Join us this Saturday from 11-4 PM for Cross-Pollination, an exciting free event executed by 2nd story and in collaboration with various organizations and businesses near Lawrence & Sacramento. Haley LeRand, Executive Director of Global Gardens, will give farm tours at 11, 11:30, and 12, and host a U-Pick/vegetable sales hour from 12:30-1:30. You can just show up! Visit 2ndstory.com/crosspollination-2026 for the full schedule of events.

In collaboration with 2nd Story, Albany Park Theater Project, Albany Park Mutual Aid, Cambodian Association of Illinois, and Brü Coffeeworks.

The theme for World Refugee Day 2026 is "Solidarity with Refugees". This theme emphasizes turning sympathy into action, welcoming refugees into local communities, and ensuring they can work, thrive, and contribute. The 2026 Chicago community celebration is made possible by support from individuals, event partners, and The Reva and David Logan Foundation. 

Join Executive Director, Haley LeRand at the Global IssuesJoin Executive Director, Haley LeRand at the Global Issues, Local Responses Book Club which is curated for readers of books that create connections by linking pressing global issues to particular local contexts for their meeting on Tuesday, April 28.

At the meeting, we’ll be reading THE LAST SWEET BITE by renowned human rights investigator Michael Shaikh. With Guest Host Laurell Sims of Evanston Grows, joined by Haley LeRand of Global Gardens (in Albany Park), and our very own Ana Croegaert, author of Bosnian Refugees in Chicago and essays about Bosnian coffee practices.

The event is open to the public and you are not expected to finish the book before attending. April 28th 6-7:30 PM.

Are you interested in helping our native pollinators? Then, come learn how to become a Community Scientist and track pollinators in our garden! We ask that you can dedicate about one day every week or so and look at the amount of pollinators on one plant for at least 10 minutes and track it using a phone application. A full training will be provided on Saturday, June 13 at 10am-11am.

Come celebrate the opening concert at our farm and enjoy Cuban music, farmer-made food, and overall great vibes!

Come listen to some music, eat farmer made food, and enjoy the ambiance of our farm for our opening concert of the season!

Schedule of events:

4:00 - Doors open / food is served

5:00 - Music begins / produce is sold

6:30 - End

All of our events have limited seating, so it's encouraged to bring your own lawn chairs or arrive early for premium seating. Suggested donation is $20 to help our garden continue offering cultural programming and supporting our small refugee farm.

More about the artist:

Norberto Guerra is a Cuban musician, composer, arranger, and producer, driven by a deep passion forthe vibrant rhythms of Cuban son, enriched by the diverse influences of Caribbean and African music.His artistry captures the essence of Cuban son, fusing traditional melodies and rhythms with theexpressive nuances of flamenco, bossa nova, blues, and jazz. This fusion enables him to craft uniqueinterpretations that resonate deeply with audiences, celebrating the richness of Cuban heritage whileembracing contemporary musical expression. Instruments: Acoustic and electric guitar, tres cubano,electric bass, and Latin percussion. Education: • BFA in Classical Guitar, Instituto Superior de las Artes(ISA), Havana, Cuba (2015) • Classical Music Studies, Escuela Nacional de las Artes (ENA), CubanConservatory of Music, Havana, Cuba (2008)

Come down to the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative’s Farmers Market at the University of Chicago’s Main Quadrangles from 10am-2pm on Sunday, May 10th.

Hope to see you there!

Visit the Eco-Flamingo on Friday, May 8th and make a purchase to earn us 10% of sales for the day!

Location: The Eco Flamingo

4750 N Rockwell St, Chicago

Open from 11am-7pm

Come learn how to get involved in your community, leave inspired to take action!

The Volunteer Fair is back this spring with even more opportunities to do impactful work in Chicago. No matter what interests your or what skills you bring, there's an opportunity for everyone!

Whether you're passionate about protecting the environment, mentoring youth, or advancing social justice, there's an organization that needs you! The Volunteer Fair makes it easy for passionate people ready to get involved to connect with inspiring non-profits & community groups making our city stronger. Come to learn all the ways you can make a difference, leave feeling inspired—find your thing!

In addition to 20+ super rad local organizations, there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with others in your community, passionate about building a better Chicago.

Drinks will be available for purchase from our hosts at the River Room.

