Join us at the Trash Bash!

 

Come to the new Starling building at 3243 W. 16th Street this Saturday, November 9, Noon-3:00 p.m. for the first-of-its-kind TRASH BASH! Sponsored by Litter-Free Lawndale (a project of the NLCCC GROWSS Committee and the North Lawndale Homeowners Association), the Trash Bash will be an opportunity to celebrate our work this year, make plans for a cleaner 2025, enjoy refreshments and crafts, and toast some North Lawndalians who have made a difference!

That day is also the GRAND OPENING of Monday Coffee, a Black-owned cafe and roaster located at Starling! That event is also free and open to the public, from 7am-7pm. You can RSVP here.

Tree Walk on Douglas Blvd. - October 10

Join TREEmendous Lawndale, the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, Morton Arboretum, and the Chicago Region Trees Initiative for a Tree Walk along beautiful Douglas Blvd. Led by Trinity Pierce!

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/douglas-boulevard-tree-walk-tickets-1038172821857. This event is free, and refreshments will be provided.

 

Piet Oudolf at work on the Sears Sunken Garden plant layout

 The Friends of Sears Sunken Garden now have a brand new website.

Make sure to check it out to learn about progress and upcoming events.

https://searssunkengarden.org/garden/

Litter-Free Lawndale spring clean-ups!

Litter-Free Lawndale is one of the GROWSS committee's key initiatives, working with the North Lawndale Homeowners Association and many other partners to help make North Lawndale the cleanest neighborhood in the city! One of our key strategies to accomplish this is community clean-ups.

This spring, we have already partnered in successful clean-ups around Unity Park at 19th & Kostner and YMEN at 13th & Pulaski. We also created a form you can fill out to request a partnership for a clean-up in your own area: https://bit.ly/litterfreelawn.

Upcoming are two big events: Earth Day and Chicago River Day!

Earth Day: Register NOW to join us from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22 at Franklin Park as we clean in and around the park! We are looking for 120 volunteers to help make for an amazing day! Questions? Contact Jonathan Kelley at jonathanmkelley@gmail.com or text/call 312-420-2558.

Chicago River Day: Register here to join us on Saturday, May 13. We will meet at UCAN at 9:00 a.m. for a clean-up around Independence Blvd. & Central Park Ave. After we're done, stick around for a special Mother's Day festival sponsored by State Representative Lakesia Collins. 

Scenes from 2022 GROWSS Youth Council

In the picture, Annamaria Leon, seating at Love Blooms Here Plaza (location: Douglas Blvd between Central Park and Millard)

Annamaria Leon is a certified permaculture designer and teacher, and is active in her North Lawndale garden community. She is also the edible landscapes manager for Christy Webber Landscapes. Come spring, she revels in her backyard forest garden, which she shares with a multitude of birds, bees and butterflies.

In the picture Annamaria Leon, caring for plants at Love Blooms Here

Participant of GROWSS Youth Council cutting flowers without damaging them

In the picture, Annamaria Leon and Hugo of Growss Youth Council, at Love Blows Here Stewardship Community Day