WJ Growing Green 042722

Wednesday Journal, April 27, 2022

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Growing Green 20 pages of ideas, inspiration, innovation to make Oak Park and River Forest sustainable

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Growing Green

Wednesday Journal, April 27, 2022

Honor offered for local green leaders Annual Green Awards from village touch individuals, groups

Oak Park’s Environment and Energy Commission is a nine-member body that advises the village board on climate policy.

It also chooses the winners of the annual Green Awards for innovation and local service to the environment.

Here are the 2021 winners.

We Clean Green, Inc. Woman-owned local company Environmentally responsible methods for healthy and clean results

First United Church of Oak Park Rain Garden Project Buildings and Grounds Team and Environmental Justice Team Native plants and 1,100 gallons of water infiltration

Rare Birds Preserves, Inc. project Elizabeth Madden Created a local micro farmers’ market during the pandemic McLouis Robinet Dedicated community champion and sustainability steward Lifetime achievement helping create thriving local sustainability communities

Judy Klem Dedicated community sustainability steward Early adopter of many environmental health and sustainability practices

Oak Park Farmers Market Farmers Market Citizen Commission and village staff Safe, healthy pandemic market and zero waste initiatives

Collaboration for Early Childhood Growing Gardens Program John Borrero, executive director, Community Team Cohorts and Albrecht Poss Family Foundation Garden/composting supply awards to Early Childhood programs to expand STEM concepts Chris Lindgren Park District of Oak Park sustainability stewardship Leads by example, gives back and collaborates for the benefit of a thriving community

GREEN AWARDS RELATED STORIES ■ Gardeners blossom through

early childhood education, page 22

■ Rare Bird energizes local business

through mini market, page 28

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Whole Earth, local focus Ana Garcia Doyle connects climate and equity

By JESSICA MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

Ana Garcia Doyle’s passion for environmental work was sparked while she and her husband were living temporarily in Switzerland. The Swiss lifestyle was eye-opening and, initially, a bit frustrating. She and her husband were so indoctrinated to American hyper-consumerism that they kept thinking they could “fix” Switzerland’s lack of efficiency.

“We couldn’t believe that we had to go to one store for groceries, another store for meat, and another for flowers.

It was maddening at first. I mean, where was the Costco?

But we came to realize that the Swiss are relational beings — and the visits with the grocer, the butcher and the florist became welcome parts of our lifestyle. We had to detox from the pressure of American life,” said Garcia Doyle, a former professional digital marketer.

Her experience in Switzerland reminded her of the importance of community, a value rooted in her childhood. The daughter of Filipino imANA GARCIA DOYLE migrants, Garcia Doyle grew up in Chicago surrounded by extended family, many of whom followed her parents to America. As one of the eldest of 26 first cousins, she served as the family’s unofficial “ate” or big sister.

“From the moment I was born, I was in charge. I was a consummate consensus builder. That piece of my persona has motivated me to be a community organizer,” said Garcia Doyle.

The birth of her first child more than 20 years ago intensified her interest in the environment. She made organic, pesticide-free baby food and felt the weight of ensuring that her daughter had the chance to explore the simple joys of nature the way she had as a child.

When her children were young, she was active in pro-

In 2017, Garcia Doyle had an epiphany while listening moting sustainability in their schools, starting with the creation of a “green team” at their Montessori school. She to a radio program featuring Michelle Alexander, civil worked with a group of Beye Elementary School parents, rights lawyer and author of “The New Jim Crow.” Alexwith guidance from Seven Generations Ahead, to co-write ander repeatedly used the word “disposable” when referan application resulting in a $110,000 grant from the Illi- ring to the way people treat others, particularly people of nois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportuni- color. Garcia Doyle made the connection between the way ty to fund sustainability initiatives at District 97 schools, we think of people and the planet as disposable, and the relationship between racial and enviincluding the conversion to zero-waste lunchrooms. ronmental justice.

