Monarch Community Garden

07/28/2021

Together our Donations Team gathered 45lbs of organic produce for the food pantry at Humboldt Park Health Hospital! Thanks to all our gardeners and volunteers ❤️

05/14/2021

We were lucky to have AmeriCorps Project YES last Saturday for a day in the garden! What a wonderful way to kick off the gardening season

04/08/2021

Waitlist is Closed! With over 50 people currently on our waitlist and only about 10 plots opening up this season, we've decided to give our team a break and "close" the waitlist to new requests for the remainder of the year. If you have already requested a plot, please know your name is still on the list and will remain there, we're just looking at 2-3 years at this point so we're taking a break. New inquiries can begin again on January 1, 2022. We will be contacting new members from the waitlist for this season in the next couple weeks.
Thank you!

01/22/2021

Hello all! For those inquiring about a garden plot, we currently have a waitlist of approximately 40+ people. If you'd like to be added, please send us a message including your email contact info, but it will likely be two or even three seasons before we get to your name. Thank you!

09/04/2020

Our garden donation program gathered tons of beautiful tomatoes, greens, herbs & more for Humboldt Park Solidarity Network today! Items will be distributed during their pantry tomorrow 💚

08/08/2020

Our gardeners have been working to donate extra produce to community pantry events! Today we contributed 4 big bags of greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and more to the event hosted at Ørkenoy by Humboldt Park Solidarity Network ❤️ We love our gardeners and our neighbors!

05/17/2020

Hello all! For those inquiring, our garden is full for the season and there are still about 15-20 people on the wait list. If you'd like to be added, please send us a message including your email contact info and we'll add you to the list, but it will likely be two years before we get to your name. Thank you!

04/15/2020

Hello! We’ve had to make some changes at the garden to ensure safety during this pandemic. Right now the garden is only open to members, no guests or visitors allowed, and not to be used as a place for social activity. If you are a member, you’ll receive an email tomorrow describing additional guidelines to allow our members safe access and distancing. We will inform all when we are able to lift some of the restrictions. Thank you!

08/27/2019

It's that time again, I'm being told there are problems with the lock today. It worked fine last night. If you can't get it open, trying squeezing the top silver part into the black bottom part with the letters, sometimes it needs to somewhat click together to open up. Comment here if there are more problems and we'll look into getting a new one if needed. And any lock gurus, feel free to try to fix it. Thanks!

05/11/2019

Hello! If you’re looking for a plot, please note that we’re full for 2019 with a wait list. It takes approximately 2 years to get a plot once on the list. Thank you!

12/14/2018

Hello members! We will be sending out the End of Year survey tonight or tomorrow through the google group email list and the private Monarch member facebook group. If you do not see the invitation by Sunday, please let me (Christy) know. If you're not planning to return in 2019, please still fill out the survey, it really helps us with planning. The survey only takes 2-3 minutes, your cooperation is much appreciated! Have a great winter!

10/24/2018

Hello gardeners! Now that we've had a frost, most of the plants at the garden are done for the season. Please stop by the garden soon to winterize your plot. Trellises may be stored neatly in your plot, secured so they don't blow away. Annuals should be pulled, chop your green material and spread in your plot, this will break down and provide nutrients to your soil over the winter. The dumpster can be used for trash, weeds and fruits, and the compost pile for remaining plant material that you don't compost in-plot. We'll be sending out a brief survey in the coming weeks to see how your season went and what suggestions you have for next year. Thank you!

09/13/2018

Hello gardeners! Can everyone please take a few minutes during your next visit to weed the aisles surrounding your plot and cover with a few wheelbarrows of wood chips? Maintaining the aisles around our plots is required and spreading a few loads of chips will help disperse the pile and get the aisles prepared for end of season. If we all help around our own plots, the whole garden will get covered in no time! Thanks!

08/31/2018

Tomato sauce and canning event at the garden tonight, 8/31, 6-8pm. See you there!

04/25/2018

Hello gardeners, we're having our first work day this Saturday 4/28 from 11-1, following a make up orientation at 10 am for those that still need to attend. Don't forget we're required to do 2 per season, but extra help is always welcome. Thank you!

04/10/2018

Hello garden members! The final orientation for registered members is tonight at the hospital at 7. Please keep in mind you need to attend orientation or you may lose your membership for the season. We will reach out and schedule a makeup session once we have the list of those who still need to attend. Thank you! Hope to see you there tonight!

03/21/2018

Current garden members - registration deadline is this Saturday 3/24. Please register if you haven't already or your plot will go to the waitlist. Thank you! And thanks to all that attended orientation last Sunday, we're excited to start the season!

03/11/2018

Leeann & Michelle

Leeann & Michelle

A parade of attractive options, competition for one great catch, and a relationship that's bound to fail miserably... see it all this season on The Diet.

