This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and it’s pretty crazy to think that as sustainability-focused as Fayetteville is, there’s never really been an organized, city-wide Earth Day festival in town.
Mikel Lolley, founder of the non-profit Treadwell Institute, noticed that there were a lot of Earth Day related activities already happening in Fayetteville on or or around the week of April 22 this year, and as he continued to log them on his calendar when he came across them, he realized that a lot of the organizations doing something for Earth Day this year weren’t aware of what others were doing.
“I realized that there must be a way to take everything everyone was doing, and somehow take advantage of the synergies that could be created and focus them in some way,” Lolley told us.
That’s when Lolley, and fellow FFEAC Green Economy member Melissa Terry, came up with the concept for an Eco-Passport that would provide a guide to all of the Earth Day activities planned for Fayetteville during the week of April 16-24.
About 4,000 of the Eco-Passports were printed on waste stock donated by local printers and distributed in and around Fayetteville, with the idea being to publicize the multitude of Earth Day related activities various groups had already planned.
In addition, Lolley, along with Terry and others, were able to convince several local businesses get involved by offering Earth Day related specials on sustainable or locally produced products.
The group has also distributed blank waste card stock donated by local printers to students at Fayetteville Public Schools, who are working to create B-Earth Day Cards to be displayed at East Square Plaza during Saturday’s Fayetteville Forward Summit.
Finally, Katy Deaton and the folks from Ozark Slow Food have compiled a list of local and organic foods and drink specials from several local restaurants and bars in town. That list is available on their website.
Earth Day festivities will kick off Friday, April 16 in front of the Fayetteville Town Center, where Mayor Lioneld Jordan will proclaim April 22, 2010 as the first annual Fayetteville Earth Day Festival.
Below is the list of Earth Day activities as well as the specials offered by some local businesses collected by Lolley, Terry, and Smith. You may also download the full Eco-Passport here.
Happy birthday, Earth Day.
Fayetteville Earth Day 2010 Events
Friday, April 16th
- Mayoral Earth Day Proclamation @ the Nomkhubulwane Elephant on the Square – Noon.
Saturday, April 17th
- Fayetteville Farmers Market @ Fayetteville Square – 7am to 1pm.
- B-Earth Day Cards – Art Installation @ East Square Plaza Lobby – April 17th thru May 6th, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. - Fayetteville Forward Summit @ East Square Plaza – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- FREE Washington County E-Waste Round-up @ Arvest Ballpark, Springdale – April 15th thru
April 17th, 9 a.m. to Noon. - Green Your Life ECO-Trade Fair @ Fayetteville Public Library – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Earth Day Open House @ French Metro Antiques – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Presentation about Greensburg Kansas @ the Caring for Creation Conference on
Mt. Sequoyah – 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 18th Monday, April 19th Wednesday, April 21st Thursday, April 22nd – EARTH DAY! Friday, April 23rd Saturday, April 24th Bike City Cyclery Nightbird Books French Metro Antiques Flying Possum Leather ClubHaus Fitness Pack Rat Outdoor Center DK Design Good Things Boutique Terra Tots Natural Parenting Fleet Feet Corazon Flora Handmade Black Sheep Salon
Fayetteville with Live Music from Emily Kaitz and Still on the Hill with Family Fun & Games –
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 20th
an organized neighborhood event to pick up litter – call 718.7685 for more info.
investigates urban nature, from puddles to watersheds @ the UofA Fine Arts Building, room 213
– call 442.5600 for more info – 5 p.m.
Gallery – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ECO-Vendors – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
9 p.m.
Mixer, Green Drinks @ ClubHaus Gym – 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
www.bgozarks.org – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
call 575.8398 for more info – 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.Earth Day Specials
Special: 10% off on Pedro’s Biodegradable Chain Lube to reduce point source
pollution. And $5 per day / $30 per week Recycled Bike Rentals
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24, or while supplies last.
Specials: 15% off Local Economies Display devoted to Local Authors, Local Artists &
select Books.
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24th
Specials: Open House in honor of Earth Day – High-End Reuse.
Duration: Saturday, April 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Specials: Bruce will make free foot prints for the public.
Duration: Saturday, April 17, Thursday, April 22, Saturday April 24
Specials: Hosting an Earth Day Open House, USGBC Membership Mixer, Green Drinks and Fleet Feet 5K Fun Run.
Duration: Friday, April 23, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Specials: 20% off Osprey Resource Recycled Packs and more in stock items only.
Duration: Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., or while in quantities last.
Specials: 10% off any Outdoor Furniture & 20% off LED Outdoor Lighting Products,
Forestry Stewardship Council Certified Teak Wood Furniture, ECO-Patio, 100% Post-consumer recycled fiber outdoor furniture covers, Effective Environmental Services – Pond Magician organic pond care products.
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24.
Specials: 10% off for customers that refuse a bag w/ their purchase.
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24.
Event: “Green Your Cleaning” & “Green Your Eating” – Lecture
Duration: Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m. to 9, $7.00 per person.
Specials: 10% off Fleet Feet Brand Reusable water bottles. Donate a pair of “expired”
running shoes to be recycled locally and get a Free recycled tote. 5K Fun Run @ ClubHaus Gym Friday, April 23rd, 6pm.
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24, or while supplies last.
Specials: 15% off all clay pots in stock
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24, or while supplies last.
Specials: Local Flowers at discounted price??
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24 or while supplies last.
Specials: 15% off on all reclyled glass wares, recycled cotton throws, and organically
grown / sustainably farmed chocolates
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24, or while supplies last.
Specials: 20% off our entire “No BS T-shirt” line, totally Green and Eco Friendly, $20.00 Dry Cuts thru-out the week.
Duration: Saturday, April 17 thru Saturday, April 24, or while supplies last.
