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Click here to view the flyer.
Click here to view the application.

The program is aimed at providing to Community Gardens in Cook County a boost, through grant
dollars, for the development and enhancement of the garden. Grant dollars not only can be used to
purchase plant materials, seeds, and gardening supplies/materials but also, local farm producers
stand ready to assist Urban Gardens through supplies, expertise, and materials.

The Cookfresh Cook County grant program offers four $300.00 grants to support urban
agriculturists seeking assistance with an urban garden. The application process is open from
January 1, 2012 through February 29th, 2012. Completed applications must be postmarked by
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012. Applications may be submitted to Cook County Farm Bureau,
6438 Joliet Road, Countryside, Il 60525, email: ccfb@cookcfb.org or Fax: 708‐579‐6056.

Items to consider…

• Grants to Urban Gardens will receive $300 in Cook County Farm
  Bureau Cookfresh “Funds” redeemable at various local farm market
  stands and member outlets for use during the 2012 garden season.
• Urban Gardens receiving a grant will be asked to post a sign
  indicating that the “Urban Garden is supported by Cook County Farm
  Bureau’s Cookfresh program.”
• The judging committee is volunteers from the Commodities/
  Marketing Team that farm or are farm advocates.

Openlands runs both of these wonderful gardening courses.

Home Grown Chicago is a course for groups of gardeners interested in starting or improving their garden. Click here for more information and to register. Home Grown Chicago classes begin March 24.

BUGs (Building Urban Gardens) teaches the basics of urban gardening. Click here for more information and the registration form BUGs classes begin January 28.

Home Grown Chicago Workshop topics:

• Workshop 1- March 24, 2012 – 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet successful allotment gardeners and learn the history of this movement. Learn how to find, test and secure land for your garden.
• Workshop 2- March 31, 2012 – 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Learn how to establish a healthy organization as the first step to ensure that the garden is run effectively, cooperatively and sustainably.
• Workshop 3- April 7, 2012 – 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Designing the garden, and growing vegetables organically
• Workshop 4- April 14, 2012 – 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. . Hands-on demonstrations of building & installing garden structures such as raised beds & trellises in a garden

BUGs topics include:

• Planning and Designing Your Ecological/Organic Garden
• The Basis of an Organic Garden: Healthy Soil and Composting
• Vegetables for Your Beautiful, Edible Garden
• Perennials and Herbs for Diversity and Flavor!
• Insects and Weeds: A Place for Everything & Everything in its Place
• Container and Raised Bed Gardening

KAM Isaiah Israel is holding their 3rd Annual Sustainibility Weekend January 13-15. The program is titled “From Plant to Plate: Grow Local as Social Action” and has a wonderful lineup of workshops and speakers. Check it out! Go to www.kamii.org for more information. All events will be held at KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, 1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd, Chicago.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, January 13

8:00 p.m. – Shabbat Service

9:00 p.m. – “Health and Food Justice: Observations from the South Side”
Presentation by Doriane C. Miller, M.D., Director, Center for Community Health and Vitality, University of Chicago Medical Center

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Saturday, January 14
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion:
“From Plant to Plate – Distribution of Locally Grown Food”
Moderator: Robert Nevel
Panel: Ken Dunn, Seneca Kern, Doriane C. Miller, M.D., Donna Peace, Deb Pratt, Connie Spreen, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning graduate students with Professor Don Hanlon

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Reception

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Sunday, January 15
11:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Workshops:
“From Plant to Plate – Practical Learning”

Session 1 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

The Making and Tasting of Sustainable Coffee
with Rich Futrell

A Brief Introduction to Fruit Trees
with Dave Snyder

Mindfulness Yoga – Uniting Breath, Body, and Mind
(dress to de-stress)
with Carol Horton

Safe Soils for Healthy Gardens
with Mark Moxley

Lunch (no charge) – 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Cooking Demo and Tasting
with Samm Petrichos of Spice, plus food from local vendors and Counter Culture Coffee

Session 2 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.

Guerrilla Grafting
with Breanne Heath

Drip Irrigation for Urban Gardens
with Mark Moxley

Preserving Summer’s Bounty – Making Meyer Lemon Marmalade in January
with Liv Leader in the kitchen

Indoor Composting
with Amber Gribben

Session 3 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.

Aquaponics
with Alex Poltorak

Meditation
with Tal Yifat

Preserving Summer’s Bounty – Making Meyer Lemon Marmalade in January (cont’d.)
with Liv Leader in the kitchen

Living on the Wedge: Wisconsin Artisan Cheesemakers
with Mari Coyne

Time to Get DIRTY – Build a Garden, Grow Food, Connect to Your Community
with Seneca Kern

Session 4 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.

What to Grow to Fill Your Plate
with Debra Hammond

Beekeeping in Chicago
with Michael Thompson

Growing Support for Your Garden
with Jim Bloom

Unity Gardens: Growing Food, Growing Health, Growing Community
with Sara Stewart and Mitch Yaciw

Gentle Yoga (dress to de-stress)
with Meredith Haggerty