Naperville Sun

By David Sharos

Despite the rainy conditions, Mary Knoska of Tinley Park took a rather lengthy drive to Naperville this Sunday afternoon in search of plants for her garden and also to feed what has become for her a six-year-old habit: eating and living organically.

“I started learning how to cook differently years ago using more locally grown, fresh ingredients, and I feel better and enjoy the taste of things more,” she said while plucking a few tomato plants. “Organic may appear to cost more initially, but I believe this is an investment in my future in terms of living healthier and longer, so for me I see it as cheaper in the long run.”

Knoska was joined by others looking for that organic spin Sunday afternoon as the Green Earth Institute offered its ninth annual Green Earth Fair at McDonald Farm in Naperville, featuring almost five hours worth of activities, and more than 40 exhibitors offering tips on how to live a greener life.

The Naperville-based Institute was founded a decade ago on the 60-acre farm. It grows 40 crops of organic vegetables that are sold throughout community-supported programs. Executive director Steve Tiwald said new offerings this year included a free-range chicken farm exhibit along with a chance to visit with Lia Rousset of Lisle who raises backyard chickens for egg production.

“We also plan to offer these follow-up workshops as a lot of people come out and want to learn more about building their own container gardens and other organic ideas,” Tiwald said. “A week after this, we’ll have a hands-on workshop about organic gardening run by Vicki Nowicki of Downers Grove, and the week after that, Steve Carrow of West Chicago will help folks build their own container gardens.”

Rousset said raising her own chickens has been a process of trial and error, and that her choice of chickens has been based on their egg-laying behaviors.

“One of the problems with having the birds not in a coup are predators, including foxes and hawks that have taken some of my chickens,” she said. “I wanted to show people how they can raise their own for those who would like to start a small flock.”

Tiwald expressed satisfaction about the growth of the local organic movement since the institute was founded a decade ago but said “there is still a lot of work to be done.”

“Our mission here is also about environmental sustainability and promoting nutritional health, and we are seeing more awareness in other areas like building materials and manufacturing design, but we still have a long way to go,” he said. “We want to help people become more ‘green’ in their day-to-day living.”

Click here for the full report from the Naperville Sun.

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