Center for Sustainable Community

Green Building Workshops Using Straw and Plaster (Two Saturdays, July 12 & July 19, 2008)
Straw bale construction is one of the most beautiful and sustainable of the natural building techniques. Here is your chance to learn how it is done by helping to build a circular straw bale structure over two consecutive week-ends. Hands-on experience will include how to interface windows and doors, plastering techniques and detailing.
Presenter: Anna Wolfson of Wolfson Earthen Finishes

'From Garden To Table' Workshop (June 28, 2008)
Experience transforming garden bounty into a dinnertime delight. This weekend event will include permaculture design for the home garden, 'weed' identification, methods for extending and preserving your extra garden and orchard production, 'Stump-the-Chef', how to turn your garden bounty into a delicious meal -- and more. Sessions may be attended individtually.
Presenters: Guia Hoffman, Carroll English, Julie Larsen, Sue Fisher, Bill Land, and Mark Hoffman

Truly Cultured Workshop and Open House (Sunday June 8, 2008)
We are delighted to have author Nancy Lee Bentley joining us for our June open house. A dynamic speaker and wonderful chef, Nancy will be describing her new book Truly Cultured - a masterpiece on the history, benefits, and key significance of cultured (or fermented) food in our life and society, filled with attractive recipes, how-to's, FAQ's, quizzes, quips and quotes. Co-author of Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program, Nancy will explore what ails our current food, ag and health system and how we can heal it.
Presenter: Nancy Lee Bentley

Earth Day Open House Workshops (Saturday, May 3, 2008)
Held in conjunction with Stelle's Earth Day Open House the next day, this afternoon of garden and permaculture presentations also includes a Community Living discussion and a meal made from local and organic ingredients.
Presenters: Mark Hoffman, Carroll English, Bill Land

Stelle's Earth Day Open House (Sunday May 4, 2008)
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.
Presented by members of the Stelle community

Kankakee Community College Sustainability Week - Stelle Tour (Saturday, April 26, 2008)
The CSC is partnering with Kankakee Community College by providing a Stelle Tour capping KCC's Sustainability Week April 21-26, 2008. This up-close tour includes the first straw bale house in Illinois, the nation's first off-the-grid telephone company, a yard-scape focused introduction to permaculture, and tour of an organic, meadow-based sheep farm. Includes lunch from mostly organic ingredients at the Greenhouse Bed and Breakfast.
Presenters: Tim Wilhelm, Jon Haeme, Harry Carr and Mark Hoffman

Visual Heart of Feng Shui and Open House (April 6, 2008)
For more than 3,000 years the Chinese have been using some form of feng shui (pronounced fung shway) to insure prosperity for their families and village life. Feng Shui techniques can also be used to increase the value and hasten the sale of homes. Come learn how you can apply the principles of Feng Shui to your American family and community life.
Presenter: Bill Land

Vermiculture and the Art of Soil Building
(March 29, 2008)
Join George Blackman to learn why ancient cultures used composting worms to build high-fertility soil and why healthy, balanced soil is needed for growing nutritious foods. George's decades of worm raising experience qualifies him as an expert in the art of building soil. He will offer compost and red-wiggler worms for sale, and will raffle one of his own exquisite Raku pottery pieces to a lucky workshop attendee. Presenter: George Blackman

Jin Shin Jyutsu and Open House (March 2, 2008)
Practice sustainability in your own health, by learning to balance your body's energy using Jin Shin Jyutsu. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient art for energy healing, using deep breathing and the placement of one's hands on specific areas of the body. It was rediscovered in Japan in the early 1900's by Master Jiro Murai and brought to America in the late 1940s. Presenter: Rebecca Wilson

Permaculture Orchard Design and Maintenance (February 16, 2008)
Tired of buying hard, tasteless fruit from the supermarket - fruit that was picked before fully ripening to allow shipping? If you've ever eaten tree ripened fruit then you know that supermarket fruit can't compare. This workshop will cover the ins and outs of planting and caring for your own orchard, and doing so without the use of chemicals. Location: Nisse Farm, Manteno, Illinois. Presenters: Mark Hoffman and Bill Land

