Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Where are you located? Where do you offer your services?

A: Our home base is in Glencoe. We focus primarily on communities along the North Shore, and just inland. Suburbs we frequent include: Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Evanston, Mettawa, Deerfield, Northfield, and Glenview. For city gardens on rooftops, decks or patios we concentrate on the neighborhoods closest to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

2. Q: Is Jeanne available to teach a course at my garden club or local library?

A: Yes, she is! She gives an engaging Power Point presentation and distributes valuable handouts. She has taught courses on growing organic vegetables at the Building Urban Gardens series (a joint project of the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance and the
Openlands Project), the City of Chicago’s Kilbourn Organic Greenhouse, the Wilmette Public Library, the Barrington Library, the Northfield Garden Club, and other venues. Jeanne is an accomplished public speaker, and loves sharing her knowledge.

3. Q: How much will my garden cost?

A: After our initial complimentary visit to your garden site we will prepare a proposal detailing the costs of the project.

4. Q: Do you include flowers in your gardens?

A: Yes, we do! We love to plant sunflowers of all shapes and sizes, morning glories and other lovely flowering vines, zinnias, marigolds, strawflowers, calendula blossoms, and more. Some of the flowers we plant are edible, or help make the garden healthy; others are purely a source of joy and beauty.

5. Q: Can you take care of my lawn or ornamental gardens for me?

A: Our training and expertise is specific to organic vegetable gardening. We generally decline requests to tend lawns or ornamental gardens. However, we are happy to help you improve the soil in your ornamental beds.

6. Q: If I want to grow vegetables this year, when do I need to get started?

A: The growing season in the Chicago area runs from approximately April to October. Cool-weather crops such as peas and greens can be planted throughout April; crops such as tomatoes and basil are planted from the second half of May through mid-June. We install gardens from late February through May. The earlier you contact us the better!