Learn about what makes gardens great with Openlands

Posted on

Our friends over at Openlands have just opened registration for their next round of GardenKeepers classes:

 

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
for the Openlands GardenKeepers Food Garden Network Class Series

Saturdays, February 16-March 31, 2013, 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Garfield Park Conservatory – 300 N Central Park Blvd.

Openlands has merged HomeGrown Chicago Community Food Garden Network classes with BUGs (Building Urban Gardens) into an interactive, hands-on class focusing on gardening without chemicals, using designs that depend on nature and not technology, conserving natural resources, and recruiting members who will use and “own” their garden. Members will learn how to organize and run a successful, long-lasting, community-managed allotment garden together with friends and neighbors.

GardenKeepers is designed to help both an existing garden that may need this broad range of information and support as well as a garden that is just in the “We Wish We Had a Garden!” stage

Members of GardenKeepers community gardens will be eligible to:

  • Attend follow-up continuing education workshops related to all aspects of community gardening,
  • Apply for additional resources as they are available, and for technical assistance as necessary
  • Communicate regularly with the neighborhood-based Community Gardening world in Chicago via newsletters and networking gatherings,
  • Receive a GardenKeepers Manual
  • And, last, but not least, hang a special GardenKeepers Sign in your gardens!

GardenKeepers is presented twice a year and is intended for Chicago residents who have started or who wish to start a community garden. It is designed for groups, not individuals. A minimum of 4 people from each garden is suggested. The fee is $300 per garden ($75 per person in a group of 4) for the entire series of 6 classes. Individuals may be able to attend horticulture-focused classes 3-6 if space allows.

Please go to: http://www.openlands.org/gardenkeepers for the Winter/Spring 2013 GardenKeepers class descriptions and schedule and a registration form that will help start you all on your way to a successful Community Garden. Or, go directly to jsamuels@openlands.org if you have questions about this program.