From the Ground Up: A Food Grower’s Education in Life, Love, and the Movement That’s Changing the Nation

Jeanne Nolan, Owner and CEO of the local enterprise The Organic Gardener, will speak on the topic of the title of her book, From the Ground Up: A Food Grower’s Education in Life, Love, and the Movement That’s Changing the Nation. When Jeanne Nolan, a teenager in search of a less materialistic, more authentic existence, left Chicago in 1987 to join a communal farm, she had no idea that her decades-long journey would lead her to the heart of a movement that is currently changing our nation’s relationship to food. In her moving and inspiring talk, which combines her fascinating personal journey with the knowledge she gained along the way, Ms. Nolan will convey the importance of planting and eating organically—both for our health and for the environment—and will provide practical tips for growing our food. With the message that we can create utopias in our very own backyards and rooftops, her talk can inspire each of us to reassess our relationship to the food we eat.

Jeanne grew up in Winnetka and left in 1987 to live on a communal farm for the next 17 years. Upon her 2004 return to Chicago, she planted a vegetable garden in her parents’ backyard. In 2005, a short year later, Jeanne began working with Chicago’s Green City Market. On their behalf, she designed, installed, and today maintains The Edible Gardens, a 5,000 square-foot educational children’s garden at the Lincoln Park Zoo Farm-in-the-Zoo. That same year, Jeanne founded The Organic Gardener, the ultimate expression of her life experience, beliefs, and skills. She regularly teaches about growing food on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, and has been featured in Chicago Tribune, Food & Wine, Woman’s Day, and other national publications. Jeanne lives with her husband, Verd, and two daughters on a little farm in Northbrook. She plays tennis in her spare time.

Out guest pianist will be Andrew Blendermann who subbed for Elif Allenfort occasionally.