April 12, 2008
2008 GreenNet Green and Growing Fair
What: 2008 GreenNet Green and Growing Fair
When: April 26, 2008 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Garfield Park Conservatory – 300 North Central Park, Chicago 60624
Cost: FREE Admission – Open to All
Come one; come all to this extraordinary spring event! We have an outstanding line-up for GreenNet's 16th Annual Green and Growing Fair, including the launch of ONE SEED CHICAGO.
As One Book; One Chicago is to reading, One Seed Chicago is to urban greening. With this new program GreenNet invites you to Grow Together. This year's seed is the Sunflower. Imagine thousands of these versatile plants linking together community gardens across the City! Pick up your free seed packet at the Fair, at events throughout the summer or by sending your name and address to info@neighbor-space.org.
This year the Fair will feature several performing artists. Enjoy down home local musicians while eating lunch at the Green Cafe. While roaming through the Conservatory, you'll enjoy a sneak preview of Walkabout Theater's forthcoming play, "War Garden: An Experiment in Patriotic Agriculture." The show, which is co-produced by NeighborSpace, and this summer will be performed directly in community gardens throughout the City, is a comedic exploration of Chicago's wildly popular war garden movement of WWI (victory gardens in WWII).
Get first dibs! Buy the season's first spring vegetables and seedlings as well as seeds, worm compost and other gardening materials and supplies from local growers and vendors. Vendors will also be selling local crafts such as painted pots, notepaper & jewelry (just in time for Mother's Day!)
Enjoy these demonstrations, activities and more:
Basics of composting
Rot Pot seed starting
Home-made solar ovens
LOW COST Tool sharpening by the CHICAGO Botanic Garden's Green Youth Farmers
Community Garden Poster Session – Meet Chicago Garden Leaders
$5.00 Classes on Native Landscaping & Basic Composting
OUR Popular silent auction of garden related items
And….. the launch of ONE SEED CHICAGO: 2008 Sunflower - Come to the Fair to pick up your free seed packet
Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:41 PM | Permalink |
March 18, 2008
Master Naturalist Project Organizer
Greetings:
The new Master Naturalist project organizer position will be based in our Matteson office. This will be a new program in Cook County. We will be collaborating with the Forest Preserve of Cook County, the Field Museum and Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens. Other partners may join us in the future.
On the state level, IL Master Naturalist is collaborating with the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Nature Conservatory, various U of I departments and the Illinois Steward Magazine, and others. Cook County is one of several piloting this program over the next few years.
The closing date for applications for this position is April 15.
Here are the links to two county Master Naturalist pilot sites that are already in place:
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/mn/index.html
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland/mnaturalist/index.html
Nancy Pollard
Horticulture Educator
Cook County / South Suburban Unit
5527 Miller Circle Drive, Suite A, Matteson, Illinois 60443
phone (708) 720-7500. fax (708) 720-7509
email pollard@uiuc.edu
http://cook.extension.uiuc.edu
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:45 AM | Permalink |
March 14, 2008
Control Crabgrass
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Crabgrass is just one of many annual grassy weeds which cause problems in home lawns, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "Its thick, hairy blades can smother the more desirable lawn grasses during the summer," said David Robson. "And when frost hits the plant, you're left with large, brown patches of dead grasses. Unfortunately, in most cases it's too late to re-seed or sod the area." A proactive approach offers the best opportunity to control crabgrass. "Crabgrass germinates during the spring and early summer when soil temperatures start reaching 60 degrees F for five consecutive days," he said. "If the temperature cools, the process has to start all over. This is one reason for the extended germination time." Crabgrass seeds also need light in order to sprout. Thick, dense turfgrass is the best defense, though lawns tend to be somewhat sparse in early spring, especially if they've had previous crabgrass problems or have been improperly fertilized the previous season. "The primary means of controlling annual grassy weeds is by providing a vigorous, dense, competitive turf coupled with pre-emergence herbicides," said Robson. "Pre-emergence herbicides are applied to prevent the appearance of crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds in turf areas. These herbicides can persist in the soil for several months and control annual grasses through the growing season. "The herbicide forms a chemical barrier or blanket at the soil surface and just below that prevents grass development from germinating seeds. The new shoots and roots of germinating seeds absorb the herbicide and are killed." Pre-emergence