With this issue we’ll explore the abundant gardens of our region. We’ll follow one of our favorite seasonal adventures through some of the most beautiful gardens of Chicago and the North Shore. We’ll take you on a short tour of my favorite flower gardens where we cultivate ideas for our own garden spaces. You’ll also meet two local organizations whose mission is to bring the many benefits of gardening to local communities.
City in a Garden
Chicago’s motto, “Urbs in Horto” or City in a Garden, may surprise you. After all, this city best known for its glittering skyline, historic architecture, and culinary indulgences might not call to mind finely designed garden spaces. But one thing Chicago does better than any of the many world-class cities I’ve visited is public gardens and parks. After our annual winter hibernation, native Chicagoans and tourists flock to parks along the lakefront and throughout the city to enjoy these beautifully designed and lovingly maintained public spaces.
From the Ground Up North
Meet Matt Frank, Founder of From the Ground Up North, an educational initiative focused on highlighting sustainable agriculture practitioners, places and opportunities for getting involved in a thriving local food scene and economy throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. From the Ground Up North offers a wealth of information about the local agricultural community in the upper Midwest and links readers to local producers, businesses and activists.
Grow Good Food
For Wendy Irwin, the Founder and CEO of Yellow Tractor, this is personal. Growing up in the shadow of Texas oil refineries in an area that some have called “the cancer belt”, Wendy began to understand the connection between the environment and human health at an early age. As a professional, parent and community activist now living in the leafy northern suburbs of Chicago, she knew she wanted to do something to make a positive impact on human and environmental health.
