Thanks to everyone who attended Sustainability Week 2008!  It was a great success.

Events for Saturday, October 25, 2008

• Farmers Market
  8:00 AM - 2:00 PM (On Roanoke St. between Main St. and Draper St, Blacksburg)

  The Blacksburg Farmers Market is a community gathering place featuring fresh produce, meats, eggs, honey, and crafts grown, raised and produced by 27 vendors within a 50 mile radius of Blacksburg. The Market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays. October Hours are Wednesday from 2 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Safe Routes to School Bike Rodeo
  9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Library/Municipal parking lot at Harrell and Miller Streets)

  Fun and educational ongoing events between 9 and 11 a.m. for kids 14 and under to learn safe riding skills and proper helmet fitting, plus practice sudden stops, turning corners safely, biking with obstacles, etc. All participants should bring their own bike and helmet and sign in the morning of the event. Bike raffle, fun prizes, freebies and food available!

  Rain location: Blacksburg Police Department

• Painted Rain Barrel Silent Auction
  9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby, 300 S. Main St.)

  Stop by the Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby to view the barrels. Prospective bidders can place a bid at the cashier’s window on the second floor. Winning bids will be announced at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 following sneak preview green building tours of the Blacksburg Motor Company building. (Read more)

• Home Sustainability and Transport Fair
  10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Kent Square lobby & Municipal Building parking lot on Washington St.)

  Want to know how you can live a more sustainable life? Have you ever wondered how you can reduce your environmental footprint, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce toxins in your home, and save money? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” please join us at the Home Sustainability Fair. Businesses and organizations will provide information and giveaways geared toward environmental sustainability. Come take a look at electric bikes, scooters, and hybrid cars. There will be fun for kids of all ages.

  • Rudy’s Reptiles will join the fair from noon until 2:00 pm and feature an interactive program with native reptiles on display.
  • The Forest Service will feature a children’s nature program at 1 pm
• Watershed Open House
  10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Municipal Building parking lot on Washington St.)

  Stream demonstrations for all ages. Get wet, and have fun!

• Environmental Family Story Time
  11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Blacksburg Public Library, 200 Miller St.)

  Blacksburg Library’s Saturday morning family story time is going “green.” Enjoy stories and a craft about respecting the Earth and its creatures.

• Blacksburg Motor Company Green Building Tour
  11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Municipal Building, corner of Clay and Washington streets)

  The Blacksburg Motor Company restoration project is a gleaming example of how energy efficient and sustainable activities can be incorporated successfully and cost effectively into public and commercial projects. The tour will highlight site selection, green building practices, historic renovation and historic tax credits, green construction practices, energy efficiency elements, conversion of the site from a brownfield to a downtown amenity, and the commitment of architect, owner, contractor, and community necessary for a successful green building project. The public will also have the opportunity to view and bid on a silent auction for decorative rain barrels which have been painted by local artists and schools. (Read more)

• Winning Bids of the Painted Rain Barrel Silent Auction Announced
  2:15 PM (Municipal Building, corner of Clay and Washington streets)

  Winning bids will be announced following the sneak preview green building tours of the Blacksburg Motor Company building.

Events for Friday, October 24, 2008

• Greening Your Business
  8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Stuart Event Room, The Y Center, 1000 N. Main St., Blacksburg)

  “How to Protect the Environment, Save Money, and Promote Quality of Life”
  Breakfast provided. Due to high demand for this seminar, pre-registration is required.

• Greening Virginia Universities and Colleges Conference
  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Inn at Virginia Tech)

  Non-profit Virginia Sustainable Building Network brings its third annual conference to Virginia Tech consisting of plenary speakers, exhibits, roundtable sessions and tours of special interest to the higher ed community. Topics include: Sustainable Policy/Planning; High Performance Buildings; Sustainable Campus Operations; Green Curricula/Green Workforce Development. Registration fee for full day participants. Selected activities open to students at no cost. View or download the draft agenda (PDF) and registration flyer (PDF).

• Painted Rain Barrel Silent Auction
  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby, 300 S. Main St.)

  Stop by the Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby to view the barrels. Prospective bidders can place a bid at the cashier’s window on the second floor. Winning bids will be announced at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 following sneak preview green building tours of the Blacksburg Motor Company building. (Read more)

Events for Thursday, October 23, 2008

• EPA Compost Tour/Food Waste Diversion Workshop
  9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (YMCA Community Event Room)

  Several nationally recognized expert speakers will lead this workshop to help commercial and institutional food waste producers and local decision makers learn what food recovery is all about. Details of how to divert excess food and food waste from landfills to local food banks and regional composting facilities will be discussed. By invitation only. Sponsored by the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) and the Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Recycling Economic Development (MACREDO).

• Painted Rain Barrel Silent Auction
  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby, 300 S. Main St.)

  Stop by the Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby to view the barrels. Prospective bidders can place a bid at the cashier’s window on the second floor. Winning bids will be announced at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 following sneak preview green building tours of the Blacksburg Motor Company building. (Read more)

• Recycling Old Clothes Craftily
  10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (YMCA Thrift Shop, North Main St.)

  Workshop to demonstrate how used clothing can be adapted for other uses. Craftspeople will demo rug braiding with scraps, chair caning with ties, turning used sweaters into baby clothes, and altering sweaters for new use.

• VT Climate Action Commitment Workshop
  1:00 PM-3:30 PM (Squires Student Center, Brush Mountain Room A)

  Following a presentation of progress to-date on the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment, participants will form breakout groups and in two rounds, the breakouts will address a number of questions and issues about proposed action measures. The breakouts will log their results on newsprint and report back to the full group. The full group will be asked to rank the results and proposed measures.

• Food Compost Facility Public Tour
  2:30 PM-5:00 PM (begins at YMCA Thrift Shop, North Main St.)

  Tour the soon to be permitted Poplar Manor Enterprises (PME) commercial compost facility in nearby Riner! PME is only the second facility in Virginia to be permitted to accept food waste from outside sources for composting. Owners Mindy and Calin Farley will show what food waste diversion and organics recycling on a large scale is all about. Transportation provided.

  This event is currently invitation only. However, space is expected to open up for public participation. Please contact event coordinator Rachael Budowle at 540-961-1806 or rbudowle@blacksburg.org .

• Blacksburg Climate Action Workshop
  3:30 PM - 6:00 PM (Squires Student Center, Brush Mountain Room A)

  Following a presentation of progress to-date on the Blacksburg Climate Action Plan, participants will form breakout groups and in two rounds, the breakouts will address a number of questions and issues about proposed action measures. The breakouts will log their results on newsprint and report back to the full group. The full group will be asked to rank the results and proposed measures.

• Sensuous Sustainable Lifestyles of the Green and Obscure
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (YMCA Thrift Shop, North Main St.)

  Come find out more about the benefits and joys of simple living, slow food, and reducing our carbon footprints in our daily lives! This workshop is part participation, part discussion. It will include poetry, music, as well as some gentle yoga postures and beginning meditation techniques to de-stress and to relax. Instructor Karen Cairns is a yoga practitioner, teacher, environmental educator, and a long-time devotee of simple living. $15 registration required. Contact Karen Cairns at karen.cairns@gmail.com .

• Backyard Composting - “Go Green” Library Series
  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Blacksburg Public Library, 200 Miller St.)

  Learn how to keep food and yard waste out of the landfill and benefit your own backyard instead! Composting experts Craig Coker and Brian Rosa will explain the proper way to do backyard composting, and how to use composted material as an environmentally friendly product in your garden and landscaping. This program will be interactive and fun for the whole family. Compost bins will be for sale and given away as prizes.

• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)

  Irena Salina directs this feature-length documentary about the industry and consumption of humankind’s most precious resource: water. Salina explores how issues of pollution, politics, business, and human rights all impact the availability of water. Price: $4.00, $3.50 for members

• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  9:15 PM - 10:45 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
  See film description above for details.

