Earth Month
April is Earth Month! Dating back to 1970, both Earth Month and Earth Day, held this year on April 22, have been times to bring together millions of people throughout the world to celebrate environmental progress, educate each other about stewardship and justice, and advocate for sustainable policies and practices. By participating in Earth Month locally, you help support implementation of Northbrook's Climate Action Plan.
In-Person Events:
- April 1, 9am-12pm Earth Month Kickoff Celebration
- @ Somme Woods, 1714 Dundee Rd
- The Village will co-host an ecological restoration workday alongside the leadership of Somme Woods Community experts. Dress for the weather, expect to get muddy, and bring gloves and water to drink. For more information on what to expect, visit the brush cutting webpage.
- RSVP @ sommepreserve@gmail.com
- April 11, 10am Northbrook Garden Club and Roots To Success
- @ Northbrook United Methodist Church, 1190 Western Ave
- Open to the public, the Garden Club is hosting landscape designer Linda Taylor who will demonstrate how to view your landscape from a new perspective and offer tips to make your greenscape the best it can be.
- Register @ NBKgardenclub@gmail.com
- April 21, 1:30pm-3pm Earth Day Bingo
- @ Senior Center, 3323 Walters Ave
- Join us for Bingo and win prizes that help to support efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle while contributing to sustaining our environment. Go for green!
- More info @ nbparks.org/events/earth-day-bingo/
- April 22, 9am-12pm Earth Day Recycling Event
- @ West Metra Commuter Lot, 1401 Shermer Rd
- Residents can drop off any of the following items: Paint (oil/latex only, no thinners or solvents); Molded Styrofoam; Tires; Printer Cartridges; CFL, LED, and Tube Fluorescent Bulbs; Computers, TVs, Other Electronics; Residential Document Shredding; Household Batteries; Textiles (clothing, bags, hats, toys, blankets, curtains, pillows in any condition) and Household Items (jewelry, shoes, tools, silverware, dishes, pots/pans in any condition); and Bicycles (adult bikes in repairable condition and gently used kids bikes).
- April 25, 7pm-8pm Garden Design for Beauty & Sustainability
- @ Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Ln
- Staff from the Conservation Foundation will present small steps to start transforming your landscaping with plants that suit your conditions for sun and shade, attract pollinators, and create a sustainable environment.
- Register here
- April 28, 3pm-5pm Arbor Day Seedling Giveaway
- @ Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Ln
- Stop by Village Hall for a free tree seedling, available first-come first-serve until supplies last.
- April 30, 1pm-2:30pm Earth Month Work Day
- @ Techny Prairie Park and Fields - Trail Through Time, 1750 Techny Rd
- Celebrate Earth Month at this community event which will include removal of woody invasive species, litter pick-up, educational discussions, and free giveaways! Please note, volunteer opportunities for this event will be dependent upon weather, age, and needs at the park location. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact Bill Meyer at 847-291-2960 or wmeyer@nbparks.org.This sustainability project is brought to you by Monarchs, Milkweed and More, Northbrook Park District, and the Village of Northbrook. The event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required to ensure we have materials for all interested volunteers.
- Register @ nbparks.org/earthmonth
Virtual Events:
- April 11, 10:30am-11:30am Environmental Book Club
- @ Zoom
- Discover the carbon footprints of a multitude of things, from bananas to cryptocurrency, with this informative and entertaining guide, The Carbon Footprint of Everything by Mike Berners-Lee. Copies available at the Reference Desk four weeks before discussion. In partnership with Go Green Northbrook.
- Register here
- April 19, 7pm-8pm Bumble Bee Banquet Virtual Webinar
- @ Zoom
- The Library is hosting award-winning author and expert on bees and wasps, Heather Holm. Heather will illustrate the bumble bee lifecycle, habitat, impacts from climate change, and what we can do to help native bees thrive.
