Green & Growing Fair 2012

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 are 45 minutes, starting at 12, 1, 2, and 3pm. 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. Some extra special items and services will be available including:

  • Miniature Worm Compost bins, just the right size for composting in your kitchen. These bins have been constructed by the Garfield Park Conservatory Green Teens, an ‘After School Matters’ program.
  • The KOCHTERRII™ pepper, on sale for the first time, is hotter than a jalapeño but tamer than a cayenne. This new pepper, bred by Garfield Park Conservatory horticulturists Koch Unni and Terri Reardon, is brand spanking new variety, created right here in Sweet Home Chicago.
  • Get your tools sharp and ready for their future garden ground breaking at Chicago Botanic Garden’s Green Youth Farm’s Tool Sharpening table.
  • Shop our Silent Auction for Gardening Tools and Treasures and help raise money for GreenNet, and also peruse our used gardening book and magazine sale.

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