Sustainable Living

Download the full workshop schedule in PDF format.

Saturday, September 13th

Organic Eating on a Dime

Lisa Kivirist, co-author of ECOpreneuring, Edible Earth Cookbook and Rural Renaissance
9:10 am, Outside Tent

Lisa will share practical tips and strategies for enjoying more sustainable, healthy, nutritious foods while both saving money and stewarding the environment.

Where Do Your Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Come From?

Rich Pirog, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
11:10 am, CEEE 016

Discussion of how far foods travel and demonstration of the Leopold Center's new online resource that tracks the origins of 95 different fresh fruits and vegetables typically sold in U.S. supermarkets. Besides showing product origins, the tool allows the user to see which state is the leading domestic producer of these crops.

Community Planning and Organizing for Sustainability: The Fairfield Green Plan

Lonnie Gamble, Big Green Summer
11:10 am, Business & Community Services

Want to know how to get all the segments of your community working together to create a vibrant green future? This talk is a report on the process that Fairfield, Iowa is using to create a strategic plan for sustainability and beyond. In early 2008, Ed Malloy, the Mayor of Fairfield Iowa, initiated a comprehensive strategic planning process, designed to bring together diverse segments of the community to create a strategic plan for sustainability. The goal is to make sustainability an integral part of how our community functions, and to involve dozens of organizations in making this happen. The project is being facilitated by The University of Northern Iowa's Institute for Decision Making. Come hear an update on this exciting project and see the current draft of the plan. The final draft of the plan will be unveiled in late September.

Make a Difference! Create a Peaceful and Sustainable Future Everyday

Janet Coester, Mir Valley Associates
2:10 pm, CEEE 111

Simple principles, steps and solutions toward living green in everyday life at home, work, club, church, community. Together we can create a sustainable society.

Sunday, September 14th

Organic Eating on a Dime

Lisa Kivirist, co-author of ECOpreneuring, Edible Earth Cookbook and Rural Renaissance
10:30 am, CEEE 111

Lisa will share practical tips and strategies for enjoying more sustainable, healthy, nutritious foods while both saving money and stewarding the environment.

Food, Lawns, and Peak Oil: Confessions of an Urban Heretic

Marlin Nissen, Barefoot Farms
11:30 am, CEEE 016

Explores the astonishing energy and resource waste involved in modern lawn maintenance. Discover how replacing lawns with urban food production positively impacts peak oil, global warming, community building, and your local economy. Part 1 of a 2 part series. Part 2 is titled "Easy Does It."

Easy Does It: Low Work Techniques for Growing Food, Not Lawns

Marlin Nissen, Barefoot Farms
2:30 pm, CEEE 016

Would you like to grow something in your urban lot other than grass? Forget high inputs of petrol and human energy! Learn practical, innovative growing techniques that reduce your carbon footprint and won’t break your back or your budget. Can be attended as a stand alone class or as a follow up to "Food, Lawns and Peak Oil."

Introduction to Permaculture Design

Lonnie Gamble, Abundance Ecovillage
2:30 am, Industrial Technology Center 3

Permaculture is the design of human habitats that have the stability, diversity, and resilience of natural ecosystems. In this talk you will learn the basics of integrating housing with food production, water supply, energy supply, and livelihood. Learn how you can begin to apply permaculture design principles where you live, starting today.