The Volunteer Fair is free to attend, but please let us know you're coming so we can share any important event updates. We can't wait to see you there!

Reflecting on working-class connections to the land.

A one-day conference presented in collaboration with Perennial City: Experiments in Urban Gardening (March 19 — December 18, 2026), an exhibition at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum that reveals how working people—past and present—have used gardening as a tool for creativity, care, and community action.

The day-long gathering of artists, growers, scholars, organizers, and University of Illinois Chicago partners from UNAM-Mexico City will explore the transformation of land from industrial use to food production; the preservation of local seeds and the conservation of animal species; the documentation and transmission of agricultural and culinary knowledge; the creation of alternative food networks for distributing and sustaining local crops; and the collective organizing required to defend these systems that nourish us all.

Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, and other tasks!

Volunteer tasks include:

• Picking up trash around the garden

• Organizing the farm

• Turning the compost

• Woodchipping

Acclaimed composer and bassist Stephan Crump presents an extraordinary ensemble and body of work inspired by the movement to redefine how we live with water in an era of rapid change.

Yuhan Su • vibraphone

Fung Chern Hwei • viola

Erica Dicker • violin

Jacob Garchik • trombone

Kenny Warren • trumpet

Stephan Crump • acoustic bass

Show is at 8:30pm at the Constellation Chicago on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2026.

Come celebrate, listen to global roots music, enter a raffle and support our farm! 10% of bar sales will be donated to us.

Raffle tickets can be purchased before the event to get an extra entry if you attend Earth Day Happy Hour, but tickets will also be for sale at the event. Tickets are $5 for one, $20 for 5, or $35 for 10. You don't need to be present to win. Raffle prizes include:

• Four-course meal with wine pairings and Chef led on-site greenhouse tour at Eden Chicago in Avondale.

• Two-hour Historic Chicago Kayak Tour for 2 with Urban Kayaks

• $100 Foursided Giftcard

• Small Group Climbing Session for up to 6 people at First Ascent

Purchase raffle tickets here.

RSVP not required, but encouraged.

Come visit the Chicago Cultural Center for pop-up veggie trivia & to hear about our farm on

April 3 & 4, 17 & 18, 2026 at 2-3 p.m.

Made possible by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

Come visit the Chicago Cultural Center for pop-up veggie trivia & to hear about our farm on

April 3 & 4, 17 & 18, 2026 at 2-3 p.m.

Made possible by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, and other tasks!

Volunteer tasks include:

• Picking up trash around the garden

• Organizing the farm

• Turning the compost

• Woodchipping

Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, rock painting, and seed organizing!

Volunteer tasks include:

• Picking up trash around the garden

• Painting rock markers for family garden plots

• Organizing seeds

• Turning the compost

• Woodchipping

Join us for some springtime garden clean up, woodchipping, rock painting, and seed organizing!

Volunteer tasks include:

• Picking up trash around the garden

• Painting rock markers for family garden plots

• Organizing seeds

• Turning the compost

• Woodchipping

Come visit the Chicago Cultural Center for pop-up veggie trivia & to hear about our farm on

April 3 & 4, 17 & 18, 2026 at 2-3 p.m.

Made possible by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

Come visit the Chicago Cultural Center for pop-up veggie trivia & to hear about our farm on

April 3 & 4, 17 & 18, 2026 at 2-3 p.m.

Made possible by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

Help us prepare our farm for the growing season.

Please make sure to check the weather and dress appropriately in items you don't mind getting dirty. Make sure to bring water with you and if you have any gardening gloves, please bring some as we have a limited quantity.

Volunteer Activities will include:

• Digging a trench for our water station

• Cleaning/picking up trash

• Moving woodchips

• Compost turning

• Possibly seed organizing

Help us prepare our farm for the growing season.

Please make sure to check the weather and dress appropriately in items you don't mind getting dirty. Make sure to bring water with you and if you have any gardening gloves, please bring some as we have a limited quantity.

Volunteer Activities will include:

• Digging a trench for our water station

• Cleaning/picking up trash

• Moving woodchips

• Compost turning

• Possibly seed organizing

Help us prepare for the upcoming growing season by organizing seeds to give out to our farmers!

