Events at Our Farm
During our growing season, we offer cultural public programming to reflect the diversity of our farm and foster cross-cultural relationships between our farmers and community. This includes our summer concert series that highlights music from around the world and our cooking class series that features locals chefs and our farmers teaching the public how to make cultural dishes from their home country.
Past bands that have played at Global Gardens include: Tuvergen Band, Ochin Pakhi, Magic Carpet, Surabhi Ensemble, Joel Paterson Swing Quartet, La Tosca, Phaedra Darwish, Alpha and the Princes of Futa, Cambodian Traditional Music Ensemble
Video taken at our May 2025 concert featuring La Tosca
Upcoming Farm Events
Donation Day at Eco-Flamingo
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
University of Chicago Farmer's Market
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!
Opening Farm Concert: Norberto Guerra Trio
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)
Global Issues, Local Responses Book Club
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.
Volunteer Fair
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!
Solidarity Gardening Forever
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.
Spring Volunteer Day
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
Slow Water with Stephan Crump
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.
Earth Day Happy Hour
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.
Neighborhood Spotlight: Global Gardens Chicago
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).
Neighborhood Spotlight: Global Gardens Chicago
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).
Spring Volunteer Day
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
Volunteer Workday
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
Volunteer Workday
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
Neighborhood Spotlight: Global Gardens Chicago
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).
Neighborhood Spotlight: Global Gardens Chicago
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).
Volunteer Workday
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
Volunteer Workday
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
Volunteer Seed Organizing Day
Help us prepare for the upcoming growing season by organizing seeds to give out to our farmers!
Jeni's Ice Cream Fundraiser
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:
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
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.
Green Corn Festival
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.
Cooking Class with Chef Won Kim
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.
Volunteer For Us at Apple Fest
We are once again a part of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer Grant Program which donates money to our organization per volunteer shift we get filled for their upcoming event, Apple Fest.
If you all would like to help us out, we'd love to have you pick up a volunteer shift at Apple Fest on October 3-5. Shifts are generally 3-4 hours and you’ll get a complimentary shirt for volunteering. The quicker you sign up, the better as the best shifts tend to go quickly.
When signing up, make sure to write “Global Gardens Chicago” as the org you are volunteering on behalf of in order for us to get reimbursed through the grant program.
September Cooking Class with Farmer Tee Moo
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.
Farm Concert: Joel Paterson Swing Quartet
Join us a beautiful evening at our farm for our Second Saturday Concert Series featuring the Joel Paterson Swing Quartet
Doors and farmer-made food served at 4pm, music starts at 5pm.
Our events are BYOC-Bring Your Own Chair.
33rd Ward Neighbor Night
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!
Cooking Class with Chef Brian Motyka
Join us for an unforgettable outdoor cooking class at Global Gardens Chicago, where you’ll learn to craft vibrant Grilled Summer Squash & Shiso “Lettuce Wraps” featuring a colorful bean and tomato relish, shaved jalapeño, and fragrant garden herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro. This hands-on experience will be led by Brian Motyka, Executive Chef of the Michelin-starred Longman & Eagle, who will share his expertise in celebrating peak seasonal produce with creative, approachable techniques. Set in our beautiful urban farm, this class invites you to cook, taste, and enjoy the flavors of summer right where the vegetables are grown.
All classes are outside on our farm. We ask that our participants be prepared by:
Bringing their own chopping knife (We're a small non-profit and don't have quality knives to supply)
Bringing water
Bringing their own food storage containers for any leftovers after the class.
Farm Concert: Magic Carpet
Join us an incredible evening at our farm for our Second Saturday Concert Series featuring ethno-funk music by Magic Carpet.
Doors and farmer-made food served at 4pm, music starts at 5pm.
Our events are BYOC-Bring Your Own Chair.
About the Artist:
The music of Magic Carpet is a culmination of collective studies between a diverse group of musicians focused on sharing research and experiences to find a common ground in the rhythms, melodies and harmonies that interested them. After many years of this journey and exploration of the sounds of Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, the result is an original music focused on a hypnotic groove that encourages the audience to move their feet and uplift their spirit. Listen to their music here.
Volunteer Workday
Come volunteer on the farm to help with various farm tasks including but not limited to:
Moving woodchips
Watering
Weeding
Picking up trash
Cleaning farm equipment
Volunteer Workday
Come volunteer on the farm to help with various farm tasks including but not limited to:
Moving woodchips
Watering
Weeding
Picking up trash
Cleaning farm equipment
Volunteer Workday
Come volunteer on the farm to help with various farm tasks including but not limited to:
Moving woodchips
Watering
Weeding
Picking up trash
Cleaning farm equipment
Artseed Pop-up Art Making Workshop
ArtSeed is an expansion on KidsMobile, a mobile creative play program engaging culture, nature, and art with youth and families across Chicago. ArtSeed engages over 2,000 young people (ages 3-12) across 35 parks evenly distributed across Chicago’s North, West, and South Sides for two hour bi-weekly pop-up art-making sessions. Youth participate in storytelling, music, movement, and nature play rooted in neighborhood stories. Children explore the histories and legacies of Chicago's community-based artists and imagine creative solutions to challenges in their own neighborhoods.
Artseed Pop-up Art Making Workshop
ArtSeed is an expansion on KidsMobile, a mobile creative play program engaging culture, nature, and art with youth and families across Chicago. ArtSeed engages over 2,000 young people (ages 3-12) across 35 parks evenly distributed across Chicago’s North, West, and South Sides for two hour bi-weekly pop-up art-making sessions. Youth participate in storytelling, music, movement, and nature play rooted in neighborhood stories. Children explore the histories and legacies of Chicago's community-based artists and imagine creative solutions to challenges in their own neighborhoods.
Artseed Pop-up Art Making Workshop
ArtSeed is an expansion on KidsMobile, a mobile creative play program engaging culture, nature, and art with youth and families across Chicago. ArtSeed engages over 2,000 young people (ages 3-12) across 35 parks evenly distributed across Chicago’s North, West, and South Sides for two hour bi-weekly pop-up art-making sessions. Youth participate in storytelling, music, movement, and nature play rooted in neighborhood stories. Children explore the histories and legacies of Chicago's community-based artists and imagine creative solutions to challenges in their own neighborhoods.
Support community, culture, and refugee farmers in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood by sponsoring an event or event series. More on each option below:
Second Saturday Concert Series
Our summer concerts for the public fall on the second Saturday of the month, May-September. Concerts mainly feature music rooted in different cultural traditions, and include free food prepared by our farmers.
~700 attendees across all 5 concerts
Posts created on social media to promote event
Posters placed around the neighborhood
Typical reel promo receives 1,500-3,000 impressions and 976 email subscribers
Cooking Class Series
Local chefs teach the public how to cook a dish. Our farmers also have the opportunity to lead several classes and share their cuisine with neighbors. Classes are held outside at the farm, 5-6 times throughout the summer.
20 attendees per cooking class
Posts created on social media to promote event
Posters placed around the neighborhood
Typical reel promo receives 1,500-3,000 impressions 976 email subscribers
Sponsorship Levels
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Name and logo placement on event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts for one event of your choice
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Name and logo placement on event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts for two events of your choice
Tabling opportunity at the two events
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Name and logo placement on event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts for three events of your choice
Tabling and speaking opportunity at the three events
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Name and logo placement on all event promotional materials, social media and newsletter posts
Tabling and speaking opportunity at all events of your choice
For any questions or additional information, please email jessica@globalgardenschicago.org