She and her husband also tackled the “We need to view each other through external and internal renovation of a zero-waste lens, believing that all of us their historic home. The LEED Goldhave value,” she said. certified home has energy-efficient inIn an effort to bridge the equity and sulation, windows and lighting, solar ecology movements, One Earth Collecpanels, a geothermal heating and cooltive sponsors youth programs in the ing system, rain-harvesting system, and Austin neighborhood, in partnership native plantings. The home was selected with BUILD, an organization serving as one of three sites in Illinois to pilot a Chicago’s at-risk youth, and in Pilsen, a GARCIA DOYLE greywater reuse system, recycling water Hispanic community on Chicago’s near Executive director of from their bathtub and shower for flushsouth side. The programs teach young One Earth Collective ing toilets. people about urban gardening and Garcia Doyle helped launch the One healthy cooking while helping them deEarth Film Festival in 2012 to generate velop leadership skills. awareness of climate issues and get peoTwo decades after her initial foray into ple excited about taking action against climate change. sustainability, Garcia Doyle’s interest in the environment, The festival intentionally uses storytelling to connect equity and community organizing has come full circle. with people’s lives — and, as Garcia Doyle says, to engage She is determined to leave a smaller footprint on the plantheir heads, hearts and hands. Now considered the Mid- et and do all she can to ensure a more resilient future. west’s premier environmental film festival, the annual “There are many ways to shift your thinking, and then, program screens films at venues throughout the Chicago hopefully, shift your living. The goal is to keep moving forarea and attracts viewers from around the world. ward,” she said.

“There are many ways to shift your thinking, and then, hopefully, shift your living. The goal is to keep moving forward.”

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Friends and admirers of Ana

“Ana Garcia Doyle’s involvement in Oak Park’s sustainability plans ensures that they are more equitable and inclusive of populations that are most affected by climate change. Anti-racist sustainability action plans require intentional involvement of marginalized voices and leaders like Ana who will hold decision makers accountable for making sure that happens.”

Vicki Scaman Oak Park village president

“The creative energy Ana has brought to One Earth Collective over the past 11 years has helped the organization grow its impact from Oak Park and River Forest to the broader Chicago region and now nationally. She is intentionally inviting voices of color to take center stage, helping the larger environmental movement understand the perspectives of dynamic environmental justice leaders. One Earth Collective is also mentoring new leaders and connecting people across racial, social and environmental systems, making all justice movements more powerful.”

Laurie Casey Marketing director, One Earth Collective

“Everyone should have an Ana in their life. She has the unique talent of bringing everyone to the proverbial table, sharing her vision, and making everyone feel a part of the process. She builds bridges, and the relationships she has developed across Chicagoland -- from Austin, Little Village, Barrington and Grayslake -- have taught us all that we need each other and that all of us have a voice in making the world better and more sustainable.”

Julie Moller Long-time environmental activist and former River Forest resident

“Ana has been an amazing partner with BUILD. She brought her expertise and network to give youth a chance to understand their power on this earth and how they can contribute to making it better. She is always looking ways to connect youth to environmental issues. We have been extremely grateful for her contribution to the Austin Grown program, providing such rich information and content for our youth while working alongside them to do the work every step of the way!

Carmen Scott Boria Director of enrichment programs, BUILD, Inc.

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Growing Green

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PROVIDED

GROWTH: Kids gather to observe thousands of wiggling worms in the compost bin at The Day Nursery in Oak Park.

GREEN AWARD WINNER

Gardeners blossom through early childhood education

Collaboration for Early Childhood grows gardening program

By KATE HESTERMAN Contributing Reporter

The time kids get enough learning experiences before kindergarten is the same time pigs fly. That is why the mascot for the Collaboration for Early Childhood is Cece, the flying pig. Within their Growing Gardeners Program, kids can learn problem-solving skills, STEM concepts and team building during their most formative years.

“Gardening is such a great anchor for pretty much anything you want to work on with kids,” said Becki Streit, the Collaborations board chair.

However, many families do not have the resources to build a garden at home, said Streit.

Determined to make a change, the Albrecht-Poss Family Foundation funded the gardening program which provided 11 preschools, childcare centers and home daycare centers with the tools and abilities to build their own garden. Each raised bed was installed by professionals and careful-

ly crafted from cedar to ensure longevity and sustainability for each of their partners.

“We wanted to ensure our partners would be able to use these gardens for years and years,” said Streit.

The program also supplied each partner with a composting system, gardening tools, plants, seeds, a curriculum to keep consistent across all locations and get this — 2,000 live worms. The gardening program helps kids learn everyday environmental practices while seeing the fruits of their labor — literally. After receiving the Green Award and being recognized by the Village of Oak Park, Streit said she did “a little happy dance.”

“The more people who know about the project and the more interest there is among our early childhood community, the farther out we can push the opportunities for other preschools and daycare centers to give kids those experiences,” said Streit.

