We had a wonderful time at the Growing Forward Insight Sessions, but we know many people couldn’t make it. So, we’ve put the survey we used at the sessions online, so you can still give us your input!
Gardening websites, blogs, forums and more!
May 11, 2012 By
I had the privilege to listen to dozens of community gardeners from all over Chicago give their feedback and insight at the Growing Forward Insight Sessions two weeks ago at the Green & Growing Fair. Quite a few gardeners lamented the lack of an online networking sites for Chicago’s gardeners. Others wanted more online resources about how to garden. Although there is not (yet) a networking site just for Chicago, and every single Chicago-specific resource is not in one place, I thought I would share what is out there. Here are some of my recommendations, as well as re-posts of lists by others.
General Gardening These sites cover all aspects of gardening, may miss community garden-specific issues.
Mr Brown Thumb is a local Chicago garden blogger. His blog, along with posts on Treehugger, Chicagonow, and more, are always highly informative and interesting. And, of course, his topics are almost always Chicago-specific.
He has also put together two lists of his favorite websites. These are:
While I can’t pretend to have a more comprehensive understanding of the internet gardening world than Mr. Brown Thumb, I have a couple recommendations of my own.
Yourgardenshow.com is like Facebook, but just for gardeners. You can make a profile for you garden, connect with other gardens in your area, or across the country, browse their extensive directory of plants, and more. They also have periodic giveaways and other promotions.
Myfolia.com. I was told about myfolia.com by a gardener at Peterson Garden Project who had been using it to track their Grow 2 Give program. My Folia is a social media website designed to help gardeners plan and track their garden layout and output. It’s tools are fun and useful for any level of gardener.
Community Gardening These sites are specifically for community gardeners. They might cover issues that the above sites miss.
GreenNet Chicago. You’re already at a site with lots of resources! Our Greenpages is the most comprehensive list of gardening resources in Chicago. We also have How-tos, lists of resources, events, a list of community garden websites, and a map of as many community gardens as we know about. Explore our site, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.
American Community Gardening Association. ACGA has loads of resources that can be extremely useful for the management of a community garden. You can also become a member, which provides benefits such as reduced conference fees and newsletters.
Gardening Matters (Twin Cities, Minnesota). GreenNet’s Minnesotan counterpart also has a great resource page with topic-specific guides and tips. One of the better libraries of community-gardening specific resources out there, with everything from how-to guides to academic papers.
Free Inkberry Bushes from Urban Habitat Chicago
May 9, 2012 By
Urban Habitat Chicago will be receiving 2000 attractive bushes as a donation. They will use some on our sites, but are also giving them away to their partner schools and community spaces in need. You can come get yours on the afternoon of May 12th – or after – from Northside College Prep High School (5500 N Kedzie) by signing up here.
These shrubs are balled and burlapped, not in containers, and the size is unknown. Please appropriately prepare your car and yourselves to move and haul away these plants to your school or community garden. You may need two people to move each of these!
Would you like bushes for hedge walls or around the base of a building? To fill or define spaces? These are medium-sized evergreen inkberry bushes, that can handle sun or shade.
Additional Info below.
Inkberry plant Ilex glabra. Here’s some info:
Evergreen shrub (maybe less so in Chicago but it is hardy to Zone 5)
Great plant for winter interest
Versatile: Full sun or full shade
Prefers moist soil
Relatively salt tolerant
Good for borders, foundation planting, mass plantings
4-8′ tall and wide (compact cultivars can be 3-5′ tall and wide)
Good websites for more info:
http://hcs.osu.edu/hcs/tmi/plantlist/il_labra.html
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/i/ilegla/ilegla1.html
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=344
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a233/ilex-glabra-shamrock.aspx (‘Shamrock’ cultivar)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ILGL&mapType=nativity&photoID=ilgl_002_avp.tif (for Native Status map)
Growing Forward Insight Sessions a Success!
April 30, 2012 By
Thank you, everyone, who came out to an Insight Session at Saturday’s Green & Growing Fair. We are so grateful for your opinions, engagement, and thoughtfulness. We had over 60 gardeners come lend their voice to this process over the day. We learned so much, and we hope you had as much fun as we did!
Green & Growing Fair 2012
April 16, 2012 By
The 20th Annual Green & Growing Fair is fast approaching! Put it on your calendar: this year’s fair will be better than ever!
April 28th, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park
Chicago, IL
FREE Admission
Kick off the growing season, and celebrate Earth Day, with the 20th Annual Green & Growing Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory. The fair, sponsored by GreenNet, Chicago’s Urban Greening Network, plunges into spring by hosting a variety of vendors, workshops, demonstrations, and family activities to get your rusty green thumb up and running.
The Green & Growing Fair will be a day stuffed full of exciting activities, events, food, music and more! What you will see at the fair include:
One Seed Chicago
The fair will host the unveiling of One Seed Chicago. This year’s candidates are Herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Chamomile.
