[Info-distribution] Winter Newsletter

Sun Jan 19 16:57:10 CST 2025

I’d love to volunteer. How can I sign up!!

*Adam Russek-Sobol*

( http://maybeimcrazy.xyz )
adamrusseksobol.com ( http://adamrusseksobol.com )

"A great life isn't about great huge things, it's about small things that make a huge difference."

On Sun, Jan 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM CCGA < CCGA ( CCGA <info at chicagocommunitygardens.org> ) > wrote:

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> Upcoming Seed Swaps • Ways to Celebrate Winter • Remembering Julie Samuels
> • 2024 Highlights
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> View this email in your browser (
> https://mailchi.mp/8cc69a555f8b/ccga-8th-annual-gardeners-conference-register-10303703?e=10467e958f
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> *News for Community Gardeners*
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> " Winter is not a season, it's a celebration "
> — Anamika Mishra
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> Celebrating Winter's Stillness
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> As we start to focus on the year ahead while our gardens hibernate under
> the snow, we’re sharing some news and events as well as some highlights
> from our work together the past year. With everything going on around us,
> we hope you’re finding ways to celebrate ** Winter, whether that means
> getting inspired with gardening content and the new seed catalogues,
> planning a new garden bed, or finding moments of stillness in nature.
> We’re excited to share another year of growing together with you!
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> *CCGA Monthly Meeting this Tuesday*
> Join us for our first monthly meeting of 2025 this Tuesday, January 21, at
> 6pm on Zoom. All are welcome! Details can be found on the CCGA website (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=794b698ba3&e=10467e958f
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> *Winter 2025 Edition*
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> * Volunteer with CCGA!
> * Winter 2025 Seed Swap Events 
> * A Few Ways to Celebrate Winter
> * Remembering Julie Samuels
> * 2024 Highlights
> * CCGA Legacy Gardener Film Project
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> Volunteer with CCGA!
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> CCGA is an all-volunteer collective of community gardeners and needs
> people power to thrive. If you have a passion for supporting our gardening
> communities (and have a little time to share) then you have come to the
> right place!
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> The *Communications team (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=e4acb0b827&e=10467e958f
> )* needs help supporting all of CCGA’s communications including the
> website, community garden map, social media, newsletters, writing, graphic
> design, photography, and some workshop/special event technical support and
> promotion. You don't have to have professional experience to be on the
> team, just a zest for communications and amplifying all the amazing work
> gardeners and growers are doing in Chicago! 
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> The *Advocacy & Outreach team (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=77e5180b38&e=10467e958f
> )* is focused on tackling bigger-picture issues that affect all of us who
> are growers. While Chicago’s neighborhood gardens are our immediate focus,
> we also help to create policies that support the health and sustainability
> of green space and people in Chicago by working with the City and other
> partners and organizations with whom we share common goals.
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> The *Resources & Distributions team (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=c6d0772f7e&e=10467e958f
> )* always needs help with growing seedlings and distributing plants. We
> would also like to hear from you if you learned/tried something in your
> garden last summer that you’d be willing to share with other gardeners *this
> winter at a workshop*. Last year, community gardeners shared their
> knowledge about growing luffas, cultivating sprouts indoors and planting
> containers for pollinators. Email resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org if
> you’re interested in sharing your skills through a workshop!
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> Contact the team you're interested in joining by clicking on the team
> links above!
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> Find a Seed Swap!
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> *National Seed Swap Day is January 25* and the U of I Extension, Cook
> County created a handy interactive map to help you locate a seed swap.
> It's inspiring to see so many swaps happening around the city and suburbs!
> To add your swap to the list please email sbatka at illinois.edu. Thanks to *Sarah
> Batka* from *U of I Extension* for compiling and providing access to the
> seed swap map!
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> Seed Swap Map (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=ebc07783ae&e=10467e958f
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> For more *events and workshops* , check the CCGA events calendar (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=c8caf164f4&e=10467e958f
> ) and follow us on Facebook (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=f7598b44b4&e=10467e958f
> ) and Instagram (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=f5b00827f1&e=10467e958f
> ) ! If you'd like us to share your event, you can add it to the calendar
> and send an email to communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org (
> communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org?subject=Please%20share%20my%20event%20(W2025%20newsletter)
> ) for us to share a post on our social channels.
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> Ways to Celebrate Winter
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> * *Make Seed Bombs.* Some of us have bags of seed pods in our freezers
> needing to be stripped of dried petals. Seeds can be rolled into seed bombs
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> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=6573dd31f1&e=10467e958f
> ) for easy planting.
> * *Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders.* Find a large and open pine cone and attach
> string, wire, or pipe cleaner to the top to create a hanger. Then smear it
> with sunflower butter (no allergies) and roll it in sunflower seeds or
> another birdseed.  For a gardener’s upgrade, add native tree fruit that
> you might see locally, like hackberry drupes, sweetgum, catalpa pods, and
> sycamore balls. Dark-eyed Junco like to stay on the ground but will eat
> seeds that fall from feeders. The Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee,
