Saturday, February 26, 2011

Erin Tuttle Teaching Cool Weather Gardening Class

Erin Tuttle, a certified naturalist and educator (and DGOG member) will discuss how to plant your gardens in cool weather to enjoy an earlier harvest.

"All too often we don't wake up our vegetable plots until Memorial Day, when the garden centers sell us tomatoes and peppers. But what about the kale and cabbages, broccoli, lettuce, beets, chard, arugula (and the list goes on!)? Break out of the warm-season vegetable box and learn how to grow the food that will fill your plates long before the tomatoes and peppers."

Date and Time: Sunday, March 13, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: 6625 Greene Road, Woodridge, IL

Fee: $25 per person

RSVP: 630-667-6516

Friday, February 18, 2011

Plant Sale Committee Meeting

All club members are again invited to join us in planning for the annual Plant Sale. The date for our second plant sale committee meeting is Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at Caribou Coffee, 5100 Main St., Downers Grove.

Everyone is welcome - Hope to see you there!

Nancy Carlson

Monday, February 14, 2011

Slow Food Chicago programs

Vicki Nowicki recommends these upcoming programs by Slow Food Chicago:

Small Fruits for the Home Garden
Presented by Rick Belding, Horticulturist, Curator of Fruits, Vegetables at The Chicago Botanic Garden
February 20, 2011 at 2:00 PM, Planter's Palette Nursery

Rick is a master at growing fruits. Homeowners will learn which fruits are easier to grow in a home setting so they can expand the array of diversity available to them in their own backyard. The Planter's Palette staff has generously offered to allow us time to come early and look around and they are going to set up a fresh Winter market for us in the greenhouse!!

Come prepared to enjoy treats baked with fruits that could be grown home gardens.

Cost is $20.00

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

Organic Gardening in Small Spaces
Presented by Bill Shores, Soil Scientist, Horticulturist
March 6, 2011 at 2:00 PM
The Morton Arboretum - Cudahy Auditorium

Bill Shores and has exceptional experience with small space gardening. With an extraordinary knowledge of soils and skill for food production, he is growing food for Chef Rick Bayless's three restaurants in Chicago both in Rick's backyard on the rooftop of one of the Restaurants. In these spaces, he is producing pounds and pounds of greens and microgreens and more each week.

Cost is $25.00 which includes all-day admission to the Arboretum

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

Thursday, February 10, 2011

February Meeting

The Downers Grove Organic Gardeners welcome Bill Scheffler to their Wednesday, Feb. 16 meeting. Scheffler will discuss "Why Every Gardener Should Be Using Yogurt, Vinegar, Molasses, and Gypsum." He is the owner of Pure Prairie Organics, a natural lawn and tree care company active in the western suburbs for 17 years. Scheffler is an advocate of using natural products to maintain our gardens. Be prepared to ask a lot of questions.

The meeting will also feature a seed exchange. As you plan your garden, look through your seeds and bring extras to the meeting. This month's featured herb is mint. Also, please continue to bring your favorite recipes, garden tips and quotes to the meetings.

The Downers Grove Organic Gardeners meet on the third Wednesday of the month in January, February, March, April, June, July, September, October and November at 7 p.m. in the Downers Grove Public Library. The board meets at 6:30 p.m. and you are welcome to come early to attend the board meeting. Membership is $20 for individuals and $30 for families.

The Downers Grove Organic Gardeners are committed to raising the awareness of organic gardening in our community and educating members about the benefits and methods of organic gardening and other environmentally sound practices.