Our 4 Skill Building Tracts

Renewable Energy Tract

Provide opportunities to learn about renewable energy including bio-diesel, wind, solar, and geothermal. This tract focuses on energy conservation and diversification through hybrid systems for increased efficiency.

Accomplished Projects

Bio-Diesel Workshop (2006)

Built Processor And Made Bio-Diesel For Black Oaks Van (2006)

Harvested Fallen Oak Trees At Eco-Campus And Investigated Ways To Maximize Efficiency To Lengthen Burn Time For Heat And Cooking While Reducing Carbon Output (2007)

Installed Solar Panels (2008)

Upcoming Projects

Solar Wind Hybrid System

Micro-Energy System Demonstration

Community Bio-Diesel System

Sustainable Building Tract

Build structures utilizing natural, recycled & other materials that are not harmful to the earth and its inhabitants. Inherent in the design is energy efficiency and maximized function. This tract provides hands on opportunities to learn natural building skills such as cob, grey water catchment systems, passive solar design, earth shelter and strawbale as well as permaculture mapping

Accomplished Projects

Built Chicken Coop #1 With Recycled Materials (2006)

Held Community Charrettes To Plan And Map Out Phase One Of Eco-Campus In Partnership With ADPSR (2007)

Insulated 4 Cabins To R Value Of 33 Plus Using Non-Toxic Materials (2007)

Sand Bag Earthen Plaster Workshop With Anna Wolfson (2008)

Installed Outdoor Shower (2008)

Installed 3 Compost Toilets (2009)

Built Chicken Coop #2 With Recycled Materials (2009)

Constructed Betty Shabazz Community Yurt (2009)

Constructed Outdoor Kitchen With Greywater System (2009)

Upcoming Projects

Preparations For The Winter Off-Grid (Phase One Of Connector To Be Completed By November 2009)

Phase Two Of The Connector (2010)

Complete Entrance Walls (2010)

Build Adobe Oven (2010)

Build Earth Sheltered Bathhouse (2010)

Complete Amphitheater (2010)

Begin Planning For Welcome House (2010)

Sustainable Agriculture Tract

Our objectives for food and land are 3 fold.

Learn ways to grow as much food as possible organically with the greatest density while extending the growing season.

Develop a regional food system that will supply healthy local food within 200 miles to residents of South Chicagoland and the Southeast Suburbs extending throughout the Pembroke/Kankakee area.

Be good stewards of the earth.

Accomplished Projects

Cleaned And Cleared Debris From The Eco-Campus (2003)

Conducted Organic Gardening Using Permaculture And Biodynamic Application (2003)

Restored Prairie In The Center Of The Eco-Campus (2003)

Constructed A Pond In The Center Of The Eco-Campus Which Has Served As A Watering Hole For Wildlife And Aquatic Creatures Such As Tadpoles, Toads, Frogs, And Dragonflies (2003)

Assembled A Community Seed Bank Which Presently Holds Over 50 Varieties Of Vegetables And Grains Consisting Of Organic, Non-GMO, And Heirloom Seeds (2004)

Formed Organic Food Buying Club Providing Its Members With A Means To Purchase Healthy Food At An Affordable Price (http://www.healthyfoodhub.org) (2005)

Introduction to Permaculture Design (Didactics In Permaculture Design And Mapping) Workshop With Peter Bane And Keith Johnson. Created Permaculture Beds With Vegetables, Herbs, Fruit Trees, And Berry Bushes, (2006)

Planted The Following Trees: Paw Paws, Chestnuts, Northern Pecans, Hawthorn Berry Bush, Aronia Berry Bush, Raspberry Bush, Apple, And Peach Trees (2006)

Care For The Black Oaks Day: Students From Betty Shabazz International Charter School Planted Endangered Black Oaks Acorns And Helped To Clear Dead Trees And Clear The Eco-Campus Of Debris (2007)

Constructed Fire Walls Throughout The Eco-Campus To Prevent Fire Damage (2008)

Upcoming Projects

Create Low Tunnels/Solar Tent To Extend Growing Season (2009)

Indoor Container Gardening (2009)

Plant Garlic (2009)

Establish Healthy Food Hub CSA With Sustainable Community Partners (2009)

Plant The Library Forest Garden In Honor Of Uncle Lee (2010)

Plant The Entrance Forest Garden (2010)

Complete Pond/Aquaculture Training

Local Medicine Network

Resilience Tract

Formerly known as the Sustainable Renewable Living Tract. The name was changed to reflect the fundamental goal of all the tracts. To assist each other in being resilient to the affects of climate change and resource depletion. This tract is dedicated to personal to planetary transformation. It is the interface of all other tracts. This tract is responsible for workshops, classes, retreats and camps.

This tract falls under 3 primary areas of concentration.

Healing & Transformation

Cultivating A Culture Of C's

Sustainable Skills Integration

Accomplished Projects

Camp Nzinga, OLSP (2006)

In partnership with the Outdoor Leadership Skills Project, over 500 children and adults have been trained in wilderness survival skills.

Sustainability Camps (2008)

Through partner schools and community organizations, over 300 children and their families have participated in Sustainability Camps at the Eco-Campus. They are introduced to the concepts of resource depletion, climate change and the impact it may have on them in the future. Children have a choice of hands on skill building experiences for 2 to 3 of the skill building tract projects.

CommUnity Building Days (2009)

CommUnity Building Days have long been focused around our Sustainable Building Tract. At this next transition, people can come to the Eco-Campus to practice being a community. We will learn natural building and sustainable skills while working together and learning more about ourselves and each other. These events are free. They are multicultural and transgenerational. They include pot lucks, music, campfires, laughter & more. Each of these swesome people are weaving a new fabric of collaboration, cooperation, communication, consciousness and community.

Betty Shabazz International Charter School Teacher’s Retreat (2009)

During our day retreat, over 75 teachers attended to address the impact that resource depletion and climate change will have on the future of the students they are teaching. Whole systems thinking and an integrative K through 12 curriculum laid a foundation for this academic year.

Upcoming Projects

Homestead Year: Our Energy Descent

The founders are inviting the whole community to venture into their experience of the their first winter off the grid. The family has begun to chronicle their experiences and will be sharing them at http://blackoakscenter.blogspot.com.