Dave Blume

Bio-fuel Workshops With Dave Blume - Milwaukee Oct. 20, 2007 - Chicago Oct. 27, 2007
These workshops detail everything we need to know to free ourselves from oil, create jobs, ensure food security, make money, improve air quality, help slow global warming, improve our standard of living, restore degraded ecosystems, and redirect funds from oil wars, all by developing the micro-distillery model David Blume describes in his new book 'Alcohol Can Be A Gas!'. The model farm/micro-distillery Blume describes can be a powerful economic engine for revitalizing communities while keeping much needed dollars local rather than sent to rich oil companies or overseas to oil rich countries. Tired of paying over $3 at the pump? Then come learn a better way - one that is good for the environment and good for our country.

'Land of Milk, Honey, & Cider' Weekend - Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007
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.
Price $125 adults, $50 children over 3 years. Sessions may be attended individually at reduced charge.
Presented by: Harry Carr, Julie Larsen, Mark Hoffman and others.

The Healing Codes and Open House - Sunday September 9, 2007
Learn how to use the Healing Codes to relieve stress on your body's nervous system. What makes this technique different from other teachings is that it not only moves static energy, but it actually heals the 'pictures' or the 'images' that are stressful to us. Learn how to use your body's healing system by using a flow of energy that is directed by your own hands to certain spots on your body.
Presented by: Renee Trenda

'Chickenomics' and Open House - Sunday August 5, 2007
Have you ever had that urge to get back to the land and raise your own food? Maybe raise some chickens and savor fresh eggs every morning for breakfast? This presentation is about how to raise pastured chickens for healthy egg and meat production. You'll even learn how to build a 'chicken tractor'.
Presented by: Jim Duggan, Mark Hoffman, and Ed Homier

Introduction to Herbalism and Open House - Sunday July 8, 2007
Come learn the basic principles of herbalism and herbal therapies, the nature of disease, autointoxication, and balancing the body’s eco-systems. This presentation provides a wealth of practical information you can apply to become master of your own health.
Presented by: Candice Chaffe

Monthly Open House with 'Walk on the Wild Side' presentation - Sunday, June 3, 2007
Ever wonder if all those plants in your yard and garden that you didn't plant have any useful purpose? Join us for a nature walk with long time Stelle resident Carroll English where we will identify the nutritional and medicinal value of many common 'weeds' and wild plants.
Presented by: Carroll English

Monthly Open House with 'Non-Toxic Living' presentation - Sunday, April 1, 2007
Just because this open house and presentation will be held on April Fool's day, it's no joke that our homes contain a myriad of chemicals. Many are harmless but some are toxic. In this afternoon presentation, we will take a look at some of the most worrisome toxins while focusing on non-toxic alternatives for personal care and household cleaning.
Presented by: Kasandra Ireland

Mark Shepard and Wayne Wiseman

Permaculture Designer Certification October 21-28, 2006
With Wayne Weiseman & Mark Shepard
Only 7 Days (with pre-course webinar classes)
Graduates of this course come away with a Permaculture Institute of Australia (PIA) certification, permitting them to use the word ‘Permaculture’ in their choice of livelihood. With the use of 6 pre-course webinar classes students will begin their course from home 3 weeks prior to their 7 day intensive educational experience into permaculture design.

Mark checking a hive.

September 3, 2006 Open House - Introductions to Permaculture and Beekeeping

Permaculture – 10 a.m.: Learn about the fundamentals of permaculture from our own, Mark Hoffman. He will offer a great overview on the subject and then tour everyone around his Greenhouse B&B sharing the examples he has put into practice.

