Learning a sustainable lifestyle is the focus of the fourth annual Living Lightly Fair at Minnetrista.
The fair, taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, will feature 11 speakers on various topics including wind and solar energy as well as green parenting.
Sustainable living focuses on the environmental, economic and social impacts of the use of natural recourses, according to the Living Lightly website.
As part of Freshman Connections, director Melinda Messineo said this is the perfect opportunity for students to learn about the Muncie community and living lightly.
"It'll give them ideas and pointers on how to make sustainable choices," Messineo said. "Living in the residence halls, students may feel they don't have very many choices. They get a chance to see Minnetrista and a chance to meet with the community."
By educating Hoosiers about sustainable living, people can learn practical ways to save money and resources at the fair.
"There will be different sessions with pointers and a keynote speaker as well as different artists," Messineo said. "Students can come and go at a pace based on their time and focus on certain activities and events that will be most interesting to them."
Messineo said she received an e-mail from a student who was concerned about Ball State's transportation efforts.
"One student said, ‘Don't you think it's ironic that you are shuttling students to a sustainability fair?'" she said. "The shuttle buses are Ball State's demonstration of sustainability.
We want people to think about and use public transportation and the shuttle for students was a great strategy to demonstrate that."
The fair will feature music from Brad Leftwich and the Hogwire Stringband, the Ball Sate Graduate Woodwind Quintet, Ron Beach and Ric Dwenger, and Busted Knuckle.
If children come along, there is a minicamp with educational activities about sustainability and a presentation from the Minnetrista Theatre Preserves.
Students interested in going to the event can catch the Freshmen Connections bus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting at the Williams Circle drive near Noyer Complex and behind the Architecture Building. The bus will complete a loop roughly every half-hour.
For more information, visit livinglightlyfair.org.
SPEAKERS:
Ian Cheney, creator of the film "King Corn"
Terry Black, "Wind and Solar for Homes and Businesses"
Lynn Jenkins, "Eight Tips for an Earth-Friendly Yard"
Jonathan Spodek, "The ecoREHAB Approach to Sustainable, Energy-Efficient Housing Renovation"
Bill Stant, "Socially and Environmentally Responsible Investing"
David Gulyas, "Creating Green Interiors"
Pat Jones, "Acquiring Professional Skills for the Wind Power Industry"
Jason Donati and Colby Gray, "Urban Organic Gardening"
Stephanie Hays-Mussoni and Alison Clark Zajdel, "Green Parenting"
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
