Tuesday, November 9, 2010

November Meeting

The Downers Grove Organic Gardeners welcome Shawna Coronado, also known as "The Naked Gardener" to our November 10 meeting. Coronado's talk is "Vegetable Gardening Nude: How Getting Metaphorically Naked Changed My Life and Helped Me Feed My Family and Neighborhood." The meeting will also feature information on lavender and thyme. The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street. As always, the board meets at 6:30, and anyone is welcome to attend this portion of the meeting.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

DG Library Weeding Service Project

Update from Annie: "Thanks to Diane Pallardy and Roberta Muehlhaus for braving the rain and coming out to weed. We got a lot down in the half hour that we worked!"

As part of our service projects, members of the Downers Grove Organic Gardeners have agreed to weed around the Downers Grove Public Library. We'll meet at the south entrance of the library at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 23. Please bring your own clean tools -- we don't want to spread disease from one location to another. Hand sanitizer for your tools and digits, leaf bags and water will be provided.

PLEASE NOTE: Should you be injured while volunteering for the library, you will not be covered by library insurance, but rather by your own health insurance. Volunteers need to be 18 years or older.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Canning Report


Roberta Muehlhaus was kind enough to share her expertise on canning during a workshop in September. Here are some notes from Roberta on the process.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Harvest Festival

On Wednesday, October 13th, we'll be celebrating the hard work we put into our gardens during our annual Harvest Festival. Bring your veggies, either in their natural state or in your favorite dish. Don't forget your recipes!

To add alittle spice this year, there will be a contest with prizes to the winners. Categories are #1 Best in show/Best color, #2 the longest or the biggest, #3 most unusual/ugliest. So save those veggies!

We will have a question & answer session. So if you've had a problem or a sucess story to share, you can present it to the group or write it down & our President Cathy will do it for you.

We will also have some raffle prizes for just coming. Our feature herbs are rosemary & oregano.

The meeting begins at 7 pm at the Downers Grove Library, 1050 Curtiss Street. The board will meet at 6:30, and all are welcome to attend this portion of the meeting.

--Gina Pacheco

Monday, September 13, 2010

September meeting recap


Thanks to Colleen Graudins and Toby Koch for getting us updated on invasive plants (and some alternatives to them). Queen Anne's Lace -- who knew??

For more information on invasive plants, visit the Chicago Botanic Garden or the University of Illinois Extension.

Thanks also go to Gina Pacheco for keeping us well-fed. Here are recipes for Rosemary Dip, Parsley Dip, and Apple Sage Bread.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Canning Program

Downers Grove Organic Gardeners members are invited to a canning Program on Thursday, September 16 from 7 - 9 p.m. at Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove.

Roberta Muehlhaus will help participants take home a jar of pepper jelly that they canned themselves! Free for PAID DGOG members only. RSVP by September 7 by contacting Cathy Hlohowskyj by email (ihorcathy@sbcglobal.net) or by phone (630-241-3447).

Saturday, August 21, 2010

September Meeting

Join us Wednesday, September 8 to hear Colleen Graudins and Toby Koch, Illinois Master Gardeners, talk about Alternatives to Invasive Plants. The meeting begins at 7 PM at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street.

The board will meet at 6:30. Anyone is welcome to attend the board meeting.

Plant a Row for the Hungry

Hello Gardeners!

Just an update to let you all know we've past the half way point on our goal to 100 lbs. We've donated 57 lbs of tomatoes, green beans, cukes, eggplant & squash.

Another note: the People's Resource Center's receiving area is not on Blackhawk. Turn right at Plaza, and it's the first driveway on the right. They usually have signs out. Any questions, give me a call 630-852-4480. Thanks to everyone who donated. I'll update at the meeting in Sept.

Gina

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Genesis Growers trip cancelled

Our field trip to Genesis Growers in St. Anne, Illinois has been cancelled. Watch your email or this blog for more information.

