PEABODY — The future is now, and the GreenPeabody group wants to show you the way.
"It's important for people to see that the idea of a green economy is not a far-off-in-the-distance concept — it's about the here and now," says Russ Eckel, the chairman of the first Peabody GreenFest, which takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Peter Torigian Community Life Center, 79 Central St., Peabody.
The event aims to show visitors a sliver of the dozens of local businesses that give consumers an alternative to the old, tired and environmentally irresponsible options of the past. In addition to 27 exhibitors, there will be almost a dozen workshops, seed exchanges, children's activities, raffles and more.
"What we're trying to do is help create a market for green products and services by closing the information gap between potential consumers and the entrepreneurs," he said. "We hope to create a community forum where you can efficiently get a sense of the businesses and social organizations out there working to provide an opportunity for you to make a different choice about how you consume energy."
GreenFest exhibitors include farmers, solar and lighting experts, green landscapers, gardeners, scientists, and many more.
People might be surprised to learn how many options are here on the North Shore for consumers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint, Eckel said. The 27 companies exhibiting their products "is just scratching the surface of what is out there," he said.
The GreenFest event is a joint effort between the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce and GreenPeabody — an ad hoc committee created by Mayor Michael Bonfanti three years ago. The dozen members of GreenPeabody, a combination of city employees and citizens, began planning GreenFest last fall as a way to get their group more involved and visible in the community and to start getting residents more interested and aware of ways they can help create a greener city and planet.
"Frankly, many of us thought it was important on a personal or individual level to get off our butts and get going," Eckel said. "Pretty soon, we won't be able to afford to put gas in our cars. We should not just be thinking and debating this anymore, but actually doing it."
Workshop topics are on everything from organic gardening and composting, to home energy efficiency and demonstrations from scientists at Osram Sylvania about the latest LED and lighting technologies. Anyone who attends one of the half-hour workshops will be entered to win four field box tickets to a Red Sox game in July.
There will also be a seed and plant exchange, where visitors can drop off excess seeds and plants and pick up something different.
A special area will be set up for children's activities organized and run by children's librarians from Peabody Institute Library and students from the Peabody Veterans High School Environmental Club. Visitors can also bring and recycle their old electronics for a nominal fee. Old cellphones and shoes are being collected at the event to be donated to charity.
Exhibitors
GoGreen Web Directory
Clark Farm
JRM Hauling
Kitchen Magic
Osram Sylvania
New England Rainbarrel
North Shore Solar & Windpower
Peabody Financial Services
Small Biz Computing
Salem Sound Coastwatch
Picano Brothers Landscaping
Milk & Honey Green Grocer
Pavers by Ideal
Earth Landscape
Embodydream
Brooksby Farm
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Cartridge World
PMLP and Energy New England
Holden Oil
Shaklee Independent
Peabody Patch
North Shore Community College
Independent Power Systems
Drysdale Carpet Cleaners
Heritage Industries
Living Lean
Speakers and workshops
Saving Money With Green Upgrades for Your Home
Socially Responsible Investing
The Dollars and Sense of Green Lighting, or Goodbye Thomas Edison
Vampire Loads: The Electric Bills that Want to Live Forever
Sustainable Greenscapes: Green and Healthy Living Spaces Around and Beyond Your Home
Composting, the Big Picture
Green Foods: Eating Well & Eating Smart ... on a Budget
Natural Beauty
Ten Reasons Why You Would Want to Get Your Lawn off Drugs
What's Up With Gas Prices?
Full schedule at peabodygreenfest.com
If you go
What: The first Peabody GreenFest
When: Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Peter Torigian Community Life Center, 79 Central St., Peabody
For more information: Go to peabodygreenfest.com, or write to greenpeabody@gmail.com
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants
Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
