Green Drinks - April
2026-04-01 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Attend on Zoom

Scaling regenerative agriculture in Chicago
What does this latest buzzword, “regenerative,” actually mean? How does it differ from Organic and the industrial farming model? Learning more about Wanda Farm’s regenerative farming practices and how these practices create healthier food, repair our environment, and rebuild a local community in the process.

Hannah Wanda is the co-founder of Wanda Farms, a regenerative farm in Harvard, Illinois. She supports the farm alongside her husband Joe while raising their three children. Hannah manages the book and helps around the farm as needed and shares in the mission to provide families with clean, nutrient-dense food.

Joe Wanda is the founder of Wanda Farms, a first-generation regenerative family farm in Harvard, Illinois. He and his wife, Hannah, produce grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, chicken, and eggs, and sell their products directly to consumers online for home delivery. Their mission is to produce clean, nutrient-dense food and connect 10,000 families to a farmer they trust by 2030.

Gardenfest
2026-04-11 08:00 - 16:00
Saturday, April 11, 2026

8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Luecht Auditorium at MCC
Building B, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake
Registration ends March 28, 2026
You must register each attendee separately
General Admissions includes continental breakfast and lunch

Learn more

BMP: Talk and Tour - The Food System We Built and the One We Need
2026-04-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Soil and Water Conservation District, 2222 Dean Street, Woodstock, United States
Join the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and McHenry County Department of Planning and Development for Our First BMP Talk and Tour of 2026
The Food System We Built – and the One We Need
Friday, April 17, 1-3 pm
McHenry-Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District Building
2222 Dean Street, Woodstock
This Talk and Tour will feature Scott Brix, one of the original co-founders of the Food Shed Co-
op, who will present “The Food System We Built – and the One We Need.” His talk will explore
how local food movements and community-owned cooperatives can contribute to creating a
more resilient and sustainable food system.
From global supply chains to McHenry County farmland, this talk will explore how the way we
grow and distribute food impacts our environment. Scott Brix brings a unique perspective as
both a food industry professional and co-founder of the Food Shed Co-op, sharing insights into
soil health and sustainability—and how local food movements and community-owned co-ops
can help move the needle toward a more resilient and sustainable food system.
Scott Brix brings decades of experience in food science, engineering, and biotechnology. His
years in the corporate food and agriculture sector left him increasingly disillusioned with an
industry that often puts profit ahead of people, the planet, and real food. Determined to create
an alternative, he helped launch the Food Shed Co-op – rooted in local, sustainable food
systems that strengthen small, non-industrial farmers, local producers, and the community.
After the presentation, a tour of the Food Shed Co-op, at 2390 Lake Shore Drive, will highlight
BMPs in action at the facility.
These Popular Talk and Tour programs showcase Best Management Practices successfully
implemented in McHenry County. The programs are a collaborative effort with the
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the McHenry County Department of Planning
and Development.
Sign Up

Earth Day Mending
2026-04-22 17:30 - 19:00 | Food Shed Co-op, 2390 Lake Shore Dr, Woodstock, 60098, United States
Earth Day Mending
Earth Day
Wednesday, April 22nd
5:30-7:00pm
Food Shed Co-Op
2390 Lake Shore Dr, Woodstock, IL 60098

Come mend with us! The Environmental Defenders invites you to bring 1-2 items of clothing that need mending. Volunteers will demonstrate basic mending instructions and offer guidance on individual guest projects.

Basic supplies for repairs will be provided.
No registration required but space is limited.
No outside food or drink allowed.

Highway Cleanup
2026-04-25 09:30 - 11:30
Join our Highway Cleanup with our Waste Reduction Action Team!
Saturday, April 25 at 9:30am
Cary Algonquin Road from Fox Trails Drive to Main Street (next to Fox Bluff Conservation Area)

Meet our Waste Reduction Team + other Defenders
Children ages 10+ are welcome with adult present
Please bring gloves
Dress for the weather

Email alange090@gmail.com for more details and to let us know you’re coming!

Earth Month Hike & Gather
2026-04-30 17:30 - 20:00 | Kishwaukee Brewing Company, 1900 Dillard Ct, Woodstock, IL, 60098, United States
Earth Day Hike & Gather
***If raining, meet us at Kishwaukee Brewing Co!
Thursday, April 30 | 5:30pm – 8pm
Dufield Pond & Kishwaukee Brewing Co
Join the Defenders Earth Month Celebration! Meet us at Dufield Pond (South) for a guided short hike. End the night with us at Kishwaukee Brewing Company. Grab a beer with our Defenders community and meet new people.
RSVP

Compost Giveaway
2026-05-02 10:00 - 14:00 | Kishwaukee Brewing Company, 1900 Dillard Ct, Woodstock, IL, 60098, United States
Compost Giveaway
Saturday, May 2nd from 10am-2pm
Shovels provided, please bring your own buckets. Limit 20 gallons per household.
Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week. Reap all the benefits of adding compost to your vegetable garden, flower beds or landscaping. Experts available to teach you how to compost in your backyard or find a local drop off site.

Green Drinks - May
2026-05-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Attend on Zoom

Tommy Vaughn, WasteNot Compost’s Growth Manager, will speak about WasteNot’s work in McHenry County and plans for expanding access to composting in the area. WasteNot currently services businesses in McHenry and operates a drop-off program for residents in collaboration with Environmental Defenders of McHenry County (EDMC).
5pm begins our social hour to mix, mingle and meet like-minded peers. Presentation starts at 5:45 pm! We encourage all guests to order food before the presentations begin or make a dining room table reservation for after the presentation.

Styrofoam Kick-Off Event
2026-05-09 09:00 - 12:00 | Algonquin Township Road District, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, IL, United States
Styrofoam Kick-Off EventMAY 9, 2026 | 9am-12pm
Algonquin Township Road District
3702 US-14, Crystal Lake
To keep the Defenders’ Styrofoam Recycling Program available to our community, we need your support. Your donations directly fund & manage the collection, processing, and recycling of Styrofoam. We’re fundraising $7,500. We can’t do this without you! Donate today to make a lasting impact.
Donate