The program hopes to expand by adding more partners and wheeled garden carts for spaces with limited green space.

Growing Green

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Talking sustainability with Tom Bassett-Dilley

Architect about done with energy retrofit of his own home

sulation; the house is heated and cooled with mini-splits; the traditional hot water heater was replaced with a heat pump; the Architect Tom Bassett-Dilley is well-re- traditional clothes dryer replaced with a garded for his expertise in passive house condenser model; and the family is cookarchitecture and the green-minded Oak ing with induction.

These changes don’t come cheaply, but it Parker practices what he preaches. Not was worth taking out a loan to only did he contribute to makmake the changes. For the cost ing the Park District of Oak of a couple hundred dollars Park’s Carroll Center a net-zero month, he says, “It’s a totally building, he’s been working different house. It’s set up for on architectural icons such as the next 100 years.”

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oscar In his case and for many loBalch House and includes his cal homeowners, Bassett-Dilley own home in the list of energy says it makes sense to look at retrofits he’s recently overseen. all home renovations through All of this dovetails nicely a sustainability lens. For inwith Bassett-Dilley’s role on the village’s Climate Action TOM BASSETT-DILLEY stance, his traditional hot water heater was dead. It made Network (CAN.) He notes that sense to replace it with a heat through CAN’s work studying emissions in the village, a frightening sta- pump rather than a gas model. He says detistic emerged: 73% of emissions in Oak cisions like this can go a long way to helpPark come from buildings. Calling this “as- ing older homes cut their use of fossil fuels.

He also stresses that with sustainability, tonishing,” Bassett-Dilley says the number emphasizes the need for sustainability to there is a big equity issue to consider and become a part of the local conversation on says, “We need to do this work for everybody at all income levels.” building and remodeling.

The time to act is now: he calls the focus In the case of his own older home in Oak Park, Bassett-Dilley says he’s very close to needed a “war-time effort.” For those needhis de-carbonization goals. The gas line is ing assistance to fund changes to their gone; he’s added solar panels and new in- homes, he points to the village’s sustainabil-

By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

PROVIDED

Tom Bassett-Dilley’s Oak Park home. The architect is nearing completion on a de-carbonization project for his own house. ity fund which offers matching grants of up to 50% of costs, up to $10,000.

Intended to help lower-income residents pay for installing insulation, energy-efficient lighting, water heaters, high-efficiency showerheads and faucets, air leak sealing, thermostats and solar panels, the grants can also cover installation of upgraded heating, venting and air conditioning.

The grants are funded by the village’s

Sustainability Fund, funded in part by waste hauling fees, electricity aggregation monies and the mandatory single-use bag fee enacted in 2018 to encourage adoption of reusable bags.

Bassett-Dilley says that creating homes and buildings that are less reliant on fossil fuels is a large goal of CAN and a big step CONTINUED on next page

How to make your home more sustainable

PROVIDED

Architect Tom Bassett-Dilley has been working on retrofitting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oscar Balch House in Oak Park to make the home more sustainable, and lower its emissions.

Tom Basset-Dilley says one of the more important first steps to checking your home’s emissions is to get an indepth energy audit. Such an audit will give you a big picture of the state of your home and provide payback periods to let you know how quickly improvements will start to pay off. He also recommends Paul Hawken’s book, Drawdown, which details global and regional steps to curb carbon emissions.

On a micro-level, Basset-Dilley recommends that with any remodeling project even the smallest changes can be made

with sustainability in mind.

Sustainability tips for your home ■ Solar panels ■ Composting ■ LED lighting sources ■ Repurpose greywater ■ Energy-efficient appliances ■ Low or no VOC paints ■ Double-glazed windows ■ Low-flush toilets ■ Add insulation ■ Replace gas-fueled appliances with electricity-fueled models

— Lacey Sikora

Growing Green

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM CONTINUED from previous page towards the village combatting emissions.

One way to aid in this would be to attach a Home Energy Rating System or HERS score to a home when it hits the market.

Bassett-Dilley says that such information, would help people “know how it’s going to feel and how much it will cost to pay the utilities,” in a home.

Knowledge can be power, and BassettDilley says a big fear is the flippers so active in renovating homes in Oak Park. He notes that the newly renovated houses might look pretty but if they weren’t renovated sustainably, they could still require a huge output of fossil fuels to feel comfortable.

