More than 2,000 Ball State students, Muncie residents and representatives of local and regional businesses shared information and ideas at the fourth annual Living Lightly Fair at the Minnetrista Cultural Center.
The Saturday fair, which seeks to educate and motivate attendees on green and sustainable lifestyle choices, featured guest speakers from a variety of fields, booths with products and nonprofit organizations, and a minicamp for children.
The morning opened with the Farmers Market, which Minnetrista holds every Saturday morning. Local produce growers, beekeepers, cattle farmers and craftspeople filled the parking lot, selling fresh vegetables, apples, honey and wine.
At 9 a.m., the Cultural Building hosted the first speakers of the day. Terry Black occupied the Indiana Room and talked about wind and solar power options for Indiana, while Lynn Jenkins spoke of ways homeowners or anyone with a yard can work toward an attractive and chemical-free outdoor space.
In the Minnetrista parking lot, vendors and local organizations were setting up booths to share products and experiences.
At one of those booths was recent Ball State graduate Colby Gray. Gray was in attendance on behalf of the White River Watershed Project and North Street Urban Garden. North Street is a volunteer organization working with empty lot owners in Muncie to encourage productive landscaping for community benefits.
Current Ball State students participated as volunteers throughout the fair, offering guidance assistance and event support.
Freshman elementary education major Emily Pittenger shared a booth with Ball State graduate Emily Burton. Both were volunteering with the children's minicamp, which was sponsored by the Muncie Delaware County Department of Stormwater Management. Burton said the goals of the camp were to teach kids green and healthy living.
Pittenger was pleased to be working with children, something she said she enjoyed. Burton said the goals of the camp were to teaching kids green and healthy living.
"I think it's a success," Burton said of the camp. "We had about 15 in our first group."
Alison Zajdel, development director at the Cope Environamental Center, was discusses green lifestyles for children from the parental perspective. She and Ball State alumna Stephanie Hays-Mussoni presented a seminar on green parenting.
"Parenting itself is an enormous job," she said. "I want to make parenting in a sustainable lifestyle more of an adventure."
If she could change one thing about the parenting norms of our society, Zajdel would change our foods.
"I'm a foodie, so I would get rid of packaged ‘convenience,' ready to go stuff, and make it more sustainable," she said.
Students weren't the only volunteers at the event. Urban planning professor Scott Truex volunteered at the event, running an origami table as well as working as the master of ceremonies during the afternoon.
Throughout the day, musicians serenaded and lightened the atmosphere with a variety of musical styles, including the Ball State Graduate Woodwind Quintet, which played classical music, garnering applause and cheers from the event participants.
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