Chicago Community Gardeners Association

MidFEx Kurle Memorial Lecture - Heirloom Apples for the Midwest Orchard
2018-02-24 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
MidFEx Kurle Memorial Lecture – Saturday February 24th, 2018 at 1pm
Dan Bussey of Seed Savers – Heirloom Apples for the Midwest Orchard
Daniel Bussey is an orchardist, horticulturist, historian, professional cider maker and former businessman, who grew up and spent most of his life in rural southern Wisconsin. Dan has taught workshops on grafting fruit trees, cider-making and other apple-related topics for more than 30 years and has grown heirloom apple varieties all of his life. He has been featured on Public Radio International’s “The Takeaway” and National Public Radio’s “Science Friday”, and has been the subject of numerous newspaper articles. This past August saw the long-awaited release of Dan’s seven volume work, “The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada” which lists over 16,000 apples that were grown in North America between 1629 and 2000. The book was a long-time project over 30 years in the making.
Dan is not only fascinated with heirloom apples and cider-making, but is a producer and grower of hard cider apples and has helped to introduce a new cider apple variety to the trade; Kronebusch Cider, with more varieties expected in the coming years. Dan has attended the Cider and Perry Academy’s advanced cider course at Cornell University and is an avid promoter of the cider beverage industry. Dan believes the essential element of craft cider making is the selection of the best variety of apples possible; those with superior flavors, aromatics and phenolic structure. Understand the apple and its myriad of flavors and everything else will follow.
Dan Bussey’s lifelong interest in raising fruit, seeking out rare, missing heirloom varieties and researching the history of apple growing in the United States and Canada is matched only by his other fascination, that of collecting and preserving horse-drawn sleighs, wagons and hearses, having assembled one of the largest collections of horse-drawn sleighs in the country along with numerous commercial wagons of all trades. Dan currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Carriage Museum of America, based in Lexington, Kentucky and is working on several upcoming publications on carriage history.
Dan now resides near Decorah, Iowa, where he is the Orchard Manager and Apple Historian for the Seed Savers Exchange, maintaining and enlarging the Historic Orchard at Heritage Farm to contain nearly 1300 apple accessions and make them available to orchardists. Dan believes that having a passion in life, whatever it might be, is the key to a satisfying life.
This event is free and open to MidFEx members and non-members.

Windy City Harvest Youth Farm Facilitator Training
2018-02-24 09:00 - 15:00 | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
For more information contact:
Kris De la Torre
kdelatorre@chicagobotanic.org
Urban Garden Lab & Education Coordinator
Windy City Harvest
224.723.9229

Soup & Bread @ The Hideout
2018-02-21 17:00 - 20:00, 2018-02-14 17:00 - 20:00, 2018-02-07 17:00 - 20:00, 2018-01-31 17:00 - 20:00 | The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia, Chicago, IL, 60642, United States

CANCELLED - Garden Tool Workshop For Community Gardeners
2018-02-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), 445 N Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Due to weather conditions, the CCGA Resources Committee Tool Distribution, Saturday, 02/10/18, has been cancelled. Please watch your emails for the rescheduling of the Tool Distribution.

The CCGA Resources and Education Committees are jointly present a new workshop for Chicago community gardeners. Edde Jones, Program Director of Greencorps, will teach us tool safety; we will also have a demonstration on the maintenance of basic gardening tools.
Thanks to the success of the Resources Committee plant distributions last year, the Resources Committee was able to purchase an assortment of pruners, loppers, hand saws, rakes, shovels, and more from Lowes. Each community garden represented at the event will receive a free tool.
Thanks, community gardeners, for making this event possible!
Hope to see you on February 10!
CCGA Resources and Education Committees

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Windy City Harvest Crop Planning Workshop Workshop
2018-02-10 09:00 - 15:00 | Arturo Velasquez Institute Greenhouse, 2800 S Western Ave , Chicago, IL, 60608, United States
Windy City Harvest Crop Planning Workshop Flyer
For more information contact:
Kris De la Torre
kdelatorre@chicagobotanic.org
Urban Garden Lab & Education Coordinator
Windy City Harvest
224.723.9229

CCGA Coordinating Meeting – Tuesday February 6, 6:30pm
2018-02-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), 445 N Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
The next CCGA Coordinating Meeting is Tuesday February 6th at 6:30pm at the Chicago Center for Green Technology CCGT at 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. The main item agenda is final planning for the 2018 conference.
We will meet on the 2nd floor and there is parking behind the building and as always try and bring a snack or drink to share if you can.
NOTE: All CCGA coordinating meeting minutes are available for you to review on the website. Look under the menu tree at ‘Who We Are’ and then ‘CCGA Organization’ and you will see links here for the coordinating committee documents.
Hope to see you there!