At the end of the day, he says the point is to replace fossil fuel with electrification because we can make clean electricity but we can’t create more fossil fuels.

Bassett-Dilley admits that he toggles between doom and hope when it comes to combatting climate change at the local level but says he’s really excited to see the village sustainability plan come out. He points locals towards the website: www.sustainoakpark. com and says of the movement, “I think we’ll see this keep growing. We need to take action. That’s the bottom line.”

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Rising sea levels must change architecture, says Oak Park native Weston Wright, a practicing architect in Boston, has written a new book titled, More Water Less Land New Architecture. The book covers architecture, sea level rise, and the future of coastal urbanism and includes contributions from six world renowned architects, urbanists, and academicians.

Born in Oak Park, Wright grew up in the architectural milieu of his father, Chicago architect Rodney Wright, who practiced in his South Maple Avenue basement when the family lived in Oak Park in the late 1950s. Wright cites his time in his father’s studio as an important influence and points out that his father was an early proponent of passive-solar concepts and sustainable architecture. In 1980, his father’s firm the Hawkweed Group published a book titled The Hawkweed Passive Solar House Book.

According to Wright, climate change makes the exploration of new types of architecture a necessity, and he states, “Since scientists remain unsure of the rate, scale, and extent of a water’s rise, not to mention,

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an abrupt change that could occur from ice melt, there is a need to explore a coastal settlement’s options. Absent a timely ex-

ploration of a more resilient architecture, and built environment, our lone option becomes a mass migration inland.”

Eventually, sea level rise will subtract, reconfigure, and split apart an existing coastal or riverine settlement’s footprint from permanent flooding. The book discusses a range of resiliency practices spanning from the Neolithic Age to current thought, the challenges that are likely to arise from flooding, and introduces a solution that could mitigate retreat, abandonment, and provide an opportunity to broaden the landscape of what had heretofore delineated a coastal settlement’s habitable context. The idea for a solution—a response to sea level rise—constitutes a new type of architecture and built environment; it could essentially be thought of, as a next-generation coastal architecture.

Wright’s book is available from the German-Swedish publisher AADR at: https://aadr.info/product/more-waterless-land-new-architecture-availablefrom-april-2022/

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‘You should have a plan’

OPRF, community orgs unite to make high school building more sustainable

ber of the school environmental club, said it’s important for district staff to ask building contractors questions, including their experience in working on energy efficient projects or where they source or purchase their materials. Questions like those, she said, make all the difference in the long

By F. AMANDA TUGADE run. Ball and Avalos told Wednesday JourStaff Reporter nal that they leaned on Gary Cuneen, executive director of Seven Generations Ahead For years, Oak Park and River Forest (SGA), for ideas and guidance, looking High School District 200 has worked to closely at what other local school districts make its over century-old building more or park districts have done to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. environmentally conscious and responBut this year, the district decided to take sible. another step and launch the “Me, Manolo and Gary got Sustainability Policy Comtogether and compiled a list mittee, bringing together of examples,” said Ball who school administrators, first met Cuneen through students and community SGA’s youth-led branch, It’s partners at the table.

Our Future. Together, she Sophie Ball and Manolo said, they drafted a plan and Avalos are two OPRF stushared it with district addents who have a seat at that RON ANDERSON ministrators. That plan may table and recently helped OPRF operations chief be finalized this summer. create a plan for the district’s Ron Anderson, execunext steps in going green. tive director of operations Ball, 17, and Avalos, 16, said at OPRF, spoke more about they suggested the district be more thoughtful about hiring construc- the district’s partnership with Cuneen and tion companies for renovation projects and the myriad of sustainability efforts that have taken place over the years at the high set renewable energy goals.

Ball, a senior at OPRF and a mem- school.

“You can’t do it all at one time. You should have a plan.”

COURTESY OF OPRF

OPRF students help clean up a local forest preserve.

COURTESY OF OPRF

GETTING TO ZERO: Manolo Avalos, 16 and a sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School, holds up a bag of food waste. Avalos, a member of the school’s environmental club, is one of many who have helped measure food waste.

“We want to be a trendsetter,” Anderson said, adding he often turns to Cuneen for feedback on what the district could do to improve. “We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can do to make sure we’re sustainable.”

From retrofitting light fixtures or powering down the vending machines when not in use, Anderson said those acts might seem small, but they are impactful.

Anderson said the district also leans on the school environmental club where students such as Ball and Avalos continue their mission to make OPRF a better place.

