The Waterside Co-op
News
August 2009
We just had a "pirates of the co-op" party for Muriel's 4th birthday, so fun was had by all. This summer, the house has been full of music, good food, and positive energy. The Waterside Co-op band appeared at the Red Line Tap. Now Linnzi left for grad school in Madison, breaking up the band so we miss her and need a new roommate and possible band member.
We have one room available (either now or for October.. it's complicated). See our openings page for details.
June 2009
The Co-op is full, but we are interviewing for an August 15th vacancy. Please email beyondtoday@beyondtoday.org for more information.
The Waterside Co-op is on facebook. Look for us there!
Introduction to new Co-op residents:
Linnzi: Our new housemate, Linnzi has been gardening at Waters for six years and participated in many Beyond Today events, including some street theater (the skeleton pesticide parade). On June 17, 2009, 7pm, Linnzi will present a short talk on Squash Vine Borer management at
Waters Garden. The Squash Vine Borer is a pesky moth that decimates our beautiful zucchini bounty each year. She will present information on identification, life cycle, damage, and management options in our organic garden. Let's take action and save our squash!
Lewis: Lewis has been loving living at the house and looks forward co-hosting more events at the house. Lewis is excited about the recent launch of Wagn 1.0, an open-source web tool that he's been working on over the last 3 years, as well as some of the good press it's getting: http://is.gd/Zljv . An extremely flexible tool that can be used as a website, work flow tracker, collaborative work space, and library all at once, it's a great fit for projects that need an attractive, customized website with both creative flexibility and strong organizing power. To find out if Wagn could benefit a project you're involved with learn more at Wagn.org or contact lewis@grasscommons.org.
Patrick: I have been at the Waterside Co-op for two weeks and it's awesome. I've known Julie
for several years and we are fellow C3 (a Chicago Department of Environmental program, Chicago Conservation Corps) alumni, community activists who
both volunter at the Waters community garden. I started learning about
permaculture about three years and now manage a plot in the garden that Rael used to
manage before he passed. I feel every person has a connection with
their environment and we should do what we can to take care of it, which
is why I like to do habitat restoration , bringing the native species back. I
love the earth and I want to do everything I can to help it. Also, I am
currently working on a project to restore the native habitat on the Fox
river in St. Charles. It involves cutting invasive species, laying down
native plant seeds, transplanting native seedlings, and
erosion control.
(not new) Julie: I have been at the Waterside Co-op for almost four years now and it keeps getting better. Lately, I have been working with students at Waters School to create a wonderful collection of environmental videos. They are amazing. Take a look sometime. I just got back from celebrating U.N. World Environment Day and with three 8th grade girls in Media Lab with astronaut Mae Jamison in Omaha. We took the Amtrack. Lovely actually. I used to teach high school environmental science and physics before I left to spend more time organizing in our community. I send the Beyond Today emails and do the website. I've been taking a break while I help care for my mom for the last year or so. I'm planning this summer to get some help so the community can use our website and email to co-ordinate more events and efforts this summer and in the future. and I love the Waterside Co-op! and Waters Garden and the Riverbank.
Parkway Garden: We dug up most of our parkway and planted raspberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and spring flowering natives.
Sunday, June 14, most of the members of our Co-op will be visiting the Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Living near Kankakee to learn some permaculture skills. You can come too. Visit the website for more information.
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Fall 2008
The house at 4511 is doing well.
We are enjoying the fall and testing out our new community owned cider press.
As of October, we have one opening. Look here for more information on that.
From Oct 16-Nov8th, the Blank Line Collective is putting on the play "Helpless Doorknobs" in the house. More information here. Join us. spooky. Until then, we are living in the middle of rehersals for a spooky surreal play. aren't you jealous?