Beekeeping - 1:30 p.m.; In the afternoon Mark will share over 15 years of beekeeping experiences with a short introduction to beekeeping - including a hands-on honey extraction demonstration. This introduction will include the basics of beekeeping, interesting quirks of honey bee behaviour, and some of the challenges faced by beekeepers today. We will extract a sampling of this year's honey crop, which will give an idea of the inner workings of a beehive. Click here for a brief description of Mark's beekeeping activities. Due to its hands-on nature, this introduction is limited to 50 attendees. Please email or call (815-256-2204) to let us know if you are coming so that we can make adequate arrangements for food and space.
Suggested Donation for day, $30-$40 -Includes Lunch.
Presented by: Mark Hoffman

Guia Hoffman and Candice Chaffee (with Jed) in a bed of coriander.

August 6, 2006 Open House with Seminar
'Culinary Herbs - More Than Flavor'
Join Guia Hoffman and Candice Chaffee in an informative - and tasty - presentation on culinary herbs. Learn not only how to flavor your dishes using herbs but also the medicinal properties of culinary herbs. This presentation will include how to grow, harvest and preserve your own herbs. Held at the Greenhouse Bed and Breakfast, this presentation also includes dishes to taste and recipes to take home.
Presented by: Guia Hoffman and Candice Chaffee

Introduction to Permaculture and Open House - July 9, 2006
It is becoming increasingly important to care for our land, air and water while productively utilizing these natural resources. Wise use of our resources is an essential component in our quest for more wholesome and nutritious foods as well as enhancing our relationship with all that Nature offers. Enter Permaculture - the art and science of ecologically designing human beings' place into the environment. Permaculture is about the care of people, the care of the planet and the commitment to produce no pollution by turning all byproducts or excess into useful resources. This popular presentation includes a brief introduction followed by a 2 hour tour of the permaculture based gardens at the Greenhouse Bed and Breakfast.
Presented by: Mark Hoffman

Harry Carr holding one of his sheep.

Open House and Seminar - "Say What? -- Improving My Diet Can Slow Global Warming???" - June 4, 2006

How, you ask, can I improve my diet and help to slow global warming at the same time? Hint: It won't be by eating at McDonalds. But it is possible to include dairy and meat in our diets while improving how we care for the Midwest prairie ecosystem in which we live. Join Harry Carr as he describes the dietary benefits of grass fed dairy and meat. Learn how rotational grazing of a grass and legume based ecosystem improves food quality in ways our food specialists are only now beginning to understand. Experience the tranquility of a meadow filled with contented sheep. Harry has applied his entreprenuerial spirit to converting much of the farmland surrounding Stelle into a lush and productive meadow. This presentation includes a meadow tour at a real sheep farm. Click here for more information.
Presented by: Harry Carr

Stelle's Earth Day Celebration (May 7, 2006)
One of Stelle's biggest events of the year, this is when we open our doors to celebrate Earth Day. Enjoy tours of Stelle including a look at solar homes, windmills, the solar powered telephone company and high speed internet system, community gardens and the Haeme's strawbale home. The day usually includes some recycling (garage) sales, organic food, and more.
Cost: There is no entrance fee and the tours are our way of sharing what we have with others.

April 21 & 22, 2006 - Illinois Sustainable Living & Wellness Expo (ISLWE)
Bloomington, Illinois
CSC co-created the ISLWE along with the Ecology Action Center and Illinois Wesleyan Wellness Program, both of Bloomington, to bring the many facets of sustainable living to Central Illinois. In addition to co-sponsoring this event, we are hosted several of our own workshops at the conference.

April 2, 2006 – Open House
Seminar: Peak Oil – Preparing for Skyrocketing Fuel Prices
…with two of our favorite films.
If gas went up to $10/gallon how would that change the way we live? What about $20? We will look at some of the reasons why many experts feel that this will soon happen in the U.S. and what are some of the best things we can do to prepare for it – growing our own food being one of the most important. We will be showing two of our favorite films that talk about the joys and security of doing so – The Living Land and Ruth Stout’s Garden

March 12, 2006 Open House - Seminar: SLOWING DOWN TO THE SPEED OF LIFE
Is life moving faster than you desire? Want to slow down but don't know how? Join Carolyn Treadway following our monthly open house as she offers means for living a simpler, more sustainable - yet fulfilling life.