- Register here
earth day fair
Meet the Village's partners for a sustainable Northbrook!
| Go Green Northbrook has a mission to promote environmental sustainability through education, community programs and collaboration with local governmental entities. From installing LED bulbs, saying no to single-use plastics, or integrating native plants into your landscape, GoGreen asks you to "do one thing". Reach out: info@gogreennorthbrook.org | |
| Northbrook Garden Club seeks to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants, animals and insects, and to encourage civic planting. They will be having a plant sale this May. In addition to plants donated from members' gardens, there will also be a much larger selection of native plants available this year. Plant experts will be present and can help guide how to incorporate native plants into your existing garden beds with beautiful results. Their newly formed Sustainable Gardening Committee provides education about good environmental practices in our landscapes and the benefits of adding native plants to our yards Reach out: nbkgardenclub@gmail.com | |
One Earth Film Festival (OEFF) is the Midwest’s premier environmental film festival creating opportunities for understanding climate change, sustainability, and the power of human involvement. Inspiring and thought-provoking environmental films are followed by interactive post-film discussions focused on solutions. Their Earth Day events are listed here. | |
| River Trail Nature Center is part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County in Northbrook. Its free exhibits, walking trails and onsite nature educators help tell the story of the plants, animals and natural landscapes formed by the Des Plaines River. Learn how to make maple syrup, meet an owl or join a guided hike at all-ages events each week—or just let the kids climb and create at indoor and outdoor play areas. | |
| Northbrook Community Gardens, Inc. is a member driven Illinois non profit for Northbrook residents to grow food for themselves and charity and to educate the community about sustainable food. | |
Northbrook Farmers Market’s mission is to support local farmers, producers and artisans by providing an economic outlet, and to serve the greater Northbrook area by making available for purchase fresh food and other locally made goods for the benefit of all. Our goal is to educate residents on the benefits of buying locally, eating healthy, and living green, as well as supporting local farming families and entrepreneurs. Each season the Market’s vendors donate thousands of pounds to the food pantry. Reach out: NorthbrookFarmersMarket@gmail.com | |
A Refuge for Saving the Wildlife's mission is to work in joint cooperation with all avian rescue groups to try and eliminate the need for rescue groups by educating the public about avicultural issues. Until that is accomplished, we will provide a sanctuary for those unfortunate parrots that are in need of a home. | |
| Monarchs, Milkweed, and More promotes native plantings to enhance habitats for monarchs and all wildlife through education, community programs, and collaboration. Reach out: monarchsmilkweedandmore@gmail.com | |
Friends of the Somme Preserves work to restore native ecosystem habitat in Northbrook's natural areas. Since the 1970s, volunteers have been hard at work removing invasive plants, collecting natural seeds, and carefully conserving wildlife and plants at the Somme forest preserves in Northbrook. Each week volunteers enjoy time outdoors and each other’s company as they restore nature at the Somme preserves. Everyone is invited to help – or just to enjoy. Volunteers meet every weekend or Tuesdays from 1-4pm. Reach out: sommepreserve@gmail.com. | |
| The Organic Gardener Ltd. is based in Northbrook and creates beautiful, productive organic edible gardens. We construct unique, interactive outdoor spaces tailored to meet each client’s needs. Our team engages in your project from start to finish, and offers a full line of services including design, installation, maintenance, and education. Our design process focuses on complimenting the existing landscape and architecture. We work with clients of all experience levels – whether we handle every detail “hands-on” from planting through harvest, or we work side by side as guides throughout the season. Our approach is rooted in the idea that anyone, anywhere, can grow their own food. Reach out: INFO@THEORGANICGARDENER.NET | |
| Reds Garden Center provides Northbrook with exceptional gardening and landscaping service. In 1968, Dundee Road was a quiet two-lane street and Reds Garden Center was a small family business selling nursery plants and firewood in Northbrook. Fast forward 50 years, and Reds is a comprehensive source for an enormous range of trees, shrubs, flowers, garden essentials, and more. Reds' Team is ready to "talk green" year-round. Stop in to say hello and start planning your gardening for the season. Reach out: reds@redsgardencenter.com | |
| Ferraro Garden Spot is a family-owned garden center that opened its doors in Northbrook in 1955. They are open year round and sell various items for all four seasons: flowers, plants, trees, containers, and more! Reach out: ferraro1840@att.net | |
| Underwriters Laboratories LLC is the global leader in safety science and provides the expertise, insights and services necessary to achieve core business objectives including sustainability. Did you know 100% of emissions from UL’s headquarters facilities in Northbrook are offset? UL’s sustainability services and solutions are achieving worldwide recognition: from the development of more than 80 globally recognized sustainability standards to expertise in supply chains and product life cycles for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Check for their labels like ECOLOGO or EPEAT when purchasing new products to ensure you're supporting sustainable practices. | |
