We Are Still Rolling...

Last we spoke there was some uncertainty of the future of C3, but the Corps is alive and thriving under the guidance of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum!  I haven't blogged in a while because I have been tweeting (@lafleen) more these days.  

Happy Spring 2013! 

It's rained every day for the last week here, more or less, and it doesn't look like the forecast for next week is calling for anything different.  Not a ton of rain, but enough to give way for some beautiful flowers and spectacular greenery.  I look forward to walking through Portage Park witnessing the trees sprout pink, purple and white blossoms. 

And of course it is baseball season.  Some may complain that it is the most boring to watch, but golf is only watchable, according to my mother, because of the locations of the golf courses.  I concur.  Baseball, you bet.  Go, go White Sox!  

Johnathan Winters passed this week and it hit home because my dad loves him and his dad before as well.  It reminded me of my dad who is 72 and still doing well, but it does give a good feeling to know Winters had a good run at 87 and he wasn't nearly as healthy as my dad.  My dad loves baseball, too!  A legitimate Yankees fan from Long Island, NY.  

Sustain C3!! Please Read

3/6/2012 URGENT DATED INFORMATION Contact: Sustain C3 Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SustainC3@gmail.com, 312-566-7222

“LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS ASK FOR HELP TO PRESERVE CITY-
WIDE PROGRAMS”

Volunteer leaders with the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) fear the defunding and dissolution of the program. The contract for C3 expires June 30th, 2012. Unless greater funding is secured, C3 and other environmental programs hosted by the City of Chicago - the Center for Green Technology, Greencorps Chicago, and the Sustainable Backyards Program - are all at risk of severely cutting services or discontinuing based upon a lack of City funding.

Over six years, the successful city-wide program has touched 50 wards and built a diverse environmental network that is open to all Chicagoans under the motto, “You Care. Do Something. We’ll help.” The mission of the Chicago Conservation Corps is to recruit, train and support a network of volunteer leaders who work together to improve the quality of life in Chicago neighborhoods and schools through environmental service projects that protect water, clean air, restore land, and save energy.

Mayor Emanuel has pledged, “I want Chicago to be the greenest city in the world, and I am committed to fostering opportunities for Chicagoans to make sustainability a part of their lives and their experience in the city” (City of Chicago Environment and Sustainability).

C3 wants to help the Mayor achieve this. Operating on an already modest yearly budget, with only three full-time staff organizers, C3 has a high return-on-investment. Major successes, like the closing of the Fisk and Crawford coal plants, require vast efforts from the city, non-profits, and volunteers alike. C3 is an important part of these broad efforts and will be essential in keeping Chicago a national leader in sustainability.

C3 leaders have requested a March meeting with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, David Spielfogel (Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning, Mayor’s Office), Karen Weigert (Chief Sustainability Officer) Aaron Joseph (Deputy Sustainability Officer) to discuss the future of and funding concerns for the C3 program in light of recent developments with its sister program, Greencorps Chicago. We care about our role in the greening of Chicago, and wish to insure that these types of opportunities are available for many years to come.

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Electric Common Sense

In reading this article re-posted in the Chicago Tribune, it occurred to me, aside from the shady Volt battery issue, that car companies have been completely retarded about promoting the electric and/or hybrid cars. CAR companies need to invest in charging stations at their franchises; most have the space for at least 2. If they cannot, they should then be able to promote other locations for charging thus encouraging other local businesses to promote their own stations and the use of electric and/or hybrid vehicles. If the government can apply a first time investor credit applicable to the net or gross, whichever is higher. Call me naive or ideological, but seriously, what will it take for CEOs of major car companies to understand in order to bring the horse to water, one must provide a source for the water.

Winter Weatherization Education

Is your home drafty?

Economy got that budget by a stranglehold?

Want to know how to do-it-yourself for free AND help the environment?

picture credited to: http://2slenergy.com/index.html

Come join your community December 10th from 10 A.M. -12 P.M. at the Portage-Cragin Public Library for a FREE* workshop on how you can easily weatherize your home quickly, economically, and FREE**.

Winter Weatherization Education

Low Cost Weatherization Workshop

Brought to you by the City of Chicago, Chicago Conservation Corps and the

Portage-Cragin Public Library

Saturday December 10, 2011 10 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Community Room

*Must be a Chicago resident and complete a 90-minute training session.

