More Ways to Go Green

Thanks to all who attended the Viva Verde Earth Fest on Saturday. We were pleased with the turnout and hope to make this an annual event. Pictures from the event are forthcoming.

If you are interested in environmental issues, here are some additional ways to get involved:

• Take the Virtual Farmers Market Survey, which will provide valuable feedback to a group organized by the Center for the Environment at Catawba College on the interest level of setting up and online portal to allow local food producers to offer their products for sale to food preparers like school lunch programs, restaurants, and individual consumers. They need a response by April 30. Read more here and here.
• The Small Business Center at RCCC is offering a series of classes on energy efficiency and other ways to go green for small businesses. Classes are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kannapolis Train Station. They are free but require registration. Classes are held on these dates:
  – May 18, “Implementing Green Processes in Your Business Operations,” and “Saving Money by Greening Your Operations.”
  – May 25, “Identifying Business Tax Credits and Other Green Incentives,” and “Attracting Customers to Your Green Business.”
• Apply to serve on the City’s Environmental Stewardship Commission, which is involved in environmental policy and activities for Kannapolis. Deadline is April 30. Read more here.
• Apply to serve on Cabarrus County’s new Food Policy Council, which seeks to build the link between economic development and locally grown food. Appointments will be made in May.
• Register for the Sustainable Living Series offered by Cabarrus County, which includes monthly workshops on a variety of sustainability topics. Workshops are free and offered on a Thursday each month, 6:30-8:30pm.
• Attend the next EnviroMingle on May 20. It’s organized by the Center for the Environment in partnership with the LandTrust for Central North Carolina and will be held at the Green Goat Gallery in Spencer, 5:30-7:30.

Community Garden Project

Sunday evening, March 7, was a very exciting time for the City’s Environmental Stewardship Commission.  Pastor James Matchette of First Wesleyan Church, located at 301 Bethpage Road, announced the joint effort of his congregation and the ESC to establish a community garden in the City of Kannapolis.

Members from First Wesleyan canvassed the church’s neighborhood on Saturday, March 13, to invite area residents to rent a plot for the growing season at a minimal charge.

From left to right, ESC Members Jeremy Ford and Lisa Canada present a shovel and hose to First Wesleyan Pastor James Matchette to kick off their community garden project. The garden will be located on church property behind the church.

The “groundbreaking” for the garden will be on April 24, as part of the Commission’s Earth Day observances. Commission Member Brad Hinckley, who is also an incubator farmer at the Elma C. Lomax Farm Park, will till the soil for the plants. In the winter, Brad began growing plants from seed to donate for the community garden.

ESC Member and incubator farmer Brad Hinckley explains plans for the garden to the members of First Wesleyan Church.

Commission member Lisa Canada has plans for classes featuring different kinds of food preparation and preservation for those participating in the garden.

The garden provides an opportunity to build relationships within the congregation and with the church’s neighbors as it provides healthier food that is locally grown. Produce from the garden will also be donated to local food pantries throughout the year.

Earth Day Planning

Spring seems far away at Christmastime but not when you are planning an Earth Day event! The Earth Day committee, consisting of employees of Cabarrus County, the City of Concord and the City of Kannapolis, met on December 16 to brainstorm and came up with some great ideas like geocaching, environmental-themed classes such as composting, and a county-wide plant swap, to name a few.

Last year, the City’s Environmental Stewardship Commission held its first Earth Day observance. A photo contest, coordinated by Commission Member LJ Weslowski, an avid photographer, was part of the day’s events. LJ’s company, Veolia Transportation (that manages our bus system CK Rider) sponsored the contest and donated prizes for the winners. The photo contest will be a part of Earth Day 2010 and will be open  to students and adults throughout the county. Details are still being worked out but proposed categories are: Threats, Solutions, Landscapes, Living World, and the Cabarrus, Kannapolis and Concord area. If you are a local shutterbug, stay tuned for more details.

Earth Day Planning Underway

Yesterday afternoon Renee Goodnight and I had an exciting meeting with staffers from Cabarrus County and the City of Concord to discuss a joint Earth Day celebration and festival this spring. Mark your calendars — we’ve tentatively scheduled the event for April 24 at North Cabarrus Park.

Our initial plans include information booths, classes at the Dogwood Shelter, nature walks, geocaching, art contests,  and other activities. If we can find enough sponsors we also hope to include live bluegrass music.

Let us know if you have any thoughts on what you’d like to see with this event.