As we all know, nature offers bounty but sometimes heartache in the form of severe weather. Read about the recent weather issues that Genesis Growers has been experiencing.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Basil, Stevia and recipes

Here is a link to the information that the Pachecos shared with us at our last meeting, including the recipes for the wonderful food!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3732050/DGOG/Pacheco_herb_info.pdf

A Membership Reminder from Cathy

Hello all you Organic Gardeners!

I imagine you all have fingernails decorated with a touch of soil on them too!

I would like to remind everyone to make sure you have renewed your membership this year. If you can't remember if you did, please ask Annie Garvey Jagielski and she will let you know. We have two field trips this summer that are free for members, the first to Possibility Place Nursery in Monee and the second to Genesis Growers in St. Anne's. Our fall line up of speakers should be informative and fun! Please take a moment to check your records. If you no longer want to be on the e-mail list and do not wish to renew, please let Annie know.

Thank you,

Cathy

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Bring Tips for Herbs and Soil to Our Next Meeting

At our welcoming table at next week meeting, we will feature basil, stevia and organic fertilizers. Bring your recipes & tips for growing theses herbs and what you use to enrich your soil. We'll have basic guidelines but would like to offer member tips also. If we get a good response, we might consider a gardening tip/cookbook or least info for next year’s plant sale. We will also have a couple of raffle prizes. And if you’re so inspired, bring your dish to share. Hope to see you all there.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Plant Sale 2010 Wrap-up

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2010 Plant Sale a success. From the organizers to those who grew plants to the set-up and take-down crew to the cashiers, we all worked together to help our community start and enjoy their gardens. View photos of the sale here.

June Meeting

Patricia Hill, garden designer and author of Design Your Natural Midwest Garden, will speak about Shade Gardens: Beyond Hostas at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 9. We meet at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street. The Downers Grove Organic Gardeners board will meet at 6:30 p.m.; you are welcome to come early and join us.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Plant Sale!

Don't forget our plant sale this Saturday (May 22) from 9-3 at Hummer Park in Downers Grove. We'll have annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Rain Barrel Volunteers Needed

On Saturday, May 8th, the Village of Downers Grove will be distributing rain barrels with the help of the Conservation Foundation. The Pierce Downers Heritage Alliance members will be there to help and we have also been asked to help. Over 400 barrels have been ordered! Help will be needed to collect checks, direct drivers and load barrels into vehicles. If you can help, we will send you more detailed information. Please e-mail Erin Tuttle at : etuttle@theconservationfoundation.org if you can help for a few hours.

One Seed Chicago Winner!

One Seed Chicago recently unveiled the winner at the 18th Annual Green & Growing Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory. After four months of voting, Bee Balm has emerged triumphant over Purple Coneflower and Nodding Onion as the One Seed Chicago for 2010. Everyone who voted will receive their free seed packet in the mail. Those who didn't get a chance to vote can request a free seed packet at www.OneSeedChicago.com while supplies last. They'll be mailing out over one million seeds this year all across Chicago.

Read the full press release here.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Free Green Festival Ticket

The Chicago Green Festival features 125 speakers, a creative green kids program, an exciting eco-fashion show, social justice films, green home workshops, community action and fair trade pavilions, local organic beer and wine garden and delicious organic food restaurants.

Chicagoans will learn from and shop at more 340 green retailers, organizations, farmers, institutions, manufacturers and campuses. Representing over 20 industry and business categories, our exhibitors are committed to people & planet conscious products and services.

Here is a link
to a free ticket and a PDF of a free ticket to the Chicago Green Festival on May 22nd and 23rd at Navy Pier:

http://www.greenfestivals.org/chicago-free-ticket-offer

Chicago 's Green Festival speakers bring you the hottest topics from toxic free homes and sweatshop free clothing to green social media and green building. Green Festival exhibitors are screened for their commitment to sustainability, ecological balance and social justice using Green America's nationally recognized green business standards. For a list of presenters visit http://greenfestivals.org/speaker-directory/chicago-2009.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Join us at Lyman Woods for a special event

Our special meeting on May 5 at 7pm will be held at the Lyman Woods Interpretive Center (at the corner of Highland and 31st St., entrance off of 31st in Downers Grove) and will feature our very own Erin Tuttle! Erin will talk about organic gardening, giving an overview of organic gardening principles, designed to inspire listeners to view our gardens in a whole new light. I hope you all will be able to join us there.

