People continue to take Earth for granted despite growing pollution and littering. The DeKalb community has found a way to acknowledge the planet’s presence and create ways to ensure a healthy environment.

Held from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the NIU Founders Memorial Library and Swen Parson Hall, the climate advocacy group DeCarbon DeKalb partnered with NIU and held events to reduce people’s carbon footprint with the second annual DeKalb County Earth Fest.

The event brought in crowds ranging from families to students. Several members of DeCarbon DeKalb were present with Earth Fest shirts and leading the activities.

The activities at ‘Earth Fest’ included distributing oak trees, a henna station, lectures ranging from environmental justice to sustainable food systems, a demonstration of virtual reality goggles showing pollination and a trash fashion show.

Michael Haines from Kingston, IL, held a lecture titled “Rewilding Your Yard (or Farm),” which dealt with saving nature by inviting more pollinators and native plants to create a homegrown national park.

It was held to remind people that plants and pollinators have a vital role in the food web, as pollinators absorb the energy from the plants, and that energy gets passed on to anything that consumes the plant or the thing that consumes it. He used research given to him by Doug Tallamy, a professor in the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware.

Leanne Vandecreek, the associate dean of Public Services, attended the lecture and felt emboldened by its message.

“I feel inspired and it’s been a part of my life always,” Vandecreek said. “My husband and I have been trying to plant more native plants.”

“Sustainable Food Systems” was led by Chef Bryan Flower, the associate director of Food Systems Innovation. Flower guided the audience through his efforts on how to make NIU a sustainable food system by incorporating gardens and technology, such as aeroponic towers and hydroponic grow farms. Over summer, he and his team have grown 3,500 pounds of food in one acre.

Flower is also a firm believer in several hands making light work as he promotes volunteer work.

“We try to create a hands-on learning experience for students,” Flower said. “It’s a learning living lab.”

Near the end of Earth Fest, a trashion show, held by Killian Bee, had visitors show off unique outfits. They invited audience members to use clothing from the Huskie Closet to make their own outfits and taught the notion of how people should see donated goods differently.

Angela Johnson, a DeKalb resident, was one of the members who performed with Bee and explained her outfit.

“I wanted to make something special,” Johnson said. “I used a few recyclable items like water bottles for the crown and table covers for the dress.”

With Earth Day on the way on April 22, exploring an event like ‘Earth Fest’ is a reminder that our planet’s environment is precious and to take care of it is to ensure that future generations can experience a healthier form of nature.