guild /gild/ Noun An association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal. A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power. Suburbanites (and anyone else) interested in all aspects of (re-)designing sustainable systems for homes, landscapes and communities while enjoying life and ensuring a future of abundance for generations ahead.

Welcome to ChicagoVeg – Chicagoland Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw Foodist Community. ChicagoVeg is the largest Chicagoland community for vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists to socialize and meet like-minded people. We organize a range of fun activities and educational events in the city and the suburbs. Whether you are vegan or not vegan, we welcome everyone who is interested in a vegan/vegetarian/raw lifestyle for any reason - ethical, environmental, health, or spiritual. We support a nonjudgmental …

This group is for Tai-Chi practitioners to meet other people to share their experiences and practice together. You are also welcome to join us if you would like to learn T'ai chi ch'uan (sometimes spelled as Taijiquan but commonly shortened as Tai Chi).  We do not charge any fees nor we provide any formal instructions (unless some of our members are occasionally willing to work with beginners), but you are welcome to join us and follow along while we practice to learn it. TaiChi is a practice th …

We are a suburban group of experienced and wanna' be gardeners who are motivated to take on the responsibility of growing our own healthy food. Food that is free of GMO's and organic. I've started my own organic and GMO free seeds for the 2013 crop and I'm willing to share what I know.  But I also want to learn about canning and preserving, composting and better organic food growing techniques. We're building a community of urban farmers who are actively learning from each other.  We are also co …

Chicago Suburban Backpackers is an organization for those interested in getting out and enjoying nature. Backpacking involves hiking on trails with survival gear to sustain you for a few days to a few weeks. Leaders are experienced in safely navigating with a compass and map to destinations averaging from 6 to 15 miles per day. Backpacing is a sport for those who are physically fit and have the necessary equipment to sustain themselves in good and bad weather. Members can attend begining trips w …

We help people living happy, healthy lives.... simple gardening, simple solutions.

Aquaponic enthusiasts of all levels welcome to share knowledge and experiences.

his group is devoted to the long-term study of what went wrong in the market crash of 2008 against the wider historical context of similar market crashes and the values currently underlying the market and the globalizing economy. It is further focused on envisioning an alternative economics for our time in dialogue with the current "New Economy" School led by David Korten; the Social Economics tradition in this country, as represented by the Association for Social Economics at www.socialeconomic …

School gardens. Food swaps. Fresh produce drives. Shared gardens and shared meals. We want to inspire people in the local community to rediscover gardening, cooking and sharing real food as a daily way of life.

The purpose of the DuPage Peace Through Justice Coalition is multifaceted: to promote nonviolent solutions to terrorism, to call on members of Congress to protect civil liberties, and to provide a public forum to present alternatives to war and education on cross cultural issues. The Coalition is made up of people from diverse ethnic, racial, religious and cultural backgrounds united in their belief that war is not the answer to terrorism. DuPage County is standing up for peace! Many people in o …

Spouse & friends tired of hearing you rant about the Metra (particularly the BNSF)? Come meet some fellow good-hearted snarky ranters over drinks. You may even find a few new train buddies to chat with on that death march from the last car into the doors of Union Station. We'll start with the BNSF line, but all riders are welcome! Who knows, we may even actually decide to do something with ourselves beyond drinks at some point & decide how we can advocate for better reliable transportation in th …

So you are interested in organic gardening? You not only can become sustainably independent of stores for food but also grow food that is much healthier for your body. The food is picked ripe rather than green thus maximal delightful taste and nutrients. Did you know many of the herbs you take as condiments have medicinal properties? These properties are often more potent than store bought pharmaceuticals. Can you beat that? Home grown without pesticides, ripe, healthy and grow herbs for medicin …

Focus on Wellness meetup group is for those wanting to lose weight, kick a food addiction or create a personalized wellness lifestyle but find it difficult to do alone. Join this group and get the support you need to make and sustain useful changes in your wellness lifestyle.

Meet with others in your local area interested in building and strengthening the Drupal Community. Discuss new and exciting Drupal-related news - or just socialize with like-minded people! Our Meetups are open to anyone interested in developing and operating sustainable websites and applications. Our focus will be to offer opportunities for our group members grow their understanding and appreciation of the Drupal framework and create a cooperative community in the far western suburbs of Chicago. …

If you "get it", this is your group. You are fully aware that everything in the Universe is connected. You've read the books, you've watched the movies, you've done the work, now what? The path of enlightenment is never-ending, and through this meetup, you will learn about events that will help you continue the process, and meet like-minded folks while you're at it! While many of the activities will be "doing the work", others will be more social in nature, spending time with folks who have perh …

Meet local small business professionals from Oak Park and the surrounding areas that want to learn from experts and support from peers in: Business strategizing - using your valuable time wisely Networking - Growing win-win relationships Marketing - Getting the word out about your value in a big way Sales - Establish value to people in such a way that they want to hire you immediately Management and leadership - Creating better employees, partners and clients by setting a rock-solid foundation …

Food for the body and the brain! Do you care about environmental issues in the Chicago region? The Morton Arboretum does too - and we're coming to your neighborhood to talk about today's hottest environmental topics! The Arboretum's “Zone 5 Science Cafés” bring local experts and interested citizens together in the comfortable atmosphere of the café at your local Whole Foods Market and other regional locations. Share opinions, ideas, and plans for the future as you discuss cutting edge environm …

If you are seeker of the truth, working to reach the self realization of your internal real being, looking to develop the latent powers of your divine and human soul and better comprehend the unlimited mysteries of nature, if you are thirsty for the wisdom that illuminated the minds and warmed the hearts of many sages and saints through the ages... then this meetup group may be for you. Although the spiritual path must be walked individually by each one of us, in our way we enjoy the company of …

In 1958, a group of women, all related to architects, formed the Women's Architectural League to promote awareness and appreciation of Chicago architecture. Over the years membership has broadened to include women in the design professions and others interested in architecture. WALF members organize tours designed to deepen appreciation for both historic and contemporary Chicago architecture. Tours frequently feature buildings under construction or recently completed, led by architects involved …