 Hello EAC Action News Readers!
There are a lot of green happenings in April! Don't forget Earth Day on April 22 - take time to do something extra for your local environment.
April 10 from 9-5 at IWU's Shirk Center: The Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo
As the spring season kicks into gear and the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day approaches, there's no better time to focus on creating a healthy mind, body, community and environment. Join us for the 5th Annual Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo to discover a diversity of exhibitors and presenters that provide resources and services about living well and living green. Don't miss the Expo on Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Shirk Center.
What exactly can you expect to find at this year's expo?
- Over 70 exhibitors who cover topics ranging from stress reduction to services that will enhance your relationship with the environment
- An array of workshops discussing life-changing nutrition, frugal gardening, sustainable investments and much more
- Free massages
- Eco-Marketplace that includes art, fashion, fair-trade goods, organic coffee and cooking demos
- Live dance and music performances
- Screening of the documentary "No Impact Man" at 3:00 p.m.
- Free-4-All: give away your unwanted stuff and take what you want--for free!
The Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo is unique chance to explore a wide range of products and services that will enhance your lifestyle and your surroundings, all under one roof. The Expo is free of charge and everyone is welcome, so come take advantage of this event that only comes once a year! We hope to see you on April 10 at the IWU Shirk Center.
Expo Kick-off Event: Friday, April 9th, Noon - 1:00 at the IWU Hansen Student Center
Join alum Jay Truty '96 as he presents "Creating Economies of Nature."
Jay is the founder of Ecosystem Capital, LLC, which specializes in innovative conservation finance strategies. On Friday, Jay will discuss strategies that organizations and individuals can take to realize (and increase) the financial value of land and water resources by utilizing market-based conservation finance strategies. Click here for more details.
The Expo: Saturday, April 10th , 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the IWU Shirk Center
Approximately 100 exhibitors and 20 presenters will be on-hand for this interactive event. Attend and explore the many aspects of living well and living green. Click here for more details.
Both events are open to the public at no charge. The Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo is brought to you by Illinois Wesleyan University Wellness and the Ecology Action Center.
Click here to RSVP on Facebook (optional) |
Annual EAC Vermicompost Fundraiser
As you begin your spring yard and garden efforts for this season, consider using alternatives to conventional products in order to help protect our local environment and water supplies. Every time it rains, stormwater picks up pollutants such as synthetic fertilizers and carry them untreated into local creeks, rivers, and lakes. Ultimately, as these pollutants concentrate in larger bodies of water, they can adversely affect the water quality as a drinking water source, as wildlife habitat, for recreation, or other uses.
This is where you the home gardener come in to the picture; using more organic alternatives and less synthetic yard care or garden products means less runoff pollution coming from your yard to pollute our water supplies. A very good choice is vermicompost or worm castings; this is a live product full of microbial activity, created by worms from waste products. As opposed to a conventional fertilizer, this product does not contain high amounts of nitrogen or phosphorus but rather the live organisms in the product help restore a healthier balance to your soil and help release existing nutrients and make them available to your plants.
At this Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo this Saturday, April 10 at IWU's Shirk Center, the EAC will be taking orders for 30 pound bags of vermicompost for $25 each or only $20 each for EAC members. A limited quantity of vermicompost will be available at the ISLWE on a first-come, first-serve basis. Orders taken beyond this quantity will be filled in the week following the expo.
Click here to download a vermicompost order form |
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Green Drinks: April 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Medici .jpg) It's spring and Green Drinks might even be able to meet outside on the Medici patio this month!
Green Drinks is an informal, social networking group for people working on or interested in environmental issues. Green Drinks groups meet in over 500 cities across the globe. The groups have no political affiliation and (generally) no agenda. They serve as a forum for green professionals and other interested community members to meet, socialize and share ideas. The next Green Drinks is set for April 6, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30 at Medici in Normal. Join the conversation!
Click here to RSVP on Facebook (optional) |
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Rain Barrel Workshops are coming! As April showers begin to fall, people of Bloomington-Normal are thinking of rain barrels. We have had a few recent inquiries as to the date of our next build-your-own rain barrel workshops. Upcoming dates will soon be set and registration forms will be available from the EAC website; announcements of the workshop dates will be done through this email newsletter and on our website calendar.
If you would rather buy a ready-made rain barrel, stop by the EAC anytime Monday-Friday 9-5 or come to our booth at the Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo this Saturday at the IWU Shirk Center to buy a locally-made rain barrel from Prairie Rain Harvester.
click here |
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Mid Central Community Action Workshop: Going Green While Saving Green .jpg) Saturday, April 17, 2010, 10 am - Noon at Mid Central Community Action, 1301 W Washington Street, Bloomington.
This interactive workshop is for homeowners and renters who would like to learn quick and easy ways to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and save money in the process. A reflective demonstration of how your new energy savings can be used to realize your short and long term saving goals.
Lunch provided by Jimmy Johns. Space is limited, so RSVP’s are encouraged. RSVP to memunl@mccainc.org or call 309-834-9233.
Download event flyer here |
Please Support the EACThe Ecology Action Center is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Your contribution helps support:
• In-school recycling and clean water education
• After-school programs
• Environmental education throughout the community
• Eco-summer camps for children
• Hands-on workshops for adults to help you build your own composter or rain barrel
• The annual Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo
• This free informational email newsletter
• A variety of educational resources for all ages
If you are a current member of the EAC, thank you for your support. If you are not, please consider joining or making a contribution. As a 501(c)(3) organization, your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. For more information, please call us at 309-454-3169.
Click here to download an EAC membership form |
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As always, we look forward to seeing you at the Ecology Action Center! Please stop by anytime Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call us at 309-454-3169 for information on our latest programs and events or to get answers to questions on recycling, household hazardous waste, clean water, and more!
The Ecology Action Center is a not-for-profit walk-in information and environmental education center with a mission to inspire and assist residents of McLean County in creating, strengthening and preserving a healthy environment.
www.ecologyactioncenter.org |
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