Beekeeping, Composting and Adult Programs

The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance offers a myriad of programs designed to help you get closer to nature in the city. We partner with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Master Composters programs to provide many of our gardening and composting demonstrations and workshops. The Conservatory is also the proud home of multiple bee hives and an active beekeeping program - enjoy the fruits of their labor by purchasing Conservatory-made honey in our Gift Shop!

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!

Walk in Demonstrations During Green & Growing Fair
Saturday, April 24
Hours: 11 am – 3 pm
Where: Blue Stone Terrace in City Garden
Cost: Free!

Demonstrations include composting, tool sharpening, bean pole teepees and other garden structures, and more!

Using Hydrangeas, Azaleas and other
Spring Flower’s in Floral Center Pieces
Saturday, May 8
Hours: 10 am to Noon
Where: Community Room
Cost: $15 per person, $20 per couple (bring your mother or your brother!)

Bring your mother along to this workshop, and share a floral experience. Using spring flowers, including some trimmed from the Conservatory’s very own historic Azaleas, create both memories and a mother’s day center piece during this hands-on floral arranging workshop.  

Please pre-register for this class by contacting Robin Cline at 773-638-1766 ext 18 or emailing rcline@garfieldpark.org.

Art & Nature Series: Weaving the Wonder of Nature
Wednesday, June 23
Hours: 6 pm to 8 pm
Where: Jensen Room
Cost: Free

Come to this hands-on workshop, where we will be exploring a number of techniques incorporating looms and natural materials. This workshop is presented in partnership with the Chicago Public Library’s celebration of “Reading is Art-Rageous” theme.

Program is free, but requires pre-registration as space is limited.  Beginning May 1st please call the Chicago Public Library to register at (312) 747-4011.

Art & Nature Series: Weaving the Wonder of Nature
Saturday, July 31
Hours: 10 am to Noon
Where: Community Room
Cost: Free

Come to this hands-on workshop, where we will be exploring a number of techniques incorporating looms and natural materials. This workshop is presented in partnership with the Chicago Public Library’s celebration of “Reading is Artastic” theme.

Program is free, but requires pre-registration as space is limited.  Beginning May 1st please call the Chicago Public Library to register at (312) 747-4011.

Kitchen Sink Composting -
Indoor Worm Bins for Your Kitchen
Wednesday, September 22
Hours: 6 pm to 8 pm
Where: Jensen Room
Cost: $25 per worm bin, $5 additional for extra attendees
Instructor: Bill Shores

Looking for great compost you can make in your own kitchen? Come to this workshop, learn about worm composting, and leave with your very own kitchen composting bin, complete with worms.  This is a family friendly workshop - children 5 years old and up are welcome to attend.

Pre-registration is required for this class by contacting Robin Cline at 773-638-1766 ext 18 or rcline@garfieldpark.org.

Kitchen Sink Composting -
Indoor Worm Bins for Your Kitchen
Wednesday, October 20
Hours: 6 pm to 8 pm
Where: Jensen Room
Cost: $25 per worm bin, $5 additional for extra attendees
Instructor: Bill Shores

Looking for great compost you can make in your own kitchen? Come to this workshop, learn about worm composting, and leave with your very own kitchen composting bin, complete with worms.  This is a family friendly workshop - children 5 years old and up are welcome to attend.

Pre-registration is required for this class by contacting Robin Cline at 773-638-1766 ext 18 or rcline@garfieldpark.org.

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.

The Dirt on Bokashi Fermentation -
An Alternative to Composting Food Scraps

Saturday, August 14th

Hours: 10:30 am to Noon

Where: Jensen Room

Cost: $5 suggested donation per person

Instructor: Presenters from Feed Earth Now

Join us on Saturday, August 14th, when folks from FEED EARTH NOW talk about a new green initiative that explores alternative food waste disposal. Bokashi Fermentation is an ancient anaerobic process which introduces beneficial enzymes to food scraps. Instead of the rotting process of composting, this method is entirely anaerobic and odor-free. Proponents of the Bokashi fermentation process claim that this is a truly sustainable method of food waste recycling. Come learn, ask questions, and find out what this “new” old process is all about.

Pre-registration is not required.

Bees at Work - Public Demonstration Times

Tuesdays and Saturdays (June – September)

Hours: Drop in between 10:30 am and Noon

Where: Demonstration Hives in the City Backyard Garden (formerly the Demonstration Garden

Each Tuesday and Saturday morning this summer, our volunteer beekeepers will be checking the Conservatory’s beehives and will be on hand to explain what our busy friends are doing. Fun educational tools are utilized in this weekly show-and-tell. Hives will be opened by beekeepers at 11:15am. Stop by and see what all the buzz is about!

Program will be cancelled in case of inclement weather.

Tree ID Walks

Fridays: May 14, July 16, and October 15

Hours: 10 am - Noon

Where: Meet in the Front Lobby of the Conservatory

Cost: Free

Learn to identify city trees throughout the seasons with tree-keeper Jim DeHorn of the Openlands Project. Jim will take you on a tour of the trees of beautiful and historic Garfield Park. The Spring Tree ID Walk will take place on May 14th. The Summer Tree ID Walk will take place on July 16th. The Fall Tree ID Walk will take place on October 15th. Please meet Jim DeHorn in the front lobby of the Conservatory at 10am to start the tour. Interested children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Please dress appropriately for the weather – these walks will take place rain or shine!

Chicago Bonsai Club Meeting

Third Wednesday of the Month, through November 2010

Hours: 6:30 pm - 8 pm

Where: Classroom

Cost: Free

Come join us to learn about the ancient art of growing bonsai from the Chicago Bonsai Club, a chapter of the Midwest Bonsai Society. Bring your bonsai trees to work on or just come to watch. Potting soil and wire will be provided, and some plant materials and pots will be available at a nominal cost. There is no fee to attend.

For more information, please contact Susan Babyk at 773-235-9479 or suekazoo@hotmail.com. 

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:

*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.