Registration

2026 North Suburban Cook County - Community Garden Assistance

University of Illinois Extension regularly supports community gardening projects by providing unbiased, research-based guidance. Remote consultation via email and phone is offered year-round.

For on-site consultations, please note that registrations submitted after March 15, 2026 will be scheduled for summer/fall 2026 assistance. Early submission is strongly recommended, as on-site visits depend on staff capacity and Master Gardener volunteer availability.

To ensure organizations are set up for success, Extension is implementing School and Community Garden Training sessions. Priority for on-site visits will be given to organizations that attend these virtual trainings that will take place in March 2026.

Registration for these virtual trainings will be shared once registration opens. For additional information on these sessions contact Nancy Kreith (kreith@illinois.edu).

Before starting a community garden, University of Illinois Extension strongly recommends:

Learning about local resources,
Confirming sponsors and financial support, and
Engaging the community members who will help maintain the garden.

Community gardens offer many benefits, and Extension is here to help guide your planning and implementation. Please complete the request form to help us understand your project’s scope. Once received, we will review your submission and attempt to recruit Master Gardener volunteers to support your garden initiative as program capacity allows.

All requestors must provide written permission from the site owner to establish a garden on the premises.

Please note:

Extension staff and volunteers cannot sign contracts, agreements, or waivers.
Programs cannot be held at private residences.
Recording of programs is prohibited.
All publicity or promotional materials must credit University of Illinois Extension.

If you have any questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Amanda Anderson, the Master Gardener Program Coordinator in North Suburban Cook County. Email: amandaea@illinois.edu and Phone: 217-300-9860. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs. University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. United States Department of Agriculture. Local Extension Councils Cooperating. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Create an account

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

Street Address 2

City

State

ZIP

Daytime Phone

Evening Phone

E-mail Address

Please provide a second contact person and best phone number to reach them in case primary contact cannot be reached.

Community Garden Name:

Community Garden Address:

Is this an existing garden? If existing, how old?

Yes, less than 1 year

Yes, 1-2 years

Yes, 3-5 years

Yes, 6-8 years

Yes, 8+ years

How many community members are involved in this project?

1 - 5

6 - 10

15+

How many leaders are involved in this project?

1 - 3

4 - 6

7 - 10

10+

Average level of gardening experience among the members - 1 thru 10 1 being new to gardening 10 being advanced

Estimated installation date?

What type of garden do you have or are you considering? May choose more than one option.

Planting in soil

Raised beds

Containers

Edibles (like vegetables and herbs)

Ornamentals (like flowers)

Native garden

Greenhouse

What are the dimensions of the growing area in sq. ft.? This can include garden pathways in the estimate. Please exclude peripheral space such as grassy areas or sidewalks.

What is the available sunlight?

2 to 4 hours per day

3 to 6 hours per day

6+ hours per day

How far is your water source from the garden? Example - within the garden or 20 feet away

Is the garden enclosed by a fence or structure?

Yes

Is there vegetation on site? Are there weeds or plants that should be removed?

Yes

What is your goal or purpose for this project? Learning, edibles, ornamental, production, conservation, etc.

Is this a shared communal garden with the produce donated or is it allotment style where members maintain individual plots? May choose both if applicable.

Communal

Allotment

If communal, where is your produce donated? Please be specific.

Who will fund the garden? Select all that apply.

Garden Members

Grants

Other

If "other" please describe sources of funding.

Who will install and maintain the garden?

If you intend to grow edibles directly in soil, have you had the soil tested?

Yes

Do you have written permission from the property owner to locate the garden on the site?

What type of guidance do you need? Select all that apply.

Getting started - making a plan

General gardening knowledge

Resources

Plant and insect identification

On Site Assistance

In partnership with Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois Extension offers a Conservation@Home certification program in which Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists provide mentorship and certification for school and community gardens. If interested in mentorship on native vegetation, water and wildlife conservation and environmental curriculum, or if you are ready to certify, please click 'yes' below. Visit go.illinois.edu/CH for more information.

Yes

Are there other specific needs that we could help with?

Please share any additional notes or comments about the project or worksite.

How did you hear about our programming?

Extension staff and volunteers cannot sign contracts, agreements, or waivers. Programs cannot be held at private residences. Recording of programs is prohibited. All publicity or promotional materials must credit University of Illinois Extension.

Yes, I understand that Extension staff and volunteers cannot sign contracts, agreements, or waivers. Programs cannot be held at private residences. Recording of programs is prohibited. All publicity or promotional materials must credit University of Illinois Extension.

Civil Rights Compliance - Participant Info

As part of our commitment to providing equal opportunities in our programming, University of Illinois Extension is required to collect and report overall statistics about the race, ethnicity, and gender of program participants. Your responses are voluntary and appreciated.

Gender

Ethnicity

Race