<div dir="ltr">JW,<div><br></div><div>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 . </div><div><br></div><div>If you are still involved in CCGA, please post this on our website. If you need photos to accompany the text, I have plenty.</div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Happy New Year, community gardeners! 2025</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chicago had what seemed like a record in<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span>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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>CCGA</b> <b>Resources and Distribution Committee</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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 </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>The Legacy Gardener </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Legacy Gardener Videotape project is the work of CCGA’s
Education Committee. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Go Fund Me
Campaign for Legacy Gardeners</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-ccga-legacy-gardeners-film-project" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-ccga-legacy-gardeners-film-project</span></a><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration-line:underline"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Garfield Park Tour</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>A Tribute to Julie Samuels</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If you have stories to share, please do send them for our
Newsletters in 2025.</p>
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