Join us in one of our Pop-up Victory Gardens to learn how to grow your own healthy, organic food. The gardens may come and go, but the knowledge you gain will last a lifetime.

Our Mission

Peterson Garden Project is a 501c3 Chicago-based nonprofit whose mission is to recruit, educate, and inspire everyone (seriously) to grow and cook their own food. We change lives, families, and communities in the process.

Becoming a Member

RETURNING GARDENERS! Check your email (including spam/promo/marketing folders) for the link to sign up for 2020 - also check your member portal page if you can’t find it in your email.

Are you interested in gardening with us, but haven’t yet? Keep reading if you’d like to garden with us next season! Mark your calendar to sign up Feb 1… People interested in gardening with Peterson Garden Project do not need any prior gardening experience. The mission of the project is to teach people how to grow their own food, so we’re looking to recruit ‘grewbies’—our term for people new to growing food - as well as experienced gardeners.

Membership is $85 and includes in-garden classes and other learning support, events, some supplies, shared tools, a water source, and one 4×8 raised bed filled with organic soil.

We also have a ton of online growing education, and our Fearless Food Gardening in Chicagoland book available at City Grange, 5500 N. Western, Chicago.

Gardens open Saturday, April 18th and close for the season on Sunday, November 8th, 2020.

Want to check things out before you sign up? All are welcome for garden classes and garden workdays. See our Classes & Events page and Volunteer page for opportunities to participate.

How to Sign Up for Garden Membership

New gardener registration opens on February 1, 2020 @ 8am. Check this page for a big SIGN UP button. Please keep in mind - some gardens fill up fast, even within minutes of registration opening. If you want to garden at a specific site, be sure to sign up as soon as registration opens. Your registration is not complete until you attend a mandatory membership meeting/orientation. Instructions for signing up for this are included during the online registration process.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on membership info, classes and events, and other activities. Follow us on Facebook.

All are welcome at Peterson Garden Project!

The diversity of our members makes the PGP community special. We are committed to keeping our program open and welcoming to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of nationality, age, income, or religion.

What’s a Pop-up Victory Garden?

On the north side of Chicago, empty land is rare (and expensive) so we partner with organizations that let us put in short-term gardens so our members have a place to learn.

When the land is no longer available, the gardens move to a new location so new neighborhoods can learn how to grow their own food!

This method allows us to focus on long-term gardeners vs. long-term gardens.

Pop-up Victory Gardens are just one element in our educational portfolio. Click here to learn more!

Our Gardens

GLOBAL GARDEN (Permanent Garden)
Lawrence/Sacramento

Location
Albany Park, 33rd Ward

Partnership
Alderman Deb Mell, North River Commission, Global Gardens Urban Refugee Training Farm, NeighborSpace

Grow2Give™
Produce donated to Lincoln Square Friendship Center and First Slice

GROWUPTOWN (Permanent Garden)
Broadway/Sunnyside

Location
Uptown, 46th Ward

Partnership
Alderman James Cappelman, Morningside Stewart, LLC, Uptown United, Uplift High School, Heartland Health Center, NeighborSpace

Grow2Give™
Produce donated to Inspiration Cafe