| Shred Spot is a local Northbrook business that provides document destruction with drop off, pickup, scheduled, or rental paper shredding services to commercial and residential clients. All of the paper we shred is made into recycled paper. Even our forklift, which we use to move the bales, is environmentally friendly. It runs on battery power which is far more energy efficient than diesel or propane powered forklifts and does not emit harmful fumes. Reach out: https://shredspot.com/contact/ | |
| Coorlas Architecture LLC, co-founded by Stephen & Kristin Coorlas, subscribes to the conscious practice of addressing real-world environmental and socially ethical problems. Our concern for the environment encourages Eco-Friendly, Organic, and Non-Toxic product sourcing when available. We also promote Renewable Energy, Water Efficiency, and Conservation of Land in an effort to reduce Carbon Emissions, Prevent Pollution of Natural Resources, and Limit Building Material and Product Waste. We donate regularly to charities and nonprofits that support these efforts through reforestation, clean water, and collective knowledge initiatives that we believe are helping to foster and nurture a physically healthy ecosystem and mentally healthy society for years to come. Coorlas Architecture is also dedicated to experimental research in emergent technologies such as 3D printing, which are helping to reduce carbon emissions and construction waste due to their additive, no-waste, on-site fabrication characteristics. We participate in these studies with the ambition of restoring fundamental principles of architecture in our modern day and future society. We believe in a future that can operate harmoniously with nature while employing technology as an instrument to harness the resilience and efficiency of our Earth. | |
| Northbrook Free Box promotes the idea of borrowing before buying and sharing before selling. Post anything you'd like to give away, lend, or share among neighbors. Ask for anything you'd like to receive for free or borrow. We've all probably heard of the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle.” But have you heard about the other two “Rs”? The Five Rs are guiding principles for reducing the waste we output. A great way to “refuse, reduce, reuse” before items ever get to the “recycle” stage is through the Northbrook Free Box. | |
| Sealed modernizes houses with insulation and the latest HVAC tech to eliminate uneven temperatures and make your house up to 3 times more energy efficient. Best of all - Sealed covers the upfront costs and manages the whole project from start to finish, using the money homeowners currently waste on energy. Northbrook homeowners can now sign up for Sealed’s Early Access program. Reach out: hello@sealed.com | |
| The Northfield Township Road District is committed to comprehensive environmental protection and employs only the most socially and environmentally responsible recycling practices. Our environmental mission includes: 1. Environment - Dedicated to meeting or exceeding the requirements of relevant environmental law and regulation to keep our landfills free of unnecessary pollutants and to reducing energy use. 2. Transparency - To keep recycling practices as clear as possible and free of charge so that each of our residents feels secure in using the service. 3. Convenience - Dropping off the recyclable must be quick and trouble-free. 4. Operations - Regularly evaluate our operation to respond to relevant emerging environmental issues. 5. Reuse - Reuse should come first and strives to find partners that will find second homes for all electronics that we accept. Items that cannot be reused will be recycled responsibly. | |
| The Alzheimer's Association promotes brain health by way of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and offers hands-on tools on how to incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. For centuries, we've known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Reach out: ansampley@alz.org | |
| The Northbrook Public Library nurtures community and stimulates lifelong learning through innovative, responsive programming, partnerships, resources, and services. We deliver excellent customer service to our patrons to create a welcoming, inclusive environment. Recently, the Library adopted Northbrook's Climate Action Plan and began an internal staff committee to begin implementation. | |
| Northbrook Park District 's mission is to enhance our community by providing outstanding services, parks and facilities through environmental, social and financial stewardship. Many sustainable measures are taken, both daily and with larger capital projects, throughout the District. Techny Prairie Activity Center is a new 44,200 square foot Net Zero Energy facility. The 833 rooftop solar panels will produce more energy than the building consumes in a twelve-month period. The facility was officially verified as a Net Zero Building by the New Buildings Institute in March 2022 and is both Phius+ and Source Zero Certified by the Passive House Institute US. Heritage Oaks Golf Club re-opened to the public after course renovations and clubhouse construction. Sustainability was front of mind, from furnishing selections to permeable pavers and from construction methods to the planting of 356 new trees. Recycling is conducted at all facilities and parks. Special attention is given to water conservation and stormwater management using permeable pavers and bioswales while LED lighting and highly efficient HVAC and mechanical systems conserve energy. The District manages 52.5 acres of native plantings and is home to several Monarch butterfly gardens and milkweed planting areas while walking and biking are encouraged on the District’s 7.7 miles of trails. Northbrook Park District is responsible for over 500 acres of open space. Preserving this land and its assets is at the heart of what we do as a park district. | |
