Community Compost Triage Series Part I May 14, 1PM-4PM Community Composting Hands-On Series- Free to NeighborSpace Humboldt Park Gardeners!

[Angela O'Rourke]

Hei Growing Pride Gardeners - 

Exciting news, Robin Cline from Neighborspace is starting the mini networking/workshops she proposed last year with the first one being about composting with Nance Klehm. 

Go sign up and get your spot! Sorry for my late sharing, I just got a new laptop on Friday and catching up from a month without a computer. 

See you there,

Angela

Hello, Humboldt Park Community Gardeners! 

We wanted to let you know about an exciting learning and networking opportunity NeighborSpace is hosting. As you may have heard, Chicago has a new composting ordinance that allows more robust composting in community gardens. Of course, to compost "robustly" requires understanding what is working, what is not, and what you can do to make successful "community composting" better. 

So....NeighborSpace is teaming up with Nance Klehm (who runs the Chicago community composting and bio-remediation project, The Ground Rules) to offer a unique two session training for Humboldt Park community composters. NeighborSpace is sponsoring this project as a special "neighborhood networking and mobilizing" opportunity. Space is reserved specifically for NeighborSpace gardens in Humboldt Park. Ideally, two to three garden leaders/composters from 6-8 gardens will attend. If we have space for more gardeners a week before the event, we will open it up to other Humboldt Park community gardeners, to maintain neighborhood cohesion. We encourage participants to please attend both sessions if at all possible. Please sign up for this compost networking event here. Space is limited. 

Community Compost Triage-Part One 

"Compost Field Trip and Mini Tour"- otherwise known as "What to do with the big pile of sticks that used to be a compost system!"

When: Saturday, May 14, from 1 pm to 4 pm

Where: We will start off at the Center for Green Technology, 445 N Sacramento Blvd., and then tour two Humboldt Park Community Garden compost sites. 

In this session, we will explore what some of the common community composting pitfalls are, consider how the new compost ordinance brings both challenges and opportunities, and offer systems and suggestions that make community composting more enjoyable. For the second half of this day, a few brave gardens have offered up needy compost bins for us to "excavate" as a team, and come up with solutions to get under-managed systems back in good shape.

Community Compost Triage -Part Two 

Building and Filling a Successful Compost Bin

When: Saturday, May 21- 10 am to 4 pm

Where: Campbell Co-op Community Garden, 1357 N Campbell

In this work day build session, participants will help tear down and triage an existing compost system, and build a new and improved compost bin for Campbell Co-op Community Garden. In addition, participants will learn how to fill and layer and empty compost bin with the right materials, including food scraps, straw, weed and brush material, etc. Bring your garden gloves and work gear- we will spend time practicing fun systems of breaking down compost at a few other nearby compost sites. Beer and snacks will be on hand at the end, so we can celebrate "community composting" in full glory. 

Let me know if you have any questions! 

Robin Cline 

Assistant Director 

NeighborSpace 

445 N. Sacramento Blvd. 

Chicago, IL 60622

1-773-412-9629

rcl...@neighbor-space.org