Litter Caterpillars

Hope for Every Island with Trash

A jar of blueberry jam sat in the back of my fridge for years. I could not throw it away, not because it was useful, but because it had a memory attached to it, and that memory made the jar feel heavier than glass. We All Have Our Own Island of Trash My first island…

April 7, 2026
10 Native Trees of Illinois to Plant in 2026

I remember the first time I got caught in one of those wild Chicago spring storms, hail and all, with our tiny group of Litter Caterpillars. We huddled under a shivering tree. And I realized something powerful. Cleaning up a mess that isn't yours is easier than facing your own. That suffering, that shared struggle—it…

April 6, 2026
My Top 7 Picks for a Bike Trail in Illinois for 2026

Have you ever felt that pull? The one that says you need to get outside, feel the wind, and see something new. For me, that feeling almost always leads to my bike. It's not just about exercise; it’s about changing my perspective, one pedal stroke at a time. My bike feels like my own personal…

April 5, 2026
Your Guide to Busse Forest South and Its Wonders in 2026

Are you tired of the city's concrete jungle? I know a place. It’s a place where all that noise just dissolves, and you can finally hear yourself think. I call it Busse Forest South, and it's so much more than a park. For me, it's a sanctuary. It’s my training ground. It's where I go…

April 4, 2026
A Guide to Lyons Woods Forest Preserve

Sometimes you just need to escape the city's noise, you know? That constant buzz. I’ve found my go-to spot just outside of Chicago, where the only sounds are rustling leaves and birdsong. It's called Lyons Woods Forest Preserve, and it's this little slice of wild in Waukegan that I've gotten to know really well. It's…

April 3, 2026
10 Transformative Adventures at a Forest Preserve in IL You Can’t Miss in 2026

I know what it’s like to feel stuck. Imagine your life is a refrigerator full of old jam and bags from failed health kicks. That was me. Each piece of trash felt like a 500-pound weight, a story I couldn't move past. I had to end a bad relationship to finally see it. I realized…

April 2, 2026
12 Winning Garden Grants for Schools: Your 2026 Funding Guide

I know that ache in your chest. You stand there, staring at a cracked patch of asphalt at school, but in your mind's eye, you see it. You see kids with dirt under their fingernails. You see them tasting a carrot they grew themselves. You see a green sanctuary humming with life, built by their…

April 1, 2026
Your Ultimate Guide to the Des Plaines River Trail Chicago IL in 2026

Let me tell you about my escape hatch. It's a place that feels miles away from the city's ceaseless hum, a green ribbon of a path that I swear has saved my sanity more than once: the Des Plaines River Trail Chicago IL. My Story with This Trail I've been on this trail in every…

March 31, 2026
Your Ultimate Guide to the Old Plank Trail Adventure

The Old Plank Trail. For most, it's just a 22-mile bike path. A pleasant way to get your heart pumping on a sunny Saturday. But I see something more. It's the place where I first understood we could stop just talking and actually build something tangible, something real. It's where I realized we had a…

March 30, 2026
Your Guide to MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve

Have you ever felt so tangled up in your own head that you can't see the way out? That was me. City life, deadlines, the constant noise—it all just becomes a mess. Then I found MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve. This place isn't some manicured park with a playground. It's wild. It's real. And I think…

March 29, 2026