From Forest Preserves of Cook County

When the sale commences, trees & shrubs are available by pre-order only.

• Preorder at  West Cook Shopify

• Schedule a pickup time for an order at SignUpGenius. Pick-up is October 5, 2024. 

• Volunteer for the sale at SignUpGenius  

Comprehensive information about the sale at West Cook  2024  Fall Tree and Shrub Sale
 

A healthy landscape has layers: a grass and forb layer, a shrub layer, and a tree or canopy layer. From layering comes strength.

Together, the three layers render nooks, crannies, nest holes, coverts, edge effects, niches, niches, and more niches to encourage biocommunity

From Oak Park Public Library

Interested in greening your home or lifestyle but feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start? Come join us for this event--part presentation, part information fair--to hear stories and ask questions of your neighbors who have taken various green steps. Brief presentations will be followed by an opportunity to drop by presenters' tables to ask questions and get more information. Topics to be covered include: home audits, insulation, solar panel installation, Community Solar programs for house & condo owners & renters, heat pumps and induction cooking.

Presented by Arbor West Neighbors in collaboration with the library. Registration recommended.

From Oak Park Public Library

Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature. All We Can Save, an anthology edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Keeble Wilkinson, is a collection of diverse voices of women asking critical questions and providing insight and solutions. Curated by two climate leaders, this book leads us away from the brink and toward the possibility of a life-giving future.

From Oak Park Public Library

Come join us for an inside look at current climate stories in the Chicago area with Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco. Juanpablo will share highlights of some of his recent news stories involving the local impacts of climate change and community initiatives as well as his insights into the field of climate reporting.

Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco is a reporter covering issues related to climate change and energy for WBEZ Chicago and Grist. His reporting has appeared on All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Marketplace.

From Friends Of The Oak Park Conservatory

Thursday, Sept 19, 7:00-8:00P                    

Not only do shrubs provide a great backdrop for other plants in your garden, but they can also stabilize the soil and create a habitat for wildlife. Join the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory as we welcome a speaker from West Cook Wild Ones to learn about native shrubs and alternatives to those that are invasive. 

Presented by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON)

This is a FREE, virtual event.  A Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants on the day of the lecture.

From West Cook Wild Ones

Explore the ecological and aesthetic advantages of hedges and hedgerows in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows” with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project.

Native hedgerows are diverse plantings of woody plants from shrubs to small trees along with herbaceous groundcovers at their base.  Learn how these low-maintenance and sustainable plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcovers can enhance biodiversity, provide critical habitats for wildlife, and contribute to climate resilience. Discover practical tips for designing and implementing hedgerows in various landscapes, from farms to urban settings, and understand their role in supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health. 

From Congregations Fighting Hunger

Baked goods and refreshments served!

Sunday, September 8th, 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Come Join us at our community congregational gardens where we grow fresh produce to help support our local food pantries. Ask us about our volunteer opportunities for supporting local food pantries.

Join our scavenger hunt and find cool vegies across the gardens.

Hope to see you there!

Garden Locations

Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion

1235 N. Harlem, Oak Park, IL

Temple Har Zion

1040 N. Harlem, River Forest, IL

Ascension- St. Edmund Parish

188 S. Oak Park Ave, IL/815 S. East, Oak Park, IL

Get ready to gear up and ride for a cause that matters! The "Ride for Peace" event is your chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a day of community. Whether you're an avid cyclist or just looking for a fun, family-friendly activity, this event is perfect for everyone. Meet us at BUILD (5100 W Harrison St) for a peaceful ride through Austin on September 7th at 10AM (ride starts at 11AM sharp). Join us after the ride for community resources and activities for the whole family. Register now to secure your FREE shirt! This event isn't just about cycling—it's about coming together to promote peace and unity in the community. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and every pedal stroke supports a great cause.

From Forest Preserves of Cook County

Sat, September 7 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Join the Forest Preserves of Cook County for a paddling event at Kickapoo Woods! This FREE event offers a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the natural area while engaging in a fun and relaxing paddling experience.

