The warm weather is giving me lots of ideas for living green: I've already purchased seeds for my garden and I've been thinking about purchasing a patio chair made from recycled plastic.
What is your idea for living green this summer? Whatever it is, come see it, try it, learn it, and buy it at the Living Green Expo, May 2-3 at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds. See you there!
2009 Living Green Expo
At the award-winning Living Green Expo, May 2 and 3 at the State Fair Grandstand, you'll learn everything from how to compost and reduce toxicity in your home, to how to find the latest energy-saving technology, to how to cook with organic, locally grown food.
In addition to 270 exhibitors and 62 workshops, kids' activities, music, cooking demonstrations, alternative vehicles, and renewable energy demonstrations, the 2009 Living Green Expo will feature:
An Outdoor Living tent, filled with information about gardening, lawn care, composting, and patio options.
A green building exhibit sponsored by Minnesota AFL-CIO, including workshops, building experts, tours of a green building, and activities for kids.
Admission is free! Secure bike storage is available and Metro Transit is offering free rides using the Go Greener Pass. See you there!
Green and Beautiful: Choosing personal care products
We use cosmetics, toiletries, detergents, and cleaning products every day. There is no better place to start living green 365 than with these everyday products.
Several ingredients in personal care products have been identified as unhealthy. Some compounds of concern include parabens and other preservatives, siloxanes, phthalates, musks and other fragrance components, and benzophenone (BP-3).
You can look for products that are nontoxic. The tricky part is that ingredient safety testing is not required by law for cosmetics. And manufacturers are not required to completely disclose all ingredients on the product label if the ingredient is considered a trade secret or if it falls under the broad categories of fragrance or flavoring.
Some tips for choosing healthy personal care products:
Simplify: Can you use fewer products?
Choose fragrance-free products.
Read up: Check the ingredients list on personal care products, and learn more about ingredient names and terms to avoid. We've got some links below.
You can get information in person at the Green and Gorgeous workshop at the Living Green Expo (Sunday, May 3: 3:30–4:30 p.m.). While you are there, make time to chat with the Expo's household products exhibitors.
Minnesota GreenCorps: A proposed project for 2009-2010
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has applied to initiate an environmental AmeriCorps program in Minnesota called the Minnesota GreenCorps. The program will provide its members with opportunities to improve Minnesota's environment, while gaining experience and learning valuable job skills.
A funding decision on this proposal is expected in early June. Please e-mail greencorps@pca.state.mn.us if you:
would like to be notified when applications are open for positions, probably in mid-June 2009.
represent an interested local government or community-based nonprofit interested in potentially hosting GreenCorps members.
Days of our green lives: Community events and resources
Try growing some of your own food this summer. You can find vegetable gardening demonstrations, tips for growing food in small spaces, and discounts on plants and seeds at Bachman's Grow-Your-Own Event, May 2-3.
Don't miss WaterFest. This celebration of our clean lakes is a family friendly event and an opportunity for hands-on learning about water. WaterFest activities include the 17th Annual Solar Boat Regatta, May 16, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Lake Phalen Pavilion (St. Paul).
Help our lakes and streams by capturing rain water that falls on your roof. Learn to build a rain barrel at Rain Barrel DIY, May 7, (6-8 p.m)., Hunt Utilities Campus (Pine River).
Discover more about solar energy, what's happening with solar in our region, and how you can take advantage of its benefits at the next Brainerd Area Environmental Learning Network (BAELN) event, Making Solar Power Accessible to People of All Income Levels, May 21, 3-5 p.m., Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Baxter).
Green and Beautiful: Choosing personal care products 