Come enjoy scoops of your favorite flavors. 25% of your purchase will be donated back to Global Gardens Chicago! Plus we’ll have some holiday games, crafts, & a raffle!

 Raffle tickets are $5/one or $20 for five tickets. Raffle prizes include:

• Chopping Block class for 2 ($260 value)

• Wine tasting at Lynfred Winery for 6 + gift basket ($150 value)

• One free wine glass per month for a year at the Book Cellar ($120 value)

• One month of unlimited classes at Orange Theory Lincoln Square + Sweatband

• 4 tickets to Davis Theater + $100 gift card to Sourjorn

• $100 gift card to A Pretty Flower

Raffle tickets are available to purchase now at this link and will be available in person at our event. If you purchase your raffle tickets before the event AND attend, you’ll get one extra entry.

The American Indian Center and Global Gardens Chicago are excited to invite you to our Green Corn Festival on Sunday, November 2nd from 1-6pm. Events will take place at the farm at 4815 N Sacramento as well as the AIC at 3401 W Ainslie St,. The Green Corn Festival is a historic indigenous festival to celebrate the first corn harvest, so come and enjoy the bounty with us! The days activities will include:

• Native seed saving guided walk

• Corn husk doll making

• Openlands Tree tours

• Fall pollinator scavenger hunt

• Canning & Fermentation Class

• Pumpkin smash composting station

• Community meal + story time by the fire

• Farm & Art Market

Exact schedule of events to come!

If you’re interested in becoming a vendor for our Farm & Market, please click below:

While most of the activities will be donation-based, there are some events that require paid tickets. Please see below for the ticketed workshops you can attend:

U-pick (Every half hour from 1:00 – 4:00 PM)

Meet one of our refugee market farmers as they guide you into their garden plots to help you pick your own fresh vegetables. Each person will get to decide which 5 vegetable bunches they would like depending on varieties available. Tickets are $30.

Fermentation & Canning Workshop (1:00 –2:00 PM)

Come learn how to can your garden fresh veggies to prepare for winter with Vargo Brother Ferments. Tickets are $15 and cover supplies and vegetables. A short demo of fermentation will also be provided.

Ukwakhwa: Our Foods with Becky and Steve Webster

Becky and Steve Webster are enrolled citizens of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and founders of Ukwakhwa: Tsinu Niyukwayay^thoslu (Our food: Where we plant things), a ten-acre homestead dedicated to teaching traditional Haudenosaunee foodways. Through their nonprofit and YouTube channel, they share knowledge about planting, harvesting, seed keeping, and preparing traditional foods as acts of cultural reclamation and sovereignty.

Corn Mush Class (2:00 – 3:30 PM)

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the traditional process of making corn mush — from pounding corn into flour using wooden corn pounders to sifting it through black ash baskets. The class will end with cooking corn mush sweetened with maple syrup for everyone to enjoy a warm taste of this traditional dish.

Kanastohale Class (3:30 – 5:00 PM)

This session invites participants to make kanastohale, a traditional Haudenosaunee corn dish that can be prepared either savory (with beans) or sweet (with berries and maple syrup). Participants will learn shaping methods for loaves, dumplings, or turtle molds, and explore traditional wrapping and cooking techniques using fresh corn leaves or dried husks.

Join us for a hands-on cooking class with Chef Won Kim from Kimski to make Yukgaejang, a spicy Korean beef & veggie soup.

All cooking classes take place on our farm, so please dress accordingly. Since we are a small non-profit, we do ask that participants bring their own chopping knives since we have limited supplies. 

Please email Jessica at jessica@globalgardenschicago.org for any questions.

Join us for a hands-on cooking class where we’ll create Burmese-style Papaya Salad with our very own farmer, Tee Moo! You may be familiar with the Thai-style Papaya Salad, but now learn how our Burmese farmers make it. Tickets are $30. All cooking classes take place outside at our farm, weather permitting.

We’re excited to host the next Neighbor Night for the 33rd Ward Office on Monday, August 25th at 4:30pm-6:30pm. Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez will be meeting with constituents 1 on 1 from 4:30-5:30pm. If you’d like to meet with the alderwoman 1 on 1, please email info@33rdward.org to set that up.

We will be doing a farm tour at 5:30pm, so stop by to chat with the alderwoman, learn about what’s going on in our local government and enjoy an evening on the farm!