This meeting is being co-sponsored by the DG Park District Natural Areas. In order for them to have enough seating available, we are asking that you please RSVP to Annie Jagielski at anniegj@gmail.com by Friday April 30th, 2010. Thank you!

Cathy Hlohowskyj

P.S. Don't forget our plant sale on May 22nd at Hummer Park from 9am-3pm. We will have the "jobs" sign-up sheet at the May 5th talk.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

April Meeting

Join us on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 PM when Go Green Wilmette will offer tips on reducing your carbon footprint. As always, you are welcome to attend the board meeting, which begins at 6:30.

Park District Programs feature Cathy and Erin

The Downers Grove Park District is featuring DGOG president Cathy Hlohowskyj and member Erin Tuttle in two programs this spring.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Annual Plant Sale!

Tell everyone you know about our annual plant sale from 9 AM to 3 PM Saturday, May 22 at Hummer Park.

Buy your annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables, and share your gardening knowledge with other organic gardeners.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Erin Tuttle Speaking in Lemont

Erin Tuttle will discuss the hows and whys of vermicomposting, or composting with worms, at The Lemont Friendship Garden Club on Saturday, March 27 at 2 p.m. The meeting is at the Lemont Library, 50 E. Wend Street (630-257-6541).

The garden club would love for you to attend and bring a friend.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Tomato Lady Speaks!

The Tomato Lady, a.k.a. Aggie Nehmzow, is a local expert and cultivator of many varieties of heirloom tomatoes in her backyard. She'll discuss organic farming of heirloom varieties of produce at our next meeting at 7 PM Wednesday, March 10. We meet at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street. The DGOG board will meet at 6:30; you are welcome to come early and join us.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

February Meeting

Jerome Johnson, Executive Director of Garfield Farm Museum, presents a talk on Heirloom Plants and the Loss of Genetic Diversity in Domestic Cultivars at 7 PM Wednesday, Feb. 10. We meet at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street. The board meets at 6:30 PM; you are welcome to attend the board meeting.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Horticultural Job Fair

The College of DuPage's Horiculture department is hosting its annual Career Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 4-6pm in the new Technical Education Center, room TE 1038. The TEC building is a big black building on the southwest corner of Lambert and Fawell Blvd. at College of DuPage. Parking and the fair is free.

Local horticulture companies will be looking for a variety of FT, PT, experienced, entry level, seasonal and year-round positions. Please come prepared to interview and have a brief resume prepared.

Employers include:
Acres Group
The Artist's Garden
Cantigny Gardens
The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Fraser Landscapes
The Gardener Connection, Inc.
The Growing Place
Heinz Brothers Greenhouse and Garden Center
Illinois Arborist Assoc.
Meyer Landscaping, Inc.
The Midwest Companies
MWS Landscape Design
Platt Hill Nursery, Inc.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Newsletters: Ours and Others

The Spring edition of The Garden Gate newsletter will be arriving in early March. However, if you are interested in news from other groups, here is the newsletter from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory's Natural Areas group. As you may be aware, there is a restored prairie at Fermilab, and it is a great place to see wildlife, too.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

One Seed, One Chicago

Need a little reminder that to all things, there is a season (and it's not always winter)? Vote for a seed for One Seed, One Chicago.

Monday, January 4, 2010

January Meeting

Join us at 7 PM on Wednesday, January 13 when Kelsey Shaw of Possibility Place Nursery discusses "Propagation of Native Plants for Seeds and Cuttings."

As always, we meet at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street.