To register please email Gloria Orozco at gloria@fotfp.org

From Oak Park Public Library

Join us for a discussion about emotions and environmentalism. We will spend the first thirty minutes of the program listening to the podcast Think Sustainability: Emotions Let Us Make Better Decisions (S. 6 Ep. 174) and follow that with a discussion on the connections among feeling, story, and environmental action.

(If you'd rather listen on your own, feel free to listen to it wherever you get your podcasts and arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the discussion only.)

From Forest Preserves of Cook County

In partnership with Ride Illinois, join us for a family-friendly event promoting riding bikes. Safety demonstration, techniques, tips, and a guided ride included. Helmets and loaner bikes are available. This event is perfect for cyclists of all skill levels who want to explore beautiful trails and enjoy the great outdoors.

From West Cook Wild Ones

Explore how native plants can enhance biodiversity and support ecosystems in our upcoming Wild Ones national webinar, “Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants” featuring Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society.

Native plants are essential for maintaining biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, including pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. By incorporating native plants into your landscape, you can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local fauna and flora. These plants are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, making them more resilient to climate change and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Attendees will learn how native plants can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.

From Forest Preserves of Cook County

Elevate Your Birdwatching Skills—Join Our Intro to Bird ID Workshop!

Passionate about birds? Whether you’re a novice or looking to sharpen your skills, our Intro to Bird ID workshop is perfect for you. Learn how to identify common bird species and enhance your birdwatching experience with expert guidance.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow bird enthusiasts and refine your bird identification skills.

From West Cook Wild Ones

Please join West Cook Wild Ones on Zoom for "Gardening for Hummingbirds" with Pam Karlson, artist, garden designer and educator on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at 2:30 pm (Central Time).

One of the summer’s delights is visits from Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Learn about these special guests and how to attract them to gardens during their warm season residency. This presentation features Pam’s Ruby-throated Hummingbird photos taken in the Chicago bird garden she created. Migration, plant selection, eco-friendly gardening practices, nesting, supplemental feeding, and community science will be discussed. 

From Forest Preserves of Cook County

Discover the Impact of Our Choices—Join the Nature Book Club!

Are you curious about the ethical and environmental implications of our food choices? Dive into Jonathan Safran Foer’s provocative book, Eating Animals, and explore these crucial themes with fellow nature enthusiasts. Join us for a lively discussion at Trailside Museum of this book, about consuming meat vs. vegetarianism in the modern world. Ages 18 & up. On August 15th at 7:00 PM (CST).

From Forest Preserves of Cook County

Be a part of hands-on conservation efforts and help restore natural habitats. This is a great opportunity to get involved in environmental stewardship while enjoying the outdoors. All skill levels are welcome for ages 12+.

What to Expect:

• Habitat restoration activities

• Learning about local ecology

• Community involvement

We look forward to seeing you there and making a difference together!

From One Earth Collective:

Help support One Earth all year round. Sign up today ($45 or more) to receive your bingo card, plus a membership to One Earth Film Festival. Encourage friends and family to join the fun. Each completed bingo card will be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes. Just take a picture of your completed card and send it to natasha@oneearthcollective.org. Be sure to share your pic on social media; the person with the highest number of hashtag uses will win an extra special prize.

Click here to purchase your card

Campaign ends July 31st 2024

From Oak Park Public Library:

Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature in the Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Group, held on Wednesdays in the later half of the month every other month beginning in January 2024.

In Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse award-winning entomologist and conservationist Dave Goulson, drawing on thirty years of research, examines the evidence of an alarming drop in insect numbers around the world, which could cause an ecological disaster. The book ends with practical advice and actions to avert the insect apocalypse.

REGISTER HERE

From One Earth Collective:

Help support One Earth all year round. Sign up today ($45 or more) to receive your bingo card, plus a membership to One Earth Film Festival. Encourage friends and family to join the fun. Each completed bingo card will be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes. Just take a picture of your completed card and send it to natasha@oneearthcollective.org. Be sure to share your pic on social media; the person with the highest number of hashtag uses will win an extra special prize.