Lend Your Voice about the Future of Gardening in Chicago:
Growing Forward Inisght Sessions: This is the first public event of GreenNet’s year-long Growing Forward Iniative. We are looking for your input in this effort to make Chicago’s gardens more sustainable and vibrant. Please lend your voice and expertise at one of four sessions, scheduled throughout the day. The sessions will be from 12-12:45pm, 1-1:45pm, 2-2:45pm and 3-3:45pm. The 2 o’clock session will be conducted in both Spanish and English. RSVP for a session at http://growinforwardchicago.eventbrite.com.
Stop & Grow Stations: Each Stop & Grow Station will feature hands-on activities, information, and good ideas for your garden this year. From water conservation to seed saving, there will be a station for everyone.Click here for a full list of Stop & Grow Stations.
Vendors: Vendors from all over Chicago will be selling their wares. Check out the Green & Growing Fair page for more information.
Workshops: A series of workshops, hosted by CDOT, will be scheduled throughtout the day. The workshops will be:
- Going Wild or Going Native: Knowing Your Weeds and Your Perennials
- Composting and Rain Harvesting: Living Green and Sustainable
- Sustaining Community Spaces
Space is limited. RSVP for a workshop by contacting Hannah Higgins at 312-742-6401.
Click here for more detailed information about each workshop.
Don’t miss the live music! Musicians will be playing throughout the day:
11:00- 12:00 – Chinese Moon Festival Program by Kerry Leung
12:00- 1:00 – Americana and more by Sam Aranson
1:00 – 3:00 – Tarima Son
3:00 – 4:00 – Classical Guitar Spring Music Recital
Finally, food will be provided by Inspiration Kitchens.
What GreenNet Does: Provides resources, connections, and information to community gardeners in and around Chicago.
Location
Contact
Kitchen Sink Composting at the Garfield Park Conservatory
April 11, 2012 By
Kitchen Sink Composting: Indoor Worm Bins for Your Home
Garfield Park Conservatory
Saturday, April 14
10:00am – 12:30pm Cost: $40 per worm bin, includes up to two attendees ($30 for GPCA members & volunteers)
Looking for great compost you can make in your own kitchen? Join us this Saturday morning to learn about the science and practice of worm composting, and leave with your very own kitchen composting bin, complete with starter worms. Pre-registration is required.
For more information: http://www.garfieldconservatory.org/growing_and_green_living.htm
Or click here to register: http://tinyurl.com/7ajqtn8
Register for a plot at the Peterson Garden Project
April 4, 2012 By
Registration is now open for plots with the Peterson Garden Project! They now have 5 sites, so you can probably find one near you. For more information, check out their website.
To learn more about the Peterson Garden Project, watch this video:
8×8 Workday Series
March 30, 2012 By
Looking for a garden to dig into this summer, but don’t know where to begin? The 8×8 community garden workday series is your chance to gain hands-on experience from community garden leaders and help you find a plot to call home. Join neighbors throughout Chicago on Saturday mornings (9:00-12:00), April-November and learn what the community gardening craze is all about.
The 8×8 workday series is open to gardeners of all levels.
RSVP Required, please contact: bwil...@neighbor-space.org or 312-431-9406.
Announcing Growing Forward
March 28, 2012 By
GreenNet, in partnership with gardens, gardeners, garden leaders, and organizations across Chicago, is launching a year-long initiative called Growing Forward.
What is Growing Forward?
Growing Forward is a yearlong process that engages community garden leaders and support organizations to help make Chicago’s community gardening sector more vibrant and resilient. We want to ensure that we are using our resources effectively, communicating and supporting each other, and helping our gardens achieve their highest potential.
Who is Involved?
This process will be led by a Working Group, consisting of leaders from all over Chicago. The general public will be informed and involved every step of the way. We will update our progress on the Growing Forward Blog. We will also have a series of public events throughout the year.
How You Can Get Involved
The first public Growing Forward event will be a series of Insight Sessions held at the 2012 Green & Growing Fair. The Insight Sessions will ask for your insight about how, together, we can more effectively use our garden resources, plant new gardens, communicate and support each other, and help our gardens achieve their highest potential.
Each Insight Sessions will involve a discussion and activity to capture each participant’s feedback and expertise. The sessions will be scheduled throughout the day as part of the Green & Growing Fair 2012, from 12pm-4pm. You need only to sign up for one session.
Please RSVP for a Growing Forward Session at http://growingforwardchicago.eventbrite.com
The Green & Growing Fair is on April 28th at the Garfield Park Conservatory from 11am-4pm. Visit the Green & Growing Fair page for more information.
GreenNet is a coalition of nonprofit organizations and public agencies committed to improving the quality, amount, use, and wide geographic distribution of sustainable, green open space in the City of Chicago.