Learn how to grow your own organic food in six large Pop-up Victory Gardens on the north side of Chicago. Gardens are run by the communities that garden there. PGP provides management and education.
Since 2010, over 10,000 volunteers have helped us grow. From behind-the-scenes administrative work to garden leadership to hands-in-the-soil day-to-day joyful garden labor, volunteers are the heart of PGP.
Grow2Give plots encompass approximately 10% of each garden and are tended by volunteers who grow food organically to donate to neighborhood food pantries.
We've done a lot together since we started in 2010...
In the beginning...
Fighting Food Insecurity
Scholarships and In-garden Program Partnerships. Peterson Garden Project sets aside at least 10% of garden plots for scholarships for individual families and for food growing programs facilitated with community partners.
How PGP Works
Your $100 annual membership includes one 4'x8' untreated wood raised garden bed with organic soil. Our gardens are for growing edible produce, herbs, and edible or beneficial flowers. Plant material or perennial plants may be left from its previous gardener, you may keep whatever is in your assigned plot once the garden opens. We do not allow any chemicals in our gardens, so anything added was organic/natural. We provide water and watering cans, online and some in-garden education, coordinated full garden work days, and some gardening tools as part of your membership.
General Gardener registration opens at 9am CST on December 1st, please feel free to share with anyone interested in gardening with us! General Garden Registration will remain open from December 1st until gardens are full, and links will be posted under each garden name when they are live. Please keep in mind - every year some gardens fill up fast, but there are wait lists since members may move or might not able to garden after all. Your registration is not complete until you attend a mandatory ZOOM membership meeting/orientation in the spring. Details with dates and links to sign up for our ZOOM orientations will be emailed to registered gardeners on March 1, 2022 and after that date links will be in your Eventbrite confirmation email. If you have registered to garden and have not received orientation information on March 1st or through Eventbrite, please email [email protected]. Gardens open on April 23rd and close on November 6th in 2022.
Worried that you'll miss gardening news and updates? Can't garden with us this year but want to stay involved or participate in work days? Sign up for our newsletter using the form below to stay up to date, and follow us on Facebook.
COVID-19 Statement: PGP gardeners must follow social distancing guidelines as set by the CDC, State, and City officials. PGP may cancel group activities from time to time as required by restrictions.
2022 Garden Locations
Global Garden
Lawrence/Sacramento, Albany Park, 33rd Ward
Partnerships:Alderman Rossana Rodriguez, North River Commission, Global Gardens Urban Refugee Training Farm, NeighborSpace
Grow2Give™ produce donated to Lincoln Square Friendship Center and First Slice
GrowUptown
Broadway/Sunnyside, Uptown, 46th Ward
Partnerships:Alderman James Cappelman, Uptown United, Uplift High School, Heartland Health Center, Neighborspace
Grow2Give™ produce donated to Ezra Multi-Service Center
Hello!Howard Garden
Howard/Ashland, Rogers Park, 49th Ward
Partnerships:Alderman Maria Hadden, Rogers Park Business Alliance, Howard Street Service Area #19, Howard Area Community Center
Grow2Give™ produce donated to Howard Area Community Center
Land on Lincoln
Lincoln/Sacramento, Arcadia Terrace, 40th Ward
Partnerships:Alderman Andrew Vasquez
Grow2Give™ produce donated to Inspiration Cafe
Swedish Covenant Garden
Carmen/California, North Park, 40th Ward
Partnerships:Alderman Andre Vasquez, Swedish Covenant Hospital
Grow2Give™ produce donated to First Slice
Vedgewater Garden
Broadway/Rosemont, Edgewater, 48th Ward
Partnerships: Land provided by Loyola University, Alderman Harry Osterman, Edgewater Environmental Coalition
Grow2Give™ produce donated to Care for Real
Join us for Classes & Events
Online classes provided in partnership with City Grange
Thanks and remembrance...
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”
2020 Board
Staff and Consultants
- Alvin Yu, Owner, Fyusion Dining (2017)
- Amy Smith, Garden Leadership (2019)
- LaManda Joy, Founder, Board President Emeritus (2010)
- Leah Ray, Secretary, HKS Architects (2018)
- Maribeth Heeran, President (2017)
- Tony Abruscato, Treasurer, Director, Chicago Flower & Garden Show (2014)
- Troy McMillan, Government Relations (2017)
- Becky Rico, Executive Director
- Shannon Greve, Registration Management
Volunteer Garden Leaders
Over 45 people volunteer as garden leaders every season. Their names are too numerous to list here but they are all very much appreciated.