At our August meeting, DG Sustainability Coordinator, Jason Michnick, and Greener Grove member, Steve Ruffolo, teamed up to discuss “A Greener Way Pledge,” a key element of the Village’s Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP) that is focused on key actions we as individuals can take today to support broader sustainability efforts in our community.

In 2023, the Village of Downers Grove joined the Greenest Region Compact (GRC), laying the groundwork for a long-range plan of developing sustainability solutions. Offering a recycling opportunity felt like the exact event that works toward the goals of the GRC. Greener Grove, together with the Village and SCARCE which is a nonprofit organization that focuses on rescuing school items from landfills, organized a Recycling Extravaganza

So what makes for an environmentally friendly yard? That is the question Beth Peluse of The Conservation Foundation (TCF) posed to the audience at Greener Grove’s July meeting. Shout outs from the audience included minimal to zero turf grass, use of native plants throughout, no chemicals, and good water conservation practices like using rain barrels and planting drought-resistant plants - all good answers!