Ragdale Garden

Integral to Shaw’s historic Arts and Crafts Garden, was the inclusion of a productive vegetable garden. This tradition continues at Ragdale, with residents enjoying the hyper-local produce grown on campus, creatively incorporated into their meals by Chef Linda. The garden also functions as an educational and creative space, supportive of specific programming aligned with Ragdale’s mission.

 A group of generous volunteers help maintain the garden by assisting with planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, and generally fussing over the garden. Great satisfaction comes from wheeling carts of fresh fruit and vegetables straight to the kitchen, and knowing they will end up on the table that evening.

No prior gardening experience is needed! Volunteers work under the direction and supervision of the Garden and Land Manager. If you are interested in volunteering in the garden, please email jess@ragdale.org.

Jess Sladek is Ragdale’s Garden and Land Manager. Jess is a photographic artist with great love for gardening, the prairie, and Ragdale! Jess first came to Ragdale as a resident in 2019, and started working in the vegetable garden in 2020. As an artist, long-time hobby farmer, and volunteer land steward at Skokie River Nature Preserve, Jess brings a special combination of skills and perspective. She looks forward to continuing improvements towards a more productive fruit and vegetable garden, restoring native plant communities on campus, and helping implement the restoration of Ragdale’s historic Arts and Crafts Garden.

Jess Sladek