Monthly Archives: May 2012

City Creatures Retreat at the Indiana Dunes (Pictures and Random Thoughts)

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Michael Bryson

I’ve never been invited to a writer’s retreat before (not to mention a writers and artists retreat), and despite long anticipation and careful planning for this one, I almost didn’t get to go to this one when my spouse took … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Chicago, Community, Events, Field Trips, Literature, Parklands, Research, Urban ecology, Urban nature, Wetlands, Wildlife | Comments Off

City Creatures Writer’s/Artist’s Retreat at the Indiana Dunes (Midstream Reflections)

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Michael Bryson

There are many times when I give thanks for having the wonderful job of being a professor — and today is one such day. I’m writing this update from a motel room in Chesterton, Indiana, where I’m attending a writer’s/artist’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, Chicago, Conferences, Events, Literature, Urban ecology, Urban nature, Wildlife | Comments Off

Celebrating Sustainability at GR2012 in Joliet

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Michael Bryson

This past Saturday, I attended GR2012, the 3rd annual Celebrating Sustainability festival in my hometown of Joliet, IL. The past couple of years I had attended with my family purely in the role of visitors to the festival’s original location … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Family, Joliet, Roosevelt, Students, Sustainability | Comments Off

Last Workday this Spring at Chicago Lights Urban Farm

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Michael Bryson

Last Wednesday, May 2nd, was a bittersweet day in my SUST 350 Service & Sustainability class at RU. Since March 21st we had convened every Wednesday afternoon at 3pm at the Chicago Lights Urban Farm in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood of … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Chicago, Classes, Community, Education, Social justice, Students | Comments Off

The Airport Nobody Wants or Needs

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Michael Bryson

The Saturday before Earth Day, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and a contingent of political supporters rode down to the farmlands of eastern Will County to spade up a little dirt in a pious promotion of the ill-fated Great Imaginary (aka Peotone) … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Economics, Joliet, Land use, Peotone, Social justice, Transportation | Comments Off

Paddling Bubbly Creek: Water, Food, and Urban Ecology

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Michael Bryson

This past Sunday, 29 April 2012, students from my SUST 350 Service & Sustainability class joined staff and student interns from Growing Power‘s Chicago Lights Urban Farm for a canoe trip on Bubbly Creek, aka the South Fork of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Chicago, Classes, Field Trips, Food, Pollution, Rivers, Students, Urban ecology, Urban nature, Water | 3 Comments