St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

305 Circle Avenue 
Forest Park, IL 60130 
(708)366-3226

Map and Directions 

Worship Services

Sundays 
8:30 & 11:00 a.m. 
10:00 a.m. Bible Study & Sunday School

Subject to change - Please check calendar

churchfront

http://www.waltheracademy.org

St. John supports Walther Lutheran Academy  - Christian Education in Forest Park

www.lcms.org

SJ Community Garden Logo

Greetings Gardeners!

St. John’s Community Garden is a gift from our congregation to our community and a place where we can meet our neighbors. Growing your own food can save significant money and, at the same time, be an inexpensive and healthy form of exercise and entertainment.

Whether you are a novice or an expert, you are welcome to apply for a plot. You do not need to be a member of St. John. Our garden is located at 7422 Washington in Forest Park, just west of our school. The garden consists of 4 x 8 foot raised bed plots that will be tended by people like you who enjoy gardening to grow food and flowers for themselves, their families, and neighbors.

Ron Riley is our Lead Garden Coordinator. We also have a number of experienced gardeners in our congregation that will be glad to answer questions or offer friendly advice. Members of the Forest Park Community Garden are also assisting us with their experience and expertise. 

In addition to our garden space, we are coordinating with other surrounding community gardens to provide several educational lectures and community-centered events throughout the year.   

If you are interested in gardening with us, please see the Gardener Agreement on this page. A small refundable security deposit is requested to help insure that the limited number of plots will be put to good use.  

Welcome to St. John’s Community Garden, and happy gardening!

Pastor Leonard Payton, St. John Lutheran Church

 

SJ Community Garden LogoWant to grow your own fruits, vegetables, or flowers?

Applications now being accepted

 

 

Sign up for a St. John's Garden Plot and learn how to grow your own vegetables, fruits, and flowers.

708-366-3226

For details see St. John's Community Garden

 

Special Thanks!

We are especially thankful to our friends Gina, Debbie, and Jessica at the Forest Park Community Garden (FPCG) for their advice and help they've given us in starting up the St. John's Community Garden. 

Their web site, http://fpcommunitygarden.com/  has a lot of useful information, including a blog on the garden construction.

We look forward to working with FPCG and other local gardens to share expertise and educational events.

You can also see Debbie and her daughter conducting a Seed Sowing Video at the recent Forest Park Seed Swap.

GARDEN LAYOUT EXAMPLES

See an example of how an 8'x4' vegetable and flower garden bed could be designed.  Example

See an actual photo of a garden for inspiration.Example

Thank you to Debbie Kong for allowing us to use photos of her daughter's garden and layout.

 

READING RESOURCE

A good beginning gardener’s book is Mel Bartholomew’s

“All New Square Foot Gardening.”

You can find it at libraries, bookstores, and online.

Important Dates for 2011

 

March 12

Informational Meeting & Gardening Demonstration

1-2:30 pm - St. John Gym

March 16

Agreement and $20 Deposit Due

Applications received by this date will be assigned plots.  If applications exceed available plots, a drawing will be held to determine the order of assignment and others will be placed on the waiting list.  After this date, applications will be added to the waiting list based on the date the application and deposit are received.

April 30

Garden Construction Work Day

Gardener’s assigned plots are expected to help prepare the garden.  Others, including those on the waiting list are also welcome.  You may begin to use your assigned plot after this date.

May 15

Final day to apply for a garden plot

Any remaining plots are assigned to those desiring an additional plot.

May 21

Gardening 101 - Planting

Join us for an informative class about planting.  This class will be held in Room 102 at 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

June 1

Planted Date

All plots must be cleaned, prepared, and at least half planted.  Unused plots will be forfeited and assigned to those on the waiting list.

June 25

St. John Pig Roast and Block Party

Join us for an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship as we celebrate summer and our gardening adventures.

November 1

End of Gardening Season

All plots must be cleaned by this date.
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