Visit With the Conservatory's Hard-Working Gardeners!   Stop by the Conservatory's outside Demonstration Garden to visit with our hard-working gardeners. They might be planting, weeding or if you’re lucky, they’ll be harvesting something you can taste! Many of our garden volunteers are Master Gardeners who would be happy to answer your questions and talk with you about their work. Staffed garden is dependent on weather ─ please call 773-638-1766 ext 16 for additional information.
			Growing & Green Living Workshops Wednesday Evenings or Saturday Mornings in Winter Hours: See Following Schedule Where: See Following Schedule Cost: $5 suggested donation per person, some classes may require an additional materials/instruction fee.   Please note that some gardening workshops may require an additional materials/ instruction fee or may require pre-registration. Some classes are Family Friendly!
			Composting Demonstrations     One Saturday a Month Hours: 1 pm to 3 pm Where: Demonstration Garden Cost: Free This composting demonstration series is provided by the University of Illinois Extension Cook County/Chicago Master Composters   April 24 Basics of Composting – Green and Growing Fair* Learn how to start and maintain a basic compost bin. Different compost bin types will be on display and each one will be explained. Live demos will be conducted throughout the day of the Fair. Plus, visitors will receive a free compost education booklet to take home. * These demonstrations will take place during the Green and Growing Fair, and will last from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 15 Setting up a Compost Bin from Start to Finish Do you know exactly what should be going into a compost pile? Learn how to balance the key ingredients in composting: greens, brown, air and water. Hear the tricks of the trade from experienced Master Composters. June 26 Building up that Heat in a Compost Bin Learn how to activate a compost pile and build up some heat! Master Composters will explain which materials will help you to raise a hot composting pile. July 24 Harvesting and Using Your Compost Now is the time to start harvesting that finished compost from spring. Learn how to use your compost as mulch and potting mix. Compost sifting will be demonstrated. Note: Stay for Beekeeping Demos happening this day too! August 21 Brew a Batch of Compost Tea Join us in the shade for a spot of tea. Compost tea works wonders on your plants and applying it is a cinch. The process of brewing the tea is slightly more complex, but expert Master Composters will get you headed in the right direction. September 18 Basics of Composting – County Fair* Learn passive composting systems, such as, sheet mulching, leaf composting and leaving cut grass behind. * Compost bin demos will happen throughout the duration of County Fair. October 16 Winter Preparation of Compost Bins Decomposition slows down in the winter. Learn how to prepare your bin for the winter and harvest your remaining compost for use in the fall.
			Beginning Beekeeping Classes Saturdays: December 5, 2009, January 16 & March 6, 2010 Hours: TBD Where: TBD Cost: $60 / $50 GPCA members or volunteers   Spend the day with us learning the basics of beekeeping equipment, hive design and construction, bee biology and behavior, bee management and bee products. Class times and registration information will be available shortly.   Although being a GPCA volunteer is not a requirement for taking this class, first opportunity for sign-ups will be given to our volunteers. Please see our volunteer page for more information about becoming a volunteer.   For more information about the Beginning Beekeeping Classes, please contact Julio Tuma at 773-638-1766 x.24 or email jtuma@garfieldpark.org.
			Composting Information Booklet The University of Illinois Extension Master Composters Cost: Free PDF Download   Interested in composting at home?  The University of Illinois Extension Master Composters are the experts. Find their composting information booklet in PDF format here:   Compositing Information Booklet 9MB*   *Please note: the Compositing Information Booklet PDF is 9MB in size. Right click the above link and select save to download to your computer for printing. Load time for opening the PDF in a browser window will vary according to the speed of your Internet connection, not recommended for dial-up connections.
	More Information    For more information on the Demonstration Garden contact Melanie Harding at mharding@garfieldpark.org or call (773) 638-1766 ext. 16.