By Chloe Lighthall, ASM 2021 Fall Intern

“Sustainable: the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.”

Oxford Dictionary

When we discuss sustainability, you may associate it with topics that are related to climate change and what we can do to curb it. We ask ourselves how can we create sustainable forms of energy for generations to come. We ask how can we reduce our waste, for example, with more sustainable forms of packaging. We even ask ourselves how to create sustainable clothes that will last through the current fashion trends. However, sustainability is far more flexible than you’d think. It can be used in all sorts of contexts; something as simple as planting a garden can be sustainable. 

To continue this point, I want to direct your attention towards a form of sustainability you probably don’t hear often: sustainable landscaping.

Sustainable landscaping means striking a balance between natural and man-made aspects of an environment. This is done to make it more accessible for us who aren’t used to the great outdoors and to do so without disturbing the beautiful life around it. Maintaining a healthy relationship with the environment can be incredibly beneficial in the long run, especially when it comes to protecting our ecosystems.

With the many aspects of nurturing wildlife and our ecosystems, it takes a lot to keep everything in order which is why we give special thanks to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. MWRD specializes in many aspects of our raw unfiltered environment. As the name suggests, their primary function is to reclaim water and their mission statement says, “The MWRD will protect the health and safety of the public in its service area, protect the quality of the water supply source (Lake Michigan),”. Essentially, they do it all, and to give back to those who give it their all, they grace many with awards for their efforts to keep Chicago a little greener.  

We’re proud to say that Keeler Gardens has been recognized with an Honorable Mention in the Sustainable Landscaping Award at the 2021 MWRD Sustainability Summit. Keeler Gardens features a 1,000 square foot pollinator habitat with over 40 native species, micro-spray irrigation to reduce water usage, and hundreds of community members prepared to put in the work necessary to maintain such a beautiful environment. In addition, it relies on rainwater to support conservation efforts. With a beautiful natural environment to connect to, it really is a sight for sore eyes, especially in an urban area. 

We invite you to stop by to enjoy a breath of fresh air, a break from the cars and the chaos of the big city for a beautiful sustainable display.