Come to the Greencorps Chicago Seed Give-Away!
9 AM – Noon on Saturday, March 24th
Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.

Greencorps Chicago would like to share our remaining stock of seeds with our certified community gardening groups. Unlike previous events, there is no registration card, just stop by CCGT between 9:00am and noon to say hello, bring seeds to share if you have them, and help us clear out our stock. Please note that seed quantities are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Urban Habitat Chicago kicks off the gardening season with the first session of their Urban Habitat Chicago Institute. They are calling the class UCHi 201 Spring Production. Check out the class description and registration information here.

Find all their classes and events here.

Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse presents a Gardening Exchange Event
Saturday, March 10 from 11-4 pm

Jump start your spring at Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse’s second annual Gardening Exchange Event. Bring your friends and connect with your neighbors at this community event and fundraiser.

You will have the opportunity to take basic organic gardening classes and find gently used gardening and cooking tools at bargain prices. All proceeds will support Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse’s programs that connect kids to nature and healthy foods. Purchases can be made with cash and checks, no credit cards will be accepted.

Classes offered throughout the day:
Free Gardening Demonstrations

Worm Composting, Winter Sowing, Lawn to Lake Water Model Demonstration, High Tunnel Construction, Soil Block Demonstration

Let’s Start Growing Workshops $20 for series(cash only)

Grow Veggies Grow
Seneca Kern, We Farm America
1:15-2:00

Want to get started growing your own fresh organic produce here in the city, but don’t know where to begin? WeFarm America will provide the basic tools and resources to get you started safely and confidently outdoors or indoors, backyard, porch or balcony.

Crop Diversity In Gardens
Dave Snyder, Uncommon Grounds Rooftop Gardener
2:15-3:00
Across the world, there has been a dramatic decrease in crop varieties available, but home gardeners can make a difference. This workshop provides a brief overview of the crisis and uses it as a framework for ways of planning your home or community garden plot.

Landscaping with Native Plants
Rebecca Schillo, Ecologist
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.

Native plants are well-adapted to our region’s soils and climate making them a lower-maintenance, more environmentally-friendly choice than many of their ornamental counterparts. Native plants can also provide crucial habitat for our birds, butterflies, and pollinators. Come discover more about the complex interactions between native plants and insects and the difference between planting an ornamental species like butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.) and a native species like butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Garden Exchange Event
Either donate your gently used tools or books, or come find bargains for your garden.

List of Items Accepted for Gardening Exchange Event
Gardening Supplies
Pots
Hand Tools
Shovels, Rakes, Pitchforks
Pruners and Loppers
Garden Gloves
Extra Seeds
Hardscape materials
Knee pads
Trellises
Sprinklers
Hoses
Watering Cans
Vases
Cooking Supplies
Mason Jars
Canning Equipment
Food Preservation Equipment
Books & Magazines
Gardening Books & Magazines
Nature/Science Books & Magazines
Cookbooks & Culinary Magazines

When and How to drop off?
Bring your gently used gardening and cooking supplies to Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse at 3501 N. Kilbourn during the following times listed below.

Drop off Times
Donations can be dropped off at the Kilbourn Park Field house Monday – Friday from 9 am – 9 pm during the weeks of February 28-March 9. Kilbourn Park is located at 3501 N. Kilbourn. Donations can be placed inside side door of alley way. Come into the fieldhouse to have staff open door. If greenhouse is open, feel free to deliver directly to greenhouse.

The 2012 schedule is now available. All their classes are listed at http://www.chicagobotanic.org/school/index.php.
Classes that gardeners specifically might be interested in:
Horticulture and Gardening
Garden and Landscape Design
Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Gardening

Chicago Cares has a wonderful post about volunteering in gardens. Read it here!

Registration is now open for Openlands HomeGrown Chicago Community Food Garden Network Training class starting March 24th.

