Quartet of Volunteers
In June 2009, alarmed after watching the movie FLOW, four staff members of the Tai Chi Center gathered around the fire (literally) for the first of a series of meetings on water, with the goal of forming a volunteer group. The focus and efforts of this group will become one even as our reasons for doing so are varied.

The Great Lakes are the largest body of fresh water on surface of the earth. We intend to joyfully and jointly volunteer our time and efforts protecting the health of the water in the Great Lakes, as we live, work and practice tai chi within the watershed of Lake Michigan.

We are looking to share the responsibilities of a single volunteer position with one of the local organizations charged with protecting the Great Lakes watershed.

Building a cistern may become a part of this project.

We are also interested in volunteering in the care of the Chicago River.

Rain barrel
The school's Lexie Bruce rooftop garden is watered exclusively by the rainwater runoff captured by our rain barrel.

  

AIR

As Hsu Fun-Yuen would say, "One month breathing mountain air equals one year in the city, one day breathing mountain air equals one month in the city, one hour breathing mountain air equals one week in the city, and one minute of mountain air is not enough to live on."

350 Breaths
Oxygen is required for the biochemical reactions in the body that provide energy.
Without energy to power the brain and other organs the body dies.
In July of 2008, Elizabeth Wenscott and 6 student members filmed the first half of Tai Chi Chuan in collaboration with 350 whose mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis--to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

7 people x 50 breaths each (first half of the Tai Chi form) = 350 breaths in total.
350 breaths = only 8 minutes!
350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide--measured in "Parts Per Million" in our atmosphere. 350 PPM--it's the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.

Currently we are at 390.18 Parts Per Million

Carbon Day
In 2009, Don Tomei, and Elizabeth Wenscott of the Tai Chi Center of Chicago was invited to participate in Chicago's Carbon Day Festival. The below film was created as a way to express the idea that the ancient art of Tai Chi and Qigong, as a form of exercise, have always had a low environmental impact.






---


Three Trees Tai Chi
Coming soon. Until then here are some interesting facts about Trees

LAND

The Prairie Restoration Project

On April 11, 2010, six members of the Tai Chi Center of Chicago joined Stuart Goldman, a naturalist from the Cook County Forest Preserve, Laurel Ross, a botanist from the Field Museum, and John Diversey, a steward of prairie land on the farm of Angelic Organics (Rockford IL.), in a controlled "burn."



Follow this link for details on Prairie Restoration Project and how you can get involved!

The Magic Hedge Project

On November, 6 2010, eight members of the Tai Chi Center of Chicago joined Steward David Painter in planting 7,300 Marram Grass roots.



Follow this link for details on Magic Hedge Project and how you can get involved in 2011!

The Greening of Northcenter Neighborhood




Is part of the Northcenter Neighborhood Association (working within the borders of Montrose to Addison and Ravenswood to the Chicago River), which is home to many progressive and forward-thinking families who are committed to lives that make a small footprint on the earth's resources. Elizabeth and Lisa head a team of environmentalist working on several initiatives as well as the Greening of Northcenter Neighborhood Blog that keeps the neighborhood informed on the various environmental efforts taking place within its borders and through out the city.


A few of the initiatives are:

• The Green Lawn and Garden Initiative
  
• The Parkway Corner Initiative
  
• The Bee Trail Project
  
• Earth Hour - Candle Power (part of the nationally recognized Earth Hour
  
  
For more information about any of the above initiative, or would like to get involved, follow the links provided above.

Biodynamics for the Backard & Garden

Fall of 2010 and 2011, members of the Tai Chi Center of Chicago learned about the origin and fundamental principles of biodynamic agriculture in both theory and practice. Special emphasis was placed on practical applications for a smaller scale yard, garden or vegetable plot. Liquid treatment was created "stir" to fortify the soil and plants, an application was created to stimulate microbial activity in compost piles, and a poultice paste was created to strengthen and heal a 100 year-old horse chestnut tree. This workshop was lead by Ben Wilson.

WILDLIFE & HABITAT