**Supplies are limited – limited to 30 participants – please RSVP to conservationleen@gmail.com

For more information:

http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/portage-cragin/

http://chicagoconservationcorps.org/blog/weatherization/education/

http://chicagoconservationcorps.org/blog/eventcalendar/

An Organic, Organic Experience

Throughout the city of Chicago there are a plethora of parks. Each have their own "thing". From those that stand out with excellent programs to those which may harbor resentment for having to cater to a less affluent contribution network. I have experience on a small variety of this scale usually with a positive experience. Both times at Kilbourn Park have been most delightful. It is an oasis in the middle of the city. You're standing in the garden drinking in the oxygen from the amazing native plants that consume about 1/3 of an acre. Then the Metra drives by and reminds you how possible it is to have such an amazing escape in the middle of bustle. The winter is a little different as the outside is in hibernation or dead for the most part, so their activities move into the greenhouse. Filled with beautiful and healthy plants and veggies. I have been invited to participate with KP's Harvest Celebration last September and this past Saturday for their Gardening Exchange. Both were to present Rain Barrel and Compost Bin demos. It gives me great pleasure in participating amongst the similar minded folks with a balance of far right and really far left. The past week was filled with not only "green" activities, but some interesting characters. It's something else when you reach one person amongst those participants or attendees. Two student volunteers were assigned to help me with any needs for the day and it was awesome. They worked the raffle and I worked the info since it was a small area to handle the amount of info I had to distribute. Anna and Elizabeth. Anna was really inspired to start her C3 club at school. They are pictured here. The day was great. Good people lots of good and cheap resources for getting started on your first garden or plenty of seeds and tips for your continued growth as home gardeners. Check out Kilbourn Park or the programs at your nearest park (Chicago Park District or Cook County Forest Preserve). Also, keep up with the Department of Environment and C3.

Kilbourn Park - My Favorite Organic Greenhouse

Come out to the Kilbourn Park Gardening Exchange!

SPECIAL EVENT! C3 Leader Kathleen Boyle teams up the Kilbourn Organic Greenhouse for:
The Garden Exchange
March 5, 2011
1:00-4:00pm
3501 N. Kilbourn, Chicago
Information: 773-685-3359
Transit: #152 Addison west to Kilbourn
Cost: $5 per class

Demonstrations
-Rain barrels and compost bins with Kathleen Boyle
-SOILS with Robert Lee
-Worm Composting with Ella Russel

Workshops
1:15-Growing Veggies
2:15-Farming the Frost, Early Planting
3:15- Winter Sowing Techniques

Garden Exchange
Used gardening, canning and cooking supplies will be available for purchase.

Tooting My Green Horn

Volunteer Spotlight:

C3 Leader Kathleen Boyle

Neighborhood/C3 region: Belmont-Cragin/Northwest Region

C3 Volunteer Projects

During her short time with C3, Kathleen has quickly become a staple in the C3 Leader program. In less than two years, Kathleen has organized and led FOUR community based environmental action projects addressing a wide range of environmental issues.

1. 2009- Rethink Retrain Return: Recycling Panel Discussion

2. 2009, 2010- Low Cost Weatherization Education workshop series

3. 2010- Green Cleaning workshop at CPS

4. 2010- Rain Barrel & Compost Bin workshop at the Northwest Housing Fair

Going Above and Beyond

We are constantly amazed at Kathleen's boundless energy and enthusiasm. On top of working full time and leading grassroots initiatives, she is always willing to lend a helping hand to her fellow C3 volunteers and community members. Kathleen has taken part in a ton of new C3 events and initiatives, here are a few examples: Family Eco Night at Pulaski Academy, Kilbourn Park Fall Harvest Celebration, Portage Park Earth Day (team member with C3 leader Morgan Conlon), Carbon Nation screening event volunteer, C3 Northwest Regional Network participant, participant in C3 Explorer volunteer opportunities, and Speaker in the C3 Speakers Bureau. Professionally, she is a part of the Green Schools Symposium and the CPS Green Team.

Planning for Future Endeavors

Find Kathleen on March 5 at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse leading yet another rain barrel and compost bin demonstration! Kathleen told us a little about her growing interest in water conservation, "I am working on ways to collect water when my building owner is not in support of rain barrels in her yard." She is also super excited as she gears up to harvest compost from her worm bin for the THIRD time!

Kathleen's main objective: EDUCATION

"My environmental interests are vast, but my main objective is education on the whole subject of conservation. I try to educate one person on a daily basis even if it is a tiny fraction of an element of conservation. People need to know about all avenues of conservation so they can live a better life and contribute positively to the whole world."