[Communications] No Newsletter but a write up for the Website

[Lorraine Kells]

JW,

I  did a lot of prodding to get a newsletter out in 2024.  To no avail, but
I started writing back in April and kept updating the stories and
information.  I'm not willing to see it all get trashed, so if you would
please, post this on our website.  It's not a Newsletter just a year end
piece. I have attached an end of the year write-up for our website and
included it here .

If you are still involved in CCGA, please post this on our website.  If you
need photos to accompany the text, I have plenty.

*Happy New Year, community gardeners! 2025*

It’s still the first few days of 2025, so we can profit from looking back
at 2024 to acknowledge all that CCGA has accomplished and set out to do for
2025. We hope gardeners have been enjoying the holidays and are taking some
time to rest from the labors of the garden as we embark on a new year. We
notice that the days are getting longer. While January and February may
seem quiet months in the garden, it does not mean that nothing is
happening.  The soil has been open to the sky, drinking in what rainfall we
have had, and the roots of plants we have left will feed beneficial
microbes.

Not a lot of snow flurries yet, but we have had a flurry of activity. Our
community gardens formed a vital bridge between each other and the natural
world. We've highlighted just a few of the many incredible things that have
been happening in community gardens! Read on!

Chicago had what seemed like a record in Chicago had what seemed like a
record number of seed swaps last spring, dozens of them!  More native
plants sales appeared, many of them to fund successful bird conservation
programs.  Avid CCGA gardeners eagerly attended these and started growing
in their community gardens when temperatures climbed and days lengthened.
We all want to be surrounded by color and living beauty while growing food
for our families. Chicago Community Gardeners were able to enjoy spring
flowers at The Chicago Botanic Garden, which offered free admission days in
March to welcome spring season’s arrival!  Seed swaps are already being
posted in 2025 so watch our Facebook page for more and don’t forget to let
us know before we miss yours.

*CCGA* *Resources and Distribution Committee*

Accompanying this year’s distributions and workshops and now posting for
Facebook are two volunteers in Resources and Distribution.  Welcome, Eve
Venable, who joined CCGA as one of its most creative and active members.
Welcome, Deb Jensen is a most welcome contributor to CCGA’s Facebook.

Catching up with a busy team of growers in Resources this year fills a lot
of space, we saw them produce a high volume of plants for distribution,
create new and interesting workshops and they did it all with volunteers!
The season began in February with Eve leading a growing luffa workshop
alongside Carolina Ara’s tips and demo on Growing Sprouts Indoors.  Shayna
Wildermuth, the Greenhouse and Garden Education Manager of the
Conservatory, led a workshop on planting containers for pollinators on
Saturday as well.  Garfield Park Conservatory hosted the gathering that
featured a giveaway of 200 house plants.

A highlight of some of their and 2024 of Resources events follows. March
saw a stronger push to support native plants and their beneficial
ecological services to insects, bees, and butterflies with a two-part
series, Planting for Pollinators; again, hosted by Garfield Park
Conservatory

April saw three more events: Early in the month, a tool sharpening event
was held. Another April event saw a distribution for community gardeners of
spring annuals such as violas, dianthus at the African Garden. Spring
annuals, seed potatoes, tomato starts, herbs, coleus, scented geraniums,
seeds, canna bulbs, burlap, and coffee chaff: the CCGA Spring Distribution
had something useful for all gardeners.

The month of May saw Resources clearing out their greenhouse for a
Mini-Distribution with a range of miscellaneous plants to offer, from
tomato and pepper starts to ornamental plant material for containers. There
were also dahlias and cannas grown by Resources. Later in May was the big
Spring Distribution; it was Big. 5000 plants were seeded and grown by
Resources -- lots of vegetable plants, an herb and seed table, and enough
pollinator-friendly annuals to make a delightful little garden.

Jump to June, and Resources held its First Perennial Distribution with
hundreds of gorgeous ornamental annuals donated by Westover Farm and
others. There were flats of summer annual flowers and container material as
well--and a selection of garden tools. July brought the Second Summer
Distribution with over 2500 perennials. And later in the month there was a
vegetable give-away -- summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and no-heat
jalapenos from Nick Michaud at Westover Farm.

