Community Garden Happenings

————————————————————————————————————————————————

TomatoFest Closing Party

Benefits N. Lawndale Garden –Sunday, Sept. 26th

This summer Slow Food Chicago teamed up with Neighborspace, Chicago Honey Co-op and the North Lawndale Greening Committee to transform a vacant lot into a small farm. The project, called preSERVE, is the beneficiary of Custom House Tavern’s TomatoFest closing party! 

From 1:00-3:30pm, chefs from some of Chicago’s most passionate farm-to-table establishments will prepare a dish inspired by the classic BLT.  Guests will sample the delicious offerings as well as sipping delicious, tomato friendly wines. 

There will be two winners named selected by popular vote (that’s you) and a critic’s choice selected by a panel of celebrated foodies.  The cost is $25 at the door.  Custom House Tavern is located at 500 S. Dearborn.  For more information, visit www.slowfoodchicago.org

 ————————————————————————————————————————————————

GreenNet’s Annual

Community Gardener Networking Potluck

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Garfield Park Conservatory

In the Jensen Room

300 North Central Park Avenue

Potluck Agenda:

5:30 – Registration (Free!)

6:00 – Welcome and Dinner

6:30 – Community Gardeners of the Year Awards & Introductions

6:45 – Panel Presentation and Discussion of Resources for Community

Gardens

7:30 – Door Prize Raffle

7:45 – Potluck Goodbyes until next year!

Please bring photos, garden stories, and a dish to share!

We suggest that if your last name starts with:

A-G Bring salad or appetizer

H-O Bring a main dish

P-Z Bring a dessert

Or, just bring your favorite dish and be sure to put your name on

your serving dishes and spoons.

Also, to reduce waste, please bring your own beverage container

For information call the Greennet Hotline at 773/251-7515

http://www.greenetchicago.org

(Gardener of the Year Nomination Form can be downloaded at www.greennetchicago.org)

Community Gardener of the Year

It’s that time of the year again! GreenNet is asking all Chicago community & school gardeners, and gardening organizations to nominate people who deserve to be named GreenNet’s “Community Gardener of the Year” for 2010! The persons selected will be honored at the annual Community Gardener Networking Potluck on November 10, 2010 at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

If there is someone in your gardening organization who has gone out of his or her way to get the garden going and keep it looking good, or has done other things to make your community garden successful, please fill in the short form below and mail it to Meredith Sessions, WRD Environmental, 445 N. Sacramento Ave., #201, Chicago IL 60612 or fax it: (773)722-9875 or email it to: GreenNetChicago@GreenNetChicago.org. Mailed nominations must be postmarked by October 22, 2010. Emails and faxes must be received by that date.

Community Youth Gardener of the Year

GreenNet recognizes a special youth gardener every year who has brought vim, vigor, and vitality to Chicago’s community gardens. The youth selected will be honored at the annual Community Gardener Networking Potluck on November 10th, 2010 at the Garfield Park Conservatory. (NOTE: Nominators can honor both a youth and an adult Community Gardener of the Year.)

If there is a youth gardening participant in your gardening organization who has gone out of his or her way to get the garden going and keep it looking good, or has done other things to make your community garden successful, please fill in the short form below and send it back to Meredith Sessions, WRD Environmental, 445 N. Sacramento Ave., #201, Chicago IL 60612 or fax it: (773)722-9875 or email it to: GreenNetChicago@GreenNetChicago.org. Mailed nominations must be postmarked by October 22, 2010. Emails and faxes must be received by that date.

————————————————————————————————————————————————

Greencorp Bulb Distribution Day – Saturday, Oct 23

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.  In order to participate in the Oct 23rd Bulb Distribution day you must pre-register by Oct 15th.

 The distribution locations for bulbs are:

• North:   North Park Village Nature Center: 5801 N. Pulaski (4000 West)
• Central:Chicago Center for Green Technology: 445 N. Sacramento (3000 West)
• South:  St. Ailbe’s Church: 9100 S. Stoney Island (1600 East)

 To be eligible for this give-away event, a community group must:

1.     Plant all Greencorps-donated materials in a public space

2.     Complete a registration form (check Greencorp’s website soon for registration materials)

3.     Have a completed certification form and attachments on file with Greencorps Chicago

Community Garden Happenings

At Root Riot Harambee’s monthly meeting we discussed the possibility of obtaining a greenhouse or a “Hoop House”.  The Greater Englewood Garden Association, GEGA, a collective of gardens in vacant lots, schools, and churches, has a “Hoop House”.  For anyone interested, the next GEGA meeting is this Saturday, September 11^th at 10:00 – 11:30 am in the West Englewood Library, 1745 W. 63^rd Street.  Here is a link to a tour:  Greater-Englewood-Community-Garden-Tour.

Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago is hosting its annual County Fair and Harvest Showcase on Saturday September 18, 2010.  All community gardeners are invited to participate.  Unfortunately, this date conflicts with our Harvest Festival so Root Riot as an organization will not be participating this year.  Further info is available through the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Advocates for Urban Agriculture Fall Meeting Wednesday, September 29th!   Please join us for the Fall Members Meeting. We will have insightful speakers discussing land use issues in the city, a community slideshow of  greening, and, as usual, one heck of a potluck!

WHEN:  Wednesday, September 29, 5:30-8:00 PM

WHERE: Garfield Park Conservatory, Jensen Room –   300 N. Central Park Avenue

Root-Riot Harvest Fest, Sept 18

Our first Harvest Festival will be Saturday September 18, 2010 from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  We encourage all members and their families of both Root Riot Oak Park and Root Riot Harambee to attend what is expected to be a very festive and fun event.  The “Friends of Root Riot” are also invited to attend. This is an opportunity for members of both gardens to meet, visit each other’s gardens, share stories, gardening tips, and celebrate. Related activities and games are scheduled for the children.

The festival will be hosted by both gardens.  Root Riot Harambee will host from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Root Riot Oak Park will host from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

As an end of year celebration, we are asking everyone to bring a refreshment, dish, or treat to their garden. While we will have plates and silverware, please consider simple to serve and eat items. Also, if made with items from your garden beds, perhaps a few copies of your receipe to share with others would be nice to have as well.

For each garden, if your First name begins with A-J Please bring a refreshment. For K-Z please bring a treat or dish. (If you have a special something that you must bring please share it with us independent of your first initial.)

Folks who are musically inclinde and would like to share their gift, please bring your talents and instruments to either of the gardens during the harvest fest.

An evite will be sent-out where people can say what they are bringing so there is not to much duplication.

Amy or Seamus will identify a contact person to coordinate this effort to assure an ample supply of refreshments. Please, let us know how you are going to participate, and what questions you have.

PLEASE COME!