The environmental club recently released its annual report, documenting its “sustainable habits,” including working with school and cafeteria staff to help dispose of lunchroom waste properly and educating faculty and students on what items to consider as trash or saved for compost.

Students in the club also weeded the garden beds outside OPRF last fall and plan to plant native plants in the space next month. Native plants are known to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, birds and insects, the club wrote in its report.

Club members have also volunteered to clean up Schiller Woods, removing invasive plant species, and are brainstorming plans to create events at the nearby Thatcher Woods in River Forest for students. More recently, the environmental club held a

PROVIDED

The garden beds outside OPRF. thrift store weekend at the school’s gym where faculty, staff, students and community members were encouraged to donate and sell their gently used clothes. Clothes leftover from the sale would be sent to the Chicago Textile Recycling warehouse in Hillside.

Anderson reiterated that these simple acts are the vital steps to starting and maintaining the changes, and the initiatives can only grow from here.

When asked what advice Anderson, Ball and Avalos had for those interested in going green, the three remained candid: Pick one thing and do it – and don’t give up.

“You can’t do it all at one time. You should have a plan,” Anderson said.

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Rare Bird energizes local business through mini market Sustainably sourced and hyper-local focused

GREEN AWARD WINNER

supported agriculture) while enjoying a house-made pastry or coffee.

“We like to partner with a lot of different folks to highBy KATE HESTERMAN Contributing Reporter light their businesses during the pandemic when the stores were iffy and all the markets were more difficult What’s better than fresh produce, delectable to navigate. Our small market was a way for pastries and support for hyper-local businesses? people to get outside but also feel safe to shop,” Not much checks all those boxes. Rare Bird Presaid Madden. serves has mastered this combination with its The market prides itself on choosing quality artisan mini farmers market. products from sustainably grown and responsiStarting as a small-batch artisan preserves bly sourced vendors. Featured hyper-local proand curd producer, Rare Bird grew out of its ducers such as Mick Klug Farms, Star Farms shared commercial kitchen and into a storeand Publican Quality Bread are just a few. The front in 2016. The Oak Park Arts District space market has also expanded to add various pop-up is equipped with enough room to sell retail shops displaying flowers, house-wears and even products and house a commercial kitchen and ceramics for sale.

ELIZABETH MADDEN classroom.

“This is being part of this community, and Once the pandemic hit, workshops and classes hopefully bringing delicious food or something were suspended and Rare Bird was left less accessible. Own- interesting to look at for your house. It’s an extension of our er Elizabeth Madden contended with these issues alongside store,” said Madden. so many other small businesses in the community.

The mini market is held in the Rare Bird alley at 211 HarRelying on her connections with local businesses, Mad- rison St. in Oak Park from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Thursday den created a local mini farmers market intended as a spot through October. Madden says she is “flushing out” plans for community members to pick up their CSA (community- on how to utilize the space for more days of the week.

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Growing Green Save the Date for the Zero Waste Microbrew Review

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Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) is preparing to host its 15th craft beer extravaganza — the perennially popular Microbrew Review is scheduled for Aug. 20, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The zero-waste event is the largest of its kind in the Midwest and supports SGA’s mission to preserve our environment for generations to come. The event is held in downtown Oak Park.

Gary Cuneen, founder and executive director of SGA, is excited the nonprofit organization will be able to do the event “full throttle” once again in 2022. He anticipates that Covid-related modifications will lift this year allowing the festival to return to its pre-pandemic glory.

Organizers are setting the stage to welcome approximately 80 craft brew-

eries to serve suds to 3,000 beer-loving attendees. The Iron Brewer competition is back on tap and patrons can purchase a VIP experience giving them the chance to vote for the best featured brew, as presented by the 20 participating brewers. Three band shells will provide musical entertainment throughout the day and food vendors will be onsite.

“The Microbrew Review has become a favorite among the Oak Park community, and it has a village reunion feel,” said Cuneen. “The event also lets us take our mission and expand it across the metro area and educate a whole new group about sustainability.”

Get tickets at https://sevengenerationsahead.org/opmbr/

— Melissa Elsmo

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ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

GET READY: The 2022 Microbrew Review returns to downtown Oak Park this August.

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Creating solar converts central to Seven Generations mission

Park District of Oak Park leads local adoption

By CASSANDRA WEST Contributing Reporter

The warnings from scientists about Earth’s climate emergency haven’t been lost on Seven Generations Ahead, the Oak Park-based nonprofit. Humans need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, SGA executive director Gary Cuneen says, repeatedly.

