The Green Parent | Going Green in Illinois

Going Green in Illinois

Samantha Harnack, Illinois' Green Parent

Samantha Harnack is a wife, green mother of two, professional photographer and environmentalist. She is also a life-long resident of the great state of Illinois.

According to Samantha, she has always been aware of the need to recycle but it wasn’t until her kids came home from pre-kindergarten with badges stating that they were “friends to the earth” and saying that we had to do more, that she became active in eco-issues. Since then, the Harnacks have “greened” their home and now Samantha is giving her business a green overhaul as well. Here is what Samantha Harnack, Illinois’ Green Parent, has to say about going green in the Prairie State.

As a live long Illinoisan I know that Illinois is as diverse as the Midwest itself. Chicago offers some of the best farmers markets and green businesses around but for those of us who live down state it’s not so easy being green. I’m trying to combat that by giving resources that will help even the most southern counties go a darker shade of green. If I’m missing something that you know of please let me know.

Forums

Green Home and Garden Links, Alphabetized by City

Davis Caves Construction, Inc. - Builders & developers of earth-sheltered homes since 1977…worldwide (Armington)
Prairierth Farm - Certified organic grains, forages, vegetables, and meats in central Illinois (Atlanta)
Rare Earth Diversified Services Inc. - Organic Compost (Barrington)
Barco Products - Barco Products – Commercial Site Furnishings (Batavia)
Karen platt books - suppliers of non-gmo seed in book form (Batavia)

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SoySafe Products, Inc. - All Natural Non-Toxic Cleaning Products (Batavia)
G.A.I.M. Engineering, Inc.

- Durable products, 100% industrial scrap, made in usa (Bensenville, Il.)
GreenStarfish Inc - 100% Biodegradable dinnerware (Bloomington)
By the Book Co. - Sustainable Living Sytem (Cabery)
– East Central Illinois largest upscale consignment shop. (Champaign and Bloomington, IL)
Global Energy Designs of Illinois - Renewable Energy – PV, Wind, Hot Water, Hot Air (Cherry Valley)
A Cooler Planet - An eco lifestyle store from morning to night. Organic mattresses, linens, baby, kids. (Chicago)
Archimage Architects, Ltd. - Archimage Architects, Ltd. (Chicago)
Attachment Parenting products from Natural Family Boutique - Attachment Parenting products from Natural Family Boutique (Chicago)
Bean Products, Inc. - Organic Furniture, Yoga, Meditation, Home, Sustainable Manufacturer. (Chicago)
Bower Natural Bedding - Organic mattress and bedding store (Chicago)
Ecopia Painting, Llc - Eco-friendly painting and decorating (Chicago)
FiltraPro - FiltraPro.com – #1 Home Water Purification Sales & Service: Countertop, Undercountertop water filter (Chicago)
Global Organic Designs Lifestyle Services (GOD-DESS) - Live Better, Live More, Be More! Earth-Friendly Lifestyle Management (Chicago)
Green Home Chicago - The Midwest’s preeminent destination for uncommonly beautiful, eco-friendly interior design products (Chicago)
Green Market Fundraising

- Green Market Fundraising helps students fundraise with eco-friendly products. (Chicago)
Greener People - An online community focused on helping people live greener lives through making better choices. (Chicago)
Greenmaker Supply Company - Eco-friendly building supplies. (Chicago)
GreenWerks- Chicago’s Green Contractor - GreenWerks- Chicago’s Green Contractor (Chicago)
Heavenfresh.com - Air and Water Purification systems (Chicago)
InterfaceFLOR - Modular floor covering; recycled products. (Chicago)
Jvon Services - Green Water Softner (Chicago)
Organic-Composter.com - Compost Tumbler (CHICAGO)
Printable Promotions - Printable Promotions – Eco-Friendly Promotional Products (Chicago)
ReusableBags.com

