Visit With the Conservatory's Hard-Working Gardeners!   Stop by the Conservatory's outside Demonstration Garden to visit with our hard-working gardeners. They might be planting, weeding or if you’re lucky, they’ll be harvesting something you can taste! Many of our garden volunteers are Master Gardeners who would be happy to answer your questions and talk with you about their work. Staffed garden is dependent on weather ─ please call 773-638-1766 ext 16 for additional information.
			Master Composting Series 2009 One Saturday a Month Hours: 1 pm – 3 pm Where: Demonstration Garden Cost: Free! Just drop by!   Join the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners for a Master Composting Demonstration Series this summer. Learn everything you need to know to successfully compost at home!   • April 25 – Basics of Composting – Green and Growing Fair* Learn how to start and maintain a compost bin– bring your fruit and veggie scraps. • May 23 – Setting up a Compost Bin Do you know the Do’s and Don’ts of Composting? Hear the tricks of the trade from the Master Composters. • June 27 – Building up that Heat in a Compost Bin Learn how to activate your compost pile and build up some heat! • July 18 – Harvesting and Using Your Compost Start harvesting that finished compost from spring. Learn how to use your compost as mulch and potting mix. Compost sifting will be demonstrated. • August 15 – Brew a Batch of Compost Tea Join us in the shade for a spot of tea. Compost tea works wonders on your plants and applying it is a cinch. The process of brewing the tea is slightly more complex. • September 19 – Basics of Composting – County Fair* Learn passive composting systems, such as, add- as- you- go, leaf composting and leaving cut grass behind.  Compost Basics all day – bring you fruit and veggie scraps. • October 17 – Compost Bins and Winter Preparation Get those bins ready for winter. Harvest your remaining compost and use it in the fall. Remember to shred or cut large stems and branches into small pieces.       *Special Event -On-going demonstrations 11 am – 3 pm.
			Composting Information Booklet The University of Illinois Extension Master Composters Cost: Free PDF Download   Interested in composting at home?  The University of Illinois Extension Master Composters are the experts. Find their composting information booklet in PDF format here:   Compositing Information Booklet 9MB*   *Please note: the Compositing Information Booklet PDF is 9MB in size. Right click the above link and select save to download to your computer for printing. Load time for opening the PDF in a browser window will vary according to the speed of your Internet connection, not recommended for dial-up connections.
			Get Gardening - Adult Greening Workshops Wednesday Evenings and Saturday Mornings Starting May 16th See following for time and cost information
	More Information    For more information on the Demonstration Garden contact Melanie Harding at mharding@garfieldpark.org or call (773) 638-1766 ext. 16.