University of Illinois Extension's
Plant Information Clinic At The Conservatory

Saturdays
Hours: Noon - 4 pm
Where: Lobby of the Palm House
Contact: (773) 233-0476 or rwolford@uiuc.edu

The University of Illinois Extension hosts several opportunities at the Conservatory. A Plant Information Clinic is located in the lobby, the annual Master Gardener's Training Program is held in one of the community rooms and a variety of monthly gardening tips written by the Extension's own Ron Wolford, can be found on the Conservatory's website. Mr. Wolford writes for the Chicago Tribune, Chicagoland Gardening Magazine and a variety of other publications.

The Plant Clinic is now home of the Chicago Home Composting Program’s Master Composter Training Program. Visit the Chicago Home Composting Program website at.chicagohomecomposting.org for answers to your composting questions and for more information on turning your garbage into gardener’s gold.”

The University of Illinois Extension's Plant Information Clinic located at the Conservatory is the place for in-depth answers, based upon traditional concepts and new technologies, for all plant and garden questions. Located in the lobby of the Conservatory the Plant Clinic is manned by trained Master Gardeners provided by the University of Illinois Extension Chicago Master Gardeners.

The Conservatory is also home to the University of Illinois Extension's Chicago Master Gardener Office. Their urban programs work with a variety of neighborhood and community groups as well as the horticulture and environmental industries to develop gardens and community parks, reclaim urban lands, and teach safe and environmentally friendly practices. Garfield Park Conservatory hosts the annual Chicago Master Gardener 13-week Training Program. For information on how to become a Master Gardener, please call the (773) 265-9587 or check out the University of Illinois website at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu.  

Farm-City Market Basket

Hours: Weekly
Where: Garfield Market Place
Cost: Call (773) 347-1374

In partnership with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Growing Power offers weekly farm-fresh market baskets full of delicious fruit and vegetables to consumers wanting fresh produce grown by local farmers.

Growing Power, a not-for-profit organization and land trust, supports people from diverse backgrounds and the environment they live in through the development of community food systems that provide high quality, safe, healthy and affordable food for all residents in the community. Growing Power supports the Rainbow Farmers Cooperative, a group of small local farmers who grow the produce available through the Market Basket program.

Sign up now for your own Market Basket full of tasty produce and find out how good fresh produce direct from the farmer can be! For more information, visit Growing Power's website www.growingpower.org, or to place your order contact the Chicago Growing Power hotline at 773-347-1374 or by email at chicagomarketbaskets@growingpower.org.
 

Farm City Market Basket is primarily a food security program, designed to make whole good, fresh veggies, and healthy cooking and eating available to the urban consumer who may have limited access to these things. The basket consists of 10-15 different varieties of veggies in quantities intended to last 2-4 people throughout the week.

During the Spring, Summer, and Fall, most of the produce comes from our co-op; during the off-season we supplement through a small-scale, family owned, local wholesaler of conventional produce. Through this relationship we strive to support small, local farms, businesses, and relationships during the winter months.