Our prairie reconstruction process began in the summer of 2017, after receiving the Comed Green Region Grant, and under the guidance of ecologist Dave Eubanks. Our proposed plan would replace 1.25 acres of sod to native prairie plants, the majority located in a detention area west of our Township Highway Dept. This area receives stormwater… Read more »
In 2016, I was approached by Fremont Middle School personalized learning teacher Emily Loerakker, looking for a community project for her class. The timing was perfect, as Fremont had just been awarded the ComEd Green Region Grant, and we were forming plans on what was to come. I made a list of possible projects for… Read more »
Green (or living) roofs have much to offer! In urban areas inundated with impervious surfaces, they slow the run-off of stormwater and provide habitat and food for birds and pollinators. The aid in cooling of the structure below. They add beauty and whimsy, softening the harsh edges of buildings. They also create some design challenges–… Read more »
Thanks to grant from Liberty Prairie Foundation, we received the funds to build a high tunnel, movable hoop house for growing tomatoes in spring 2018. Our tomatoes had been suffering from a fungal disease called blight from cool, damp weather, spread by wind and found in soil. Up until now, my strategy for… Read more »
Put a little Art into it. After a layer of brown coat, we were ready to add some bling. Local artist Susan Peterson came to the rescue with her sketching skills and helped create our oak tree outline. The oak tree is a powerhouse, or I should say, keystone species, in our ecosystem. So many… Read more »
Messy Feet and Happy Hearts With our foundation, framing and stem-wall complete, we were ready for the good stuff to begin. Our local Natural Building guru Pete Poli found some clay for us from a water main dig in Mettawa. He was looking for clay with little to no organic matter. A common waste product… Read more »
A Goal without a Plan is Just a Wish When our hand me down Costco playhouse collapsed in a winter storm of Jan 2016, dreams of a natural building project swirled through my head. I immediately called friend, kindred spirit, jack of all trades, environmental activist and Wilmot WI resident, Pete Poli. Pete built… Read more »
From the get-go, our blank canvas was screaming for swales. Even with just a preliminary study of permaculture, you realize what resources you have and how to take advantage of them. We had a sunny, open space on a slope. It was easy to see that heavy rains would wash down the slope, flooding… Read more »
The winters may feel long for most people in zone 5, but to those of us 4 season gardeners, our winter is about two months long. I take December and January off, with only my houseplants to half-heartedly care for. Early February, onions and leeks are sprouting in my basement under lights, followed soon after… Read more »
