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Support Sustainable Gardening at Urban Harvest 2010 on October 9

If you live in Chicago, you have probably seen the occasional empty lot filled with rows of vegetables. There’s a burgeoning “grow local” movement here that encourages these kinds of farms, and one of the biggest in Chicago is City Farm. City Farm is a sustainable vegetable farm bordering Chicago’s Cabrini-Green and Gold Coast neighborhoods. Each year, it’s got 30 types of tomatoes as well as beets, carrots, potatoes, gourmet lettuces, herbs and melons. All produce is grown in composted soil generated from local sources, such as kitchen trimmings from some of the city’s finest restaurants. Such a good idea!

So when my friend Jeffrey Smith asked me to help promote Urban Harvest 2010, a benefit to raise awareness of City Farm, I was happy to help! (Incidentally, Jeffrey is on the event committee, but he also works at Enesco – the company that once brought you Precious Moments and has about 40 gift brands, including “Cherished Teddies.” Something tells me this is not an adult lingerie line. I’ve asked for a Cherished Teddie and I’ll let you know what I find out.)

Urban Harvest will be Saturday, October 9, and is held on-site at the farm at Clybourn and Division. From 4 to 6 pm there are contests and games designed for kids, including hay rides. From 6 to 9 pm there will be music, beer, wine, soft drinks, and appetizers from Piece, Dinoto Ristorante and Vie Restaurant.

They’ll also announce the winner of first “City Farm Green Cuisine” Award, recognizing a Chicago-area chef who’s cooking and recycling techniques support City Farm’s focus on sustainable urban gardening.

Admission is free for kids under 12. Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for youth aged 12-18. Proeeds benefit the Resource Center, the nonprofit that operates City Farm. Tickets are online via Eventbrite or call (773) 821-1351.

- Kevin