- High-quality, innovative reusable shopping bags and related accessories (Chicago)
Rightsize Facility Performance - We are a nationwide provider of pre-owned, refurbished, new and used office furniture. (Chicago)
Shades of Color Eco Painting for Chicago - Eco Painting and General Construction for Chicagoland Area (Chicago)
The Greener Cleaner, Inc. - Wet cleaning for clothes. (Chicago)
The Pollution Solution - Air and water purifiers, environmental consultation (Chicago)
Wolbrink Architects Chartered - Green Design Build & Sustainable Architecture (Chicago)
www.World-Shoppe.com - Fair trade gifts and home accents (Chicago)
envirox LLC - Environmentally friendly non-toxic cleaner employs the power of hydrogen peroxide (Danville)
My Green Genes - My Green Genes (Dowenrs Grove)
Globallypure - Raw Milk for pick up – Chicago Western Suburbs (Downers Grove)
Sun Ovens International - Global sun oven the ultimate solar appliance! bake, boil or steam food naturally with the sun (Elburn)
Bill Kreitzer - Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoon (eggs) (Elliott)
E. L. Foust Co., Inc. - Mfr of safe air purifiers and many safe products for home, office, & schools. (Elmhurst)
Blissful Home, Inc. - Non-Toxic home-caring products formulated with pure essential oils for efficacy and aromatherapy (Evanston)
Healthy Green Goods - Organic bedding and clothing; bamboo furniture; eco-friendly cleaners. (Evanston)
Vitality Plus - Vitality Plus (Heyworth)
Cleaning Green Maids - We Do Details! (Hinsdale)
Deal Hippie - Green Living Products, Eco-Friendly Shops, Spa & Beauty, Organic Clothes, Natural Skincare, Yoga (Hoffman Estates)
GreenSpirational Interiors - Eco-friendly, beautiful and responsible interiors (Joliet)
Midwest Enterprises - Organic Fertilizer for all your growing needs (Lake in the Hills)
Nature Maid HouseKeeping Service TM - Because We Care! (Lake Villa)
Cleencups, LLC - The World’s First Anti-Bacterial Disposable Drinking Cups (Matteson)
Good-Natured Landscapes LLC - Earth friendly landscape design specializing in native plants. (Naperville)
Eco Achievers - Eco Achievers – enriching education for the sustainable living community (Oak Park)
Pure Artisan - Artisan Gifts – Stylish and Eco-Friendly (Orland Park)
Markay Homes Inc. - Building homes using environmentally-friendly materials. (Park Ridge)
Montalbano Farms - Montalbano Farms grows premium, certified organic produce in the Chicago area (Plano)
Greentone - Green Design….For your sustainable lifestyle. (Rockford)
Green Products, LLC - 100% BioBased Cleaners and Degreasers (Romeoville)
Good Steward Incorporated - Naturally Better (Saint Charles)
MySolarStop.com - Your #1 source fo solar energy products.Solar landscape lights,solar fountains,solar charger,kites (Saint Charles)
BioLawn - how green do you want to bee? natural lawn, tree, and landscape solutions (Sandwich)
Tribal Life, Inc. - environmentally-friendly, vegan, fair-labor, high quality products (Savoy)
Solarcone, Inc. - Environmentally Friendly Household Food Waste Disposal (Seward)
New Leaf Interiors - Environmentally Conscious Commercial and Interior Design (Skokie)
Plus Natural Solutions Worldwide, Inc. - Insect Elimination Naturally (Skokie)
Solay Wellness Inc./ Natural -Salt- Lamps.com - Solay Health and Wellness Products (Skokie)
– Whole foods, rganic produce, vitamins, supplements and natural body care products as well as an in-house bakery, coffee bar, cafe and catering services.
Conscious Balance - Solar and Eco-Friendly Products for every-day living (Wheaton)
Summer Hill Seeds

- Summer Hill Seeds – Rare Flower Seeds For Your Garden (Whittington)
Earth Friendly Products - NOP Certified Organic Essential Oils; cleaning supplies; personal care. (Winnetka)
W&M Land Corp Organic Nursery and Market Garden - Certified organic seedlings, fresh picked vegetables, fruits and herbs (Woodstock)