AUA's 6th Annual Urban Livestock Expo
2018-02-03 11:00 - 14:00 | Southside Occupational Academy High School, 7342 S Hoyne Ave., Chicago, IL, 60636, United States
On February 3rd, 2018, 11am-2pm, AUA and Southside Occupational Academy warmly invite you to the 6th Annual Urban Livestock Expo: FREE, fun, family-friendly workshops on raising bees, goats, chickens, ducks and more in your yard!
All levels of expertise and interest welcome, from the experienced to the curious! Workshops will cover daily care, ideal breeds, how to troubleshoot common problems, and professionals’ tips for being a good neighbor with animals in the city. Also get a chance to explore the amazing urban agriculture program at our host site, Southside Occupational Academy!
Additionally, area urban livestock groups and businesses will staff resource tables with information on further learning opportunities, support networks, sources of supplies, equipment, and more.
Don’t miss this fun opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with other practitioners, and bond with a goat! Further details here: bit.ly/UrbanLivestockExpo2018, and detailed workshop topics to follow. Reach out to AUA with questions at info@auachicago.org or 773-850-0428. We hope you’ll join us!

Lecture: Urban Composting Methods
2017-10-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Tuesday, October 16 at 7pm
Urban Composting Methods
Speaker: TBD
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

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Lecture Fall Garden Prep and Seed Saving
2017-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Monday, September 18 at 7pm
Fall Garden Prep and Seed Saving
Speaker: TBD
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

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Veggie Bingo at the Hideout
2017-09-06 17:30 - 20:00, 2017-08-30 17:30 - 20:00, 2017-06-21 17:30 - 20:00 | The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia, Chicago, IL, 60642, United States
The Hideout and NeighborSpace present

VEGGIE BINGO
FAMILY FRIENDLY!
Every Wednesday in Summer:
June 21–September 6, 2017, 5:30-8pm
At the Hideout, 1354 West Wabansia in Chicago
PRIZES INCLUDE FARM-FRESH VEGETABLES— GRAND PRIZE IS A GIANT BAG OF ORGANIC PRODUCE FROM IRV AND SHELLY’S FRESH PICKS! —AND OTHER LOCALLY-SOURCED EDIBLES, PLUS MUCH MORE! PROCEEDS BENEFIT CHICAGO COMMUNITY GARDENS.

Fresh veggies from Irv and Shelley’s Fresh Picks
Free Coffee for a Year from Book Cellar
2-show passes from Improv Olympic
Upscale American comfort food gift certificates from Cafe Selmarie
Pastry-and-coffee gift cards from Cellar Door Provisions
Distillery tours and flasks of gins from Chicago Distilling Company
Fried chicken gift cards from Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Cheesecake gift certificates from Eli’s Cheesecake

Full prize list at neighbor-space.org/veggiebingo

Lecture: Common Pests and Problems in Chicago Gardens
2017-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Monday, August 21 at 7pm
Common Pests and Problems in Chicago Gardens
Speaker: Adrienne Detanico,
Horticulturalist for The Organic Gardener Ltd.
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

Lecture: Water Conservation in the Garden
2017-07-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Monday, July 17 at 7pm
Water Conservation in the Garden
Speaker: TBD
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

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Next CCGA Coordinating Meeting – Tuesday June 27th, 6:30pm
2017-06-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), 445 N Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
The next CCGA Coordinating Meeting will be Tuesday, June 27th 2017 at 6:30pm at the Chicago Center for Green Technology CCGT at 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. and our focus will be reporting from our June 3rd membership retreat, the venue for the 2018 conference and normal committee business.
We will meet on the 2nd floor and there is parking behind the building. Bring a snack or drink to share if you can.
NOTE: All CCGA coordinating meeting minutes are available for you to review on the website. Look under the menu tree at ‘Who We Are’ and then ‘CCGA Organization’ and you will see links here for the coordinating committee documents.
Hope to see you there!

