Dear ACGA listserv, As it seems Chicago hasn't been active on the listserv of late, I thought I should give the national community and hopefully a few local gardeners an update on greening in the second city.
GreenNet Chicago * Community greening coalition for Chicago http://www.greennetchicago.org/ -Sustainability Retreat * Jan. 28 * North Park Village Nature Center * Join community gardening advocates to discuss the difficulties is sustaining communities around gardens and gardens around communities. -Gardening Safely in Urban Soils * Feb. 19 * Chicago Center for Green Technology * Researchers and horticulturists will present current findings, contamination history and best practices for gardening in urban soils. -Mini-Grant Applications * Due March 18 * Apply for financial assistance with Chicago community gardens. -Green and Growing Fair and Workshops * April 30 * Garfield Park Conservatory * 13th Annual Urban Gardening Fair featuring workshops, exhibits, green product vendors, children's activities, hands-on demos, silent auction and the opening day for the Garfield Market. Greencorps Chicago * Job training and community gardening program of City of Chicago Dept. of Environment -Comprehensive Assistance * Applications due Jan. * Receive installation assistance and material support -Distribution Days * Seed Distribution Day, April 2 * More than 300 community groups across the City of Chicago take advantage of the FREE materials offered by Greencorps Chicago: seeds, annuals and vegetables, perennials and bulbs. -Job Training Program * Training starts March 14 Chicago Botanic Garden Since 1980, the Garden has been involved in more than 200 community gardens, and 30 more were developed or enhanced in 2004. Due to a loss of federal funding, the Neighborhood Gardens program will take a hiatus during 2005. See website for details on school gardening program. Neighborspace * Urban land trust Currently Owns 44 sites, Holds long-term leases for an additional 4 sites, and Sites are located in 31 wards across the City of Chicago. Over 30 additional sites are currently in the review or acquisition process. Openlands Project * Dedicated to preserving and enhancing public open space in northeastern Illinois. -Homegrown Chicago * Supports Chicagos collective of urban farmers who tend more than two dozen community and backyard gardens are residents of the Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, Austin, East Garfield Park, Logan Square, and West Town neighborhoods on Chicagos West Side. -Green Teacher Network * Teacher training including: informative seminars, networking opportunities, newsletters with up-to-date information, as well as lesson plans. The Green Teacher Network is a collaboration between Openlands Project, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Other workshops * Building Urban Gardens (B.U.G.s) and Treekeepers Chicago Park District Harvest Garden Program Teaches children how to start a garden and keep it growing, how to harvest and use the produce, and then how to "put the garden to bed" for the winter. Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance The mission of the Alliance is to establish Garfield Park Conservatory as the city's premier destination for studying plant science and practicing horticulture. Weekly programs in the Urban Demonstration Garden. Heifer International, Midwest Program Non-profit community development organization that by providing livestock, plants and training to low-income communities promotes social, environmental and economic sustainability. Growing Home Provides job training and creates employment opportunities for homeless and low-income people in Chicago, within the context of an organic agriculture business. Growing Power Growing Power: a nationally recognized leader in urban agriculture, which provides hands-on training and technical support for community projects. Archi-treasures Uses participatory design-and-build processes to put the community in charge of creating built environments that express individuality and respond to the community needs University of Illinois Extension Master Gardening Program Urban Agriculture Symposium * Jan. 29 * Garfield Park Conservatory Friends of the Parks Park advocacy organization, dedicated to preserving, protecting, and improving Chicago's parks and forest preserves for all citizens. -Seed Grants * Application due Feb. 22 -Adopt a Park Program Feel free to direct any questions to me, Aaron Durnbaugh (GreenNet and Greencorps) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. 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