CSC Plans for 2008

In order to bring the experiential message of sustainable community living to a widening audience, we intend to build upon our existing educational programs.
Our 2007 momentum is carrying us along two tracks - continued property renovation, continuation and expansion of our existing programs.

Property Renovation

One aspect of CSC's mission is to demonstrate models and practices of sustainability that educate and inspire all to manifest sustainable community. In support of our mission, we are pleased to announce that new energy has developed in the latter half of 2007 focused on creating educational prototypes on CSC's land. The catalyst behind this energy is Bill Land, who recently moved to Stelle from Southern Indiana and has assumed the role of CSC Property Manager. Through Bill's coordination efforts, rehabilitation and improvement of our orchard/pond/garden property is underway, preparing it for a the creation of a variety of new prototypes beginning in the spring of 2008. Also, we are in early discussions with Dan Anderson of the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program at the University of Illinois who has offered to work with us in the development of educational prototypes that can be used to benefit anyone involved in organic food production.

We are excited about the possible educational models that can develop under Bill's management. Bill is well suited for this effort. While in Indiana he served as a consultant for a property site improvement business involved in forestry, plant invasives, alternative livestock systems and pond management. Bill had been a University Professor teaching environmental conservation and serving as a Planning Director. He also teaches courses in Feng Shui. We are delighted to have Bill managing our property and invite you to support his work by donating to help us complete our priority projects.

Our Priority Educational Projects for 2008 include:

Chickens in 'tractors' happily scratching and pecking. Chicken
co-op members moved the tractors daily to bring these broilers to 'greener pastures'.
(Click photo to enlarge)

Establishing several types of innovative garden designs

Establishing an aquaculture project in the original greenhouse
Establishing a rain water skyfunnel catchment basin
Establishing several permaculture prototype projects
Rehabilitating and integrating the property's small scale ethanol plant
Building a composting toilet near the CSC gardens
Beginning the organic certification process for the orchard and garden
Raising the level of the pond and clearing its invasive plants
Adding a new deep well to the property using a solar power pump

Programming Expansion

We expanded our educational programming in 2007 largely due to the efforts of Julie Larsen, our Outreach Coordinator. Julie creatively energized a number of new program offerings. We intend to continue these existing programs as well as expand into new programming areas.

Julie Larsen giving an outdoor yogurt making demonstration at our Land of Milk and Honey weekend.

Our Priority 2008 Educational Programming includes:

Continuing our themed weekends, each focused on a slice of sustainable community living.
Expanding our open house presentations to include new areas of sustainable living.
Broadening our range of presentations/workshops to include green building methods such as straw bale, vermiculture applied to organic gardening, and garden field days.
Continuing to develop the CSC speakers bureau.

We are also launching a membership program in early 2008 inviting others
to support and engage with our work!

How can YOU help?

Make an online donation to support our programming and projects.

Mail a check to:          CSC
                                 127 Sun Street
                                   Stelle, Illinois 60919

If you can't donate money, we invite you to donate labor or material goods....

Material Goods Needed

A biodiesel kit donated to the CSC by Scott McGill (son of Stelle resident Patricia Carlson).

Composting Toilet
Building Materials (lumber, siding, glazing, etc.)
Water Tanks (for rain collection)
Solar panels (for electric pumps and lights)
Garden Tools
Fencing

Stelle folks at the old greenhouse we plan to rehabilitate.

Volunteers Needed

Skilled Carpenters
Web Designer with Dreamweaver and Flash experience
Fundraisers
Gardeners from 1 to 93 years old
Able-bodied (or not!), fun loving people that enjoy working with others to create sustainable community

We hold the spirit of the land in high esteem and are developing an active stewardship of the CSC property that will fulfill the true potential of the land for generations. Since we hold the mission of education as central to our work we intend to spread examples of sustainability to other landholders so that their property may “flower” for generations, as well.

The Center for Sustainable Community’s mission is to foster a learning community that demonstrates models and practices of sustainability. It is our hope that through our educational programs, these models and practices will be carried to other communities and applied so that many can experience living in sustainable community. With your help we can fulfill this mission and reach an even greater audience. Your donation is crucial, and we deeply appreciate your ongoing support. All donations are tax deductible.

Click here to donate