WTTW-PBS | Chicago Public Media
Jeanne Nolan first appeared on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight program to discuss the launch of her book, From the Ground Up, in 2013. But her visit inspired a larger partnership – why not build an organic edible garden right there at the WTTW Albany Park studios? As Chicago’s PBS station, WTTW would serve as an ideal medium for sharing basic gardening how-to with its many local viewers using this on-site garden as a teaching model. The idea was to create an affordable, productive organic vegetable garden that anyone – urban or suburban – could recreate in their own backyard.
In 2014, Jeanne and the TOG crew worked closely with the WTTW team to design, plan, and maintain two raised beds at the studio. WTTW employees enjoy the harvest, and Jeanne visits regularly to film season-specific garden segments for Chicago Tonight.
The WTTW team has created a robust website documenting the progress of their “Homegrown” garden, archiving all of the Chicago Tonight segments, viewer questions, and more. They’ve also shared excellent resources on how to DIY the entire project on your own, listing out costs, materials, and tips for the raised beds, coldframe, and other elements. Check out the Homegrown site to learn more, and watch Jeanne’s segments below.
2019
April 18, 2019: How to Ready your Garden for Spring Planting
May 1, 2019: Cold-Tolerant Crops a Safe Choice for Spring Planting
May 29, 2019: How to Plant Your Own Salsa Garden
June 25, 2019: Some Gardens Thriving Despite Cold, Near-Record Rainfall
2018
April 27, 2018 – Spring Planting Starts with Soil Preparation
May 1, 2018 – First Planting of Spring in the Chicago Tonight Garden
June 5, 2018 – The “Buzz” Behind Beekeeping: Colonizing a New Hive
July 10, 2018 – An Early Harvest in the Chicago Tonight Garden
August 22, 2018 – Cool May and Wet June Create Gardening Challenges
October 4, 2018 – Tips for Successful Succession Planting
2017
April 18, 2017 – Get Your Garden Set for Spring Planting
May 9, 2017 – Cool, Wet Weather Ideal for Spring Planting
May 25, 2017 – Tips for Terrific Tomatoes, from Soil Prep to Staking
June 29, 2017 – Summer Gardening: How to Maximize Your Crops
July 18, 2017 – Techniques for Harvesting Your Garden
August 10, 2017 – Garden Yields Bumper Harvest
August 16, 2017 – Hanging Out With Jeanne Nolan in her ‘Happy Place’
August 31, 2017 – Gardening in Chicago: How to Maximize the Growing Season
September 27, 2017 – Unseasonable Heat Wave Ripens Last of Summer Crops
November 6, 2017 – First Frost Signals Time to Put WTTW Garden to Bed
2016
April 28, 2016 – Cool-Weather Crops & Hot Reasons to Grow Your Own
May 24, 2016 – Strategies for Container Gardening in Chicago
June 28, 2016 – 1st Summer Harvest Finds Organic Garden Thriving
August 1, 2016 – Tips for Midsummer Gardens
September 1, 2016 – Harvesting at the WTTW Organic Garden
October 18, 2016 – Last of Summer Crops Come Out, Winter Planting Begins
2015
April 8, 2015 – Getting the Garden Ready
May 7, 2015 – First Planting of the Season
June 4, 2015 – Planting Summer Crops
June 29, 2015 – Wet Start to Summer Does Little to Dampen Growth in WTTW Garden
July 20, 2015 – Harvesting of Summer Crops Continues
August 17, 2015 – Gardening, Watering Tips for Summer Heat
September 22, 2015 – Approach of Fall Does Little to Deter Garden’s Growth
October 15, 2015 – Lengthening the Gardening Season
November 16, 2015 – Wrapping Up the Gardening Season
2014
June 25, 2014 – Jeanne Nolan, Chicago Tonight Go Organic
July 2014 – Irrigation How To
July 21, 2014 – Jeanne Nolan Talks Garden Tips
August 5, 2014 – In the Garden with Jeanne Nolan
September 4, 2014 – Jeanne Nolan Talks Garden Pests, Problems
October 1, 2014 – Extending the Gardening Season
November 4, 2014 – Preparing the Garden for Winter
November 25, 2014 – Final Harvest of the Year