Chicago Botanic Garden

General Info — Government Relations

Windy City Harvest In the News

Windy City Harvest project receives $175,000
through Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

 

Media Only:
Beth Dunn

GLENCOE, Ill. (November 23, 2009)—Due to the efforts and leadership of Senator Richard Durbin and Congressmen Danny K. Davis and Jesse Jackson, Jr., the Garden’s Windy City Harvest project recently received $175,000 through the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

Thanks to the efforts of these very supportive elected officials, this is the third year Windy City Harvest has received federal funding.  Participants in this innovative program acquire hands-on jobs training in sustainable vegetable and plant production and learn essential business skills, including planning, pricing, sales, and marketing.  Graduates of the program achieve certification by the City Colleges of Chicago in sustainable urban horticulture and urban agriculture. These federal funds will help operate the Garden’s sites located in Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

We sincerely appreciate the assistance, support, and leadership of Senator Durbin and Congressmen Davis and Jackson, and are pleased that they understand and share the Garden’s commitment to providing opportunities for young adults in Chicago’s neighborhoods.  We look forward to working with them in the future as we continue to grow this program and others.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs, and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design, and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research, and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens, and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago's North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.