preSERVE Garden - The First Volunteer Day of the Season

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It's here. The first preSERVE Garden volunteer day of the season is upon us. We'll be weeding and otherwise prepping the garden for planting this growing season.

Images from the 2016 preSERVE Garden volunteer season.

Images from the 2016 preSERVE Garden volunteer season.

We don't want to jinx anything - but we're hoping for a morning of cooperation from the elements. Just in case, be sure to bring layers as well as closed toe shoes. If you have gardening gloves, a hat, and your own water bottle, those items are recommended as well. We will be sharing a small community picnic style meal after the hard work is done - so be sure to stick around after working up an appetite from digging around in the dirt.

Can't wait to celebrate the kickoff to the season with you!

Questions? Get in touch via slowfoodpreserve@gmail.com. 

When: Saturday, April 15th, 2017 // 10am-12pm (but be sure to stick around for the picnic lunch!)

Where: preSERVE Garden (1231 S Central Park Ave Chicago, IL 60623 / Map)

More Info: See also our event page and facebook invite. Dress appropriately (closed toe shoes and layers recommended) and bring gardening gloves, a hat and a water bottle if you have them. Feel free to bring a dish to share as well!

October preSERVE Garden Day

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Fall is upon us, folks. I don't know about you - but for me, fall is all about fresh starts. What better way to live up to that mantra than volunteering with Slow Food Chicago's preSERVE garden? Already a regular volunteer? You know we'll welcome you back with open arms. Never been? I'm going to answer that question with a question. If not now, when? Do it to it. This will be the last opportunity to help with the harvest in 2015. Don't miss out on this final chance. Get your hands dirty. Meet some friends (old and/or new). And break bread with your fellow volunteers after the hard work is done. We'll grill out afterwards so feel free to bring something to nosh and share after the harvest! Hope to see you Saturday...!!

Join us October 10th for a preSERVE garden volunteer day.

Join us October 10th for a preSERVE garden volunteer day.

What : PreSERVE Garden Volunteer Day

When : Saturday, October 10th, 2015 ; 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location : 1231 S Central Park Ave / 12th Place and Central Park Ave, North Lawndale (map)

Contact :  Email slowfoodpreserve@gmail.com with questions and to RSVP.

More : http://www.slowfoodchicago.org/preserve-garden/

Crop Mob

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Join Slow Food Chicago to lend a hand at Antiquity Oaks farm in Cornell, IL. Volunteers will be helping clean up and organizing the farm for some of their upcoming fall events. In exchange for your time and hard work as a "crop mobber", you will be provided with a homegrown lunch and drinks. Antiquity Oaks is as diversified farm with free-range livestock and a CSA Garden. They also raise pastured lamb, pork, beef, and poultry. Sounds like a pretty dreamy place to spend your Saturday. See additional details below. Adults only and no pets please.

Event: Crop Mob at Antiquity Oaks Farm
Date: Saturday, August 15th, 2015, 9:30am-3:30pm 
Location: Antiquity Oaks - Cornell, IL (map) 
Details: Slow Food Chicago  
More about this outing: Email Rob [rob.montalbano@slowfoodchicago.org] to register. This event is completely free!!

July preSERVE Garden Day

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The sunshine, a cool breeze, heck even the rain we’ve been having (not to mention finally resisting the urge to wrap yourself in a snuggie every time you venture outside of the house) - they’re all signs that spring has definitely “sprung” and we are slowly but surely warming up to the summer months Chicago waits all year for. Sounds like the perfect time to reconnect to your “roots” - or at the very least to the roots of the pleasures of nature’s bounty. What better way to reconnect than by spending some time in Slow Food Chicago’s very own community garden? July 11th (next Saturday) is your chance at the preSERVE Garden Volunteer Day (located at 12th Place and Central Park Ave). Hang with some other rad volunteers, get some dirt under your nails, and if you’re still feeling some of the independence day cook-off spirit - BYOG [bring your own grillin’ grub] to cook up and nosh on after all the “dirty” work is done. More details below. Hope you can join us!

PreSERVE Garden Volunteers

PreSERVE Garden Volunteers

Event: preSERVE Garden Volunteer Day
Date: Saturday, July 11, 10am-noon
Location: 12th Place and Central Park Ave, North Lawndale (map)
Contact: volunteer@slowfoodchicago.org
Details: Join us to get your hands dirty, meet new neighbors, and eat some good food! Bring gloves, a hat and something to throw on the grill if you'd like for our cookout afterwards! 
More about this project: 
http://www.slowfoodchicago.org/preserve-garden/

April Volunteer Newsletter

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Check out the latest edition of our Volunteer Newsletter!

We need you! Our top volunteer needs this month & season:

  • Strawberry Planting at The Pie Patch U Pick Fruit Farm, Back of the Yards
  • Planting at the preServe Garden, North Lawndale
  • Event Support at Heirloom Tomato Seedling Sale, Bang Bang Pie Shop, Logan Square

We are a totally volunteer organization with lots of fun opportunities to get involved. Scroll down for full details on upcoming volunteer activities this month. Welcome to Spring!

Event: The Pie Patch, U Pick Fruit Farm Strawberry Planting
Date: April 26, 10am-4pm
Location: 5401 South Laflin Street, Back of the Yards (map)
Contact: breanne.heath@gmail.com
Details: The Pie Patch, a pick-your-own organic farm in the Back of the Yards district is having a volunteer day to get their strawberry patch started. Breanne Heath, former Terra Madre delegate, is setting up a half-acre urban garden in partnership with Su Casa Catholic Worker, which operates a family shelter and soup kitchen.
More about this project:  http://www.thepiepatchfarm.com/

Event: preSERVE Garden Volunteer Day
Date: Saturday, May 9, 10am-noon
Location: 12th Place and Central Park Ave, North Lawndale (map)
Contact: volunteer@slowfoodchicago.org
Details: Join us to get your hands dirty, meet new neighbors, and eat some good food! We will be spreading compost, cleaning out beds and planting some of the first crops of the season. Bring gloves, a hat and something to throw on the grill if you'd like for our cookout afterwards! 
More about this project: 
http://neighbor-space.org/2012/06/23/preserve-garden/

Event:  Heirloom Tomato Seedling Sale at Bang Bang Pie Shop
Date: Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17
Location:  2051 North California, Logan Square (map)
Contact: volunteer@slowfoodchicago.org
Details: This annual sale raises funds and awareness for Slow Food Chicago projects and partnerships, along with providing organic, home-started heirloom seedlings for gardeners in Chicago. The event will take place in the Bang Bang Pie Shop side yard, and we could use volunteers to help water plants, answer questions and work the cash register between 10 - 4 both days. This is a great way to meet others and learn about Slow Food Chicago!
More about this event - see our website