This is a photo of the entrance to the Living Green Expo in the Grandstand Bldg at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul that I attended today. I will not be sharing an interior shot because, despite being thrilled about the huge attendance, I do not relish large crowds. I much prefer the solitude of a quiet trek through the woods or my own backyard. I completed my volunteer duty inside, cruised through the vendors, sampled some food at several booths, and attended two workshops then I was outside to enjoy what remained of the most perfect sunny spring day with temps in the high 60s.
These are some purchases and freebies I picked up at the Living Green Expo today at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. To align my practices with my leaner greener lifestyle, I was very selective about what items I chose to bring home with me. I purchased the Fizzion stain remover because it's supposed to be very effective, but I was impressed by its concept. It is an empty spray bottle that you fill with water then drop in the two tablets attached to the label. When shipped, there is no water weight… just a lightweight reusable bottle. Somebody's using their brain. The Blue Sky Guide is jam-packed full of coupons for groceries, restaurants, entertainment, healthy living, travel and recreation, yard and garden, and home. The guide, which sells for $20.00, was given out free to the first 100 or 150 people in line when the expo opened at 10 a.m. I was the 3rd person in line at 8 a.m. which required that I roll out of bed at 3 a.m. to depart my home in Brainerd (Minnesota) at 4 a.m. You're right… I'm stupidly crazy. Target gave out the pretty red fabric bags with the trademark bullseye logo artfully arranged as as trees printed on both sides of the bag. The oversized bag from Whole Foods is made from recycled plastic bottles… perfect for a trip to the grocery store. The only other item that I purchased was a bottle of Shaklee Basic H for a fruit and veggie wash. It only takes a couple drops in a bowl of water.
To round out my freebies, I came home with a biodegradable peat pot filled with compost and two corn kernels… such a little insignificant thing, but I will nurture it throughout the season like the runt in a litter of puppies because it holds a memory… a snapshot of a moment in my life. I also picked up a few "$2.00 off any one Organic Valley product" coupons and two bookmarks with cartoony-type drawings of wind turbines from a company named Windustry.
The two workshops that I attended were both scheduled at the very same time, so I had to split my time between the two. One was about setting up a small wind turbine and the tax benefits, rebates, and grants available. Dave Winkelman, the presenter who owns a business called Eco Domes LLC located 10 miles S.E. of Brainerd, is extremely knowlegeable if you are interested in setting up a turbine on your property. At his business, he has many other eco things going on… a very interesting place to visit. The 2nd workshop's presenter, Marty Bergland, discussed open pollinators/heirloom seed saving which covered drying, fermentation, storage, seed viability, and germination. I have been gradually planting more heirloom seed varieties, so I have a deep interest in seed saving.
May 3, 2009
Today's mileage: 1-mile walk
Total mileage for May: 5 miles
Bible reading? No.
Whiteley Creek Homestead 
