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The St. Nicholas Garden Committee is a volunteer group who enjoy working together to tend the ten garden beds at St. Nicholas. It is a demonstration garden where we learn techniques that promote biodiversity, preserve the quality of the soil, and promote water conservation. We emphasize prairie flowers and grasses which feed pollinators and provide habitat for many kinds of insects. In turn, the bounty of insects attracts and fosters birds from goldfinches to peregrine falcons.  All of this provides a beautiful place where the community can reflect on the wonders of creation. Our work is what Laudato Si calls us to do … care for creation.

The first requirement to work in the garden is curiosity and an open mind to learn what may at first seem to be counter to other gardening experience.  To maintain the learning environment, we encourage each other by sharing on-line articles and opportunities offered at local workshops.
Reasonable physical fitness is a necessity for most garden tasks, with good balance and the ability to bend and kneel being most important. We do not do heavy digging or lifting; tasks are assigned according to ability.

The time commitment depends on the volunteer’s time and energy. We agree at the beginning of the growing season on a regular time to meet, respecting the limits of weather. For planning purposes, we aim to set 2 hours, twice a week as work times.  

Beginning May 11, our 2023 work days are:

Thursdays at 2:00-4:00 pm
Saturdays at 10:00 am.-noon

We don't work whn it's raining, but otherwise will be there. Come as you can!

Other Community Opportunities:

There's an ongoing opportunity to work in native plant gardens on Thursdays at 4:30 at the Morton Civic Center garden (north end of Civic Center along Ridge Ave).

We also highly recommend checking out Evanston Grows, "​a collective impact organization dedicated to bringing together resources in the Evanston community to reduce food insecurity through increasing access to locally-grown produce and building community connections". Their web site includes a volunteer page that lists the locations where gardeners are needed.

Please fill out the form below to be added to our e-mail list and be informed of upcoming work days. Questions? Please contact Karen Kanzia at 847.476.0518.
Subscribe to the Gardening Committee Email List
    YES, please add me to the e-mail list to hear about upcoming gardening work days (St. Nicholas Campus)

Additional Resources

  • Citizens' Greener Evanston — The key to unlock the vibrant eco-friendly community in Evanston. Lists local plant sales
  • Shady Grove Wildflower Farm — A local grower selling 100 kinds of native plants. Find them at Evanston Farmers Market  every Saturday, starting May 1. Tell her you heard about her here.
  • Grow It. Build It. — Informative blog and a mail order resource for plants from the premier native plant nursery in the Midwest.
  • Prairie Nursery — Informative blog and a mail order resource for plants from the premier native plant nursery in the Midwest.
  • Possibility Place Nursery — Located in Monee, IL. Limited mail order but friendly help and quality plants in mix/match flats. Trees and shrubs ready to take home in your vehicle. They are a regular supplier of local plant sales.