Dig it

Sex and the Garden
Spend a steamy night learning about how plants do the deed—and, man, is it dirty. On Tuesday 11, Ted Biernacki from Ted’s Greenhouse comes to West Town plant store Sprout Home to discuss plant propagation as part of the store’s evening lecture series. Sip wine and lemonade while you take in the informal talk. Afterwards cart home your own plant and learn how to make it reproduce—so much fun, it almost sounds illegal. Sprout Home, 745 N Damen Ave (reservations required: 312-226-5950, info@sprouthome.com). 6:30pm, free.

Worm composting
Why trash your kitchen scraps when worms will eat them for you? Totally unappetizing, yes, but it beats those rotting bananas that attract legions of flies to your kitchen garbage-can. The folks behind West Town’s Green Grocer hold frequent free classes that aim to make ecofriendly eating and living accessible. In this composting lesson, you’ll bring home a bin and a brick of worms so you can start making those old bananas into usable potting soil. Best part: Worm composting is completely scent-free. So you can clean up your fridge and not even worry about hauling the trash to the curb. Green Grocer, 1402 W Grand Ave (312-624-9508, greengrocerchicago.com). Classes include minimal material fee; call for schedule.

Leadership Training Program
Gardening: check. Composting: check. Bitching at your SUV-driving air-conditioning-obsessed litterbug of a neighbor: check. If that looks like last week’s to-do list, we’ve got the course for you: Chicago Conservation Corps C3 Leader Training. The land-conservation org teaches people to become neighborhood watchdogs in the fields of water, air, energy, land and community organizing. Once you’ve taken five four-hour training classes, you can gain the skills and resources to lead projects in your ’hood. Past trainees have initiated projects ranging from adopt-a-beach cleanups to university recycling awareness activities. Learn more about the course at a mandatory orientation session: Chicago Department of Environment, 30 N LaSalle St, 25th floor (312-743-9283, chicagoconservationcorps.org). Sept 14; noon–1pm. Check website for additional orientations.

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