Winter sowing is an easy method of starting seeds outdoors during the winter in recycled containers, like plastic jugs, to help germinate seeds and works especially for native plants. Thanks to a generous donation of native seeds from University of Illinois Extension, everyone will be able to start their own native plant greenhouse.
Explore nature and environmentalism from a variety of perspectives across fiction and nonfiction literature on the third Wednesday of every month. Learn more about library-led book discussions.
Join us for this virtual presentation by Dennis Swiftdeer Paige to hear the story of how one residential association in Chicagoland transformed their lawn into a stunning collection of prairie, woodland, and wetland wildflowers, sedges, grasses, and rain gardens that flourished through all four seasons. Learn how you can get started in reshaping your own native eco-friendly landscape while enhancing not only beauty but also biodiversity and environmental health.
Explore nature and environmentalism from a variety of perspectives across fiction and nonfiction literature on the third Wednesday of every month. Learn more about library-led book discussions.
If you live, work, go to school, or worship on Chicago's Greater Westside (Ashland to Austin, roughly), please join us for our last meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, December 16th.
We're eager to become a meaningful network of advocates and activists already leading the way on building healthy, strong, climate-ready communities.
Location for this month’s meeting is 5100 W. Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60644, 3rd Floor Training Center (Room 345).
Boutique-style shopping at no cost—we know it sounds too good to be true, but we promise it is! Come shop and/or donate. We're offering and accepting gently used clothing and accessories for all genders, ages, and sizes, free of charge! Donations are not required.
Are you passionate about building a greener, healthier community in Oak Park, River Forest, and beyond? Then we invite you to the upcoming PlanItGreen Leadership Forum on December 11th, 2025.
Through PlanItGreen, we’ve already helped reduce 35,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually, created 300+ native gardens, and launched 100+ local sustainability projects but our work is far from done.
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.
We share our one Earth. We celebrate 15 years of community. And your action today helps lift every voice in the fight for a just and livable planet.
Help Us Build on 15 Years of Success:
We’ve engaged 49,000+ attendees in meaningful climate action
We partner with 300+ organizations across Chicagoland and beyond
We make complex environmental issues accessible, urgent, and personal
95% of participants report being inspired to take action
Your Support is Needed to Sustain Just, Impactful Climate Action.
$750 enables film festival screenings in underserved communities that are most disproportionately affected by climate impacts
$250 helps bring filmmakers, environmental experts, and climate activists to be in dialogue and action with audiences and the community
$100 supports the development of young environmental justice leaders
$50 helps us grow the collective by providing resources for climate coalition convenings
Help us meet our $5,000 Giving Tuesday goal. Your gift supports our One Earth, the next 15 years, and even more voices for climate action.
Build your own walking stick using buckthorn, an invasive species. Ages 12 & up.
Help restore our natural habitat and hone your plant ID skills. Supplies and refreshments provided. Ages 13 & up.
Create an eco-print with fall leaves and make your own plant press around an outdoor fire.
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
The Oak Park Public Library and Trinity Pierce invite you for an afternoon hour of tree appreciation. We’ll learn more about the trees in our neighborhood, the economic, environmental and health benefits of trees, ways to support green spaces all the while caring for our well-being as we listen and then stroll outside nearby Scoville Park, home to a diverse collection of trees.
Trinity Pierce is the Senior Stewardship Manager at The Morton Arboretum for the Chicago Region Trees Initiative. She collaborates with community organizations and members to increase awareness and foster action through plantings and ongoing care in order to grow a more diverse, more abundant, and more equitably distributed urban forest. A Certified Arborist, she holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan with a background in history, ecological restoration, and urban green space reconciliation.
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
WEJA (Westside Environmental Justice Alliance) is a group for people who live, work, volunteer, study, and worship on Chicago’s Westside (roughly Ashland to Austin) to come together over our mutual interests of improving the air, water, soil, and health of Westsiders.
WEJA is a partnership with One Earth Collective, 290 IPO, and – so far 72 other Westside activists, community-based organizations, and residents.
The Volunteer Fair is back this fall with even more opportunities to do impactful work in Chicago. No matter what interests and expertise you bring, there's an opportunity for everyone!
