Sustainable Living Fair to feature healthier eating, housing ideas
Published Oct. 24, 2003
The Homecoming football game isn't the only activity Saturday.
The first Sustainable Living Fair, sponsored by Peaceworks' Center for Sustainable Living, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Unity Center, 1600 W. Broadway.
"Sustainable living is living in a way that doesn't damage the earth any more than can be repaired through normal processes," co-organizer Greg Baka said. "It's living in a way that doesn't deplete the earth of its resources."
The center has sponsored a fall fair for the past five years that exclusively featured solar house tours, co-organizer Trevor Harris said.
"We wished to put together a more extensive event," he said.
Organizers thought to expand the fair early in the summer and began meeting to plan the event in June, Harris said.
Organizers surveyed people about what type of events they would like at the fair, Baka said.
When the doors open at 9 a.m., attendees can visit the 12 booths set up by organizations with free information, Harris said.
Beginning at 10 a.m., there are 13 workshops planned for the day, and fair-goers can pick which ones they want to attend, Harris said.
Some workshop topics include "Practical Cob Plastering ' Hands on Cob Workshop," "Building a Sustainable Food System for Mid-Missouri" and "Green Landscaping 101."
Mid-Missouri Peaceworks Director Mark Haim will present a discussion called "Eating Lower on the Food Chain" with Peaceworks Associate Director Kim Dill.
The presentation will share information about the benefits of diets that feature more plant-based foods as opposed to meat and dairy-based foods, Haim said.
"Peaceworks doesn't advocate people becoming vegetarians," he said. "But we do feel it would be beneficial to eat more plant-based foods. One doesn't have to become a vegetarian to include vegetarian foods in their diets."
The fair will offer information for people who are interested in making their lives more sustainable, Baka said.
"It will be a good place for advice on how to get started living sustainably," he said. "After making the first step, it's easier to make the second and the third."
Baka said the fair will be a good place to make connections.
"There's some disconnection between people who do organic gardening and people interested in solar homes," he said. "They're both in the same realm, but each group may not have information about other factors to sustainable living. They will be able to find that information at the fair."
Harris said people will have many opportunities to learn new things at the fair.
"I would encourage people to come with an open mind, and they're guaranteed to leave with some great information for a greener and healthier life," he said.