Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2020

To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/education or call (847) 835-6801. 67 Urban Agriculture Aquaponics Participants will learn the fundamental principles of aquaponics production as well as tips and tricks for building an at-home or small-scale aquaponics system. This course will include hands-on work with the nursery system and the 52,000-gallon aquaponics production system. Andy McGhee, Aquaponics specialist Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturdays, March 21 or December 12, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Small Farm Tools This class is a deep dive into the latest farm tools for creating efficiency and optimal growing in your garden or on the farm. There will be a discussion about tool and equipment modifications for farmers and gardeners of different abilities and physical needs. We will discuss how to gauge the perfect timing for seeding your crops plus soil preparation and assessments. Natasha Coleman, Windy City Harvest coordi- nator, and Kay Knight, horticultural therapist Rodeo Farm, 2600 West 26th Street, Chicago Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Edible Landscapes Featuring Containers Transform a small space into a beautiful and functional garden. This class will show you the best practices for keeping edible and ornamental plants happy and healthy in your container garden. It includes hands-on work and an informative lecture with plenty of time for questions. Kris De la Torre, Windy City Harvest coordinator Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturday, May 16, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cut Flower and Flower Arranging Arranging locally grown flowers is both an art and a savvy business plan. Learn about local flower farmers and the businesses that celebrate their products. Spend the afternoon working on your own bouquets with the guid- ance of seasoned professionals. Elise Robison, Patchwork Farms Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturday, June 13, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cold-Season Growing: September, October & November Get growing all year round! This is a technical training course intended for aspiring growers interested in learning best-practice season-ex- tension techniques. It will combine classroom and hands-on work to prepare students to keep growing as the months get colder. It will involve farm work activities in all weather con- ditions. Students are expected to work indoors and outdoors. Paul Krysik, Windy City Harvest coordinator Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Avenue, Chicago Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. How to Build and Design a Wash- pack Station Building a great washpack on your farm site can help you increase efficiency and reduce waste while you process the bounty of a harvest. Learn about the materials, design, and construction process for Windy City Harvest farm sites all over the city. Season after season, we improve and refine our build strategy over multiple seasons so every site has a functional washpack that also meets food safety require- ments for urban agriculture. Rafael Arredondo, Windy City Harvest production manager PCC Austin, 5425 Lake Street, Chicago Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Canning, Dehydrating, and Jams Take some of your favorite summer crops and learn to preserve them for the winter months. This hands-on class will cover crop seasonality, food safety, and popular food-preservation techniques. Put your knowledge to work by preserving local fruit and vegetables to take home. TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturday, October 3, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Vinegars, Shrubs, and Kombucha In this hands-on class, we will discuss how to use the abundance from the farm for vinegars, shrubs, and kombucha. Put your knowledge to work by starting your fermentation to take home. TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturday, October 17, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fermenting Krauts, Pickles, and Kimchi Fermented foods are both healthy and a great way to reduce food waste. Join this hands- on class to learn about different types of fermentation. You will quickly put your new knowledge into action by preparing different fermentations to taste and take home with you. TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturday, December 5, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Aquaponics Intensive This course is for individuals seriously consid- ering or already in the process of aquaponic food production on a commercial scale. This three-day course is a comprehensive look at the design and build-out of a system, water quality, controlled-environment growing, daily operations, and growing techniques. Instruc- tion will include hands-on work and lectures. Certificate course Andy McGhee, Windy City Harvest aquaponics specialist $950 | Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Friday – Sunday, April 17 – 19; June 26 – 28; August 21 – 24; November 13 – 15