23rd Annual Pullman Garden Walk - A Garden Walk and Tea, Saturday June 24th
2017-06-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Historic Pullman Visitor Center, 614 East 113th Street, Chicago, IL, 60628, United States
The Historic Pullman Garden Club, with co-sponsors the Historic Pullman Foundation, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Pullman State Historic Site, invite you back to the Victorian era of the 1880’s during the 23rd Annual Garden Walk – A Garden Walk and Tea, on Saturday June 24, 2017, from 10am to 4pm.
Victorians passed the summer days more leisurely than we do today and so can you, as you step back in time within this picturesque historic neighborhood. The event begins at the Pullman National Monument Visitor Center, 11141 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago IL 60628, where you will pick up a ticket brochure/map to begin your tour.
Tickets include a light Summer-themed Tea to be held on the veranda of the Hotel Florence. You can enjoy one of the guided walking tours of the historic district, or use the self-guided tour map and stroll at your own pace. The tour will wind through the row house lined blocks to visit the public gardens, including the Gateway Garden, a part of the NeighborSpace community garden network, select private gardens, plus our community food garden and urban gardens. Tea service will begin at 11 a.m.
Tickets for the event are $12 in advance by emailing historicpullmangardens@gmail.com or calling (773) 568-2441 until June 22nd or $15 on the day of the event.
The Pullman Historic District can be reached by taking the 111th Street exit west off of I-94 or via the Metra Electric Train Line, exiting on the 111th St/Pullman stop.
Please feel free to visit our website at www.hpgc.org or our Facebook page for event details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1785743875074681/.
23rd Annual Pullman Garden Walk Flyer

Lecture: Organic Gardening Basics
2017-06-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Monday, June 19 at 7pm
Organic Gardening Basics
Speaker: Lisa Hilgenberg,
Horticulturalist for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

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Growing Herbs for Flavor, Nutrition, and Health - Workshop Saturday June 10th at 9am
2017-06-10 10:00 - 13:00 | Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
The CCGA Education Committee is hosting a new culinary herb workshop!
Learn how to grow, cook, preserve and make simple home remedies with herbs in this informative and tasty workshop about the wide range of herbs easily grown in our Chicago gardens. Chef and farmer Sarah Mallin will lead the workshop. She is owner of Pyrite Sun and creator of The Physic Garden at Breanne Heath’s, The Pie Patch Farm in Back of the Yards. The workshop will guide community gardeners through how to nurture herbs in their gardens and use them in the kitchen, beverages, and a home remedy repertoire.
We’ll explore the special properties of herbs that make them so flavorful and nutritious and why some people taste herbs like cilantro differently than others. Sarah will have a wide range of herb samples from The Physic Garden at The Pie Patch available for tasting, as well as demo samples of pesto, tea, and tinctures.
The class will begin with a short lecture on the history and uses of herbs, followed by growing and preserving advice and a sensory exploration of herb samples. Sarah will then provide samples of pesto and tea, explaining how to make your own at home, followed by a Q & A time.
Date: Saturday June 10th at 10am
Location: Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. Chicago IL 60612.
The workshop is free, but seating is limited, so please RSVP your intention to attend HERE.

Next CCGA Coordinating Meeting – Tuesday May 23, 6pm
2017-05-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
The next CCGA Coordinating Meeting will be Tuesday, May 23 at 6pm at the Chicago Center for Green Technology CCGT at 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. and our focus will be preparation for our retreat and wrap-up reporting on the CCGA 5th Annual Conference in March.
We will meet on the 2nd floor and there is parking behind the building. Bring a snack or drink to share if you can.
NOTE: All CCGA coordinating meeting minutes are available for you to review on the website. Look under the menu tree at ‘Who We Are’ and then ‘CCGA Organization’ and you will see links here for the coordinating committee documents.
Hope to see you there!

AUA's Cultural Heritage Spring Gathering in Little Village - Saturday May 20th
2017-05-20 12:00 - 15:00 | La Villita Community Church, 2300 S. Milllard Ave., Chicago, IL, 60623, United States
Cultural heritage panel! Seed swap! Community slideshow of urban farms and gardens! Potluck! Chicken care workshop! Know Your Rights Resource Table! Come together with us to enjoy all this and more at AUA’s Cultural Heritage Spring Gathering!
We hope you can join us for this free, fun afternoon of culture and community on Chicago’s southwest side on Saturday, May 20th, from 12pm-3pm at La Villita Community Church, 2300 S. Milllard Ave. We’ll start with a community potluck, followed by a chance to swap culturally significant seeds, and then explore Chicago’s urban agriculture community in photos from gardens and farms across the city. Then we’ll celebrate our cultural connections to agriculture, led by an amazing panel of urban agriculture leaders: Elvia Rodriguez-Ochoa of Openlands, Maria Herrera of Enlace and the Little Village Gardeners Coalition, and Annamaria Leon of the North Lawndale Greening Committee and Christy Weber Landscapes. They’ll be discussing topics including:

gardening and agriculture as a means to connect with culture, community and roots;
different cultural heritages, connections and history with farming and gardening;
Building and strengthening community through urban gardens and farms, and connecting to broader communities
food production and gardening as a tool for empowerment;
how urban agriculture and its community can respond to recent hostility towards immigration and multiculturalism.