Whether you're passionate about protecting the environment, mentoring youth, or advancing social justice, there's a group that needs you! The Volunteer Fair brings together inspiring organizations making our city better and passionate people ready to get involved. Come to make a difference, leave feeling inspired—find your thing!
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
Looking for Halloween costumes for children ages 0-11?
"Shop" the free swap—even if you don't have a costume to swap:
Wednesday, October 1, 10 am-12 pm & 3:30-5:30 pm
Friday, October 3, 10 am-12 pm & 3:30-5:30 pm
Have a costume to donate to the swap?
September 24-November 5: Drop off gently used and newly washed costumes and accessories for children ages 0-11 in the Main Library Children's Services Area during the library’s open hours.
Any remaining costumes will be available for browsing in the Children's Services Area Storytime Room after the event.
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
Learn how to build your own plant terrarium. Take home your own green ecosystem and watch it grow. Supplies provided.
Features a screening of two short films: "Street Food: New Orleans" and "Can Food Be Political?"
All Ages!
For people who live, work, volunteer, go to school, or worship in the Austin community on the West Side of Chicago.
Wear your favorite hoodie! This will be an outdoor event, weather permitting.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for dinner bites from three local Austin chefs, cider, s’mores, garden tours, and tabling activities by community organizations focused on health, food, culinary arts and small business resources.
Looking for Halloween costumes for children ages 0-11?
"Shop" the free swap—even if you don't have a costume to swap:
Wednesday, October 1, 10 am-12 pm & 3:30-5:30 pm
Friday, October 3, 10 am-12 pm & 3:30-5:30 pm
Have a costume to donate to the swap?
September 24-November 5: Drop off gently used and newly washed costumes and accessories for children ages 0-11 in the Main Library Children's Services Area during the library’s open hours.
Any remaining costumes will be available for browsing in the Children's Services Area Storytime Room after the event.
Learn how to build your own plant terrarium. Take home your own green ecosystem and watch it grow. Supplies provided.
Hosted by C3: Ready to make a real impact in your neighborhood? Join the Chicago Conservation Corps’ (C3) Fall 2025 Sustainability Leadership Training — a free program that equips Chicagoans with the tools, funding, and expert support to launch local sustainability projects.
Training runs Tuesdays, 6–8 PM on Zoom, Sept. 30 – Nov. 18.
To participate, you must be 18+, attend an info session, and submit a short application.
Become a C3 Leader and gain access to project funding, one-on-one staff support, and a network of changemakers.
Learn more and apply at chicagoconservationcorps.org or email c3@naturemuseum.org.
About the Summit
This year’s Summit will explore the theme of 'Strong and Supported,' offering four sessions each diving into ways we can give and receive healing to the Earth around us and create a healthier and more just world.
Join Reduce Waste Chicago for our fourth annual Sustainability Market! Discover eco-focused local small businesses, artists and organizations dedicated to helping us all live more sustainably. Drop off items for reuse, repurposing and recycling with five collection organizations. Connect with and create community in a shared mission to reduce waste in our homes and our communities. See you there!
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
On "Sun Day," Sunday, Sept. 21, 3-4pm, Oak Park Climate Action Network presents a free webinar all about COMMUNITY SOLAR. Learn how anyone with an electricity account can subscribe for a share in a solar "farm" and save money on their energy costs. Presenters include Grace Concialdi of Citizens Utility Board and Art Spooner, Oak Park condo owner and community solar subscriber, followed by Q&A. It's free but registration is required. A recording of the webinar will be available later at https://opcan.org. Questions to wgreenhouse@gmail.com.
Sun Day--a nationwide celebration of clean energy progress— gives each of us a chance to stand up for the solar and wind power that's making our communities healthier, quieter, and more affordable.
In Chicago, the Sun Day Solar Fest will be September 21st from Noon - 4PM at Montrose Beach (adjacent to the dog park) at 610 W Lawrence, Chicago, IL 60613 US.
Our market connects residents with local farmers offering fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, and other farm staples. This market takes place EVERY Thursday Rain or Shine from June 12th - October 30th 1-6 PM.
Join us at Austin Town Hall Farmers Market! Partnership for a Healthier America is hosting a community block party in partnership with Austin Town Hall Farmer's Market to launch the Good Good campaign.
Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature on the third Wednesday of every other month. Learn more about library-led book discussions »
