By David Holmquist

On April 2, to mark the beginning of the season, the Oak Park Area Edible Gardening Cooperative will launch a unique community garden project dubbed “Karen’s Garden.” Oak Park resident Allen Green has graciously made his yard available to members of the Cooperative as a shared space for growing food and creating native habitat, at 213 Thomas St., in Oak Park.

The launch event will be an all-day affair and will include:

A joy-filled work session to prepare the yard for spring planting from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A seed-starting workshop and “swap” of seeds and seedlings, beginning at 11 a.m.
Introductions and discussions of plans for the operation of Karen’s Garden for the coming year.

The primary mission of Karen’s Garden is to provide a space for people who have no access to land, so that they can learn gardening skills and experience the pleasure of growing (and eating) their own food. The garden may also become a demonstration site to provide information and working examples of techniques for ecologically sound urban gardening, soil building and habitat restoration. The Cooperative welcomes the participation of gardeners at all skill levels, from beginners to experienced gardeners who wish to share their knowledge and passion with willing and enthusiastic learners.

For more information or to RSVP, please visit the website of the Oak Park Area Edible Gardening Cooperative (OPAEGC) at http://seedingchicago.com/opeagc/ and register for newsletter updates, or contact David Holmquist at 708-870-1800.