That urgency is the reason SGA is Oak Park’s strongest solar evangelist. Transitioning residences and institutions to solar energy has become a primary focus of the 21-year-old sustainability nonprofit. Clean energy is also a critical part of the workplan for the Oak Park River Forest Sustainability Plan, known as PlanItGreen (PIG), that SGA oversees.

One reason to emphasize energy is because everyone — homes, businesses, schools, churches— depends on it, yet the major energy source (fossil fuels) is dirty and detrimental to the planet and human health. A cleaner form of energy, solar is renewable, meaning it’s obtained from resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, making it critical in fighting the climate crisis.

As it is with any emerging technology, people can be initially skeptical. What SGA does is educate, and educate some more through lunch-and-learns, presentations and strategy sessions that help community members understand what they’ll be getting with solar. It also emphasizes that solar infrastructure and installations can provide much needed jobs, and save households, businesses and institutions money on their energy bills.

It’s that last benefit that’s a key selling point. But before the savings, people will actually have to experience solar.

Progress is happening.

The Park District of Oak Park, an early adopter that SGA advised, has nine facilities that use energy generated by rooftop solar panels, and the district expects to add more. “We’ve worked with the park

district to analyze options for buying solar energy from new projects being built in Illinois,” Cuneen says. “We’re beginning to have the same conversations with District 200 and their procurement consultants.”

SGA’s solar advocacy now extends beyond Oak Park. “We’re exploring with a large-scale utility solar project that ultimately institutions across Oak Park and River Forest and beyond could connect to,” Cuneen says. “We’re trying to create those sorts of connections that will drive new project development in solar.”

The village of Broadview has a project initiated by Mayor Katrina Thompson called the Solar Industrial Corridor, which SGA has advised on ownership and financing options. For more than a year, SGA has collaborated with Chicago Public Schools on a program called “CPS Goes Solar.” An

RFP was just released for 13 CPS buildings to tap solar on their buildings.

Cuneen credits SGA/PIG solar consultant Mark Burger, who has 40 years of industry experience, including a stint at the U.S. Department of Energy, with progress on these outreach efforts. Burger has “stepped up outreach on a number of fronts” and is working to “bring together taxing bodies in Oak Park and River Forest to make procurement of onsite solar or offsite (community solar subscriptions)” a reality. “Most large entities are not used to making long-term energy procurements. That’s one of the biggest ideas to get across to them.” He adds, “They also want to be assured that they’re going to get clean electricity at a stable price… and avoid the volatility of energy prices.”

While solar adaptation is more than a dream, it’s far from mainstream. In a vil-

lage of 20,000 resident units, Oak Park has about 450 residential installations. River Forest has about 100. The Park District of Oak Park is the biggest nonresidential.

Statewide, only about 1% of electricity comes from solar.

Burger says the state’s 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) seeks to make solar “equitable for all incomes and all types of people.”

Over the last decade serious efforts were made to increase the economies of scale, making solar cheaper, he says. “Solar is still fighting uphill against the incumbent system.

“The technology is good. The economics are there. The biggest [obstacle] is politics.”

Despite that, Burger says solar “will eventually become the primary form of energy.”

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Growing Green

Celebrate Arbor Day with the Oak Park park district All-day activities in four locations

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

In honor of the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, the Park District of Oak Park has planned its biggest celebration yet of the national tree-centric holiday. Join the park district on April 29 for a full day of free, fun and educational activities with plenty of giveaways.

The festivities will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at four different locations – Taylor, Maple, Scoville and Carroll Parks, as well as at the Oak Park Conservatory.

By having events at multiple spots, the park district intends to make it convenient for all Oak Parkers to attend, regardless of where they live.

“We have never done anything like this throughout the district with so many parks involved,” said park’s spokesperson Ann Marie Buczek.

As Arbor Day falls on a Friday this year, the event was planned to suit the school schedules of children. The morning will feature activities for the younger set. The adventures geared toward older children will take place in the afternoon after school dismissal. While being fun, the activities will also educate children on the importance of conservation.

“I found that kids get really interested, really excited learning about nature,” said Hannah Szuch, the park district’s nature and adventure supervisor.

