The 12th Annual Sustainability Fair and Market will be held on Sunday, April 14 from 10am to 3pm at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. Admission is free and there is something for everyone so be sure to mark this event in your calendar.
Rooted in a celebration of Earth Day, the Sustainability Fair brings together locally-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, market vendors, artists, conservation and community groups from North Grenville and the surrounding area; all of whom are important threads in the cultural, environmental and economic fabric of a thriving sustainable community. Get to know the people who are part of the foundation of our local economy; chat with the booth holders and find out about their products and services. Peruse the market stalls for locally-produced art, crafts and edible goodies. Find out about the community organizations that make North Grenville a great place to live and work. There is something for everyone at the fair including a children’s zone.
The Fair will once again include an arena full of electric cars. Models will be on display from Tesla, Chevrolet, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Chrysler and more. Minivans, sedans, hatchbacks, even an electric performance motorcycle by Zero. From more modest beginnings, this show has grown to become the biggest electric vehicle show in the region. Anything bigger is in Montreal or Toronto. Talk with owners about their experience, winter driving, and reliability - then take one for a drive! Compare different models and manufacturers in this one place instead of driving to multiple dealerships across Ottawa.
Local music and food will be featured. In addition, presentations throughout the day will offer a chance to learn and experience new ideas or hear from local experts on matters related to sustainability and the community. For the full musical lineup and an overview of each of the free, sustainability workshops see below and check back often as we continue to update this page.
--- Sustainability Workshops — Workshop times TBD
SNG’s very own Chris Weissflog will be presenting on “Affordable, Efficient, Zero Emission Housing”. EcoGen has designed and built solar water heating systems, combined solar thermal / heating systems, photovoltaic (PV) including grid-tied and off-grid systems, low-energy HVAC systems, and now complete Passive House level homes. His presentation will look at the kind of housing that is needed in the face of the climate crisis.
Emalie Kamrath will present on Permaculture. The mission at Little Window Farm is to work with the land to provide fresh and healthy food for our community, while nurturing and supporting the health of the broader ecology. Permaculture is used on the farm to design, to plan and to make decisions. The term “permaculture” was defined by David Holmgren as "consciously designed landscapes and systems inspired by the patterns and relationships found in nature, that yield an abundance of food, fibre and energy for the use beyond the system itself.”
Peter Rooney asks: “Why not become A beekeeper?”. The honeybee is threatened by pests and disease, agricultural practice and lack of suitable forage. With the help of small beekeepers, the honeybee could have a more secure future. What you need to know is the type of bee to obtain, equipment requirements and suitable hive locations. With education in beekeeping practice and a few hours a week you too can have honey for your toast and tea.
Many people have heard of the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But there are actually 5 R's that are instrumental in living a sustainable life: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. Michelle Dunford, her husband and their 1.5-year-old son have been living a sustainable lifestyle for the past year. She will explain how using the 5 R’s has enabled her family to achieve a ‘zero waste’ lifestyle, how minimalism has helped them avoid unnecessary consumerism, and how adding more vegetarian options to their diet has saved them money and reduced their carbon footprint.
Bill Kemp returns this year and will give a presentation titled "Living and Working off the Electrical Grid". People often worry that doing their bit for the environment will cost money or "not be for them". Nothing could be farther from the truth! This talk will provide an overview of the family lifestyle, technology and discuss how you can help save the Earth and put a little money in your pocket as well.