February 5 , 2006 Open House - Orchard Pruning
If you ever wanted to learn how to prune a fruit tree - here is your chance. Mark Hoffman will give a quick pruning lesson following the monthly open house. After that, try your hand at pruning one of the apple trees in the newly purchased Stelle orchard.

Peak Oil Workshop for Community Leaders
December 2-4, 2005 - Stelle, Illinois
Community Solution - organizer of Peak Oil conferences in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 2004 and 2005 - is hosting a Peak Oil workshop in Stelle. This workshop is geared toward community leaders wanting information on how this important topic will affect their communities and what they can do about it. The workshop will explore ideas for how community based living can address this global challenge. Click here to learn more.

Wellness Retreat - "Introduction to Four Healing Modalities"
September 24, 2005 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) - Stelle, Illinois

Day includes all presentations, a retreat journal, a delightful organic lunch prepared by Guia Hoffman and a rejuvenation garden walk. Cost: $85/person. Click here for full details.

September 4, 2005 Open House - Beekeeping Introduction
Mark Hoffman will share over 15 years of beekeeping experiences with a short introduction to beekeeping - including a hands-on honey extraction demonstration. This introduction will include the basics of beekeeping, interesting quirks of honey bee behaviour, and some of the challenges faced by beekeepers today. We will extract a sampling of this year's honey crop, which will give an idea of the inner workings of a beehive. Click here for a brief description of Mark's beekeeping activities. Due to its hands-on nature, this introduction is limited to 50 attendees. Please email or call (815-256-2204) to let us know if you are coming so that we can make adequate arrangements for food and space.
Suggested Donation for day, $10-$20. Lunch - $5.
Presented by: Mark Hoffman

August 4 - August 7, 2005 - Permaculture Workshop Weekend with Bruce Rickard
Our final Summer 2005 Permaculture Workshop Weekend will focus on integrating animals into a permaculture based agricultural system. Bruce Rickard and his family operate Fox Hollow Farm in Fredericktown, Ohio, where they specialize in commercial, grass-fed lamb and beef. Bruce will share his nearly 20 years of experience and education, from starting with a small flock of sheep - to now handling 2000 sheep annually along with a herd of beef, hundreds of chickens, some ducks, and hogs. This workshop will include day trips to three nearby animal based farming operations.

July 21-July 24, 2005 - Permaculture Workshop Weekend with Mark Shepard
Experience our second Summer 2005 Permaculture Workshop Weekend. Over the past decade, Mark Shepard and his wife Jen have gradually transformed a 100 acre rolling oak-savannah landscape in southwestern Wisconsin into one of the premier permaculture based agro-forestry examples in the Midwest. His farm is poised to produce large quantities of hazelnuts as well as other nuts and fruits. Mark has taught numerous permaculture courses, frequently provides permaculture consultations, and is working with the University of Minnesota to develop hardier strains of hazelnuts suitable for the Midwest. This workshop will concentrate on making a plant-based permaculture system profitable and includes a tour of the nearby Spence Farm, a prairie-forest based farm.

June 5, 2005 - What's Good for Your Health is Good for the Earth!
The choices we make in buying our food do matter--both for our personal health and that of the planet. In this interactive afternoon session led by Laura Black, CN, Director of the Organic Food Network (a project of CSC), we''ll explore current food issues such as genetic engineering and trans fats in processed foods, then move on to how you can set up an environmentally friendly kitchen, buy food from local, organic and sustainable farmers and even grow a few foods of your own! We'll finish up by enjoying a banana "ice cream" social! Suggested Donation for the day $15-$30. Please email or call (815-256-2204) to let us know if you are coming so that we can make adequate arrangements for food and space.
Presented by: Laura Black, CN, and Director of the Organic Food Network.

