We Grow Dreams

Last year I heard (can't remember how) about a great greenhouse/nursery in the Western Suburbs whose mission was to give folks with developmental disabilities training and work experience while providing high-quality plants and seedlings to the public.  I was intrigued, but never had the time to go.  Finally, this spring I made it there.

We Grow Dreams is a great source for beautiful flowers and vegetable seedlings.  I took the kids on Mother's Day, and purchased some eggplant, summer squash and winter squash seedlings for the vegetable garden.

We had a great time wandering in and out of the greenhouses admiring all the plants. 

In an unrelated note: thanks for the Thing 2 shirt, Shannon!

The good folks at We Grow Dreams have an extensive aquaponic vegetable garden. 

Of course, while I was marveling at the entire system, Little Guy and Little Miss were fascinated with the fish...

...which the folks at WGD were kind enough to let them feed.  It made their day!

If you are in the western suburbs, be sure to check out We Grow Dreams in West Chicago.  Happy shopping!

***Disclaimer: We Grow Dreams has no idea who I am. But I was VERY impressed with their seedlings, and their mission, and I just had to share this organization with you!

The nursery

The countdown is on, and Baby Girl should be here soon.  Fortunately, the nursery is all ready for her.  The Big Guy and friend Jeff painted the room in mid-January. The color is Pineapple Cream.

The artwork above the bed is simple pictures of a duck, monkey and frog. The bedding is "Womb with a View" from Land of Nod.

This antique dresser (part of a much larger set that we'll use when our daughter is older) will double as a changing table. The hanging diaper caddy is at the ready.

 

The swing, bouncer and car seat cover have been washed and are ready for use. Obviously, these things will all go to other locations once the baby is born, but for now, they're in her room and out of the way.

Notice the dark curtains in the background.  They don't match anything in the nursery, but for a while it will be good to have the privacy and the darkness as we all cope with an interrupted sleep schedule. 

Repurposing furniture

The previous homeowners left quite a bit of crap stuff when they moved out.  This dresser, minus the drawers, was in that random assortment of stuff. 

We were going to throw it out, but my Big Little Brother Freddy had a better idea.  "Hey!" he said. "That would make a great bookshelf."

And by golly, he was right.  We bought some material for shelving and brackets, and Freddy went to town.   This was a fairly simple project, and a great way to reuse a somewhat useless piece of junk.

Now we have a lovely bookshelf for the nursery.  Thanks, Freddy!