Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse and Community Garden

Got Dirt? Growing Healthy Kids

Volunteer Training Opportunity at Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse

Saturday, February 27; 10 am – Noon

Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse

3501 N. Kilbourn, Chicago

Presented by Illinois Nutrition Education and Training Program (Illinois NET) - Training programs to initiate and enhance your school's local wellness policy 

Kids love getting dirty.  Learn how you can use a garden project to bring core subjects alive, encourage healthy eating and increase physical activity.  The Got Dirt? program will help participants initiate a successful garden project at a child care, park or  school site. Successful projects will be highlighted. This training is designed for serving children PreK – Grade 6.

 

This training is open to all Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse volunteers as well as Master Gardeners or Chicago Park District volunteers who are working with their local school or park garden.

 

Please register in advance at kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistrict.com. If you are working with another garden, please specify the garden name and location.

This is a wonderful opportunity, not to be missed!

 

Winter 2010 Organic Gardening Series

"Soil is the substance of transformation."  -Carol Williams

Already thinking about what you might be growing in the spring? Our Winter Organic Gardening classes are a great way to prepare for spring.  Sign up for the one that interests you or take the whole series to expand your knowledge of organic, sustainable practices and native plants.  We look forward to seeing you!

Organic Vegetable Gardening Part II
Anna Viertel, Urban Farmer at Near North Montessori School
Saturday, January 23rd
10am-Noon;  Fee: $20  

Now that you have learned to build a strong foundation for your sustainable garden, it’s time to discuss maximizing the productivity of your garden. In this class, Anna Viertel will discuss design and planting techniques to help reduce pests and disease while simultaneously encouraging a healthy, high yield garden both above and below the ground. Topics will include companion planting, crop rotation, soil maintenance, season extension, and permaculture.

Seed Starting Basics
Nancy Benjamin, Master Gardener
Saturday, February 13th
10am- Noon;  Fee: $20 

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.

Early Spring Greens
Bill Shores, Shores Garden Consulting, Inc.
Wednesday, February 24th
6:30-8:00pm;  Fee: $20  

Come learn about the colorful and tasty world of early spring greens. Urban grower Bill Shores will present a slide show and discussion of how to get a jump start on the growing season with salad and braising greens. Simple season extension techniques and the best greens for early planting will be discussed. Go home inspired and ready to garden!  

Rain Barrels and Rain Gardening
Cathy Breitenbach, Chicago Park District
Sarah Abu-Absi, Chicago Department of Environment
Saturday, March 13th
10am -Noon;  Fee: $20  

Interested in harvesting rainwater for your garden with a rain barrel or cistern? How about installing a basic rain garden in your yard? Cathy Breitenbach from the Chicago Park District and Sarah Abu-Absi from the Chicago Department of Environment will discuss the benefits of using rainwater for your garden. Participants will receive a rebate form from the City of Chicago to receive a $30 discount on a rain barrel. 

Landscaping with Native Plants
Rebecca Schillo, Chicago Park District
Saturday, March 27th
10am-Noon;  Fee: $20  

Landscaping with native plants is creating a new buzz in the gardening world! Native landscapes create backyard habitat for birds and butterflies while offering gardeners unique, beautiful plant selections. Native habitats require less water, fertilizer, and energy to maintain than their ornamental counterparts and can help increase stormwater infiltration and carbon sequestration.   In this class, Becky Schillo of the Chicago Park District, will discuss practical design and planting techniques for introducing natives into the home landscape. Topics will include site considerations for native landscaping, appropriate plant selection, basics of maintaining native landscapes, and where to find native plants in the Chicago area.

For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Kirsten Akre:
Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse
3501 N. Kilbourn Chicago, IL
(773) 685 - 3351