Green Parent Chicago

Been to a C3 Event in Your 'Hood? Check Out Their New Green Workshops

If you've never heard of C3, it's the city's Chicago Conservation Corps program now entering its 5th year of helping Chicagoans and their neighbors collaborate on, learn about and spread sustainable practices around the city.

The program, which trains Chicago residents to be environmental leaders in their home communities, has successfully provided workshops on worm composting, gardening, rain barrel usage, home energy conservation and related eco topics for Chicago residents.

Leaders are based in various neighborhoods througout the city and many hosted events and workshops are free or low-cost to attendees.

A sampling of upcoming events sponsored by C3 leaders include:

Cyclelogical: a festival of biking in Clarendon Park on April 2.

and

Green Living Workshop in Chatham at the Carter G. Woodson Library April 3.

Find more information on becoming a C3 leader and a list of more upcoming C3 workshops here.

-photo credit: Lucy A Little, flickr

 

 

Recycle Your Christmas Tree and Get A Jump on Garden Season

Are you anxious to take down your tree now that the holidays are over? Take advantage of the City of Chicago's Holiday Tree Recycling Program. Beginning Friday, January 1 to January 17, various locations around the city will be accepting trees to be chipped and turned into garden mulch.

Free mulch will be available to residents for pick up beginning Friday, January 8 until January 17. Here is a list of locations to drop off your tree. 

• Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.
• Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.
• Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd St.
• Garfield Park,100 N. Central Park Ave.
• Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Dr.
• Humboldt Park Boathouse,1369 N. Sacramento Ave.
• Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Ave.
• Kennedy Park,11320 S. Western Ave.
• Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.
• Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.
• Lincoln Park, Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave.(Parking lot east of Cannon Dr.)
• Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Dr.
• Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.
• McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.
• Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
• North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
• Norwood Park, 5801 N. Natoma Ave.
• Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
• Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton Ave.
• Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L
• Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen St.
• Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
• Wentworth Park, 5625 S. Mobile Ave.

Note: No other recyclable materials may be dropped off at these locations. A list of city recycling facilities may be found here.

Looking for Answers as a Consumer

My journey becoming more environmentally aware and active looks so good sometimes. Our rethinking, reusing and recycling program is in a smooth groove. The worms in our vermicomposting bin are well fed and happy. Our Chicago Card is being swiped much more than the card to access our parking garage. Sometimes we feel like we are making meaningful progress.

The good feeling usually comes to a screeching halt when we have to buy something that can't be found used. How do we find things like pool supplies for the kids or an eco-friendly blender for breakfast smoothies? Where do we buy a new mop that respects our environment? Where should we go when we can't find what we need secondhand? I want to be an informed consumer, but how?

First I head to Green Parent Chicago for related articles and then I head to The Green Parent Chicago Network forum to discuss these topics and more. What seems tough for me may seem easy for someone else who just went through the same situation and found a new way to be a consumer. 

In the end the more we share, the more we learn. As I strive to become a more conscious consumer I'll share my challenges, successes and thoughts and hopefully fill in the gaps for the next person doing the same. 

-Eco Chic

  

The Modern Wing Lifts the Bar, New Green Elements at the Art Institute

The moment you walk in the door you feel lighter. While at a sneak peek of the Modern Wing at the Art Institute yesterday, I was captivated by the breathtaking design by renowned architect Renzo Piano. Described as "elegant modesty" the space exudes a kind of relaxed luxury that lures the eye and brings you in before you know it. 

The use of natural light is one of the most impressive elements of the design and one of the greenest. The "flying carpet" roof designed by Piano works with an automatic dimming system to flood spaces with the type of natural light artists intend for their work. Photo cells make adjustments as the light changes throughout the day and saves energy by utilizing natural light to its fullest.

Currently the Art Institute is applying for silver LEED certification and has taken many eco friendly steps during construction including recycling construction debris, adding landscaping around the Modern Wing and adding double curtain-wall construction to save energy. 

Likewise, they focused on sustainable practices such as paper recycling, upgrading the HVAC systems, thermostat setbacks and implementing several budgeted conservation practices. One might think this is an easy task, but trust me it isn't. As a former Property Manager at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, I know firsthand how expensive and time intensive it is to retrofit and make huge changes to current systems. I applaud the Art Institute for making conservation a goal!

More major changes were announced by James Cuno, President of the Art Institute that were created to make attending not only easy but affordable for all. Chicagoans, seniors, military veterans, city workers and educators will receive discounts for the new all-inclusive one price admission. (Remember children under 12 are free!) They have increased their free hours as well as their contributions to the Chicago Public Library's Museum Passport Program so that the beauty of the space and its exhibits are available to all. 

I encourage you to pop by their Grand Opening this Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 9 a.m. and enjoy free admission all week long. In lieu of admission, they are hosting a food drive for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an amazing organization that serves hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans who live without.

Click here or on the main picture to take my tiny tour, but you'll have to visit to see the exhibits including Cy Twombly: The Natural World, Selected Works 2000-2007. Don't miss the Ryan Family Education Center where admission is always free (yes, you read that right!) and enjoy the new Crown Family Educator Resource Center. The space is incredibly bright and engaging with state-of-the-art technology, printed materials, books, computers and knowledgeable staff to assist your individual exploration of art. Enjoy!

-Eco Chic