Behind the Scenes of a Sustainable Community

URBANA - In Stelle, Illinois there is a unique community designed with agricultural and economical sustainability in mind. This is the site for the first of six sustainable agriculture tours sponsored by the Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program at the University of Illinois .

The tour will be held on Wednesday, May 25 beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending around 2:00 p.m.

"For a couple of decades now a good percentage of the people living in the small community of Stelle have been experimenting with different aspects of sustainable ways of living. This tour will take a closer look at some of their recent as well as long term initiatives." said Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, a University of Illinois research specialist who is coordinating the tours.

The tour will include a look at: the solar-powered telephone company that also provides high speed wireless internet service; the windmill-supported potable water treatment facility; organic and permaculture-oriented gardens; The Center for Organic Living; a presentation about the concepts behind permaculture; and a lunch prepared with some of Stelle's organically raised foods.

"For those who have ever wondered what a small group of individuals could do who were motivated and willing to work together, this should be a fascinating visit," said Bill Wilson, one of the long time residents of the community and director of the Stelle based Center for Sustainable Community.

A fee of $15 will be charged per person. Registration at least one week in advance is required.   Visit http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/asap/topics/tours.html to register and for more details about this tour and the other scheduled tours or contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at (217) 968-5512 or cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu.  

For more information about Stelle, visit www.CenterForSustainableCommunity.org.

The remaining tour schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, June 23, "Organics from Seed to Table" at the U of I South Farms and Jon Cherniss' Blue Moon Farm.
• Wednesday, July 13, "Organics from the Ground Up" at Growing Home Farm in Marseilles.
• Tuesday, July 19, "On-Farm Composting" at QW Farms in Edgewood .
• Friday, August 12, "Freshwater Farm-Raised Prawns" at the Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval , Illinois .
• Tuesday, September 13, Marketing for Ag Entrepreneurs" in Arthur.

The tours are sponsored by the Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program in the College of Agricultural , Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois , the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program and the Illinois Small Farm Task Force.   

Tour Starts Promptly at 9:00.  Ends around 2:00

Cost $15
Includes Organically Prepared Lunch

To Register:
Call:  Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant (217) 968-5512
Or Email: cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu
Or register on line at:  https://webs.aces.uiuc.edu/asap/