Urban Livestock Expo!
by Sharon Gaughan, PCLF Education Program Director
As I previously indicated that I would be, I attended the Urban Livestock Expo at Garfield Park Conservatory this past Saturday, February 16th. The focus was on keeping chickens, goats, rabbits, and bees in Chicago's urban backyards and rooftops.
My biggest surprise (and to the pleasant surprise of the Expo's organizers) was the standing-room-only crowd that showed up to this first-time event! The event was scheduled to be held in the Jensen Room of the Conservatory -- but for the break-out sessions, it was decided that the chicken group (the largest of the four) needed to meet in the adjoining Horticulture Hall (see photo below).
There is no doubt that a larger meeting space will be needed for next year's Expo. Clearly, there is a ground-swell of interest in urban livestock for Chicago!
Aside from making some new contacts and reconnecting with some previous ones -- and gathering some new info from the experts on hand -- it was also nice for me to visit the Conservatory again. I had not been there for several years, but had worked in their greenhouses on a daily basis during spring 2002 while working as the Gardening Program Specialist for the Chicago Park District.
When I walked into the Conservatory's Palm House on Saturday morning and was once again surrounded by the warm, humid, tropical air and towering green vegetation -- I sighed with a feeling of "coming home." Since I had arrived early, I had some time to walk around a bit before checking in to help set up for the Expo. I made sure to spend some of that time meandering through my all-time favorite space -- the Fern Room.
What a magnificent treasure Chicago has in the Garfield Park Conservatory (http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/). If you've never been, or haven't been in a while, I highly recommend a visit!
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