Stelle's Earth Day Celebration (May 15, 2005)
One of Stelle's biggest events of the year, this is when we open our doors to celebrate Earth Day. Enjoy tours of Stelle including a look at solar homes, windmills, the solar powered telephone company and high speed internet system, community gardens and the Haeme's strawbale home. The day usually includes some recycling (garage) sales, various earth friendly vendors, organic food, and more.
Cost: There is no entrance fee and the tours are our way of sharing what we have with others.

May 1, 2005 - Open House
10:00 Overview of CSC and community of Stelle
11:15 Tour of community (Solar & wind applications, gardens, etc…)
12:15 Lunch (Made with garden produce – vegetarian option)

1:30 Seminar - Cultivating Community Gardening
The essence of gardening is experienced through a connection with nature and by developing a sense of reverence with the land. The whole family is invited to join the staff at CSC for a glimpse into the Stelle community gardening co-operative. We will share the joys, challenges, and the inner workings of our current way of gardening. We'll explore the structure of how our coop works and then we'll get outside and see demonstrations of Ruth Stout's mulch gardening, the abc's of a compost bin, and even some vermicomposting (worms!).
Suggested Donation for day, $15-$30. Presented by: CSC Staff and Friends

April 3, 2005
Introduction to Permaculture
It is becoming more and more apparent to the American populace that we need to continue to find better ways to grow healthier food while reducing or eliminating the use of poisonous herbicides, pesticides and toxic fertilizers. Caring for our land, air and water is an essential component in our quest for more wholesome and nutritious foods as well as our entire lifestyle. This is what Permaculture is all about. It is the art and science of ecologically designing human beings' place into the environment. It is about the care of people, the care of the planet and the commitment to produce no pollution by turning all byproducts or excess into something that can be use by either plants or animals. It marries indigenous wisdom with scientific understanding.
Presented by: Bill Wilson and Mark Hoffman

March 13, 2005
Holistic Approaches to Health and Well-Being
Genuine well-being requires integration of body, mind, and spirit. Health is actually a continuum, constantly fluctuating in response to the complex dynamics governing our lives. We'll discuss the many influencing factors contributing to wellness, including eating habits, lifestyle, stress, and environmental factors. We will even explore how emotions and thought patterns affect our physical health and shape our life's experiences as well.
Presented by Candice Chaffee, Certified Natural Health Professional, Master Herbalist February 6, 2005

February 6, 2005
Sustainable Heart-Centered Living
In the month of February, our focus will be on nourishing our heart at all levels. The heart is much more than a vital organ. It represents the seat of emotions and is a metaphor for countless expressions. We'll examine the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of a healthy heart.
   *Foods, herbs, and nutritional supplements to nourish and vitalize
   *Essential oils to transform and refine emotions
   *Spiritual centering through openhearted intention, attitude and action
Presented by:
Becky Wilson – Energy Balancing Facilitator
Candice Chaffee –Certified Natural Health Professional / Master Herbalist

January 9, 2005
Monthly Open House and Full Spectrum Lighting presentation by Laura Black.
Join us for our January Open House. We begin as usual at 10:00am with an introduction to CSC & Stelle followed by a brief tour of the community (weather permitting), a group prepared lunch and a break. Then beginning again around 2:00, Laura Black will educate us on the benefits of using full spectrum lighting. Full spectrum light bulbs mimic natural sunlight. Laura will explain the health benefits of full spectrum light, and discuss the ins and outs of purchasing full spectrum bulbs. It promises to be an 'enlightening' presentation.