Attendees can expect scavenger hunts, games, crafts and even tree stories. Not to be confused with readings of the Shel Silverstein classic “The Giving Tree,” tree stories is a kid-friendly term for interpreting the rings in a tree’s trunk, otherwise known as dendrochronology. Thicker rings occur when the tree had a better growing year; thinner rings denote years where the tree had little water, according to Szuch.

“You can really read a tree’s history from

the rings,” said Szuch. “Its age, but also what happened in its life.”

Park district staff and volunteers will be on hand at each site to give tree tips and answer questions. Special guests will also be in attendance. Members of the village of Oak Park’s Environment and Energy Commission will be stationed at certain sites, gathering residents’ input on sustainability and climate change. The village’s sustainability coordinator, Marcella Bondie Keenan, will be attending as well.

“I’m excited to partner with the park district on this. Hopefully it’s the first of many collaborations,” said Bondie Keenan.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has donated over 100 oak saplings for the event. Stationed at Taylor Park, MWRD representatives will be giving away the baby trees to those who would like to plant them. MWRD is also providing free, high-quality compost and coloring books for kids.

The Oak Park Public Library’s Book Bike is stopping by Scoville Park, While Sugar Beet Food Co-op will be posted at Maple Park. The local grocery store is offering tastings of foods and drinks that come from trees that grow in that very park. No tree nuts will be passed out to ensure the safety of those allergic. However, self-described tree nut Szuch will be there.

Of course, the park district will also be planting a tree as it does every year for Arbor Day. An American Hornbeam has been chosen and will be planted in Carroll Park at 1 p.m. The American Hornbeam is a hardwood species native to the Chicago area that is resistant to many pests. Kids will be invited to help shovel the dirt over the roots of the newly planted tree to show them that conservation is something they can play a direct part in.

“Doing stuff locally can show them that it’s not just things far away, like the rain forest or the ice caps, that are important,” said Szuch. “It’s also conservation right here at home and they can actually make a difference.

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Growing Green

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Here’s who is leading green in Oak Park and River Forest Oak Park Climate Action Network Encourages local communication, education and advocacy on issues focused on combatting climate change.

Oak Park Climate Action Network urges community members to create a climate action plan and participate in community-wide and personal sustainable practices. https://www.facebook.com/oakparkclimateaction/ climateactionop@gmail.com (708) 653-0766 Interfaith Green Network A faith-based organization devoted to protecting the earth by providing practical sustainable practices through education and community action. https://www.facebook.com/Interfaith-Green-Network-208951019619778/ One Earth Collective People of all backgrounds express their creativity by educating and empowering change on sustainability and social justice issues. To achieve its goals, One Earth Collective combines three environmental programs: One Earth Film Festival, One Earth Local and One Earth Youth Voices. https://oneearthcollective.org/ (708) 824-6201

OPRF Environmental Club Students have the opportunity to hone their green skills at OPRF’s Environmental Club with fundraisers, meetings with experts and discussions based on recent legislation.

Instagram: @oprfhs_enviro Environmental Club Sponsor: Cindy Wong — cwong@ oprfhs.org It’s Our Future Just as the name suggests— It’s Our Future teaches the value of effective climate solutions to future generations. Youth gain the ability to promote sustainable practices and connect with various sustainability organizations within their community. https://sevengenerationsahead.org/its-our-future/ Program Consultant: Rachel Rosner — iof@sevengenerationsahead.org West Cook Wild Ones So many of the decisions we make can impact our environment — even our landscaping ones. West Cook Wild Ones provides landscape direction tailored to its local ecosystem by educating and advocating for the “preservation, restoration, and establishment of native

plant communities.” https://westcook.wildones.org/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8_PTWbGKE4YuC9bbWSx1Q Seven Generations Ahead In seven generations, will we be proud of how our actions impacted the earth? Seven Generations Ahead works with local government and private sector leaders to prioritize the education and implementation of sustainable solutions to make sure we are. https://sevengenerationsahead.org/ Energy and Environment Commission, Village of Oak Park Through education, collaboration, and implementation, Oak Park’s Energy and Environment Commission promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency, recycling and effective solid waste management. https://www.oak-park.us/your-government/citizencommissions/environment-energy-commission See GREEN on page 35

S W NE LASH! F You can get local news delivered right to your email in-box.

