By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – It would seem as though the fight to sustain the world has grown from a simple idea into a nationwide movement.
The word 'sustain' holds various definitions according to one American Heritage dictionary. "To keep in existence; to maintain" is one. "To endure or withstand," is another. But the one definition that would resonate with this year's Sustainable Living Tour, an event that invites residents throughout Michiana to get a peek of what it means to "live green", might just be "to support the spirits or resolution of; encourage."
That is what the mission of the tour would appear to be. To encourage those interested in learning about what it means to take an active role in preserving the world that is the home to continents, countries, communities – and the people who live in them.
The fourth annual tour will take place Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The self-guided tour provides a list of green and sustainable related sites the public can tour during their designated times to learn more about how businesses and people within the community doing their part to conserve.
"The goal is to expose people, to show them different things they can do in their houses," said participant and Niles city council member Dan VandenHeede, whose own home at 639 N. 13th St in Niles, is included in the tour.
Visitors can expect to see the solar space heating and solar hot water capabilities that VandenHeede has instituted at his house. Weather permitting, VandenHeede said he and his wife would make brownies for guests in their solar oven.
Visitors will also get a closer look at the Niles City Police Department's Global Electric Motorcar (GEM) and VandenHeede's own Toyota Prius. Both vehicles are attempts by their makers to provide consumers with more energy efficient options when it comes to the cars they drive – something gaining in popularity with the sting of rising gas prices.
Police Captain James Merriman said the GEM was acquired in 2006 by a donation and is used by the department's Volunteers in Police Services (VIPs). The GEM vehicle has a convenient design for use within college and university campuses, or for patrolling a specific area of a small community, like Niles. The vehicle's website describes the car as a "battery-electric, operate on a 72-volt battery system and plug into a standard 110-volt outlet." The cars have a top speed of 25 mph.
"They can drive it down by the river," Merriman told the Star. "They can drive on the paths along the river's edge."
The tour includes other members of the Niles-Buchanan community including the Niles Bensidoun French Market, which offers consumers a way to purchase fresh produce and other goods locally. "There seems to be a revival of farmers' markets and buying local," VandenHeede said, adding, "we don't just focus on alternative energy."
Bertrand Farm Inc., purchased by Theri Niemier and her husband John in 1996, is also making an appearance on the tour this year. Niemier operates a community-sponsored agriculture (CSA) program at the farm. "The CSA program is kind of an adult education program," Niemier said.
Through the program, families or individuals sign up for membership. Niemier said she has a total of 30 full time members that work together to cultivate designated portions of her land. The members work three hours a week as full time members and three hours every other week if half-time members. Members gets a hands-on education in all aspects of growing the produce that they will later take divide between each other and take home.
The program is "in the hopes of getting a more quality product," Niemier said. She added, "where I'm different from most people is, I don't make a profit." The money gained through membership fees, $150 for full-time and $100 for half-time members, goes towards seeds and supplies only. The produce is divided equally.
"It is fun and it is exciting," said Niemier. Members of the CSA program at Bertrand Farm Inc., hold a common interest in working together to grow their own produce. Together, the group grows everything from strawberries to herbs, apples, lettuce, asparagus and more.
"What you want to concentrate more on is feeding the people," said Niemier. "Instead of the commodities." Programs such as the CSA program at Bertrand Farms Inc. help in cutting down on emissions of machinery and petroleum use, she added. Along with the tour of Niemier's beautiful grounds at 3575 W. Bertrand Road, she said she would have literature available for visitors during the tour.
It may be growing into a movement, but the idea behind sustainable living remains. That idea being "to live in a way that can be sustained over time," said VandenHeede. "To try to change your way of living."
Those interested in learning more about how to change their way of living can get information about the 2008 Sustainability Tour at www.michianagreenpages.org. A printable brochure is available.