Geneva parks classes to make it easier to go green
If you would like to live a little "greener," but don't know compost from cornflakes, the Geneva Park District's new "Green Living Series" is for you.
"We're trying to encourage folks to be more green in their lifestyle," said Trish Burns, manager of Peck Farm Park, including its nature interpretive center. Most of the classes will take place at Peck Farm Park.
The district itself is trying to live more responsibly. Monday, for example, the park board adopted a policy calling for less waste at staff and board meetings, including bringing coffee mugs instead of using disposable ones, having pitchers of water instead of bottled water, and using more electronic communication instead of paper memos.
There will be programs on sustainable and local food, energy and water, transportation, home management and gardening.
"We're trying to be pretty comprehensive," and not just focus on landscaping, Burns said.
Preregistration is required for all programs. Registration begins March 9 for park district residents and March 16 for nonresidents. For more information, call (630) 232-4542 or visit genevaparks.org.
Upcoming programs include:
• "Live Green, Save Green," for ages 18 and older, at 10 a.m. March 6. Cost is $15 for residents, $20 for nonresidents. Learn to navigate the lifestyles and consumer choices of trying to protect the health of your family and planet, with real-world solutions for instituting change within your budget and schedule.
• "Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network," for ages 16 and older, at 10 a.m. March 20. The training is free, but the rain gauge costs $25. The National Weather Services's CoCoRaHS is a volunteer network of backyard weather observers measuring and mapping precipitation to provide data for natural resource education and research.
• "Black Gold," for ages 18 and older, at 6:30 p.m. April 7. Cost is $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. This program will introduce the proposed idea of residential composting programs that may come to the Fox Valley. Learn the basics of composting, as well as how it can reduce greenhouse gasses and return nutrients to the soil.
• "Green Landscaping," for ages 18 and older, at 7 p.m. April 8. Cost is $15 for residents, $20 for nonresidents. Topics include use of native plants, using compost vs. using fertilizer, reducing water use, and attracting butterflies and wildlife to your yard.
• "Dragonfly Monitoring," for ages 16 and older, is at 6:30 p.m. April 15 and it's free. Learn the life history, ecology, and identification of more than 90 Chicago-area dragonfly and damselfly species, and about a monitoring program. • " Illinois River Watch Network Workshop," for ages 18 and older, is at 9 a.m. April 17. The cost is $20. Learn to test water quality of area streams and rivers.
• "Wednesday Morning Walkabouts," for all ages. Free. Registration starts now, because the class meets March 3 to 24 at 9 a.m. at Peck Farm Park Interpretive Center. A naturalist will lead the walk on the paved path that circles the park, or its other trails, and answer questions.
• "Weeknight Dinners," for all ages, will highlight "whole-food" meals, including egg dishes and produce. The instructor is from the Geneva Green Market NFP, which promotes the use of locally-grown and produced foods. Cost is $20 for residents, $25 for nonresidents. It meets at 10 a.m. March 27.
• "Meatless Mondays," for all ages, is at 10 a.m. April 15. Cost is $20 for residents, $25 for nonresidents.
• "The Perfect Picnic," for all ages, is at 10 a.m. May 1. Cost is $20 for residents, $25 for nonresidents. Recipes and how to pack a "greener" basket will be the focus.
• "Earth Day Celebration," for ages 5 and older, is at 1 p.m. April 24 and it's free. Children will enjoy activities, including a stewardship project at Peck Farm Park.
• During "TV Turn-Off Week," Geneva Green Market will present an all-ages class on "Sustainable Table" at 5:30 p.m. April 22. The free program will include demonstrations about cleaning, composting and parenting.