December 5, 2004
Monthly Open House with Special Guest Lynette Marie Hanthorn
Join us for our December Open House. We begin as usual at 10:00am with an introduction to CSC & Stelle followed by a brief tour of the community, a group prepared lunch and a break. Then beginning again around 2:00, Lynette Marie Hanthorn will present a sampling of her Crossings. L.M. (as we affectionately call her) creates unique crosses from saguaro cactus ribs for individuals, groups or organizations. Accompanying each crossing is a poem intuitively written for the recipient(s). Lynette Marie, who now lives in Boulder, Colorado, is a dear friend of ours and we are delighted to have her in our presence. She is an accomplished healer and will be available for sessions during her one week stay in Stelle. Email or call 815 256-2204 if you are interested in a session with Lynette Marie.
Click here to learn more about Lynette Marie and the beautiful Crossings she creates.
Suggested donation for Open House and afternoon presentation $5 - $20

November 5 -7, 2004
Introduction to Permaculture - Workshop Weekend
If you are one of those who are interested in permaculture and/or thought seriously about taking our 15 day permaculture course this summer you are invited to join us for a great weekend of instruction, information and hands-on projects. Click on the title above to learn about all the details. It should be a lot of fun and we'd love to have you join us.
Click here to read a summary of the permaculture workshop.

Solar Home Tour - Open House (October 3, 2004)
Our Annual Solar Home Tour is hosted by 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 displays 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.
Click here for a summary of the 2004 event.

September 18-19 , 2004
Community Living Weekend
If you would like to relax for a weekend while exploring what is at the heart of sustainable community living, then maybe this short retreat is for you. Includes a Saturday night stay, three meals, and ample opportunity to interact with others interested in sustainable community living.
Click here to read a summary of the Community Living Weekend.

July 17- Aug. 1, 2004
15 Day Permaculture Design Certification Course
Instruction: David Blume with his team from the Institute for Ecological Agriculture (IIEA) - includes guest lecturer Joel Salatin .
The Midwest 's premier Permaculture course hosted right here in Stelle. All day classes - evening presentations - three organically prepared meals per day. Camping-some lodging. Certification upon completion. Pre-registration required.
Cost: $1477
Click here for a summary and picture narration of the 15 Day Permaculture Course.

July 27, 2004
Joel Salatin Full Day Seminar (Soil health, profitability, and livestock segment of 15 day Permaculture Course).
Open to the public . We are renting a facility in nearby Kempton capable of seating up to 300 attendees. Lunch provided. Joel, a nationally know speaker, is a successful author/organic farmer from Virginia and teaches an integrated approach to livestock management he developed on his Shenandoah Valley farm. If you are interested in how to profitably and yet humanely raise livestock, you don't want to miss this. Pre-registration required.
Cost: $97

Stelle's Earth Day Celebration (April 25, 2004)
One of Stelle's biggest events of the year, this is when we open our doors to celebrate Earth Day. Enjoy tours of Stelle including a look at solar homes, windmills, the solar powered telephone company and high speed internet system, community gardens and the Haeme's strawbale home. The day usually includes some recycling (garage) sales, various earth friendly vendors, organic food, and more.
Cost: There is no entrance fee and the tours are our way of sharing what we have with others.

Special 2004 Feature

Talks by David Blume

12:00 and 2:00

We are pleased this year to be joined by David Blume of the International Institute for Ecological Agriculture. David will be giving two talks introducing the concepts of PERMACLUTURE (permanent-agriculture). This coming July, David will be leading a small team of educators in providing a two week certification course here in Stelle. To promote permaculture principles, as well as the July course, he is scheduled for a 6 day speaking tour through Indiana and Illinois, ending in Stelle during this Earth Day Open House. Click here to learn more about the July course.

April 2-4, 2004
Awakening the Creator Within
Tucson , AZ
This experiential retreat is designed to begin to empower the creator that is awakening within you. The weekend provides a rich and nurturing environment of deep resonance, energy movement, transformational journeying, personal healing, inner stillness, and powerful ceremony.
Facilitated by Lynette Marie Hanthorn and Adam Gainsburg.

Past Events

A listing of CSC sponsored events

Special 2004 Feature

Talks by David Blume

12:00 and 2:00