> Red-breasted Nuthatch, and the Blue Jay will love this biodegradable
> wildlife fodder. Here are some helpful instructions. (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=cefc1df9e9&e=10467e958f
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> * *Do Some Birdwatching.* There are no longer leaves to break the fall of
> the sun, and cold bare branches are truly not silent. The birds mentioned
> above are still here and watching them can help you understand ecosystems
> and how creatures respond to environmental changes. It’s easier to spot
> birds in winter (especially for little eyes). The stillness of winter
> allows for bird calls to be crisper and clearer. Merlin, by Cornell Labs (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=5e6fd7eb23&e=10467e958f
> ) , has a great website and apps to help with identification.
> * *Try Identifying Trees in Winter by Their Bark.* Oh, what a challenge but
> a glorious endeavor if you can find a walk led by someone knowledgeable. Take
> a virtual walk with Tom Ebeling (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=6c4c7d6e6c&e=10467e958f
> ) , an Openlands community arborist, and begin to identify trees in Winter
> at the Garfield Park Conservatory! 
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> Remembering Julie Samuels
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> Julie, enjoying the exhibits at one of the CCGA Annual Conferences.
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> We mourn the loss of our dear gardening friend and mentor *Julie Samuels* ,
> who passed away on July 19, 2024. A Celebration of Life was held for her
> in August in Oak Park. Many from CCGA attended and there were well over *two
> dozen* speakers who gave testimony to the grace, selflessness, and truth
> that Julie gave us with her friendship, as an organizer, and her
> propensity to propagate! Her online obituary can be found here (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=2d3561369e&e=10467e958f
> ) and you're welcome to add a memory or story.
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> We’ve formed a committee working to create a lasting tribute to Julie and
> will share details as they develop. If you’d like to be a part of the
> committee or have any stories to share of Julie, please send them to us at
> communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org or message us on Facebook (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=839cca3e63&e=10467e958f
> ). Let’s share our treasured memories of our time working with Julie and
> her enormous impact on Chicago community gardens!
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> Looking Back on 2024, Thank You!
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> Clockwise: a beautiful selection of plants from Resources' fall
> distribution, a Garfield Park Garden Tour attendee at Kuumba Tre-Ahm
> Garden in August, and Ms. Erma Purnell and Ms. Juline Clinton at the How
> To Keep It Going event in May honoring our Legacy Gardeners.
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> While plans for 2025 are coming into sharper focus, we'd like to take a
> moment to look back at 2024 to acknowledge all the work CCGA volunteers
> and gardeners accomplished together. From the thousands of plants grown
> and distributed by the Resources team to the Garfield Park Garden Tour, we
> thank each and every one of you who lent your time and talents over the
> last year! We're also incredibly grateful to all of the community
> gardeners who participated in workshops, events and plant distributions!
> We are honored to support your work in your community gardens which forms
> a vital bridge between your community and the natural world. We’ve
> highlighted just a few of the many incredible things that happened in
> community gardens last year. Read our 2024 wrap-up and new year message on
> the website to learn more!
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> Read 2024 Highlights (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=28381a87f5&e=10467e958f
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> CCGA Legacy Gardeners Film Project
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> The *Legacy Gardeners Film Project* was created to recognize those lifetime
> gardeners who have made an impact through their leadership and service.
> These gardeners have taught generations, showing us how to value hard
> work, nurture a tiny seed, and feed the soil and our communities. CCGA has
> been honored to create short films so far highlighting three amazing
> legacy gardeners: (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=72e5b216b1&e=10467e958f
> ) *Erma Purnell (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=8997fbc490&e=10467e958f
> ) , Doretha Penn (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=c14f9e1982&e=10467e958f
> )* and *Juline McClinton (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=8912492a1f&e=10467e958f
> )*. This year, our goal is to learn about and record the personal
> histories of more of our senior garden leaders.
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> Do you know a Legacy Gardener? We want to tell their story! We aspire to
> feature those gardeners who have worked the soil beside us and, over a
> lifetime, have made an impact we can’t overlook. This is someone, still
> living, who has built a legacy, not intentionally wanting recognition or
> success, but someone who has given their energy and wisdom to fellow
> gardeners and their community through leadership and service. 
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> Please forward the name of your nominee to the Education team (
> education at chicagocommunitygardens.org?subject=Legacy%20Gardener%20Film%20Project
> ). Using the criteria in the paragraph above, please share why you
> nominate this person. You may give your name or remain anonymous.
> Nominations will be considered once we receive the permission of the
> legacy gardener to be videotaped.
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> Support the Legacy Gardener Film Project (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=fce518de95&e=10467e958f
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> Facebook (
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> Instagram (
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> Website (
> https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=3493e04e07&e=10467e958f
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> Email ( info at chicagocommunitygardens.org )
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> Copyright © 2025 Chicago Community Gardeners Association, All rights
> reserved.
> 
> *Our mailing address is:*
> 445 N. Sacramento Blvd, Suite 204, Chicago, IL 60612
> 
> Want to change how you receive these emails?
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