HomeGrown Chicago gives Chicago residents training and support for growing healthy food in community vegetable gardens. Taught by experienced community garden organizers and gardening experts,

HomeGrown’s 4 week course will teach your garden group how to:

• Establish a healthy organization
• Find and secure land for your garden
• Design your garden
• Grow vegetables organically
• Build garden structures such as raised beds and trellises
• Maintain a healthy garden and organization, with guidance from successful allotment gardeners

Additionally, participants will receive:
A manual that will help guide them through the process of organizing, designing, and maintaining their garden
Membership in the Homegrown Chicago Food Garden Network, to communicate and share experiences, ideas, and info with one another and a modest HomeGrown Chicago sign for your garden
Help with lumber, soil, and other materials for initial installation through application for a HomeGrown Mini grant at the end of the class.

Registration is now open and seats are limited. Please click on this link for more information: http://www.openlands.org/community-greening/projects/564-homegrown-chicago.html or contact Openlands Community Garden Organizer, Julie Samuels at jsam...@openlands.org or by phone at 312-863-6256.

Gardeners all over Chicago are prepping for spring by holding seed swaps. Here is a schedule of all the seed swaps we’ve heard of.

Seed swap and potluck at the Eco Rooftop Garden in Pilsen
Sunday Feb 26, 2012 2pm-5pm
@ the Eco Collective, in Pilsen
RSVP for the exact address
$5 donation (benefits Eco Rooftop garden)
Visit www.ecorooftop.org for more information.

Demystifying Heirloom Gardening: Seed Swap, Lecture and Book Signing at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Sunday, February 26, 2-5pm
2-3pm: Lecture and book signing by Diane Ott Whealy
3-5pm: Seed Swap
Go to http://www.chicagobotanic.org/calendar/event/demystifying_heirloom_gardening for more information.

Seed Swap at the Jane Addams Hull House Museum
March 4, 2-6 pm

Peterson Garden Project’s Seed Swap
March 4, 2-5pm at Swedish Covenant Hospital’s Galter Pavilion, Second Floor, 5140 N. California.
Check out www.petersongarden.org for more information.

The Great Chicago Seed Swap, hosted by Mr. Brown Thumb at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show
Sunday, March 11th at Navy Pier.
Read his blog post for more information.

Seed starting workshop tomorrow, Saturday February 18th at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse.
Go to http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/seed-starting/ for more details.

From their website: 12:00 PM – 02:00 PM

Kilbourn Greenhouse
3501 N. Kilbourn Ave
Chicago, IL , 60641

773.685.3359

Master Gardener and organic advocate Nancy Benjamin will show you the basics of seed starting. Discover seed sources, trays, growing mediums, lights as well as germination tips and times for a whole variety of vegetables and flowers.

Fees: $10 per person

Age Range: All Ages

Craving unique vegetables? Want those old fashioned French marigolds? Like the delicate herb chervil? Want to show your children the wonders of plants? Sometimes, to get the plants you want–when you want them–you just have to grow them yourself. Master Gardener and organic advocate Nancy Benjamin will show you the basics of seed starting. Discover seed sources, trays, growing mediums, lights as well as germination tips and times for a whole variety of vegetables and flowers

Winter is for seed swaps, potlucks, watching documentaries and taking classes:

Seed swap and potluck at the Eco Rooftop Garden in Pilsen
Sunday Feb 26, 2012 2pm-5pm
@ the Eco Collective, in Pilsen
RSVP for the exact address
$5 donation (benefits Eco Rooftop garden)
Visit www.ecorooftop.org for more information.

Seed Swap at the Jane Addams Hull House Museum
March 4, 2-6 pm

Seed Swap, hosted by Mr. Brown Thumb at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show
Sunday, March 11th at Navy Pier.

Screening of Greenhorns at the Hideout hosted by Advocates for Urban Agriculture
Sunday, February 12
Screening at 7:00PM
Panel from about 8:30-9
Mixer at 9
The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave, most easily accessed by turning east
onto Wabansia from Elston)
Chicago, IL
$5.00 admission

The UIC Extension’s Good Ag Practices for Safe Produce class
To register, visit their website.
Date: February 28, 2012 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA)
meeting room Dixie Highway & 174th
1904 West 174th Street
East Hazel Crest, IL 60429 (accessible by METRA train)

Openlands’ Spring 2012 TreeKeepers classes begin March 3
Click here for more information.