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 One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest:
'Back from the Future' is the theme for this year's Awards Celebration. Adam Joel of Aggressively Compassionate will host the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Global Awards Celebration, where you can meet these young filmmakers in person or online and see their extraordinary films.

• Film details soon

• Doors open 11 a.m. for check-in/registration

• Program begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time

• Program ends 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time

• Free popcorn

• Free beverage

Since 2013, the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest has awarded over 100 prizes to short environmental films from youth age 25 down to 3rd grade. A jury of 31 environmental and film professionals selected the final, top films from among 400 submissions around the world in this first year as a global, rather than national contest. Each film is 1 to 8 minutes long and ranges from animation to live action to documentary.

Free registration for in person event.

Free registration for virtual event.

Free registration for Asia/Pacific virtual event.

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 Repair Cafe Oak Park:

Toss it? No way!

The Oak Park Repair Café is meeting on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., at Fox Park in Oak Park. We will be in the Community Center in the park, at 624 S. Oak Park Avenue. Free, on-street parking.

Volunteer coaches will be on hand to work with you, helping you fix those household items you’ve been meaning to take care of – everything from toasters to radios, to clocks or torn clothing. Given a huge increase in visitor volume, repairs will be limited to one item per guest.

We respectfully request all guests be masked during their visit.

For more information about the Oak Park Repair Café, please go to www.repaircafeoakparkil.org and to learn more about the international Repair Café movement, check out www.repaircafe.org.

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 Seven Generations Ahead:

Forget Elf on the Shelf! How about Microbrew with the Crew?

The Oak Park Microbrew Review is one of the longest-running beer festivals in the Chicagoland area!  Sample beers, ciders, seltzers and n/a options from 60+ breweries, purchase food from a variety of different restaurants, and dance to fantastic music.

OPMBR is the largest zero-waste craft beer fest in the Midwest – highlighting Seven Generations Ahead’s mission to build sustainable communities. Seven Generations Ahead is working with the event vendors to produce as little waste as possible, and provide recycling/composting stations for our guests.

For more information about this event , please click here for the calendar event on Seven Generations Ahead’s website and to learn more about Seven Generations Ahead click here.

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 Repair Cafe Oak Park:

Toss it? No way!

The Oak Park Repair Café is meeting on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., at Fox Park in Oak Park. We will be in the Community Center in the park, at 624 S. Oak Park Avenue. Free, on-street parking.

Volunteer coaches will be on hand to work with you, helping you fix those household items you’ve been meaning to take care of – everything from toasters to radios, to clocks or torn clothing. Given a huge increase in visitor volume, repairs will be limited to one item per guest.

We respectfully request all guests be masked during their visit.

For more information about the Oak Park Repair Café, please go to www.repaircafeoakparkil.org and to learn more about the international Repair Café movement, check out www.repaircafe.org.

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 West Cook Wild Ones:

Discover the beauty, versatility and dependability of native plants. Tour 9 colorful, life-filled gardens in Berwyn and Oak Park, Illinois, during our annual Birds, Bees & Butterflies Native Garden Tour July 27, 2024 from 1 to 5 p.m.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Meet passionate and knowledgeable home gardeners who have been experimenting with and observing native plants for many years. They’ll guide you through their gardens and answer your specific questions about native gardening.

You’ll learn about sustainable landscaping and rain gardens, and how they can reduce backyard flooding.
You'll get to see gardeners' favorite native plants and hear how they change throughout the seasons.

You’ll explore small gardens and large gardens, manicured looks and more carefree ones, and newly planted and mature established landscapes.

Whether you’re a beginning gardener or have more soil between your toes than you care to reveal, you’ll walk away with practical, hands-on tips you can apply to your own yard.

REGISTER HERE.

From the Forest Preserves of Cook County:

This program is great for beginners who want to learn about building a birding kit, techniques and finding resources.

Registration Required: Register at https://fpdcc.com/event/be-a-better-birder-getting-started-4/

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

Please join OPA for an eye-opening discussion with "We're all Plastic People Now" screening at Sulzer Regional Library!

Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue. Chicago, IL 60625

Introduced by actor and environmentalist Ted Danson, the documentary film We're All Plastic People Now investigates the hidden story of plastic and its effects on human health.

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

The second-annual Trashion Revolution: Awaken is a community activation event and fundraiser for 501(c)3 Triveni Institute, using fashion as a medium to raise awareness of our climate and plastic pollution crises. Through a cross-community scope of action, we bring together the worlds of fashion, politics, nonprofits, for-profit companies, the LGBTQ+ community and people of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Our events are truly “fashion for a cause”: a way to discuss difficult topics and inspire action in a fun atmosphere that provides much-needed levity.

From One Earth Local:

"Farming While Black” is a feature-length documentary film which examines the historical plight of Black farmers in the United States and the rising generation reclaiming their rightful ownership to land and reconnecting with their ancestral roots.

GET FREE TICKETS HERE