| Citizens Utility Board provides great resources for those looking to switch to renewable energy. CUB challenges utility rate increases, appeals unfair regulatory decisions in the courts and fights for rate reductions and refunds. CUB also promotes tougher consumer protection laws in the state legislature, publishes consumer-friendly information and holds hundreds of educational events each year. | |
| Northbrook School District 28 committed to the goals of Northbrook’s Climate Action Plan and has many projects demonstrating their leadership. With 2 green roofs, 2 organic gardens, 1 permeable pavement parking lot, and numerous recycling opportunities, District 28 leads by example in sustainable practices. | |
| Northbrook School District 27 offers recycling opportunities including an annual hazardous waste drive. Students are empowered to learn about environmental challenges through school clubs for recycling and technology. | |
| Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 is a dedicated partner in local sustainability efforts through their commitment to Northbrook’s Climate Action Plan. The School District promotes a culture of eco-awareness with recycling and composting opportunities, plus integrating environmental values into school curricula with hands-on projects such as pollinator gardening. | |
| Simple Recycling makes it simple to reduce the 40 billion tons of clothing in the nation’s municipal waste stream through their curbside collection program. 85% of clothing does not get recycled or donated, it gets trashed. Clothing and housewares account for approximately 10% of the municipal waste stream. Learn more: https://www.northbrook.il.us/475/Refuse-Recycling | |
| Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is an award-winning, special-purpose district responsible for treating wastewater and providing stormwater management for residents and businesses in its service area, which encompasses 882.1 square miles and includes Chicago and 128 suburban communities throughout Cook County. As the protector of our water resources, the MWRD continues to work diligently to protect Lake Michigan, the source of our drinking water, as well as the health and safety of citizens and area waterways. | |
| North Shore Mosquito Abatement District manages local mosquito populations to reduce the risk of disease from mosquito-borne viruses and minimize the negative impact mosquitoes have on the quality of life in the District. The NSMAD uses the most environmentally products possible and follows principles of integrated pest management, meaning chemical spraying only occurs when absolutely necessary after a threshold level of unsafe mosquito populations is reached in our area. | |
| The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a membership organization of the Chicago region’s 275 towns that frequently meets to work on sustainability issues, from electric vehicles and community solar to sensible road salting and green infrastructure. MMC recently created a Regional Climate Action Plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and this was adopted locally by Northbrook's Board of Trustees. | |
| ComEd’s Energy Efficiency Program, which is funded in compliance with State law, offers incentives, rebates, discounts and recycling opportunities to assist customers in conserving energy and saving money as a result. See resident or business discounts online. | |
| Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. There are many ways to help protect the nature you love with Openlands. Whether you’re a teacher that wants to teach outside or a tree lover who wants to volunteer in their community, there are opportunities to connect with nature where you live. | |
| Active Transportation Alliance is a coalition of people who are working to make walking, biking, and public transit safe and equitable options for getting around Chicagoland. We envision the region with half as many crashes and where half of all trips are made by walking, biking, and transit. These goals can be achieved by building a movement around active transportation and making it easier for people to be active. | |
| Working Bikes gives donated bicycles new life by redistributing them as tools of empowerment in local and global communities. We know that bicycles are the most reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly transportation option available, and we’re working towards a world where everyone has access to bicycle transportation, whether in Africa or Chicago! Drop off used bikes at Northbrook’s Earth Day recycling event. Reach out: info@workingbikes.org | |
| The Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC) is a thriving not-for-profit organization advancing diversion and composting of organics in Illinois through advocacy, program implementation, market and business development, policy, and outreach. Composting food scraps reduces methane generated from rotting food in landfills. Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane in the country, accounting for 18% of methane emissions. Today, methane accounts for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Reach out: illinoiscomposts@gmail.com | |
| Climate Reality Project was founded by Vice President Al Gore to bring the world together to solve the climate crisis and make sustainability a reality. In 2017 a Chicago Metro area chapter was established as a way to come together locally. Climate-concerned members of the public are welcome to join a team to tackle the following subjects: electric vehicles, regenerative agriculture, youth action, and zero waste. |