After years of successful participation in local and regional initiatives addressing sustainability, the North House Folk School is debuting a special event April 23-25, welcoming students, instructors and presenters to campus for a weekend of program activity – the Northern Sustainability & Simple Living Symposium.
Scott Pollock of North House said nine courses are lined up, welcoming students to engage the issue of sustainability within their own lives by learning about some traditional and effective ways to live lighter, smarter and more simply. Coursework ranges from one to three days, welcoming students to learn about things like “green” soap making to how to make furniture for small spaces.
The symposium also includes two full days of field trips, seminars, presentations and a Simple Living Film Series
that explores four main themes including renewable energy, transportation, shelter and food. Participants will learn everything from simple strategies for growing more of their own food in a cold climate to how a local community initiative is engaging wind energy.
A call to community service kicks off the event on Thursday, April 22, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, as participants are welcome to bring their work gloves for a Grand Marais harbor clean-up project.
A complete schedule of events is now available at the school’s website (www.northhhouse. org). Registration is required for coursework and openings for coursework are still available. Field trips, seminars, presentations and the film series are free and no registration is required. Local residents with a Cook County permanent address are encouraged to take advantage of their 25 percent tuition discount for coursework.
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