This year’s annual Living Local Expo: Being Green Pays Off will be held on March 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Rider University gymnasium.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature sustainable local businesses, community groups, local farms, demonstrations and speakers throughout the day.
More than 70 eco-friendly local businesses will be offering incentives to use in the future to help you go green and save money. In addition to meeting these vendors at the expo, visitors can learn about a variety of sustainability issues and exciting community projects such as bike paths, food waste recycling, energy efficiency, electric cars, health, and wellness.
A farmers market will feature local farms and local artisan food producers. A family friendly lunch celebrating locally sourced and seasonal ingredients will be available for purchase. Macaroni and cheese, soup, chili, cookies and more. Gluten-free and vegan options available.
Featured activities activities:
All-day events include Art Has No Boundaries, which will help children craft a birdfeeder and decorate birdhouses to take home, and the Trenton Boys & Girls Club Bike Exchange. Donors can bring any youth or adult bikes they no longer use to and bike exchange volunteers will refurbish the bikes at their Spruce St. location.
“Wallaby Tales,” from 1 to 2 p.m., is a traveling zoo with Travis Gale from Eyes of The Wild in Warren County. The fun and educational program will introduce children to a selection of exotic and touchable animals. Gale is an environmental educator and a field biologist.
Speaker schedule:
11:30 a.m. Michael Barry, Global Connections Institute, “Why the Local Movement is Crucial to Global Sustainability.”
Noon. Katherine Dresner, “Monarchs, Migration and Milkweed.”
12:30 p.m. Rodney Richards, Hamilton Environmental Commission, “Home Energy Costs & Savings: Process & Recommendations.”
1 p.m. Brittany Musolino, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association, “Being River Friendly.”
1:30 p.m. Ellyn Ito, Seeds to Sew, “Conscious Buying.”
2 p.m. Callie Hancock, Citizens Climate Lobby, “Carbon Fee & Dividend Program.”
2:30 p.m. Sonja Michaluk, “The Salamander Dilemma.”
3 p.m. Carol Nicholas, Greater Mercer Public Health Partnership, “Lawrence Community Health Survey.”
This year’s Expo is organized by partners from communities throughout Mercer including Lawrence, Ewing, Hopewell Valley, Princeton, West Windsor, East Windsor and Trenton. Organization include Sustainable Princeton and Sustainable Lawrence. Other partners include Mercer County Office of Economic Development and Sustainability and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.
Sponsors of Living Local Expo are Advanced Solar Products, EnviroPhysics, Mrs. G., Princeton Air and Terhune Orchards.
Visit the Living Local Expo website at livinglocalexpo.org for more information.
