Ten Citizens Complete 11th Natural Step Study Circle

Ten Door County citizens, including several public school teachers, retired professionals, a chemical engineer, a lawyer, and two business persons, have completed a course of discussions based on the popular book defining a sustainable society, The Natural Step for Communities. The eight-week course explored ways to affect change in communities to bring about economic, environmental, and social well-being.

Study circle participants explored local projects which incorporate sustainability principles and took a field trip to three Door County sites where alternative methods of dealing with waste water were presented. Egg Harbor Village Administrator, Josh Van Lieshout, explained the workings of the village’s reed beds which filter waste water before it is released to the bay.

Carl Scholz showed the group of sustainability students two lagoons in a constructed wetland which have handled the waste water of Valmy and Institute for nearly 40 years.

A permanent experimental private onsite waste water treatment system was presented by retired industrial engineer, John Stiefel, at his home near Baileys Harbor. Stiefel makes use of composting toilets and an attached greenhouse/filtration bed for his grey water. His drinking water is filtered from a pond on his property.

Participants of this Natural Step Study Circle have been invited to join a group of participants from 10 previous study circles who have organized an advocacy group for sustainable change in Door County. Sustain Door, Inc. meets on the second Wednesday of each month.

Persons interested in learning more about The Natural Step and study circles beginning this fall and winter could visit Sustain Door’s website, http://www.sustaindoor.org or contact Ann Hippensteel at 920.743.3337 or [email protected].