In this 4-week cohort, learners engage with plant parts, processes and ecosystems, using our community garden for field study, while learning the medicinal, cultural and culinary uses of plants we grow and forage.

There will be two cohorts this year!

Cohort #1 > July 12th - August 2nd

Cohort #2 > August 16th - September 13th

Please note: There will be no class on August 30th! We’ll resume the following Sunday September 6th. (We’ll be at Latch & Stroll! Join us :)

We will meet at the Woodlawn garden on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The exact location will be emailed to you! Classes are led by Lissah Mason, traditional herbalism student and rootworker.

Each class consists of:

Opening Circle Time: centers and connects us and introduces us to the subject of the day. The Talking Circle is based off of African & Indigenous "talking circle" and "peace circle" traditions, used to facilitate meaningful conversation and authentic relationship building.

Learning Time: an interactive lesson teaching key concepts and vocabulary

Field Time: hands-on in the soil and garden. Field activities include planting, weeding, watering, drying, foraging, and medicine making,

Closing Circle Time: connects the lesson to our personal and communal lives, provoking reflection and encouraging community commitments

Each learner will receive:

1. A plant journal

2. A learning supplies kit (pens, pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, scissors, glue)

3. A home growing kit (grow light, soil, pots, seeds, scooper, instructions)

4. A light lunch, juice and water each week

We are currently accepting up to 20 learners for each cohort! Residents of South Side Chicago will be prioritized. Participants should intend to attend all 4 weekly sessions, if possible.

This program is donation-based. Our suggested sliding scale is $10 to $100. Those who have the means are invited to donate along our sliding scale. Those who are not able, are still welcome. Pay what you can and if you can't, that's okay too. Your donation supports this program and others like it, and helps make our programs accessible to all families, regardless of finances. We deserve this!

Life Cycles: Youth Gardening Program

Life Cycles program takes a practical, interactive approach to teaching youth about land and community stewardship.