> Continue reading about El Paseo Community Garden
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=db962451aa&e=4779f517bf>
>> Applications are being accepted until *September 30* for the *27th
>> Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards*, including the *MacArthur
>> Foundation Creative Placemaking Award*.
>> Find out more and apply.
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=56ca077473&e=4779f517bf>
>> North Lawndale 'Slumbusters' Garden Workdays are a Success
>>
>> Volunteers with the North Lawndale Greening Committee, inspired by the
>> work of *Lorean and Gerald Earles*, started a garden restoration of the *Slum
>> Busters Garden* on Saturday, June 20th. According to volunteer, Kimberly
>> George, “The garden was literally buried in overgrown weeds. I started to
>> reconsider this project, but then I remembered a story about Lorean Earles,
>> discouraged in the evening, would still be out the next morning pulling a
>> few weeds.”
>>
>> In the middle of a pandemic, social unrest, and a financial depression,
>> restoring a garden may not be the best idea. But, the reality is, this is
>> the perfect time. Fresh produce and beautiful flowers are needed more than
>> ever. The outpouring of individuals from all over the city wanting to
>> contribute time is inspiring. Garden leaders like Dr. Shemuel Israel and
>> Mamie Gray are following the example of the Earles, who once said, “No one
>> wants to do anything, so why don’t we?”
>>
>> Dr. Israel, Mamie and Kimberly have held many workdays (safely) this
>> summer to restore and clean up gardens in North Lawndale. To offer support
>> please, sign up to volunteer using the button below.
>>
>> *"Since the 1980’s a diverse patchwork of green spaces has appeared on
>> North Lawndale’s map. These pocket gardens are sites of community activism,
>> neighborhood beautification and youth education. In 1986, Gerald and Lorean
>> Earles founded “Slum Busters” to transform vacant lots into flower and
>> vegetable gardens. Their efforts have inspired the creation of more than 40
>> gardens and the North Lawndale Greening Committee."*
>>
>>  – Learning from North Lawndale, Chicago Architecture Tour, 2006
>>
>> Volunteer for North Lawndale workdays
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=7b3f5b59e5&e=4779f517bf>
>> *Let us know <?subject=Volunteers%20needed> if your garden has regular
>> workdays or is in need of volunteers!*
>> New planters at the Bezazian Library made possible with plants from CCGA
>> The *North Uptown Neighborhood Association* shared photos of the
>> planters at the *Bezazian Library* which were updated with plants from
>> recent Resources Team plant distributions. They said the city used to plant
>> the boxes, but since the city's budget crisis, this stopped and they picked
>> up the need for plants. They raised some funds through successful book
>> sales, but with the difficulties this problematic year, they were not sure
>> they could do it. They were so happy for the CCGA plant distributions,
>> which made it possible for them to fill the boxes with many
>> pollinator-friendly plants!
>> The Hart Peace Community Garden embarking on renovations to
>> increase accessibility
>>
>> You might recognize Pat and Robert Hart as two of the most dedicated
>> volunteers of CCGA. These days, they've been focused on a new project at
>> their community garden in Austin. *The Hart Peace Community Garden *at
>> 645 N. Latrobe Ave was started on three abandoned lots they bought from the
>> city. The garden will soon incorporate several ADA-accessible planter
>> stations, paved walkways and a sun shelter to make it easier for seniors
>> and people with disabilities to grow produce and flowers. They are
>> collaborating with *Human Scale*, a design nonprofit founded by
>> University of Illinois at Chicago students. “I want to make it accessible
>> to as many people as I can. And make it so more vets can come garden,” said
>> Robert Hart, a veteran himself.
>>
>> Pat and Robert envision using the pergola as a space to teach and give
>> cooking demonstrations and let folks share recipes. As a nurse, Pat
>> recognizes the food value in a lot of vegetables that aren't favored so
>> much by her community. She wants to introduce veggies like eggplant and how
>> to cook with it. Pat shared, “The garden is still in the process of
>> development. It's an all-volunteer effort and there have been people
>> working on weekends; they've been moving, digging and learning how to use
>> Robert's tools. The garden is for seniors, vets, and folks in
>> the neighborhood. There's a school around the corner, so the garden will be
>> there for them too."
