Calendar of Events

Check out our upcoming events. Most, but not all are held in Stelle, so be sure to verify the location.

Click on the links to learn more.

Seminars – Workshops

Garlic Fest! (Saturday July 26, 2008)
Garlic! Garlic! Garlic! - calling all you garlic fans for an afternoon in the country dedicated to garlic. This workshop is for the serious garlic lover who wants to learn how to grow it, cook with it and have fun comparing the taste of different varieties. Leave your breath mints at home for this one!
Presenters: Julie Larsen and Guia Hoffman

Herbs For Health and Healing (Saturday August 16, 2008) Learn how herbs can cleanse, regulate, nourish, and energize our bodies. This workshop covers blending of herbs, internal and external application of herbs, and usage of culinary herbs. You won't want to miss this information dense workshop! Candice is a professional presenter who has devoted her life to educating others in the importance and usage of herbs.
Presenter: Candice Chaffee

Garden, Orchard, and Poultry Workshop with Open House (Sunday Sept. 7, 2008)
Learn a variety of organic gardening methods including using living mulches, vermiculture as a tool for soil building, vertical gardening, companion planting, techniques for raising a small poultry flock, seasonal fruit tree pruning, and more.
Presenters: Bill Land, George Blackman, and Argena Marie

'Land of Milk, Honey, & Cider' Weekend (Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008)
Join us for a fun filled weekend extracting honey, making apple cider, and milking sheep. Bring the family and some cider containers - and don't forget your camera. Learn about raising sheep and bees - then enjoy the 'fruits of our labors'. Sessions may be attended individually.
Presenters: Harry Carr, Julie Larsen, Mark Hoffman and others.

Solar Home Tour (Sunday, October 5, 2008)
Stelle's Annual Solar Home Tour is hosted by the Center for Sustainable Community and a handful of residents as part of the National Annual Solar Home Tour event. The major focus of this day is to offer opportunities for groups and individuals to learn more about solar power. The community of Stelle has a large number of solar power applications for residential use and also has the first, solar-powered, off-the-grid telephone mutual and internet service provider in the United States. By offering ongoing presentations throughout the day we are able to share our love of renewable solar energy with others.
Presented by members of the Stelle community

Our Ongoing Events

CSC Monthly Open House
On the first Saturday or Sunday of most months you can meet CSC folks and tour Stelle. Includes an open discussion on what's going on with CSC. Most months feature an afternoon speaker. 10am - 4:00pm Includes lunch.

Stelle Community Open Houses

Stelle's Earth Day Open House - First Sunday in May
One of Stelle's biggest events of the year, this is when Stelle opens its doors to celebrate Earth Day. Enjoy tours of the solar homes, windmills, the solar powered telephone company and high speed internet system, community gardens, chicken co-op, and the Haeme's strawbale home. The day usually includes some recycling (garage) sales, organic food, and more.

Solar Home Tour - First Sunday in October
Stelle's Annual Solar Home Tour is hosted by the Center for Sustainable Communityand a handful of residents as part of the National Annual Solar Home Tour event. The major focus of this day is to offer opportunities for groups and individuals to learn more about solar power. The community of Stelle has a large number of solar power applications for residential use and also has the first, solar-powered, off-the-grid telephone mutual and internet service provider in the United States. By offering ongoing presentations throughout the day we are able to share our love of renewable solar energy with others.
Presented by members of the Stelle community

Public School Field Trips and Large Group Tours
Over the years we have hosted groups requesting a visit to Stelle. In recent years we have been taking some of the local public school children for a romp through our orchards and gardens in the fall and then giving them the hands on experience of making their own apple cider with an old time cider press. Call 815-256-2204 or email us to request a group tour.