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CLC’s environmental programs get boost from grant, sustainable farm plan
By Sheryl DeVore <http://triblocal.com/members/sheryldevore> Community producer
A new federal grant and sustainable farm in Grayslake could translate to more hands-on training and coursework at the College of Lake County for students pursuing green careers.
The $19.4 million grant announced Sept. 28 will fund the Illinois Green Economy Network, a consortium of community colleges, including CLC, that is trying to grow the state’s green economy. CLC is among the consortium members that will serve as training centers.
The grant will help colleges offer more online and classroom courses and degrees in environmental disciplines — such as green architecture, stormwater management, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable landscaping.
The grant ties in nicely with a plan to convert 55 acres of Lake County Forest Preserves-owned land to a sustainability farm, said Stephen Bell, director of the college’s Green Economy Center. That project is still in the planning stage; a formal agreement has not yet been worked out.
Still, Bell is excited that the site behind the Brae Loch Golf Course in Grayslake could offer hands-on training to those learning new skills in the green industry.
Bell envisions a farm that teaches students to grow vegetables in a sustainable way, and also about “permaculture” and other new agriculture practices. Permaculture is a less-intensive way to grow food, compared to the traditional practices. It’s based on working with nature, for example, growing trees and shrubs that produce berries and nuts.
“‘It’s pretty cool stuff,” Bell said.
“There’s also an opportunity to use parts of the site that wouldn’t support agriculture, perhaps some wetlands where we can grow native plants. That could be used to teach sustainable landscaping.”
The idea for such a farm came from a group of residents involved with the Farm Business Development Center at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake.
“We have lots of new folks interested in farming and the public interested in local, healthy food,” said center director Mike Sands. Prairie Crossing rents land for farmers, but there’s not enough land and not enough training available. The 55-acre sustainable farm could provide that, said Sands.
“With this land, we can develop something really unique in northeastern Illinois, and it could serve as a catalyst for more such programs in the county.”
The Forest Preserves would likely license the land to the college, which in turn would fund the program. The next step is to hammer out a workable program that the forest preserve district, CLC and others could agree on, Sands said.
The project, if completed, would be among many initiated by CLC to increase classes devoted to green industry jobs. Programs such as alternative energy technology have been added and the college offers its faculty courses on adding sustainability issues into their curriculum. In addition,the college has hosted two annual sustainability-focused conferences.
CLC President Jerry Weber has been a champion of sustainability and expanding the green work force. He serves as co-chairman of the Illinois Green Economy Network steering committee, and helped secure the federal grant.
“Community colleges have a crucial role in advancing sustainability and in building the new green economy,” he said.
