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.