chemicals should be applied one to two weeks prior to the time when soil temperatures reach 50 degrees F for three consecutive days. For this reason, in a typical year crabgrass applications should be applied by April 1 for best control in central Illinois. Add a week or two as you move farther north, and subtract a week or two going south. "For extended crabgrass control, apply a second application of pre-emergence herbicide four to six weeks after the first," said Robson. "Herbicides to control annual grasses normally require irrigation following application to be effective, and all turf cultivation activities should precede application. "Remember to always read and follow label directions for safe pesticide use and effective pest control. The label should list tolerant species, controllable weeds, and application rates. Most herbicides which control crabgrass will also affect germinating grass seed, so avoid using crabgrass-preventing herbicides when seeding." Sound cultural practices can also help to control annual grassy weeds, he added. "Don't cut turf too short. Low-mowing can lead to an open turf stand in which weed seed can easily germinate," he said. "Cut turf at a height appropriate for the turf species and season. "Watch for natural thinning areas such as next to driveways, sidewalks, and patios. Don't forget alleys, which can also be breeding ground for seeds." Turf should be watered deeply, but not frequently. This enables the soil surface to dry between irrigations. Constantly moist soil surface increases weed seed germination and seedling survival. "Supply the appropriate fertilizers so that necessary nutrients are available for turf during the spring flush of growth," said Robson. "Fertilizer application during late spring and early summer helps to supply nutrients to weed seedlings and plants. Large amounts of soluble nitrogen may injure turf and reduce turf density, allowing weeds to germinate. Fall applications may be better for the turf as weedy plants use less of the nutrients. "Control diseases, insects, soil compaction, traffic, and other turfgrass stresses. Maintain a dense turf to reduce annual grassweed seed germination." Source: David J. Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture, drobson@uiuc.edu |
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:52 AM | Permalink |
March 6, 2008
Become a TreeKeeper
TreeKeepers are volunteers who have become certified by Openlands to give trees the care and maintenance they need to thrive in the urban forest. Classes are taught by professionals from the Morton Arboretum, Chicago's Bureau of Forestry, the Chicago Park District, Chicago's Department of Environment and private arboriculture experts. Discover some things that may surprise you: tree roots grow outward from the trunk near the surface, not down deep into the soil; one of the worst enemies of city trees is the lawn mower; trees can drown and suffocate. Receive hands-on training in pruning, planting and mulching. Learn what makes trees sick and what keeps them healthy. Acquire techniques to tell one species from another–even without their leaves!
This seven-week course for adults is offered twice a year–in spring and fall–at various locations throughout the City of Chicago. Class topics include: Benefits of Urban Trees, Tree Folktales and Myths, Tree Physiology, Learning to Know Trees by their Latin Names, Tree Species Identification, Common Tree Diseases and Insect Damage, Hands-On Pruning, Right Tree in the Right Place, Planting and Mulching. Students who attend all seven classes, pass a final exam and hands-on skills tests for pruning, mulching and planting become certified TreeKeepers. They then become part of an informed volunteer corps that convenes regular workdays to care for city trees in public parks, on city streets and at other public sites.
Tuition of $80 includes materials, guest speakers, and certification upon completion of course requirements. Two graduate credits are available for teachers. For more information and to find out when and where the next classes will be given, contact TreeKeeper Jim at (312) 863-6259 or click here for the brochure. See Events Calendar for a listing of TreeKeeper workdays.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:57 AM | Permalink |
March 6, 2008
New Schools Online Web Sites
The University of Illinois Extension has just released two new Web sites for students.
The first, Fresh From the World...Where Your Food Comes From, is for third-fifth graders. It discusses 15 different popular foods and explores their histories and origins. Students can gain a new understanding about the food they find in the grocery store and the fact that it sometimes comes from other parts of the world.
You can visit this site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/food/
The second new site -- Riding the Winds with Kalani -- is designed for 5-8 year olds to gain knowledge about weather. The site provides information on basic earth movements, seasons, clouds, precipitation and temperature. Animations have been added to enhance the learning of the weather processes. It also includes color pages, games and activities that reinforce the concepts.
