http://www.seedingchicago.com How urban agriculture is taking root and transforming lives Wed, 16 May 2012 01:53:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/05/15/chicago-food-hubs-connect-producers-buyers/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/05/15/chicago-food-hubs-connect-producers-buyers/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 17:43:50 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2163 The U. S. Department of Agriculture has compiled the first Regional Food Hub Resource Guide, which lists these innovative business models across the country—from Amissville, Va., to Salinas, Calif. The guide will interest those looking for businesses that connect producers with buyers. “The Regional Food Hub Resource Guide is an important tool to help promote [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/05/15/chicago-food-hubs-connect-producers-buyers/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/04/17/one-earth-film-fest-april-27-29-in-oak-parkriver-forest/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/04/17/one-earth-film-fest-april-27-29-in-oak-parkriver-forest/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:29:56 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2147 To stimulate dialogue and inspire planet-friendly action, Green Community Connections in Oak Park is hosting its first One Earth Film Fest 2012 April 27-29. The planning committee evaluated and considered more than 300 films, then narrowed its final selections to 16 feature-length films that have received critical acclaim within the green film community. Another 12-17 [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/04/17/one-earth-film-fest-april-27-29-in-oak-parkriver-forest/feed/ 1 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/02/29/a-simple-seed-germination-test/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/02/29/a-simple-seed-germination-test/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:11:24 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2138 With seed swap season in full swing, many of us are swooping up all kinds of seeds with visions of nutritious vegetables dancing in our heads. But what if those seeds don’t yield what we’re expecting? How does one test seeds to make sure they’ll grow into edibles? During Chicago Botanic Garden’s recent seed swap, [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/02/29/a-simple-seed-germination-test/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/02/24/its-seed-swap-season-around-chicago/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/02/24/its-seed-swap-season-around-chicago/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:09:51 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2131 This is the time of year for seed swaps around Chicago. Several groups have swaps of all sorts planned this weekend and next. Chicago Botanic Garden Seed Swap Sunday, Feb. 26 2 to 5 p.m. Details: Featuring Diane Ott Whealy co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange and author of “Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver.” Diane [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2012/02/24/its-seed-swap-season-around-chicago/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/10/25/chicago-ordinance-paves-way-for-englewood-urban-farm/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/10/25/chicago-ordinance-paves-way-for-englewood-urban-farm/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:00:47 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2112 The first urban farm developed under Chicago’s new urban agriculture ordinance broke ground Oct. 14 on a one-acre gravel-covered site in Englewood. Growing Home Inc., which already operates a half-acre agricultural property nearby, will manage the farm and have it planted for the spring 2012 growing season. By next summer the vacant lot will be [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/10/25/chicago-ordinance-paves-way-for-englewood-urban-farm/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/09/18/locally-grown-locally-produced-foods-take-hold/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/09/18/locally-grown-locally-produced-foods-take-hold/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:07:12 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2098 Take a look around and perhaps you’ve noticed a trend we’ve been following recently: the growth of locally produced specialty foods and drinks. Increasingly, local foods entrepreneurs are moving beyond selling produce fresh from the garden or farm. Many are now turning locally grown produce into condiments, teas, seasonings, herbal tinctures, bath and body care [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/09/18/locally-grown-locally-produced-foods-take-hold/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/09/17/cook-county-seeks-public-input-on-proposed-food-policy-council/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/09/17/cook-county-seeks-public-input-on-proposed-food-policy-council/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 17:19:58 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2086 The Cook County Department of Public Health is proposing the creation of a food policy council for Cook County. The food policy council would be an official committee that explores cross-agency and cross-jurisdictional food issues and makes recommendations to the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Do you live or work in Cook County, Illinois? If [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/09/17/cook-county-seeks-public-input-on-proposed-food-policy-council/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/15/suburban-gardener-maximizes-her-space-for-growing-food/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/15/suburban-gardener-maximizes-her-space-for-growing-food/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:09:50 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2071 Debbie Kong, a master gardener and gardening educator in Chicago’s western suburbs, gave us a tour recently of her spread. Debbie decided this year to expand her “farmette,” as we fondly refer to her garden, and use more of her land to grow food. She and her daughter, who’s known as Little Green Girl, worked [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/15/suburban-gardener-maximizes-her-space-for-growing-food/feed/ 2 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/15/garfield-park-conservatory-teaches-greener-living/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/15/garfield-park-conservatory-teaches-greener-living/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:22:58 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2060 The Garfield Park Conservatory on Chicago’s West Side is offering another series of workshops for those interested in greener living. We encourage you to check them out. Here’s what coming up next on the Conservatory’s “Growing & Green Living” schedule: How to Harvest, Use & Brew Compost Wednesday, Aug. 17, 6-7:30 pm $5 suggested donation [...]

]]> http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/15/garfield-park-conservatory-teaches-greener-living/feed/ 0 http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/04/faqs-on-proposed-urban-ag-ordinance-in-chicago/ http://www.seedingchicago.com/2011/08/04/faqs-on-proposed-urban-ag-ordinance-in-chicago/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:43:04 +0000 Cassandra West http://www.seedingchicago.com/?p=2050 Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is moving along with plans to define urban agriculture in Chicago as it tries to get an ordinance passed by the City Council. In late July, the Mayor’s Office released an FAQ on urban agriculture and a document on urban farms (commercial) and community gardens (non-commercial). One difference between an urban [...]

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