• Growing & Green Living

Growing & Green Living

Beekeeping, Composting and Adult Programs

The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance offers a myriad of programs designed to help you get closer to nature in the city. We partner with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Master Composters programs to provide many of our gardening and composting demonstrations and workshops. The Conservatory is also the proud home of multiple bee hives and an active beekeeping program - enjoy the fruits of their labor by purchasing Conservatory made honey in our Gift Shop. To learn about all the programs, events and activities taking place at the Conservatory this month, visit our Calendar page.

Build an Indoor Worm Bin

workshop

Build an Indoor Worm Bin
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Hours: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $40 per bin (includes up to 2 participants)

Recycling food scraps is one of the easiest and most impactful ways you can contribute to the health of our planet. We’ll teach you just how easy and rewarding it can be, and help you build your very own kitchen composting bin, complete with worms! If you have questions about this class, please contact our Program Registrar at registrar@garfieldpark.org or 773-638-1766 ex. 25. Pre-registration is required. Learn More ‣

Register

Beginning Beekeeping Class

workshop

Beginning Beekeeping Class
Saturday, November 23, 2014
Hours: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $70 / $50 for GPCA Members and Volunteers

Spend the morning with us learning the basics of beekeeping: equipment, hive design and construction, bee biology and behavior, bee management and bee products. This comprehensive class is a pre-requisite for becoming a GPCA volunteer beekeeper. These classes tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to register early. Pre-registration is required. Learn More ‣

Register

Build an Indoor Worm Bin

workshop

Build an Indoor Worm Bin
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Hours: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Cost: $40 per bin (includes up to 2 participants)

Recycling food scraps is one of the easiest and most impactful ways you can contribute to the health of our planet. We’ll teach you just how easy and rewarding it can be, and help you build your very own kitchen composting bin, complete with worms! If you have questions about this class, please contact our Program Registrar at registrar@garfieldpark.org or 773-638-1766 ex. 25. Pre-registration is required. Learn More ‣

Register

Conservatory Kids: Busy Bees

busy bees

Conservatory Kids: Busy Bees
Thursdays, February 5 through March 12
Hours: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Cost: $120 per child, $90 GPCA Family-level Members

This winter we will debut “Conservatory Kids: Busy Bees” a six-week science-focused program for children ages 3-6 and an accompanying adult. Busy Bees is designed to teach young children about biology and ecology through a combination of hands-on activities, stories, and songs. Kids will develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills as they discover how and why bees do what they do. Learn More ‣

Register

Composting 101

workshop

Composting 101
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Hours: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost: $50 / $40 for GPCA Members and Volunteers

Spend the day with us exploring different methods of composting that can happen right here in the city: hot composting in your backyard or schoolyard, passive composting on your patio or balcony, and vermicomposting (worm composting) right in your kitchen! We’ll go over the importance and role of various decomposers in composting and how you can manage their compost ecosystem to encourage healthy, nutrient-rich compost for your plants. This interactive class includes hands-on demonstrations and an in-depth look at various compost systems currently in use on our grounds. Learn More ‣

Register

Build an Indoor Worm Bin

workshop

Build an Indoor Worm Bin
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Hours: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Cost: $40 per bin (includes up to 2 participants)

Recycling food scraps is one of the easiest and most impactful ways you can contribute to the health of our planet. We’ll teach you just how easy and rewarding it can be, and help you build your very own kitchen composting bin, complete with worms! If you have questions about this class, please contact our Program Registrar at registrar@garfieldpark.org or 773-638-1766 ex. 25. Learn More ‣

Register

Chicago Bonsai Club Meeting

workshop

Chicago Bonsai Club Meeting
Third Wednesday of the Month, March through October
Hours: 6:30 pm - 8 pm
Cost: Free

Come join us to learn about the ancient art of growing bonsai from the Chicago Bonsai Club, a chapter of the Midwest Bonsai Society. Bring your bonsai trees to work on or just come to watch. Potting soil and wire will be provided, and some plant materials and pots will be available at a nominal cost. There is no fee to attend. Learn More ‣

Composting Information Booklet by The University of Illinois Extension Master Composters

booklet

Composting Information Booklet
Cost: Free PDF Download

Interested in composting at home? The University of Illinois Extension Master Composters are the experts. Their in-depth composting information booklet contains information on why compost is important, making compost, basic compost recipes, do's and don'ts, and more! Click to View ‣