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Green Living

Last Updated: Nov 28, 2023 09:25AM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM

Volunteers gather on an Illinois Nature preserve to work the land.
Volunteers Care For Rarest Illinois Ecosystems

Nov 28, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Since 1963, when the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission was created by the Springfield legislature, 622 sites encompassing 121,532 acres throughout the state have been dedicated as state nature preserves or land and water reserves.

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Keeping Holiday Parties Green
Keeping Holiday Parties Green

Nov 28, 2023

Although the holidays are a season of joy, an estimated 2.9 billion pounds of extra trash is generated each year from items such as wrapping paper, food waste, packaging, returns and decorations. Let’s make this holiday season a time to remember that sustainability and fun can go hand in hand.

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Clothing Donation Tips
Clothing Donation Tips: Understanding Where Secondhand Items Go

Nov 28, 2023 ● By Kelcie Ottoes

Donating clothes feels good because we expect it to help someone else. More than 70 percent of the global population wears secondhand clothing.

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A bluebird rests on a sumac tree.
Winter Food For Birds Berries, Nuts and Seeds are Available in Yards and Natural Areas

Oct 31, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

In fall, a cornucopia of berries and nuts are available outdoors to feed wild creatures, but beginning in December, the outdoor banquet may seem to mostly have disappeared.

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Green Fitness
Green Fitness: Choosing an Earth-Friendly Gym

Oct 31, 2023 ● By Kiki Powers

Traditional fitness centers consume significant amounts of electricity, water and other resources, but more gyms are rising to the challenge of reducing their environmental impact and employing strategies to increase energy efficiency, decrease waste and provide a healthier workout environment.

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Joys of Minimalism
The Joys of Minimalism: A Rich Life With Less Stuff

Oct 31, 2023 ● By Carrie Jackson

Finding that material possessions weigh them down, people are turning to minimalism to simplify their physical, mental and emotional space.

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Pros Reveal Favorite Leaf-Peeping Spots In The Chicago Area

Sep 29, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

This could be another great year to enjoy changing hues in leaves of trees and shrubs in the region.

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TRANSFORMING TRASH INTO TREASURE
Recycled Art: Transforming Trash Into Treasure

Sep 29, 2023 ● By Gisele Rinaldi

Motivated by a desire to educate and inspire, many upcycle artists often interweave a message of environmental consciousness into their artwork, thus spreading awareness about issues or making social commentary.

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Native oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia).
Selection, Planting And Fall Care Of Hydrangeas

Aug 31, 2023 ● By Melinda Myers

This is a great time to plant a few new hydrangeas in the garden.

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Compass plant
September Is The Time For Prairie Dock To Shine

Aug 31, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Prairie dock, it’s one of the longest-lived species in the prairie, and September is its time to shine.

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Understanding Light Pollution
Understanding Light Pollution: Environmental Concerns and Achievable Remedies

Aug 31, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

At Montana’s Medicine Rock State Park, visitors have a rare opportunity to look up at the night sky and see an awe-inspiring display of planets and constellations, as well as the Milky Way.

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View of a portion of the prairie in late summer (August 2020) showing Blazing Star (purple flowers) and Prairie Dock (tall yellow flowers with large basal leaves).
Remnant Chiwaukee Native Prairie is Thriving

Jul 31, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

The nearly 500-acre area is a rare, remnant, virgin prairie adjacent to Lake Michigan, saved in an extraordinary way by ordinary citizens working with conservation groups to purchase small parcels of land for nearly 60 years.

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Sustainability on the Rise at U.S. Colleges
Eco-Friendly U: Sustainability on the Rise at U.S. Colleges

Jul 31, 2023 ● By Carrie Jackson

The halls of higher education are adopting more sustainable practices as students and university stakeholders increasingly understand that their lifestyle choices and daily operations impact the planet.

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Bird City Network logo.
Bird City Network Expands Avian Conservation

Jun 30, 2023

The Bird City Network serves as a collaborative platform designed to promote sustainable urban planning, create bird-friendly communities and raise awareness about the vital role people play in supporting bird populations.

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John James Audubon illustrated the whip-poor-will with its main food, moths.
Moths and Fireflies Are Declining As Summer Night Insects

Jun 30, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

As the summer sun sets, butterflies cease patrolling flowers for nectar, go to roost and rest. But many moth species are just beginning their day under the cover of darkness, and nighttime active birds called whip-poor-wills come out to eat these insects.

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December 2023 Issue

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December 2023 cover of Natural Awakneings Magazine the Chicago edition. With some red flowers on the cover.
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