You can visit the site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/kalani/
It is the first of a three part series on weather. The next site in development for 9-12 year olds is "The Tree House Weather Scientists." We hope to release it later this year.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:36 AM | Permalink |
March 3, 2008
Preschool Garden Grants
Ask young children, who garden what they like about it, and you'll get a lot of different answers, but the main message is, "Gardening is fun!" It gets them outdoors, gives them an outlet for their energy, and lets them participate in creating something beautiful that they can feel proud of. Plus, they actually like to eat the vegetables they grow!
A child's early years are a crucial time of development, and preschool education can significantly influence the rest of their lives. Gardening is a hands-on project that allows children to explore at their own pace and engage in age-appropriate experiential learning. Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is sponsoring this award to give more children these valuable opportunities.
Eligibility requirements: The grants are open to organizations offering structured programs in settings such as preschools, day care centers, and Head Start programs. Applicants must plan to garden with a group of at least 10 children aged 3 to 5 during 2008.
Award Packages: 75 winners will each receive an assortment of garden tools and garden- and nature-oriented teaching materials valued at $1,000, including a Link-a-Bord Raised Bed Kit, a GrowLab Compact Light Garden, a WormLab with worms, a Deluxe Seed-Starting Kit, a Butterfly Observation Habitat, and much more, plus a Wubbzy gardening activity guide for teachers.
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2008.
Notification: Applicants will receive notification regarding award status via e-mail by April 10, 2008.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:49 PM | Permalink |
March 2, 2008
Angelic Organics Job Opening
Dear Friends:
We are very excited to announce that the Learning Center is now accepting applications for an Urban Initiative Program Coordinator! The position will be based in the Chicago office.
We are seeking a responsible, highly organized individual to join our urban initiative team to assist with community food system projects and urban agriculture training. At least three years of related experience is required. This position starts at 20 hours a week in April 2008 with the possibility of a full-time position with benefits by July 2008.
Applications must be received by 3/15/08. Visit www.learngrowconnect.org click on "Now Hiring" for the full job description and application info.
Rasha Abdulhadi
Program Coordinator- Urban Initiative
Angelic Organics Learning Center
Chicago Office
6400 S Kimbark Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
Office: 773-288-5462
Fax: 425-969-0317
Posted by Ron Wolford at 11:00 PM | Permalink |
February 29, 2008
Barb Farner Retirement
As I start my 25th year with the University of Illinois Extension, it seems lately that I have been attending more retirement parties. When I was a newbie in Extension, I remember sitting at an Annual Conference ceremony where they were honoring staff for years of service. I was really surprised with the number of people who had 25, 30, 35 years of service. My thought was how anybody could stay in the same job for so long. Now I know. It's the great people you work with and the people you serve, plus everyday is different in this job.
Today I was in the Kankakee Extension office for Barb Farner's retirement party. Barb has been with Extension for 38 years. Barb was a Nutrition and Wellness Educator. Barb served with the Peace Corps for two years before starting her long career with Extension. Barb has traveled all over the world. She speaks Spanish fluently and has done some of her programs in Spanish. I want to wish Barbara all the best in her retirement. She will be missed.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:56 PM | Permalink |
February 28, 2008
Web Development Meeting in Urbana
I spent the day in Urbana at the University of Illinois meeting with Jane Scherer. Jane is Extension's Web guru. She is in charge of the development of all the content for the Extension Web site. I have been working with Jane for many years. When Extension started the Urban Programs Resource Network ,we were hoping for 100,000 hits in a year. Since the inception of the UPRN in1996 and since it was recently folded into the State Extension Web site, the site has received more than 32 million hits and has averaged over a million hits a month over the last six months.
Jane and her staff are working on a long list of web projects. I met with Jane to schedule due dates for updates for sites I have developed: Bulbs and More, Strawberries and More, Watch Your Garden Grow, Apples and More, Miracle of Fall, Pumpkins and More, Turkey for the Holidays, Poinsettia Pages,Winter Storm Resource Center and Christmas Trees and More. I love working on the development of the Web sites; I just need to find more time to work on them.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:27 AM | Permalink |
February 24, 2008
Listen to Garden Teleconferences
The American Community Gardening Association offers a series of excellent recorded teleconferences on their Web site. These are 90 minute conferences that have 1 to 3 speakers. Topics covered include garden fundraising, garden leadership, school gardens, fundraising and immigrants and community gardening.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:05 PM | Permalink |
