November 21, 2007

This Land Is Your Land

Openlands

You’re trekking through the Midwestern wilderness. Just through the trees you see a clearing. You head toward it. It’s a waterfall! It’s wildflowers!

It’s Wal-Mart.

And sadly, it’s reality. Luckily, Openlands, a local conservation society, protects northeastern Illinois prairies (amongst other things) from becoming superstores. Since its 1963 inception, Openlands has preserved more than 45,000 acres of land in the greater Chicago area.

Where do you come in? They’re looking for volunteers in their community gardens in Humboldt Park, Austin, Pilsen, and North Lawndale. Or you can take courses in tree keeping or stream habitat conservation.

If your wallet’s greener than your thumb, donations are also an option. So jump on the bandwagon.

Nature calls.

Openlands (312-427-4256 or openlands.org).