Supporting Beneficial Insects in the Vegetable Garden

Learn to identify and support helpful insects in your garden.

Please note: This program has been canceled. Explore our course listings for other opportunities to learn about gardening and plant care.

Ahead of the growing season, learn to protect your vegetable garden from pests without using harmful chemicals by supporting insect species that prey on common pests, known as beneficial insects.

Horticulturist Allison Glovak-Webb will introduce participants to a variety of beneficial insects found throughout the Chicago region that can help support a healthy vegetable garden.

Students will learn how to:

Identify insects commonly seen in vegetable gardens
Benefit from natural insect relationships for eco-friendly pest management
Use techniques to attract and help beneficial insects thrive year-round

Bring your gardening and bug questions and get ready to cultivate a healthy garden ecosystem this year by attracting and supporting beneficial insects.

This program meets in person at the Arboretum.

Instructor: Allison Glovak-Webb, farm director, Uncommon Ground

Age: 16 and older

Course number: H070

Instructor

Allison Glovak-Webb, farm director, Uncommon Ground

Allison Glovak-Webb has been working in urban agriculture in Chicago since 2011. After four years in the hydroponics industry, she became farm director of the first certified organic rooftop farm in the country, which used to sit atop Uncommon Ground in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. Prior to entering urban agriculture professionally, she’s been vegetable gardening since she grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Entirely self taught, her focus is on edible crops, insects in the garden, and finding creative ways to use plants in both art and in the kitchen. In addition to her urban agriculture career, she also holds a BA in photography from Columbia College Chicago.

Questions about Registration
630-719-2468
Registrar-ed@mortonarb.org
Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Format
In person
Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to noon
Thornhill Education Center (parking lot P-21), West Side
H070
Cost: $39
Member cost: $32
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