We all know green transportation saves gas, reduces our carbon footprint, and helps keep our waistlines in check. But a couple out-of-the-box initiatives in Chicagoland deserve recognition for going the extra green mile.
Housing hunting by bike
The Village of Homewood is partnering with Active Transportation Alliance to host a Green Streets Open House Tour – conducted by bike – Saturday, June 19. Prospective home buyers (and cyclists) looking for a sustainable, active lifestyle are welcome to join in the fun and check out Homewood on the tour, which will take place during the downtown Art Festival and show off both community amenities and homes currently on the market. Having grown up in Homewood, I can attest that it’s a great place to live and raise a family; it also has one of the most vibrant downtowns in the south suburbs. Anchored by both Metra and Amtrak train stations, Homewood’s downtown is truly walkable, with the requisite bakery, coffee shop, stores and restaurants. Plus, the village’s parks, schools and bike path systems are second to none. Kudos to the village, Active Transportation Alliance, and ReMax South Suburban for promoting healthy, sustainable lifestyle choices and Homewood’s Green Streets to potential homebuyers making important decisions about where they want to live. (Also, for those in west Cook, Oak Park will be having a similar event on June 13.) Home Sweet Homewood will put the village’s best foot—no, strike that— tire, forward.
Out of the box, straight into the salad
Thinking green in more ways than one, the Tollway’s oases property manager, U.S. Equities Asset Management, is partnering with three area farmers to start a Community Supported Agriculture program, which will bring fresh, organic, locally grown produce to select oases. By preordering online, participating commuters will be able to pick up their baskets of produce on the way home. Talk about helping harried drivers! They’ll save a trip to the grocery store by making a quick stop to collect their pre-ordered seasonal selections, and they’ll support local farmers whose produce is grown nearby. That one less stop, multiplied by thousands – as well as the reduced mileage for farmers transporting their produce – will benefit the entire region, by reducing traffic and carbon emissions. Find more information and sign up at Local First Chicago.