2016 Growing Pride Roll Call - who are Growing Pride Gardens? are there any left?

[Angela O'Rourke]

Hi Gardeners,

This is my last attempt to save an old Humboldt Park organization. I don't want this network to die for the reasons stated last year( see below, I copied the email ).
As of today March 2 nobody has stepped up to take over leadership and I  can't keep a network afloat as without participants there is no network.

If your Garden is still participating/would like to start participating in this micro network, please reply with:

Your graden name,
Your gardens age
Your garden location
Your garden leadership team name/email/phone
What your would like to get out of this network?

Here is ours:

Mozart Community Garden, born May 2013
876 N Mozart Street
Chicago IL 60622
Angela O'Rourke(773)755-1590, Karl Kuhn, Kim Kuhn, Heather Coffey, Jessica Bader, Shannon Frech
Resource exchange, Knowledge Exchange, Support

Enjoy the beautiful sunshine! Seed starting is happening soon and I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Angela O'Rourke
Mozart Community Garden

Hi Gardeners -
Rachel moved to Pilsen and asked me to reach out and set up the new meeting. The next meeting is tomorrow evening Tuesday August 11, 2015 at 6:30pm either at Read Write Library or Mozart's Community Garden ( 876 N Mozart Street, which is next door to the library).

Rachel asked after the last meeting are Growing Pride Gardeners still interested in this network or has it had its purpose due to very low attendance?

Here is my personal answer to her question: I'm part of Mozart's Community Garden which is in it's 3rd growing season. Back in  2011 when the garden was just a dream, Growing Pride along with CCCA, Neighborspace and Openlands helped us make Mozart happen. I do not want to take this away from a future community gardener. The collected knowledge and wisdom in these networks is better than any library and the internet. I am a big believer in peer-to-peer sharing of knowledge which is what happens in a network like this. I remember the first Growing Pride meeting I went to, it was in the Boathouse gallery, there were at least 15 gardeners plus lots of little kids running around. It was a joyous potluck with seed exchange, seedling exchange, knowledge exchange, free mulch and compost connections and garden walk planning all in one meeting.  

Let me know if you can come tomorrow and continue this fantastic network.  If its no hassle, bring something to share: food, seeds, seedlings, worms, insecticide soap, ladybugs.....

Best,

Angela


PS: If some of the founding members could please do a little post on the history of Growing Pride, who founded it, gardens, past walks that would be great. It would help new members like myself to know the history - Thank you!

I found a blog post written by a Community Gardener from Staten Island NY whom really loved and praised Growing Pride's Garden walk/bike tour 2014 - pat yourself on the shoulder and enjoy: http://commmunitygardening.blogspot.com/2014/08/seeing-really-seeing-community-gardens.html