As a Milwaukeean, what gets me through our harsh winters of bitter cold? It’s these three or four months of glorious Spring/Summer/Fall (sometimes they are all rolled into one). The lakefront comes alive, you see your neighbors on a weekly basis and outdoor events, concerts and strolls around the block are everyday occurrences. I know I’m not alone in this feeling of summer delight, right?
Besides weekly farmers’ markets in dozens of locations and street festivals showcasing local artists and vendors, there are great classes to take at Milwaukee’s fine organizations, highlighting the desire so many of us have to create a sustainable, earth-loving community. We thought we’d bring you a brief round-up of some of our favorites!
- For the Love of Farm to Fork- (Riverwest) Cooking classes at MKE Kitchen focused on local farm-fresh ingredients. Three local chefs teach three new recipes with one jar of goodness to take home. Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm. Cost: $45
- Wellspring Organic Farm Tasting Tour- (West Bend) Learn about all the systems on an organic farm, explore the fields and taste the veggies. Tours last one hour, open for all ages. Cost: $9 adults and $6 kids under 12. Specific dates with group capped at 20. Reserve in advance.
Photo courtesy of www.wellspringinc.org
- Brew City Gardens Classes- (Westside Milwaukee) A variety of classes offered for specific gardening and lawn care interests including ‘Raising Small Fruits and Berries,’ ‘Shittake Mushroom Production,’ and “Organic and Alternative Lawns.’ Cost: Varies for each class (some free!)
- Artists Working in Education Truck Studio- (Around Milwaukee) Traveling to parks and playgrounds around Milwaukee, these trucks come equipped with great art projects for kids ages 4-14 including paintings, masks, sculptures and more. Schedule available on website.
Photo courtesy of www.awe-inc.org
- Schlitz Audubon Nature Center Summer Camps- (Bayside ) Kids explore the amazing nature preserve while learning about our eco-system, animals and natural habitats. Art and learning incorporated in fun ways. Available ages 2-18. Beware, many of the classes and camps are full but there is limited space available for some- must call to see!
- Urban Ecology Center - (3 Milwaukee Locations) There are so many programs to choose from it’s impossible to pick a favorite, but we love the idea of their Early Morning Birdwalks. Every weekday from 8-10 am, birdwatchers of all levels are able to explore the property around each UEC location looking for local bird species and simply enjoying time outdoors. The best part: they rotate between locations so you can always find one closest to you or take a trip across town to explore! See their calendar of events for details.
- Coast In Bikes DIY Night- (Walker’s Point) At this bike shop/coffee bar all rolled into one, stop in on Monday or Wednesday nights for a lesson in how to fix your bike. $10/hour gets you access to their skilled mechanics plus the chance to learn anything you want to know about DIY bicycles fixes. You can’t use the excuse that your bike is broken anymore!
We hope you enjoy summer in the Milwaukee area! Four Corners will be hosting some events this summer: yoga class on July 10th and book club discussion of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things on August 28th. The book’s pages? Made from recycled plastic bottles. Amazing!
Any other great classes or events that help us create a sustainable, earth-loving community? Share them with us by commenting on this post.
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