We’ve just posted our Speakers’ Schedule for this year’s Earth Fest … coming right around the corner on April 9. Scroll down to Pages and check out the links at left to see the full timetable of exhibitors and demonstrations you’ll be able to see this year. Sounds like enlightenment is on the way! Now for the hard part: deciding which workshops to attend!
2011 Iron Range Earth Fest Speakers
1. Geothermal Benefits: The Best of Both Worlds
9:30-10:15 Mt Iron Community Center – Mt Iron Room
Northern GroundSource Inc. www.NorthernGroundSource.com
Ground source heating and cooling technology is uniquely capable of providing both environmental and economic benefits. Learn about the realistic perspective of geothermal in the northland.
2. Heat Your Home With the Sun
10:45-11:30 Mt Iron Community Center – Mt Iron Room
Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) www.rreal.org
RREAL is a manufacturer and installer of solar air heating systems. Once you have made your home more energy efficient; how can you reduce your largest expense – heating your home, is it an option for you?
3. How Energy Efficient is Your Home?
12:00-12:45 Mt Iron Community Center – Mt Iron Room
Accurate Energy Rating, Ralph Nyquist 218-259-9591
Home Energy Ratings, Audits and Assessments; what are they, when to use them and how to interpret the results.
4. Exciting Energy Projects at our Community Colleges
1:15-2:00 Mt Iron Community Center – Mt Iron Room
NE Higher Education District / Hibbing, Mesabi Range, Vermillion Community Colleges
Students from our local community colleges showcase their exciting energy projects.
5. Solar Energy 101
2:30-3:15 Mt Iron Community Center – Mt Iron Room
Hibbing Community College www.hibbing.edu
Learn about the basics of Solar Power from Jesse Dahl, instructor from Hibbing Community College.
6. Saving Energy in Your Home
3:45-4:30 Mt Iron Community Center – Mt Iron Room
Duluth Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP) www.duluthenergy.org
Understand our home, how you use energy, and how you can save money with energy efficiency improvements to your lifestyle and home. This interactive workshop offers strategies for residents who what to reduce energy use, lower utility costs, minimize their carbon footprint and enjoy a “greener” and more sustainable lifestyle.
7. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – A Great Depression Work Program
9:30-10:15 Messiah Lutheran Church Library
BWS Associates, Barb Sommer
8. Wine Making 101
10:45-11:30 Messiah Lutheran Church Library
Natural Harvest Food Co-op, Wayne Wilberg & Lisa Hesse www.naturalharvestcoop.com
Celebrate the bounty of our own local berries and fruits by making your own wine.
9. Make Your Own Artisan Breads
12:00-12:45 Messiah Lutheran Church Library
Natural Harvest Food Co-op, Wayne Wilberg & Lisa Hesse www.naturalharvestcoop.com
Can’t you just smell it coming out of the oven? Learn the basics of making your own homemade bread.
10. Cooking With Local Food On A Budget
1:15-2:00 Messiah Lutheran Church Library
Round River Farm http://round-river.com
David Abasz of Round River Farm in Finland, MN will demonstrate a few healthy cooking options while talking about our local food system. Be prepared to nibble!
11. Earth Bound - Pitting Faith Against The Environment?
2:30-3:15 Messiah Lutheran Church Library
Congregations Caring for the Earth
Too often we pit faith against the environment, even though our faith traditions all us to care for the earth. Come explore this meaningful topic.
12. The Art of Basket Making
3:45-4:30 Messiah Lutheran Church Library
The Wicker Woman www.WickerWoman.com
Angora weaver Cathryn Peters shares her passion for chair seat weaving, bee skeps and antler basket making.
13. Beekeeping, and Encouraging Local Pollinators
9:30-10:15 Merritt Elementary #1 – Library
Ken Kallio
Ken Kallio of Chisholm is a retired beekeeper who still keeps hives as a hobby. He will give a presentation about the art and science of beekeeping, and what we can do to help our local pollinators.
14. Edible Container Gardening
10:45-11:30 Merritt Elementary #1 – Library
Swanson’s Greenhouse 218-744-5099
How to mix vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a planting container that is beautiful, edible, and mobile.
15. Build Your Own Rain Barrel
12:00-12:45 Merritt Elementary #1 – Library
Green Gate Guest House, Shawn Callahan 218-865-7146
16. Red Tomatoes – “Not an Impossible Dream”
1:15-2:00 Merritt Elementary #1 – Library
Cherry Greenhouse, Diane Sikkila 218-263-9304
17. Cheap and Not-So-Cheap Ways to Extend The Growing Season
2:30-3:15 Merritt Elementary #1 – Library
Fat Chicken Farm www.fatchickenfarm.com
Janna Goerdt of the Fat Chicken Farm in Embarrass uses season extension techniques to grow melons and sweet potatoes in one of the coldest places in the country; she’ll show you how you can do it, too.
18. Safe home canning and freezing of food
3:45-4:30 Merritt Elementary #1 – Library
MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) www.misa.umn.edu
19. Gweyakminowiisinadaa – Let’s Eat the Right Foods
9:30-10:15 Merritt Elementary #2 – PT/OT Room
MN Chippewa Tribe – SNAP Education
Let’s Eat the Right Foods; promoting healthy and active lifestyles though education, advocacy and training emphasizing culture and Healthy People 2010 Guidelines.
20. Five Simple Steps to Zero Energy Building in Northern MN
10:45-11:30 Merritt Elementary #2 – PT/OT Room
Coulson, LLC
Deep reductions in energy consumption can be achieved in very cold climates following several basic building design principles. Learn about the process, systems & materials.
21. Reiki – Relaxation Technique
12:00-12:45 Merritt Elementary #2 – PT/OT Room
Relax with Reiki 218-248-0996
Learn more about this Japanese Relaxation Technique that balances the energy of the body to relieve stress and discomfort.
22. Mining Energy on the Range
1:15-2:00 Merritt Elementary #2 – PT/OT Room
Northeast Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) www.mncerts.org
Examine the problems and possibilities of our energy transition, as we learn to mine local energy on the Iron Range. More challenges bring more opportunities.
23. Sustainable Building
2:30-3:15 Merritt Elementary #2 – PT/OT Room
Sunny Day Earth Solutions www.sunnydaymn.com
ECO expert Ramy Selim talks about simple sustainable remodeling; cordwood, straw bale and cob construction.
24. Vehicle Efficiency
3:45-4:30 Merritt Elementary #2 – PT/OT Room
Sunny Day Earth Solutions www.sunnydaymn.com
Vehicle choices and things we can do to make them more efficient.