Because of health and economic concerns, more people are growing their own fruits and vegetables. Individuals can control what pesticides and fertilizer are used. Processing facilities because of improper sanitation procedures have contaminated produce causing serious illnesses. Pesticides, bacteria and costs have made people turn to growing their own food.

Backyard or community gardens are not immune to contaminates, however. Urban gardens may be growing in soil that contains heavy metals that have leached into the soil. Large urban areas because of Continue reading ‘Local Produce And Potential Environmental Exposure’ »

A lot of people who live in the Chicago area are worried about drinking the tap water. Recently, there have been some new findings pertaining to contaminants in the tap water such as lead and hexavalent chromium. Many Chicago residents are wondering if they should be filtering their water.

Many of the Environmental Experts that were interviewed believe that the tap water in Chicago is safe and drinkable compared to water from other areas. However, many Chicago residents might not agree with this statement. Therefore, many Chicago residents feel that they should filter their tap water Continue reading ‘Chicago’s Water, Should We Drink It?’ »

When most people hear the word blizzard, they think fun and games and getting a day off work or school. Blizzards are no laughing matter though. Last year Chicago received record accumulation which forced some people to abandon their vehicles. Days went by before even the first snow plows came through. In some areas people were literally snowed into their houses.

Surviving a blizzard in Chicago is easy if you prepare. The most important part is to go Continue reading ‘Surviving A Blizzard In A Chicago Suburb’ »

Winter doesn’t have to mean you are stuck inside. There are many great outdoor and indoor winter activities in the Chicago land area. One of the most popular activities is ice skating. There are 10 outdoor ice rinks through out the parks situated within the Chicago borders. Bring your own skates or rent them at the rink. Lincoln Park Zoo in downtown Chicago is free and open all winter. Enjoy the animals in their winter environment. Fishing is a popular sport in Chicago and winter doesn’t mean it stops. Great ice fishing is available in Chicago and the surrounding areas.The full explanation can be found at http://www.fitsugar.com/Fun-Winter-Activities-Calorie-Counts-13395761 There Continue reading ‘Recreation Activities In The Chicago Winter’ »