One of the great things about working at Hammertown is all the people you get to meet from so many walks of life. One of those is world-renowned flutist, Eugenia Zukerman. She’s not only a wonderful customer, she’s become a good friend. So, when mentioning we were doing some features about Earth Day’s 40th Birthday on our blog, she told us that her sister, Laurie Rich, was heading up the Earth Day Celebration at Dutchess County Fairgrounds. “You should call her!”, she said.
We got in touch with Laurie about contributing some information about Earth Day and all things “Green” and, to our delight, she happily agreed.
Q. How did you get involved with this project?”
Laurie: I was brought in as a consultant to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in late 2007 to help the Dutchess County Agricultural Society add an environmental sustainability mission to its then-162-year-old agricultural stewardship mission, and then asked to develop a “Green Initiative” program to assist the Fairgrounds in taking the venue entirely environmentally sustainable over a series of years. I’ve served as Coordinator of the Fairgrounds Green Initiative ever since.
Q: How has the Dutchess County Fairgrounds become more “green”?
Laurie: Since 2007, the Fairgrounds Green Initiative has moved the venue to:
- institute environmentally preferable purchasing for offices, and cleaning products and technologies for bathrooms and kitchens;
Laurie Rich
- replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescents and other energy-saving lighting choices;
- have NYSERDA come in and do a full-venue energy scoping;
- perform wind power studies with an eye toward possible installation at a later date of wind turbines for power generation;
- enhance its recycling of a wide range of materials, including cardboard, cooking oil, metal, paper, single-use bottles and cans, food scraps, electronic devices, etc.;
- collect in 2009 over 70 TONS of e-waste;
- investigate integrated pest management (IPM) for lawns, plantings, barns, and other buildings;
- make a Green Initiative Tent a permanent part of the Dutchess County Fair offerings (2009); and,
- in 2010, pilot — starting with the Hudson Valley 40th Anniversary Earth Day Celebration — Zero Landfill Events, and composting of food waste.
This year we’re also inaugurating the Earth Day Celebration, as well as bringing back e-waste recycling weekends (2 per year, the first this year being held in conjunction with the Earth Day Celebration), as well as other forms of take-back, including, possibly, pharmaceuticals take-back days, document shredding events (also being held this year on Earth Day Celebration weekend), and other sorts of take-back events.
Q: You’re the Coordinator and Planner for the Earth Day Celebration. What sorts of events do you have planned?
Laurie: There will be something for everyone with over 25 different components to this year’s event (see some of them below). And we’re adding more pieces every day. For instance, just today, we’ve had the African drumming group, Bak 2 Roots join us to enhance our musical offerings. We’ve added Tai Chi and Qigong classes in celebration of World Tai Chi day, which happens to fall on April 24th as well!
- Tree planting
- Musicians for Clean Air concerts
- E-waste, compact fluorescent lightbulbs and document turn-ins
- groups’ exhibits and hands-on activities.
- Seed saving and composting clinics.
- Eco-authors readings, and book signings (kids’ books, too).
- Film screening and Q&A with the director of ‘Earth Days’
- Shows and hands-on activities for kids.
- GPS earthcaching treasure hunt.
- The Fairgrounds’ first-ever farmers’ market.
- Hudson Valley chefs’ organic and vegetarian cooking demonstrations and tastings.
- The Educational Presentation Series on a wide variety of topics.
- Cool creations makin’ and takin’ home at the Makers’ Square and Swappapalooza.
- Hayrides and animals-for-kids shoes and displays.
- Hall of Clean Energy and Green Vendors Exhibition.
- Yoga, Tai Chi and CPR classes.
It’s SO much fun pulling this all together. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!
Read more about Laurie and Hudson Valley Earth Day in this article from Hudson Valley Mercantile
Dates: April 24th & 25th, 2010
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost to the Public is minimal: $5/adult. Children under 12 and seniors over 65 attend at no charge.
For More Information:
www.hudsonvalleyearthday.blogspot.com
Email Laurie at LRich@frontiernet.net
Call: 845.876.6330
Related posts:
- It’s Apple Picking Time in the Hudson Valley
- Explore the Foot Trails of the Hudson Valley
- Bon Appétit: Food & Dining in the Hudson Valley – An all day conference
- Hudson Valley Restaurant Week
- Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Begins
Thanks Auntie M!! What a wonderful article! I, and the Fairgrounds, cannot thank you enough for getting the word out!
Warmest wishes and much gratitude,
Laurie