Click here to purchase your card

Campaign ends July 31st 2024

From One Earth Collective:

Help support One Earth all year round. Sign up today ($45 or more) to receive your bingo card, plus a membership to One Earth Film Festival. Encourage friends and family to join the fun. Each completed bingo card will be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes. Just take a picture of your completed card and send it to natasha@oneearthcollective.org. Be sure to share your pic on social media; the person with the highest number of hashtag uses will win an extra special prize.

Click here to purchase your card

Campaign ends July 31st 2024

From One Earth Collective:

Help support One Earth all year round. Sign up today ($45 or more) to receive your bingo card, plus a membership to One Earth Film Festival. Encourage friends and family to join the fun. Each completed bingo card will be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes. Just take a picture of your completed card and send it to natasha@oneearthcollective.org. Be sure to share your pic on social media; the person with the highest number of hashtag uses will win an extra special prize.

Click here to purchase your card

Campaign ends July 31st 2024

From Oak Park Public Library:

Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature in the Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Group, held on Wednesdays in the later half of the month every other month beginning in January 2024.

In The Overstory by Richard Powers, an air force loadmaster in the Vietnam War is shot out of the sky, then saved by falling into a banyan. An artist inherits a hundred years of photographic portraits, all of the same doomed American chestnut. A hard-partying undergraduate in the late 1980s electrocutes herself, dies, and is sent back to life by creatures of air and light. A hearing-and speech-impaired scientist discovers that trees are communicating with one another. These four, and five other strangers—each summoned in different ways by trees—are brought together in a last and violent stand to save the continent's few remaining acres of virgin forest.

REGISTER HERE

This class will introduce you to the fundamentals of kayaking in a comfortable setting and at a relaxed pace. You will learn about proper strokes and paddling techniques, and get the chance to practice these new skills on a beautiful, local waterway. REI’s expert guides will also teach the basics of water safety, trip planning and how to have an enjoyable time on the water. This is a great way to build a new skill set or improve upon what you already know about kayaking. Ages 14 & up. Presented by REI. Kayaks, paddles and all necessary safety equipment provided.

Enjoy a shared love of reading and birds as we discuss this book by Priyanka Kumar.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sagawau at 630-257-2045

Wrap up Earth Month with our junky jamboree at Gallagher Way featuring artisans who transform reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind goods and promote zero-waste activities. Shop for home goods, art, planters, fashion, body care, stuff you've never seen before and more.

From One Earth Film Fest:

One Earth is proud to partner with Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin community for a special International Women's Day presentation and series. This three-event series begins on Friday, March 8. Each event will highlight the work of women of color, both locally and globally, as we illuminate the ways that women work intersectionally and across a range of contexts to support one another in our collective fight for equity, liberation, and economic participation in ways that preserve land, promote economic accessibility, and cause ecological flourishing. Join us for this exciting series to take place between March 8, April 18, and April 19.

April 18: The Kehrein Center presents the second event in our series, "Sustaining Women, Sustaining The World". Fleye, Free, and Forward: An ILAVA Function, is a fashion showcase merging wearable art with social consciousness. Owners Rahel & Mawasi Mwitula present ILAVA’s socially responsible fashion, promoting sustainable living for Tanzanian women. Kelley D. Moseley of K~Fleye jewelry joins to highlight her collections of one-of-one jewelry, accessories and handbags, and share her entrepreneurial journey. Both brands celebrate African & African American styles.

The event culminates in a conversation on the 'glocal' intersections led by Reesheda Graham Washington and the owners of ILAVA and K~FLEYE.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustaining-women-sustaining-the-world-a-three-part-series-tickets-852668022007

From Oak Park Public Library:

Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler or contributor to more than 20 books. Her most recent book is “Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History”. Listen to stories of the history of the tallgrass prairie and its amazing plants and creatures – from blooms to butterflies to bison. Discover plants that work well in the home garden as you enjoy learning about Illinois’ “landscape of home.”

Join us for this Earth Month Community Kickoff event for all ages and learn about a wide variety of community sustainability groups and opportunities right here in Oak Park.