"The Diet" by Leeann & Michelle
Parody of The Bachelor
Videography/Editing by Bonnie Sowle Selim

Cast in order of appearance
Michelle - Michelle Fortin
Host - Matthew Dearing
Nutrisystem - Cindy Lynch Lippert
Mediterranean Diet - Jesse Miller
Weight Watchers - Susan Matthews
Vegan - John Luke
Keto Diet - Bradley Bazile
One of those direct sales protein shakes - Leeann Dearing
Plastic Surgeon - Richard Lippert
Crossfit - Shiann Gaberial Dobalo
Personal Trainer - Tanner Jacks
Whole30 - Lauren McBride
Caveman Diet - Jason Jackson
Pizza Guy - Brian Sweeney
Balance - Kip Shearer
Daisy the Horse - herself

Music credit: Dexter Britain https://dexterbritain.com/creative-commons/

Find balance with the 131 Method! Learn how here: http://comm.131diet.com?afmc=1s3

Special thanks to Prosperity Eating Disorders and Wellness Center for inspiring this video. Diets fail! Get help if you need it. (http://prosperityedwell.com)

Our fantastic cast are ALL students and staff at Dearing Acting Studio - Arizona's NUMBER ONE acting school. (https://www.dearingstudio.com)

We are indebted to the McBride family for use of their beautiful home.

Daisy the POA was provided by Desert Skies Performance Horses in Gilbert, Arizona.

03/04/2018

2018 Registration is open! If you are a current garden member, please check your email and complete the survey as soon as you can. Community groups will be contacted individually. We will contact the waitlist in order of request date later this month. Thank you!

03/02/2018

Announcement! We are closing our waitlist until 1/1/2019. Due to low membership turnover and a current list that will take 2-3 years to get through, we've decided to close our waitlist for the remainder of the year. If you are already on the list or have sent in a request or email, you will remain on the list. If you send in a request from now until 12/31, we will need to delete the request to keep things fair. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check back for volunteer days and events open to the community, they will be posted in the months to come as we plan our season. Thank you.

09/02/2017

A little garden humor 😀. Thanks to everyone for the recent efforts to clean up your plots, let's try to stay on top of it for the rest of the season. Don't forget cool weather crops can do well in the fall - various greens, beets, carrots, peas - they can all be planted right now.

08/31/2017

Please remember that bringing food scraps from home to compost at Monarch is not permitted. Right now we only compost garden materials (unless specifically discussed with Compost Team), and only greens and browns, no food scraps. Thank you!

08/16/2017

Time for some plot maintenance! Garden is growing at warp speed right now, please use this week to tidy up your plot, remove unhealthy plants, weeds, trim your plants so they are not growing into the aisle, harvest those cherry tomatoes, etc. If you aren't able to keep up with the garden, please clear your plot of weeds and let garden leadership know you are done. And please, NO FRUITS/VEGGIES in the compost pile, those go in our garbage dumpster. Thank you for your cooperation!

07/13/2017

Great turnout at the garden last night -Thanks again To Christina Ward for her Workshop demonstration on canning

06/21/2017

Recipe for Vinegar Weed Killer

Gardening season is in full swing, and so are the weeds! Please do your gardener duties and weed around your plots. We're working on getting more mulch to help ease the spread, but in the meantime please keep a close eye on those buggers, as they spread fast. And while you're are it, try out this non-toxic, homemade weed killer! http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Recipe_for_Vinegar_Weed_Killer

Includes: types of vinegar, and recipe for vinegar weed killer.

06/13/2017

Look at what our hardworking work day crew accomplished on Saturday, in the sweltering heat! Old picnic table is now in the freshly weeded kids area and out of the main aisle, water barrels are accessible, and areas are sectioned off for flowers, veggies, maybe some future toys? Looks great!

06/09/2017

More progress on the perennial beds! If anyone feels like weeding for a few minutes, both corners by the hospital signs can really use it. There's weed block fabric under the mulch but the weeds still win. If you can clear a whole section, feel free to spread a bag of mulch too, but even just 10 minutes will really help us out. Thanks!

06/08/2017

We have a pathway! Thanks to all those who have been helping to weed the perennial garden. It's a work in progress but we've cleared an access path and will continue to weed and plant new perennials. Feel free to check it out but please be very careful, there are delicate baby plants in the plot that we're working hard to keep alive and they're not all marked yet 😀. (And shout out to the compost team too, lots of work happening at the garden tonight!)

05/16/2017

Hello gardeners! Our "plant-by" date has now passed and the cold weather is behind us. If you have not prepared your plot for 2017 planting, please do so immediately in order to retain your membership. Most of the garden has been planted and is looking fantastic, thank you!

05/04/2017

8 Ways To Make Sure Your Chicago Garden Thrives

Great advice from our neighbors up north.

Though our recent monsoon-like weather might make it seem otherwise, it's prime garden-starting season in Chicago.

04/19/2017

Still need garden orientation? Tonight at 5pm is your chance! We will keep monitoring the weather and will post if we need to reschedule it.

04/18/2017

Lots of activity at the garden in the last week, looks like everyone is off to a great start! If you have NOT attended an orientation, please try to attend tomorrow at 5pm at the garden. Our leaders are really busy right now and we're trying to wrap these up. Thank you!

03/04/2017

Hello members! Don't forget to register for 2017! We have responses from about half of you, which is great. We'll start contacting the waitlist soon so get your registrations in. Thank you, see everyone soon!

02/26/2017

Returning Monarch gardeners - please check your inbox for the 2017 registration! Orientations begin next weekend. If you are on the waitlist, we will be reaching out in a few weeks when we can confirm what plots we have open.

02/17/2017

Attention current members - tomorrow is the last day to complete your end of year survey that was emailed to you! The deadline has passed and we need everyone that wants to return for the 2017 season to complete it so we can move forward. On Saturday Feb 18 we will be reassigning the plots of those who have not responded. Thank you!