Bike riding is a summer pleasure—good for the body and soul. . . as well as the planet. If you live in Chicagoland, you must try The Magic of Music Ride Series, accompanied by a DJ spinning a custom music list of tunes. I tried it for the first time on July 22nd and had a ball! All kinds of people came out—daters, families, young and old.
In July and August, the Austin Grown youth sustainability leadership cohort spent 6 weeks planting fruits & veggies and caring for them and for 9 chickens! We also learned about the environment and all of its intersections—most especially racial and social justice—through speakers, chefs and field trips. In lieu of live planting at BUILD Chicago’s Iris Farm (which was under construction), we planted at Michelle Clark Academy High School’s gardens. We discussed the health of our Earth and our bodies and our communities. We cooked and ate healthy plant-based food. We also created a recipe book, which is a collection of recipes our visiting chefs cooked with us; we can continue cooking these delicious meals and teach them to others.
Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into fertilizer. When you collect your food scraps for composting, you cut down on the amount of trash that goes into landfill. If that organic waste instead ends up in landfill, it breaks down and is emitted into the atmosphere as methane—an extremely potent greenhouse gas. But as nutrient-rich compost—sometimes referred to as black gold—it can be used in gardens, where it enriches the soil, thus reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. This is reuse/recycling/circularity at its natural best!
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Springfield, the heart of the Land of Lincoln, to see Lincoln’s stomping grounds. But thousands more visit the city for another reason: to attend the Illinois State Fair each summer. One of the Fair’s key structures, the Coliseum, was designed for prizewinning ponies as much as for people. It recently was treated to a major renovation that focused on safety and sustainability while honoring its illustrious past.
Get the scoop on the Young Filmmakers Contest from Founding Director Sue Crothers:
“The One Earth Film Festival has always been about activism. It’s not just about watching films. So that’s the goal for the next 10 years of the festival, a return to hopefulness through activism and envisioning the future you want. Overall, though, I want to say that for the whole 10 years, it’s been a huge privilege to work with these young people and to elevate their voices.”
Local peeps: if you live in Chicago’s Greater West Side (roughly Garfield Park to Bellwood), come by the Austin Town Hall Farmers’ Market on Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. at 5610 West Lake Street, Chicago (312-744-0565). Through the end of October, enjoy a lovely setting—on a sprawling green lawn dotted with trees in front of the historic Austin Town Hall building. The vendors switch in and out: on the early summer day I came, there was a perfect mix of fresh produce, enticing hot meals, frozen meats, sprouted greens and other locally made foods.
