Chicago Botanic Garden

Education — Community Gardening



Watch the North Chicago Green Youth Farm's Julio Guzman give a tour of the garden at Open House
Day 2009.

Green Youth Farm
Open Houses

Community open houses celebrated the 2009 Green Youth Farm students’ accomplishments on July 29 in North Lawndale, August 5 in North Chicago, August 6 at Dyett High School, and August 12 at the Helen J. McCorkle School. Family, friends, and members of the community were welcome to tour the farms, purchase produce and ask the students about their experiences.

View photos of the 2009 Dyett Green Youth Farm Open House on SmugMug.

Students also sell their produce through October to the public at several area markets:

  • U-Pick-It Market, Greenbelt Forest Preserve (off Green Bay Road in North
    Chicago) on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., mid-July through October 10.

  • The City of Chicago’s North Lawndale Farmer’s Market will be held on-site at the North Lawndale Green Youth Farm every Wednesday morning from 7 a.m. to noon, starting July 8.

  • Chicago Botanic Garden Farmer’s Market, the first and third Sundays of the month from June 7 through October 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain or shine). Visit www.chicagobotanic.org/farmersmarket for more information.

North Lawndale students are from Manley Career Academy and Collins Academy. North Chicago/Waukegan students are from Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion Benton, and Shorland Lutheran High Schools. Two additional Green Youth Farms are located at Dyett High School, and Helen J. McCorkle School in Chicago.

For more information

If you are a student or parent interested in learning more about the Green Youth Farm program, contact Angela Mason at amason@chicagobotanic.org, (847) 835-8254.

The Green Youth Farm program is run by the Chicago Botanic Garden in collaboration with the Lake County Forest Preserve District, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, NeighborSpace and Chicago Public Schools. Green Youth Farm also is made possible by the generosity of the following organizations, agencies and individuals:

Major Support for this progam comes from the Abbott Laboratories Fund, After School Matters, Inc., Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, Chicago Tribune Foundation, Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust, Grace A. Bersted Foundation, Harris Bank, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Institute for Museum and Library Services, Kraft Foods Inc., Ruddie Memorial Youth Foundation, Steans Family Foundation, The Siragusa Foundation, Walter S. Mander Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, and Sheridan Foundation.

Additional Support for this program comes from the Brinson Foundation, Clara Mosquera, Goose Island Brewery, HSBC, Home Depot, Jack R. and Ginny Hotaling, Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest, Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund.