Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2019

To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/education or call (847) 835-6801. 67 Urban Agriculture Planning for Pollinators Bees & Beyond programs at the Chicago Botanic Garden inspired Windy City Harvest to offer this special course for gardeners to learn about the pollinators in their backyards and gardening techniques to support them. Rachel Kimpton, Windy City Harvest coordinator Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago April 27, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 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. Ashley Luciani, Windy City Harvest coordinator Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago May 4, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Value-added Products: Flower Growing and 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. Instructor TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago May 11, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 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, Windy City Harvest aquaponics specialist Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago June 8, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Giulianna Ciocca, Windy City Harvest aquaponics coordinator Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago October 12 or December 7, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Seed Saving Learn the how and why of saving seeds for thrifty gardening and farming, biodiversity preservation, and food sovereignty. In this course, you will receive open-pollinated seeds to take home with you as well as information to help you feel confident saving seeds for future farm and garden seasons. Kris De la Torre, Windy City Harvest coordinator Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago September 7, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cold-Season Growing: September, October & November This is a technical training course intended for aspiring growers interested in learning best-practice season-extension 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 conditions. Students are expected to work indoors and outdoors. Britt Calendo, Windy City Harvest coordinator Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Avenue, Chicago September 21, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Rooftop Farming Growing on a rooftop presents its own chal- lenges and rewards. Learn from a seasoned rooftop farmer about what the city requires for a rooftop buildout. Participants will be guided through the decisions you’ll make as you begin or expand your rooftop farm or garden. Instructor TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago September 21, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Fruit Tree Pruning: Managing Fruit Crops This hands-on class is for beginning to inter- mediate growers. The session will include an introduction to the different fruit tree pruning forms, when to prune, strategic pruning, and general fruit tree maintenance. We will also cover how to care for fruiting crops that thrive in Plant Hardiness Zones 5–7. Instructor TBD Washington Park Youth Farm, 555 East 51st Street, Chicago October 19, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Value-Added Products—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 food-preservation techniques. Put your knowledge to work by preserving fruit and vegetables to take home. Instructor TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago October 19, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Value-Added Products: 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. Instructor TBD Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago November 16, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Ten-Week Courses Ten-week offerings are best suited for indi- viduals working in the horticulture/agriculture industry or with growing experience who are looking to develop their practice. Each course includes a final project and participants earn certificates upon completion. Each ten-week course costs $600 ($300 with scholarship). Edible Landscape Design & Gardening This class is for individuals who are interested in learning and expanding their knowledge of edible landscaping techniques, design, and maintenance. This course is appropriate for growers with some gardening experience. Students will create a four-season planting plan for an existing farm site and will present their planting design as a final project. Certificate course Maureen Maitland, The Organic Gardener Farm on Ogden, 3555 Ogden Avenue, Chicago Saturdays, March 9 – May 18, 1 – 4 p.m. Aquaponics Intensives Aquaponics Intensives 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. Instruction 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, May 17 – 19; September 13 – 15; November 8 – 10