Macomb Community Garden

05/17/2023

These common flora can cause blisters, poison pets, and attract ticks 😳

04/21/2023

Just a quick reminder that our Garden Workshop Part 2 will be taking place tomorrow at First Presbyterian Church in Macomb from 9 - 12. This workshop will take place both inside and outside. It may be windy and/or cold, so we encourage you to bring a jacket or extra layers.

04/04/2023

We had a great time at the University of IL Extension's 2023 Gardner's Day. Thank you to the garden volunteers for joining Fletcher, Dave, and Joel to talk to conference attendees about their passion for the garden and to hand out free starters and seeds!

04/03/2023

Garden season has begun!

The weather was perfect this weekend to get started at the Macomb Community Garden! Joel tilled up some plots and many gardeners helped plant potatoes and onions along with working on their own plots.

04/01/2023

Welcome to our Seed Library..."Take what you need, leave what you can."

03/30/2023

Spring is here, and while we know you're eager to start sprucing up your outdoor space, we politely and respectfully urge you to BUZZ OFF with your yard work. 🐝

70% of native bees nest underground in the colder months, while 30% lay eggs in natural, hollow stems...which means many important pollinators are still hibernating. Show them some love and respect by delaying your garden and yard work for a few more weeks.

Get a head start on helping pollinators with tips for building your own pollinator garden: https://www.fws.gov/story/how-build-pollinator-garden

Photo Credit: Green metallic sweat bee in a cavity, by Katja Schulz / CC BY 2.0 http://ow.ly/goo050Ik9Iz

03/06/2023

Hi everyone, it's that time of year again. Garden applications are open and Joel will be reaching out to everyone who has already registered soon with information on this season!

Please share this and help us bring even more gardeners to our community.

Follow the link below for more information:
https://www.prairiehillsrcd.org/macomb-community-garden.html

01/09/2023

David King wrote a story about the garden closing party last fall for the Prairie Land Conservancy's quarterly newsletter, The Prairie Update. Read it below.

Members of the Macomb Community Garden held an end of season potluck picnic on October 2nd at the garden facility on East Wheeler Street [formerly the Wheeler Street Softball diamonds] Nearly twelve members brought their favorite foods made from their garden produce to share. Stories of garden pests such as
insects and weeds, droughty days, wet days, and growing advice throughout the season were shared as well as who had the “greenest thumb”.

The community garden was established in 2010 with the first plots at Macomb Park District’s Veterans Park. The clay heavy soil was not conducive to gardening. The next year the McDonough County Housing Authority volunteered their property at the Wheeler
Street ball diamonds. The prairie soil was much friendlier to the gardeners. The humble beginnings started when WIU professors and interested community members grew together to form a garden board of directors.

Prairie Hills wrote a grant to purchase garden tools, tillers, and a shed to store the equipment. 2023 growing season memberships are available for $20.00 for a 10’ by 10’ plot. WIU and SRCC students are free as well as McDonough County Housing Authority
residents and staff. Please click the link below to fill out the application:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmuWzsl1H6GMMip-TcCFfat1aT2XOHDLuNEcalFeMnoGMXmQ/viewform

To get a copy of our quarterly newsletter, become a member:
http://www.prairielandconservancy.org/become-a-member.html

Contact Prairie Hills with any questions:
[email protected] or (309) 833-4747.

07/09/2021

MCG members had a great time handing out over 500 plants at the Heritage Days Parade. Thanks to everyone who came out, and a special thank you to member Esther Bernards, age 10, for volunteering to be our plant distribution photographer. Enjoy her wonderful photos of happy people receiving plants! ☺

07/07/2021

Spring, summer, or fall...

Beets are known for being a cold-weather crop, but did you know you this garden staple is quick and easy grow even in the heat of summer?

Check out these tried and true beet-growing tips from Extension Horticulture Educator Ryan Pankau.
🔗 go.illinois.edu/GrowingBeets

06/03/2021

Join the experts at U of I Extension today live at noon to learn about pollinators and get answers to all your gardening questions!

If you're interested in pollinator gardens, then this show is for you! The Horticulturists will be joined by Dr. Alexandra Harmon-Threatt as they discuss pollinator gardens, and the importance of the I-Pollinate outreach program that anyone can take part in.

And as always, we're happy to answer your ongoing gardening and horticulture questions.

When: Thursday, June 3, actual show starts 12pm CT (we'll start the stream around 11:50 to share some fun preview videos)
Where: Our page (www.facebook.com/UIextension, scroll down, find live show, and click)