>>
>> Read more about the Hart Peace Community Garden
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=d5bd1d296d&e=4779f517bf>
>> Maxwell Street Community Garden's public art and accessible raised beds
>> win praise
>> Maxwell Street Community Garden is in its second season at their new
>> location on the NE corner of Racine and 13th Street diagonal to Fosco Park.
>> They are at maximum capacity this year with a growing waitlist for next
>> season after expanding the number of plots "farmed for the community" from
>> two to six this season to provide more green tomatoes and fresh produce to
>> their neighbors in the adjacent properties, in addition to an herb garden
>> shared with members, neighbors, and Friends of the Garden.
>>
>> In early March, the garden received a $5,000 grant from Chicago Housing
>> Consulting Services (CHCS) towards transforming three concrete barriers in
>> the garden into public art. Pilsen artist Anne Farley Gaines designed three
>> mosaic murals, and progress is well underway on the first one in the
>> Welcome Garden by the 13th Street gate. Students living nearby, having
>> participated in other art programs led by Gaines for After School Matters
>> and Jane Addams Center, are creating mosaics both at the garden and in kits
>> at home on pre-cut masonry. Maxwell Street Community Garden is the first
>> public art project funded by CHCS.
>>
>> This was more than reason enough for Maxwell Street Community Garden to
>> receive high praise from Lisa Roberson, Executive Administrator at Chicago
>> Housing Authority, who came to tour their garden in June while she was in
>> the neighborhood. She was awestruck with what Maxwell Garden had created in
>> the middle of the city. They have built ADA accessible tall raised beds
>> that are an excellent example for what all CHA Gardens should aspire to
>> become.
>>
>> Read more about Maxwell Street Garden's murals & raised beds
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=07b366522d&e=4779f517bf>
>>
>> *If you have a garden story to share, send us a message
>> <communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org?subject=Garden%20Story>! You
>> can also email photos for our website and Facebook here
>> <photos at chicagocommunitygardens.org?subject=Garden%20Photos>.*
>> CCGA Provides Technical Assistance for a New Community Garden Pilot
>> Project Serving Communities on the South Side
>>
>> CCGA was approached by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
>> to help launch a new program to help develop new community gardens that
>> will provide fresh produce to communities on the South Side. We are excited
>> to be working with Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Fernwood Community
>> Outreach Church, Great True Vine Baptist Church (The Laura B. Collins
>> Community Development Center), Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) and
>> the Trinity United Church (Endeleo Institute). Our goal is to provide
>> support and technical assistance so that each of these unique community
>> garden projects will thrive!
>>
>> If you are interested in volunteering on garden work days or providing
>> technical assistance, please send us an email
>> <communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org?subject=Volunteering%20for%20Pilot%20Project>
>> !
>>
>> Read the full press release
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=1ad0e7a912&e=4779f517bf>
>> The CCGA Resources Committee has been busy this summer!
>> *Pictured above are a variety of perennial plants distributed to
>> gardeners last month. *
>>
>> COVID-19 has made us all wonder how we’d manage many new challenges
>> during this pandemic, and for many community gardens, the CCGA Resources
>> distributions and plant sales have been the sole source of affordable,
>> viable seedlings and healthy plants this year. The Resources Committee
>> organized - and managed to make seem effortless - *seven* contactless
>> distributions throughout April, May, June and July. When everything that we
>> once knew had changed so dramatically, this brought a sense of well-being
>> to gardeners with the possibility of bountiful bouquets and delicious
>> harvests.
>>
>> The dedication of the CCGA Resources Committee and generosity of our
>> partner growers continues to provide gardeners with opportunities for
>> planting, nurturing and harvesting, and to see things growing and thriving
>> in our gardens again amidst the challenges we are all facing. We know too
>> well that well-being depends on a range of social, economic and
>> environmental factors, as is emphasized by the health disparities seen in
>> different areas of our city. CCGA supports access to green space, and
>> recognizes that growing in that space is vital for health and well-being.
>>
>> Read More about the work of the CCGA Resources Committee
>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=debdd130af&e=4779f517bf>
>> Upcoming Events
>>
>>
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