Please join us for this unique afternoon! Bring a dish and seeds to swap! Send your urban garden and farm photos to info@auachicago.org to be included in the slideshow!
AUA 2017 Spring Heritage Gathering Flyer

Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse Annual Plant Sale - Sat. May 20 & Sun. May 21 - 10am-2pm
2017-05-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, 3501 N. Kilbourn, Chicago, IL, 60641, United States
The Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse will offer more than 150 varieties of organically-grown vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings. Customers can expect a wide variety of open-pollinated and heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Other highlights include an assortment of herbs, greens and onions.
This year will feature many new plants selected for city gardening in small spaces and containers. These seedlings are grown with the support of a team of dedicated volunteers who make this Plant Sale possible. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about plant selection and planting. This yearly fundraiser supports the greenhouse and our work to connect kids to nature and healthy foods.
Also Available at the Plant Sale: Perennials and other plants donated by volunteers of the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse, organic compost, and light snacks. In addition, a cookbook compiled by the Friends of Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse will be available for purchase. Look for the Friends of Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse tables just outside the main gate to the gardens.
When: Saturday May 20, and Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 10am-2pm
Where: Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60641 Tel: (773) 685-3351
Cost: Free Admission, Plant Prices between $2 to $5 CASH ONLY
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/Organic-Plant-Sale-at-Kilbourn3/

Lecture: Shade Garden Design
2017-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Monday, May 15 at 7pm
Shade Garden Design
Speaker: Sharon Mettzger, Master Gardener and Educator
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

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Master Urban Farmer Training Program Spring/Summer Session 2017
2017-05-10 17:30 - 20:30 | the Children’s Farm at The Center, 12700 S. Southwest Highway, Palos Park, IL, 60464, United States
The University of Illinois Extension has just announced an Urban Ag training program being held on 12 consecutive Wednesdays from May 10th through July 26th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
Location: the Children’s Farm at The Center, 12700 S. Southwest Highway, Palos Park, IL.
Intended for Entrepreneurs who want to start an urban produce farm operation, Community members in underserved/food insecure communities who want to increase food security and/or establish a community food system project in their neighborhood, Educators who want to bring food production knowledge back to their organization; and new growers interested in more intensive training programs.
Class size is limited to 25 participants in an effort to engage individual participants at greater level. There will be “eyes on” and “hands on” opportunities to incorporate concepts learned during the modules:

Site Selection Issues
Intro to Soils, Testing, Analysis, and Corrections
Composting
Vegetable Production Systems, Planning, and Scheduling
Transplant Production
Season Extension
Insects, Diseases, Weed Management
Integrated Pest Management
Tools, Equipment, and Irrigation
How to Choose a Farm Enterprise
Business Planning, Financial Statements, and Marketing for your Urban Agriculture Project
Bees & Native Pollinators
Food Safety , GAP’s, and Post-Harvest Handling
Keeping it Legal
Fruit Production
Grant Programs and other farm programs/resources

For more information visit: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cook/muft/
UIC Extension Logo
For questions please contact Sarah Batka, Extension Program Coordinator at University of Illinois Extension at sbatka@illinois.edu.

CCGA Annual Spring Vegetable & Flower Distribution - Saturday, May 6
2017-05-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Community gardeners, please join us Saturday, May 6 for our Annual Spring Vegetable and Flower Seedling Distribution!
When: May 6 @ 10:00am
Where: Center for Green Technology @ 445 N. Sacramento in Chicago
Cost: $5 per garden
Please register in advance with Mamie at mamie@uic.edu by sending her your name, the name of your community garden, and your garden address.
Questions? Please email Mamie.
Helpful tip: please bring a couple of boxes for carrying your plants!
For more details, go to http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/2017/04/26/ccga-annual-spri…urday-may-6-10am/

Next CCGA Coordinating Meeting – Tuesday April 25th, 6:30pm at CCGT
2017-04-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
The next CCGA Coordinating Meeting is Tuesday April 25th at 6:30pm at the Chicago Center for Green Technology CCGT at 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. and will be our final planning meeting before our Membership retreat and we will review the recent annual conference.
We’ll meet on the 2nd floor and there is parking behind the building. Bring a snack or drink to share if you can.
All CCGA coordinating meeting minutes are available for you to review on the website. Look under the menu tree at ‘Who We Are’ and then ‘CCGA Organization’ and you will see links here for the coordinating committee documents.
Hope to see you there!

Lecture: Gardens for Small Spaces
2017-04-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Montrose Metra Community Garden – Green & Growing Speaker Series
Presented by Montrose Metra Community Gardens, the Ravenswood Manor Garden Club and Chicago Public Library
At The Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago IL 60625
Monday, April 17 at 7pm
Gardens for Small Spaces
Speaker: Joan Murray, Master Gardener
All Events are free to attend.
RSVP at facebook.com/montrosemetragardens or email montrosemetragardens@gmail.com for more information.

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2017 Spring Annuals Distribution
2017-04-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
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