Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contacts: Laurie Gustafson, 651-215-0230 Walker Smith, 651-297-7018 Saint Paul, Minn. -- With the worldwide green-business market now at $600 billion and climbing, it's clear that being green isn't a fad - it's a way of life and it's here to stay. Find your greener shade at the sixth annual Living Green Expo, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, 2007 at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand. The largest comprehensive environmental event in the Midwest, the Living Green Expo features more than 200 green exhibitors from across the region and as far away as California, showcasing the latest trends, toys, foods and lifestyles. Visitors can attend any of the 66 workshops - all are free! -with topics ranging from, "10 Ways to Save Energy in Your Home" to "Green Event and Wedding Planning." As in years past, the Expo highlights the green aspects of nine areas - so there's something for everyone:
· Transportation
· Food
· Arts and culture
· Energy
· Yard and garden
· Sustainability education
· Home building and remodeling
· Lifestyle and recreation
· Household products and practices
Though the Living Green Expo is free, Bridging, a local non-profit serving families in need, will collect donations of household goods, including towels, dishes, pots and pans and silverware all weekend long. Be sure to come early on Saturday and Sunday - the first 200 families each day will receive a complimentary Blue Sky Guide: The Coupon Book for Healthy Living. The book is filled with coupons and information and is a tool for positive change in the Twin Cities. Once inside, families and friends will enjoy a weekend filled with music, food, a variety of new green finds, as well as a few favorites from last year. Become a "Green Gourmand"! Enjoy healthy, hearty and downright delectable fare! In the second level food area, sample organic sushi from Coastal Seafood or a slice of organic 'za from Galactic Pizza. Take a break at the Cooking Education Café, where you can watch cooking demonstrations, listen to local chefs discuss their food philosophy and ask questions of food and health experts. Enjoy samples of locally produced and organic food - you won't leave hungry! Take the green home with you with delicious recipes from local farmers, chefs and co-ops. Throughout the weekend, enjoy mouthwatering workshops like "Fresh Vegan Foods are for Everyone" or "Wild Food Plants of Minnesota." Food lovers won't want to miss the "Adventures in Artisan Cheesemaking" or "Cold Climate Grape and Wine Production" workshops. Green is the Color. Forget Paris - if you want the latest in fashion, check out the second annual Eco-Fashion Show. Models hit the runway at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, when the second level Music Stage transforms into a green catwalk. You'll see dresses, pants, slacks and more for him and her - plus some great styles for the kids. Models will show fair trade and eco-friendly clothing and accessories from local green clothiers and Living Green Expo exhibitors such as Birch Clothing, Fast and Furless and Wildrose Farms. Increase Your Eco IQ. The 2007 Living Green Expo features more than 60 eco workshops ranging from "Shop SMART to Save Money and Reduce Trash" to "Green Remodels: Putting You in the Driver's Seat." At the "Empower Your Neighborhood to Make a Difference," and "Paint the Pavement and Create a Public Square!" sessions, you'll build friendships within your community while doing some good for the environment. The Green Highway. Learn how to travel rural and green in Minnesota at the Renewing the Countryside booth. A statewide green tourism initiative, the organization offers an interactive Green Routes map to help you find one-of-a-kind places to eat, play, shop and sleep. Before you hit the road, take the wheel of a hybrid-electric vehicle from Luther Hopkins Honda, get fitted for a new bicycle from Surly Bikes and find out more about HOURCAR, the Twin Cities' fastest growing car sharing program. Growing Up Green. Art and the environment come together at the kids-oriented "Caring for Our Soil" workshop, while "No Child Left Inside" turns kids into eco-explorers as they learn about the natural environment. Become a greener family at workshops such as "Bicycling and Walking in Your Community" and "Ecotours in Voyageurs National Park." This year's Expo features several new events for kids and families, including a Youth Eco-Action Tent in front of the Grandstand Building. On Saturday, May 5 from 3:00-5:00 p.m., The Current radio station hosts the first annual Kid's Disco, and the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center will showcase several birds of prey on Sunday, May 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Also on Sunday, at 1:30 p.m., nationally renowned musician and storyteller Jack Pearson, "Mr. Song-Strummin' Storyman" takes to the second level Music Stage. Volunteering. If you're interested in volunteering at the sixth annual Living Green Expo, please call Melissa Wenzel at 651-556-0574 or e-mail melissa.wenzel@state.mn.us. About the Living Green Expo The Living Green Expo is a free, annual event taking place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds the weekend of May 5-6, 2007. The Expo provides information and products to help Minnesotans improve the environmental and social impacts of their day-to-day living. The Living Green Expo features more than 200 exhibitors of products, services, and information, along with over 60 workshops on a variety of sustainability and green living topics. Expo attractions include music, art, food, demonstrations, and activities for youth and children. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency leads a collaboration of governmental, nonprofit and business organizations to produce the Living Green Expo. For more information, visit www.livinggreen.org.