Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse and Community Garden

Serrano Surprise

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper;
A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
Where’s the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?"  

--  Mother Goose

Thanks to all who joined us for the fun and festivities at our annual Harvest Festival.  Despite the monsoon rains, over 60 folks came out to learn about canning tomatoes, harvesting honey, making corn husk dolls and more.  

Don't forget to register for our upcoming series of classes!  To receive a class reminder a week in advance, you may register with our calendar on 30 Boxes (see above right of this blog).

In the meantime, enjoy this fantastic dish from fellow community gardener Rich Unger.  He claims it isn't that hot, but that's for you to decide.  This writer loves it on pita bread with hummus to cool some of the heat.

Serrano Surprise

 

Blend in a Food processor till smooth:

 

½ lb         Red ripe Serrano chili peppers

½ C      Olive Oil

 1 C         Fresh Basil leaves (tightly packed)

 1       Large Vidalia Onion (1/2 lb) 

½ tsp Caraway seed (fine ground)

2 tsp  Cumin seed (toasted then ground)

2 Tbs  Coriander seed ( toasted then ground)

 1       Star Anise (ground)

 5       Black Peppermint leaves (diced)

 1 tsp  Habanero Chili paste

 4          Garlic cloves (diced)

¼ C    Rice Vinegar

 2 tsp  Balsamic Vinegar

 

then stir in

  1      Red Bell Pepper (minced)

 

Equals approximately 3 fluid cups

Can be stored up to 3 months refrigerated.

© 2008 RjU

harvest festival 2008

"Always do your best.  What you plant now, you will harvest later." --  Og Mandino

Harvest Festival 2008 - Saturday, September 13th from 1-4pm

A celebration of the summer garden for the entire family! While enjoying the gardens and activities come and learn more about organic gardening technique and cooking from its harvest. The entire family will enjoy a variety of activities from take home crafts, storytelling, garden yoga, and face painting.

Please note - in the event of rain the festival will move indoors to the Kilbourn Park fieldhouse.  

Fall 2008 Organic Gardening Series - Adults

"All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so." -- Joseph Joubert 

The adult fall organic gardening program is offered as a series of 7 classes for $100 or $20 per class. Register for the 7 week series online at the Chicago Park District. Individual program registration is available at the fieldhouse. No checks are accepted the week prior to class. Pre-registration is highly recommended. Classes are subject to cancellation based upon registration.

These classes are for adults 18 & over. 

Fall Organic Vegetable Garden 

Saturday, September 27 

10 am –Noon 

Anna Viertel, Chicago Botanic Gardens 

Fee: $20 or $100 for series 

Participate in a discussion about managing your backyard landscape with edible organic production in mind. Learn how sustainable framing practices make growing food crops inn alternative, urban spaces accessible and productive. With the coming fall season in mind, explore strategies for lengthening your growing season with tips on season extension, regionally hearty varieties, and activities for the fall garden. 

Organic Lawn Care 

Saturday, October 4 

10 am – Noon 

Tim Decker, Greenway Services Fee: 

$20 or $100 for series 

Does your lawn have a chemical addiction? Break the habit with Tim Decker from Greenway Services as he discusses techniques and materials available to give you the healthy lawn you crave without the chemicals many homeowners are concerned about. We’ll hit topics such as lawn culture, proper turf selection, fertilizers, and weed control but additionally we’ll explore ways homeowners can improve their soil quality by using materials that often end up in the waste stream. Join us for organics and beyond!! 

Rain Gardens and Why They Are Important 

Saturday, October 11 

10 am – Noon 

Sue Cubberly, Rain Garden Network 

Fee $20 for $100 for series Learn 

how to install a rain garden and why rain garden concepts are important. Sue Cubberly is the owner of Rain Garden Network. This company supplies information and educational resources to homeowners to protect the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams from pollution and the damage done by rainwater runoff. 

Fruit Tree Basics

Saturday, October 18

9 am – 11 am 

Rico Montenegro, Fruit Tree Planting Foundation 

Fee: Free 

Join the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) for an interactive class on fruit tree basics, including planting, pruning, organic troubleshooting, aftercare, and restoring unproductive trees. FTPF’s certified arborist; Rico Montenegro will lead a lesson that will cater to enthusiasts of all levels and backgrounds. Hands-on activities will include group fruit tree planting exercises. Come one, come all, rain or shine!! Join us after the class to help plant KPOG’s new orchard!!! 

Fall Pruning and Cleanup for the Ornamental Garden 

Saturday, November 1 

10 am – Noon 

Laury Lewis, Foliage Fantasies 

Fee: $20 or $100 series 

This class will discuss proper pruning techniques for the fall and winter that will enhance the appearance of trees and shrubs for the following season. Fall garden clean-up will include what to do with herbaceous perennials, how to create winter interest in the garden and as well as how to improve the soil. This will be a hands on program, bring your hand pruners. 

Intensive Urban Composting Systems 

Saturday, November 8 

10 am – Noon 

Bill Shores, Urban Market Farmer 

Fee: $20 or $100 series 

Composting is the basis of organic gardening. Learn how to reduce waste and produce high quality compost in your own backyard, deck, or basement. This class will discuss and look at a variety of options for producing compost from leaves, garden trimmings, food waste, cardboard and paper and more. Learn about vessel composting, hot and cold piles, and the science of composting so you can become a compost expert and share your knowledge with your friends and neighbors! 

Organic Oyster Mushroom Cultivation 

Saturday, November 15 

10 am – Noon 

Robert Lee, Chicago Master Gardener 

Fee: $20 or $100 series 

Gardening in your basement or in a pile of wood chips? Sure! Edible gourmet mushrooms can be grown by most anyone with a desire to do so. In this class you’ll learn how to get started growing mushrooms that are healthy and delicious in your home, basement, garage, or in a pile of wood mulch in your back yard. Mushrooms turn wood and straw into food and compost.

take a tour

"More things grow in the garden than the gardener sows." -- Spanish Proverb

Welcome to Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse and Community Gardens! Join us as we take a virtual tour.

During the summer we host family programming in our children's garden every Wednesday evening from 6-8pm and Saturday mornings from 10am to noon.

Our prairie garden features many native wildflowers. Visit us to learn more about prairie flowers and how you may incorporate them into your own garden.

The community gardens were started in the fall of 2006 and already we are expanding to include more 5 garden beds. Individual gardeners are responsible for the planting and maintaining of these gardens following strict organic practices. Several of the beds are planted and maintained by neighborhood children involved in Kilbourn Park gardening programs.

One can never have enough homegrown tomatoes!

The Three Sister Garden follows an ancient farming technique using an intercropping system.

Plants aren't just for food and beauty. This garden features a number of plants traditionally cultivated for natural dyes.

Following our mission of organic and ecological practices, we have recently installed a rain cistern.

We invite you to visit the greenhouse and gardens in person and to take one of our many informative classes. To learn more call (773) 685-3359. We are located on the northwest side of Chicago at 3501 Kilbourn (near the intersection of Addison and Milwaukee).

Welcome to KPOG!

"He who plants a garden plants happiness." - Proverb

Welcome to the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse and Community Garden. We are a community of gardeners who volunteer our time to plant a bit of organic beauty on the northwest side of Chicago.

As our greenhouse and garden is organic, we don't use chemical fertilizers or weed killers - just lots of compost, perspiration and organic know-how. If you don't know anything about organic gardening or want to learn more, please join us. Become a fellow volunteer.

The greenhouse and garden is open to the public every Wednesday evening from 6-8pm and Saturday mornings from 10am - noon. Family activities are planned throughout the summer.

* posted by Lindsay