Sign up for FREE at OakPark.com

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Growing Green

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OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM CONTINUED from page 32

Sustainability Commission, Village of River Forest River Forest’s Sustainability Commission promotes the protection of public health, the environment and natural resources by collecting data regarding sustainability, alerting the board of trustees of possible issues and suggesting policy changes. https://www.vrf.us/boards/board/4#:~:text=The%20 Sustainability%20Commission’s%20pur pose%20 is,Review%20the%20guide%20to%20Sustainability.

Austin Green Team

Growing Green A beautiful and sustainable community greatly improves the quality of life for its members. Austin Green Team and volunteers are committed to achieving just that by providing Austin with community gardens and greenhouses. https://austingreenteam.org/ austingreenteam1@gmail.com (312) 238-8992 League of Women Voters Non-partisan political organization for women voters dedicated to discussing and raising awareness, including sustainable practices and programs across Oak Park and River Forest. https://www.lwvoprf.org/

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LWVOPRF1924@gmail.com (708) 342-0803 Park District of Oak Park sustainability committee Winner of the “Best of the Best Award in Green Practices,” Oak Park’s park district is certainly keen on being green. Installations of solar panels and rain gardens, preservation of natural resources and education are just a fraction of the district’s work to implement sustainable practices. https://www.pdop.org/about/environment/

Compiled by Kate Hesterman

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Wednesday Journal, April 27, 2022

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Laura Derks1, Mario Longoni2 & Amy Rosenthal2 1, Mario 2 & Amy Rosenthal2 2& 2 Laura Derks Longoni 1Flybird Experience & 2Field Museum 2 Mario Longoni Amy Rosenthal hal 1Flybird Experience & 2Field Museum Experience & 2Field Museum

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Chicago Region Field Guide to Taking Action on Climate Change Derkswill , Mario Longoni & Amy Rosenthal What Laura Actions YOU take?

Save this Guide!

1Flybird Experience & 2Field Museum 1

2

2

Climate change is already affecting all of us in the Chicago Region, and some of our neighborhoods and places face more severe impacts, more frequently. At the same time, many Chicago communities have shown resilience and creativity in responding to those impacts. We are indebted to the climate leadership of many groups and individuals to fight climate change. We can all take steps to mitigate climate change by slowing and reversing greenhouse gas emissions. The list below illustrates effective actions you can take to reduce your climate impact. Try some!

2 Switch to renewable energy for your 3 home, school, or house of worship.

7 Schedule an energy assessment or audit for your home or work.

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Insulate your home, school, or house of worship.

Eat a plant-based diet.

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9

Use the CTA or Metra.

Switch to electric appliances and vehicles.

5

Support habitat restoration and protection.

10 Walk to work, shop, and play.

1 Advocate for your city, state, and country to act on climate change.

6

Bike to work and for fun.

11 Plant trees and care for them.

Inspiration and data for this Field Guide were drawn from the Chicago Community Climate Action Toolkit, Chicago Community Climate ActionC CoolClimate carbon footprint calculator, Chicago Agreement on Climate and Community, and Project Drawdown.

CoolClimate footprint calculator Agreement o CoolClimate carbon footprint calculator Chicagocarbon Agreement on Climate andChicago Community Proj CoolClimate carbon footprin For more information about your household's carbon footprint, check out the CoolClimate.org interactive map.

CoolClimate.org inte

Laura Derks1, Mario Longoni2 & Amy Rosenthal2 1Flybird Experience & 2Field Museum Photos: Laura Derks, Dorian Bruer, Rene Schwietzke, Mario Longoni, Elevate Energy, Amy Rosenthal, Iza Redlinski, Openlands, TCA Health, and Laura Milkert.

Produced by Laura Derks, Mario Longoni, Amy Rosenthal and Alicia Diaz, Field Museum.

12 Cultivate perennial prairie gardens at home or in your community.

© Field Museum (2022) CC BY-NC 4.0. Licensed works are free to use/share/remix with attribution, but commercial use of the original work is not permitted. [fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org]

Chicago Community Climate Action Toolkit Community Action Community carbon Climatefootprint ActionChicago Toolkit calculator ChicagoClimate Agreement onToolkit Climate and Community Project Drawdown mmunity Climate ActionChicago ToolkitCoolClimate Climate carbon footprint calculator Agreement on Climate and Community Project DrawdownCoolClimate.org interactive map Chicago Agreement on Climate andChicago Community Project Drawdown nd Community Project Drawdown CoolClimate.org interactive map CoolClimate.org interactive map CoolClimate.org interactive map

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