Tip of the Month: Pesticide-Free Gardening

Pesticides disrupt natures balance, contaminate water, harm beneficial insects including pollinators, and alter soil quality.

Pesticide use also increases exposure to toxic substances, that are particularly harmful to young children and pets

A healthy soil microbiome and pH balance supports resilient plants that can withstand pests and diseases without any pesticides. Natural pest deterrents include companion planting, neem oil, and garlic spray. Compost is also a good alternative to chemical fertilizers. 

Click here for more pesticide-free gardening tips!

The Modern Environmental Movement: How Did We Get Here

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, we wanted to review environmentalism and how it has evolved throughout our country's history: 

Although the Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700s, its environmental impacts were largely ignored as industrial growth and profit took priority. During the 1800s, environmentalism was mainly focused on conservation and the protection of open natural spaces leading to the creation of our first national park, Yellowstone. While industrialization grew rapidly to meet increasing demands and the United States became increasingly dependent on coal, the environmental movement remained slow and subordinate to economic growth. It was not until the mid-1900s that people were forced to acknowledge the environmental consequences of industrialization, as severe air pollution, smog, and sulfur dioxide emissions began causing major public health problems.

The modern environmental movement emerged in the 1960s as carbon dioxide levels surpassed 300 parts per million, the first endangered species list, including the bald eagle, was created, and high-profile oil spills and polluted rivers raised public concern. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring exposed the dangers of pesticides, while Paul Ehrlich's The Population Bomb expanded public awareness of diminishing global resources. During the 1970s, environmental activism gained further momentum through the first Earth Day, leading to major policies such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the ban on DDT, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

By the 1980s, the environmental movement was beginning to lose momentum as the Reagan administration became the first to reduce the federal government's environmental agenda. However, disasters such as Chernobyl, major oil spills, and the discovery of the ozone hole kept environmental issues in the public eye and helped launch the environmental justice movement. During the 1990s, globalization, the internet, and growing awareness of global warming shifted environmentalism to an international issue, despite disagreements over agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol. Since the 2000s, visible effects of climate change such as melting ice, stronger hurricanes, and biodiversity loss have expanded public awareness of environmental issues. Today, environmentalism addresses not only climate change but also sustainability, plastic pollution, food waste, deforestation, and environmental justice, with social media making it easier for people to advocate for change in all aspects of life.

Click here to learn more!

2026 Upcoming Meeting Dates:

-Board Meeting: Thursday October 15, 2026 7:00PM (La Grange Park Public Library)

2026 Collection and Program Dates:

-Sustainable Summer Expo: August 8, 2026 (Plymouth Place, Dole Hall)

-Planting for Pollinators Presentation: September (TBD)

-Native Plant Sale: September 19th, 2026 (Memorial Park)

-Pop-Up Event at the La Grange Farmers Market: October 8, 2026

-Community Forum: Thursday October 15, 2026 (La Grange Park Public Library)

-Fall Clothing & Textile Take-Back: October 25th, 2026 (St. Michael's Lutheran)

-Community Boot & Shoe Share: November 14th, 2026 (La Grange Public Library)

Crafters for Climate:

Let's "make-it" happen!

Makers, we are looking for ideas about what our next workshop should be.

If you are a maker and would like to share your craft please reach out to us directly at:

info@gogreenglg.org

Know your impact:

Use this interactive calculator to

learn your carbon footprint and actions you can take to reduce it.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act Democrats in Congress passed last year, there are new energy cost-saving benefits available right now, including:

• 30% back for the cost of many clean energy upgrades to your home, including solar panels, water heaters, and battery storage, no matter the price.
• Up to $1,200 to add insulation, install new exterior windows and doors, or other improvements that increase the energy efficiency of your home.
• Up to $2,000 for a new heat pump (which can provide efficient air conditioning and heating) as well as a heat-pump water heater.
• 30% off the cost of installing a new electric vehicle charger if you live in a rural or underserved community.

Looking to continue cleaning out your home or business in an environmentally conscious manner? Consider this:

Center for Hard to Recycle Materials

Cook County has partnered with South Suburban College to create the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM Center). This is a permanent recycling drop-off facility available to Cook County residents that helps divert millions of pounds of waste and other hard-to-recycle items from regional landfills and water systems. More information about materials accepted at the CHaRM Center can be found below. 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Location 

15800 State St., South Holland, IL 60473. The drop-off site is located on north side of campus in the overflow parking lot. Enter at traffic signal on State Street.

Hours 

• Every Tuesday: 7 a.m. - noon 
• Every Thursday: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. 
• 2nd Saturday every month: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (TVs accepted during Saturday hours only)

Click here for a more comprehensive list of accepted materials!

How to Donate

1. Donate cash or checks at our in-person events.
2. Mail checks to:

Go Green LaGrange,

PO Box 11

La Grange, IL 60525