Find peace and calm with the practice of forest bathing.

Discover the healing power of trees and nature as you connect with nature in the hidden beauty of the Sustain DuPage Community Gardens and surrounding arboretum at the Theosophical Society. Forest bathing, also known as Forest Therapy, is a practice that supports health, wellness, and wellbeing through guided immersion in forests and other natural environments. Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), this practice offers potential benefits for body, mind, and spirit.

In Forest Therapy, participants are guided through a series of gentle invitations to slow down, open the senses, cultivate awareness, and experience the environment in ways that foster a sense of wholeness and a deeper relationship with the natural world. To finish, enjoy a closing ceremony with tea made from plants foraged from the forest.

This practice is slow-paced and suitable for all fitness levels. Please check the forecast and dress for the weather. If conditions are chilly, consider bringing along extra layers or a blanket since we will be outdoors for an extended period. You may wish to bring water, rain gear or anything else that will help you be more comfortable during the program. If necessary, feel free to bring an outdoor chair or camp stool that you wouldn't mind carrying for a short time. In the event of severe weather conditions, the program will be rescheduled.

We will gather at the entrance to the Sustain DuPage gardens near the parking lot. 

Our Guide:
Kate Fleming is a Forest Therapy Guide trained through the Association of Nature and ForestTherapy Guides and Programs (ANFT). She is also a certified yoga instructor and yoga therapist (C-IAYT), currently working with students who are military veterans and those in cancer recovery. She is also working towards certification as a Master Naturalist through the University of Illinois Extension Office. She has a BFA from the University of Arizona in studio arts and misses the mountains but not the heat. She enjoys volunteering for Sustain DuPage in their beautiful gardens, and with the Friends of the Wheaton Public Library restocking the Book Nook.

3/17 from 1:30-3:30, 1926 N. Main St. Wheaton. We have 20 tickets available, $10 suggested donation or what you are able to contribute: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-therapy-walk-forest-bathing-tickets-854075180857

Squirrel Nest Members Event

A "Squirrel's Nest" is the Sustain DuPage term we use for when our core members gather to socialize, collaborate, and share information. We're looking forward to our 2024 meeting on March 24th where we'll share the current state of our organization and our projects, give Members time to meet and mingle, get important feedback about how to enrich your experience with SD, and explore how to get even more benefits out of your Membership. We'll also be planning fun events and experiences for Members, so we need your input!

Sustain DuPage Membership can be gained through either a yearly donation of $60, or by accruing 50 hours of volunteer time (which must be submitted for approval). It's not too late to enter your 2023 hours or get your Membership if you want to join us. We'll be sending additional details via email, so keep an eye on your inbox and our calendar. Your support makes our organization possible so let's celebrate together!

One Seed, One Community

It’s almost pea-planting time! Peas thrive in cool weather and should be planted mid-late March when soil temperatures are 40-45 degrees. 

How do you know when soil temperature is ideal for germination?        Lindsay, our Garden Organizer, takes her cues from nature! She says "Once you see forsythia blooming, it's pea season since they can get triggered by similar soil temps.” 

IF YOU SIGNED UP TO GROW Amish Snap Pea with us this spring, the first instructional email should be in your mailbox. If you don’t have it, please contact Betty Amore so we can correct your email address. 

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO GROW, you can sign up through the end of March (or until we run out of seed packs). Contact Betty Amore for details on where/when you can grab your seed pack. 

By growing one type of seed together as one community, and saving the seed, we strengthen our local seed stock for this geographic region.

Sustain DuPage Merch!

After many requests from our members and volunteers, we found a new source for t-shirts and hoodies that shares our sustainability values. Their motto is "From Dirt to Shirt", they recycle all their material waste back into the economy and their state-of-the-art facility is designed to conserve water and minimize waste. Impressive! 

These high quality garments are made in the USA by USA Bayside and will be screen printed by a local vendor right here in DuPage County! 

The following items are all in unisex sizing (Small - XXL):

5100 Crew Neck T-shirt, offered in black and safari green - $20 EACH

• 6.1 Oz. High-Quality Heavyweight Fabric
• 100% Pre-Shrunk Cotton
• Full Cut Specs
• Taped Shoulder to Shoulder
• Two Needle Sleeve and Bottom Hem

960 Pullover Hoodie offered in black only - $54 EACH

• 9.5 Oz. High-Quality Heavyweight Pre-Shrunk Fabric
• 80% Cotton/ 20% Polyester
• Hooded Sweatshirt
• Spandex In Cuff and Band
• Front Muff Pocket with Matching Drawstrings
• Double Lined Hood

To place your order, contact Betty Amore no later than March 20th. We will place the order, and product will be available for pickup early April. Payment will be collected at pickup. 

Did you know that while learning about how laws are made, the students at the Prairie School of DuPage got a piece of legislation to the state senate? Help them along by supporting their bill before the state government hearing on Mar 6th, 2024 1:30PM. These nature-loving kids conducted a survey and have proposed that the Giant Puffball mushroom (Calvatia gigantea) be selected as an Illinois state symbol, making us the 6th state in the nation to have a state mushroom if this bill passes. Why this particular mushroom? Not only is it easily recognizable, safe to handle, and is edible, but it's also found in all parts of the state and our different eco-systems, making it a mushroom of the people! If you agree, give your support for SB3514 by contacting your local representative, or click here to file a witness slip as a proponent to the bill! If you've never submitted a witness slip before, here's a simple guide from the Illinois State Bar Association. This is a very fast and easy process, so let's make some history.  

Illinois Soil Health Week March 4-10

The Illinois Stewardship Alliance presents its annual Soil Health Week, which will bring together farmers and eaters, organizations, state leaders, legislators, and other partners to celebrate Illinois most precious natural resource both virtually and in-person. Review their fantastic lineup of events and seminars on their website: Soil Health Week | Illinois Stewardship Alliance (ilstewards.org)

We'd like to extend a huge thank you to those anonymous donors who have given to Sustain DuPage through their corporate matching programs and charitable trusts. Every dollar given to our organization goes into our programming and we are so grateful for those who have donated so generously. As a small volunteer organization, donations like these can make a huge difference in what we can achieve each year. We sincerely thank you! If your company has a charity program that you think might be a good fit for SD, please email meredithm@sustaindupage.com .   

In a different type of donation, we'd like to thank those who have continued to make compost drop-offs throughout the winter at our community composting area. Between your bagged leaves from last fall and your kitchen scraps, our worms are well fed and we're ahead of schedule thanks to our full bins. If you'd like to be more involved in this program, feel free to contact stasiak@sustaindupage.com. 

Gardeners

After some very helpful planning sessions this winter, we're back in the garden in late March as we start sharing workdays with the Protector's group on Saturday mornings. We'll be pollarding our basket willow crop in early March and cleaning out our cabin. Mid-March we'll also be working on infrastructure projects like moving bricks, building beds, and getting everything ready for our April planting. We hope to see you there!

Seed Cache

Our 2nd Annual Seed Share was a great event! We doubled our participation numbers from last year and had a wide variety of seeds available. It was great to see several Sustain DuPage Gardeners and other seed saving friends sharing their recommendations and growing tips. 

We encourage questions, photos and celebrations be posted in the Sustain DuPage Community Facebook Group. Also remember, as you start your seeds, you can bring extra plants or find replacements at our Seedling Share May 18th!!

Check our most up to date calendar on our website

If your organization's event falls within the mission of Sustain DuPage and you'd like to advertise it in our newsletter, please contact us at info@sustaindupage.com.