There was even a Third Summer Distribution in August with over 200 plants
and a generous donation of tools from Home Chef. In September the Fall
Distribution offered native plant fans material from perennials (including
lots of choice natives) to shrubs. This distribution had something for all
and something different --donated tropical plants and lots of bricks and
other hardscape materials.  Seed garlic and spring bulbs, peat moss and
coffee grounds made up the.

CCGA Resources Committee had a good holiday distribution Dec 7, with 40+
community gardens participating. Each received a beautiful bouquet of
decorative material, lots of evergreens, and ornamental branches.  Coffee
grounds, coffee chaff and burlap were also available. Many thanks to donors
The Contained Garden, Green with Ivy, and Nature's Perspective for their
generosity!

With its strong relationships and contacts throughout the growing
community, Resources received numerous donations throughout the year that
went out to community gardeners. Donations went the other way too. Well,
we’re all caught up with Resources, but we’re sure to see more from them in
2025.

*The Legacy Gardener *

“How to Keep it Going,” sowing seeds for the gardens of tomorrow, the CCGA
documentary portrayal of legacy gardeners was presented in a screening of
the Legacy Gardener Project, May 22, 5-8 pm in the Jensen Room of Garfield
Park Conservatory. If you didn’t already know, this project from Chicago
Community Gardeners Association captured a rich and living history in the
lives of three gardeners who tirelessly provided guidance to many while
helping them build relationships with each other and the land. They started
with seeds; seeds become a garden; a garden became a beloved community. Our
community gardens hold a rich and living history as seen in the lives of
our legacy gardeners. As their habits became traditions; traditions became
their legacy.  Through the hard work of nourishing roots and feeding the
soil, legacy gardeners have connected communities and inspired many people.

Legacy Gardeners Ms Erma Purnell of New Horizon’s Garden and Ms Doretha
Penn, of Crystal’s Peace Garden attended the screening with friends,
family, and fellow gardeners.

On the big screen in the Jensen Room we watched as the story of their lives
unfold to see how they inspired others. Following these two short
documentaries, another screening was premiered: Juline McClinton, Legacy
Gardener. These videotapes told their stories as they shared their lives
with us: our stories are everything.  A panel discussion following the
screenings invited everyone to hear from those who have known our legacy
gardeners.  A panel led by Moderator, Onxy Ongobor, Exhibit Specialist at
GPCA brought conversations that mirrored many of the phrases spoken in the
films, striking the deepest chords.  Among questions and answers that rang
most true, each panelist was asked how they felt represented, or seen, in
the lives of the legacy gardeners, and their answers revealed how connected
our lives are. The panelists were well known CCGA gardeners, Gina Jamison,
Cynthia Weaver, and Dr Isreal with, a young person, Jayveon Edmonds from
Urban Roots of the GPCA Youth Advisory council, offering a young person’s
perspective.

The Legacy Gardener Videotape project is the work of CCGA’s Education
Committee.

Go Fund Me Campaign for Legacy Gardeners

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-ccga-legacy-gardeners-film-project



*Garfield Park Tour*

Did you know that Garfield Park has been growing fresh local food in
community gardens and marketing it since 2007? While the 2024 tour of
Garfield Park gardens was a repeat of the 2023 very successful tour, with
additional gardens from the that tour. Many folks visited these gardens for
the first time. This tour, which was led by Ms Gina Jamison, is always a
welcome experience for everyone. Gardens selected for the tour were Relish,
Fulton Garden, Chicago Farm Works, Limes Smiles for Miles, Kuumba Tre-Ahm
Community Garden, Westbrooks Memorial Park, Fulton Street Flower &
Vegetable Garden. Participants could meet at the Gold Dome for a bus ride
or travel on their own. The tour ended at the Hatchery with lunch for
participants, a food demo, and tour of the non-profit food hub. At the
Hatchery, the Garfield Park Neighborhood Market offered fresh garden
produce alongside homemade specialties like jars of cha cha, or green
tomato salsa. Organizers hope to see people again next year.

*A Tribute to Julie Samuels*

No summation of 2024, no matter how lengthy or brief can fail to mention
the loss of Julie Samuels, who passed away on July 19. A Celebration of
Life was held for her in August. Many from CCGA attended and spoke warmly
of Julie. An ad hoc committee from CCGA is working to create a tribute to
her and we will share their decision soon.

If you have stories to share, please do send them for our Newsletters in
2025.

Join us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoCommunityGardenersAssociation/
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