LIVING THE GREEN LIFE 24/7

Solar Powered Homes in Stelle

Today is Earth Day and much has been written and shown in the Media about how we can be greener. I think we gardeners are among the most environmentally aware people on earth but the story that impressed me the most is about the little town of Stelle, Illinois that is only one and a half hours drive from Chicago.

Back in the early'70's being green wasn't a big priority and was looked on as something odd. That's when some Chicago ex-pats decided to create their own sustainable living community in Stelle with solar panels and bales of straw. They also went native with the plants and grew their own food. Imagine that. Pretty amazing to most people in this day and time but it was a lot like the life I had growing up.

Stelle is having it's own Earth Day Open House because people have become curious and wanted to visit the self-sustaining community. They'll have tours of their orchard, sheep farm and straw-bale houses, hands-on workshops, and a l restaurant's menu will feature food from local farmers and growers.

You can visit these real eco-pioneers at centerforsustainablecommunity.org.