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GALESBURG, IL – Knox Collge is hosting a "Beaming Bioneers" environmental conference Nov. 4-6. This is the first time the Galesburg college has hosted the event.
Dr. Peter Schwartzman, chair of environmental studies at the college, said the conference will feature local workshops. He will personally lead an "Eco-Tour" of Galesburg Saturday morning (Nov. 5)
He said, "This is really about getting people out walking, get them energized, get them thinking about the spaces that we all live in and how these spaces, literally, in many instances, in all communities, these spaces are being transformed little by little."
Schwartzman said one way to transform an urban space is with an urban farm. He said the tour will look at several on the campus.
He said, "We don't use any toxic materials on site and, in fact, it's not necessary."
He said the walking tour would take about 90 minutes. He hopes people will take what they learn back to their towns and incorporate some of the practices into their lives.
Schwartzman said one easy idea is to create a "waystation" for monarch butterflies. A planting of milkweed plants will provide food for the butterflies on their long migrations.
He also said the conference will include excerpts from the national conference last month. Speakers included Gloria Steinem and Philippe Cousteau.
More information is available on our events page.