The Sensuous Sustainable Lifestyles of the Green and Obscure event originally slated for Friday 10/24 will take place from 6 - 8 p.m. on Thursday 10/23. See the calendar entry for details.

Events for Wednesday, October 22, 2008

• Painted Rain Barrel Silent Auction
  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby, 300 S. Main St.)
   
  Stop by the Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby to view the barrels. Prospective bidders can place a bid at the cashier’s window on the second floor. Winning bids will be announced at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 following sneak preview green building tours of the Blacksburg Motor Company building. (Read more)
   
• Campus Sustainability Fair
  10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Squires Student Center, Old Dominion Ballroom)
   
  Exhibits displayed throughout Squires by 25+ groups: non-profit, student, campus and community organizations. Exhibitors will also include architectural/engineering firms and contractors currently doing business at Virginia Tech. A series of presentations will be given throughout the day to highlight sustainable building initiatives taking place at Virginia Tech. SCUP Campus Sustainability Day Webcast to be broadcast at 2:00. See below for details.
   
• Building Green at Virginia Tech
  10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Squires Student Center, Old Dominion Ballroom)
   
  * 10:30 - Perkins + Will
  “From Issues to Action - How Architecture can Impact the Environment” presented by Jim Kirby, AIA, LEED AP, Sustainable Design Coordinator
   
  * 11:15 - Smith Group
  “Even the Scientists are Going Green! The future of the Litton-Reaves Precinct Development” presented by Doug Gehley / AIA, LEED AP / Principal
   
  * 12:30 - Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP
  “Beyond LEED - Living Building Challenge and Restorative Design” presented by Rich Hubacker / Associate Partner, LEED AP
   
  * 1:15 - Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Inc.
  “From Brownfield to Sustainable Campus: Mandating a New Consciousness” presented by Mike Brennan, AIA / Director of Architecture
   
• Earth Mama Eco Music
  12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (Squires Student Center Atrium)
   
  Earth Mama Joyce performs her Eco Music in the Squires Student Center Atrium. Listen to her songs - light-hearted and fun, with lyrics that carry a message and provoke a call to action.
   
• SCUP Campus Sustainability Day Webcast
  2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (Squires Student Center, Old Dominion Ballroom)
   
  Live webcast - “Climate Realities, Challenges, and Progress in Higher Education” - presented on campuses across the nation featuring New York Times science editor Andy Revkin as moderator with panelists Richard Moss, climate change expert at the World Wildlife Federation and higher education expert Anthony D. Cortese of Second Nature.
   
• Farmers Market
  2:00 PM - 7:00 PM (On Roanoke St. between Main St. and Draper St, Blacksburg)
   
  The Blacksburg Farmers Market is a community gathering place featuring fresh produce, meats, eggs, honey, and crafts grown, raised and produced by 27 vendors within a 50 mile radius of Blacksburg. The Market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays. October Hours are Wednesday from 2 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
   
• Earth Mama Eco Music
  3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (Squires Student Center, Old Dominion Ballroom)
   
• Keynote Speaker: Anthony Flaccavento
  4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Squires Student Center, Old Dominion Ballroom)
   
  Anthony Flaccavento, the Executive Director of Appalachian Sustainable Development, will give Sustainability Week’s keynote speech at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22 in the Dominion Ballroom of Virginia Tech’s Squires Student Center. A reception will follow at the Blacksburg Farmers Market.
   
• Reception and Earth Mama Eco Music
  5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Blacksburg Farmers Market)
   
  Earth Mama Joyce performs her Eco Music at the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market showcasing her Eco Music and introducing her most recent recording - ‘American Beauty’, a song about Virginia inspired by the heirloom apple, American Beauty. Be prepared to sing and dance with Joyce while enjoying local food and beverages.
   
• Farmers Market Green Drink Social/Live Music
  5:30 PM - 7:00 PM (Blacksburg Farmers Market)
   
• No Child Left Inside: Sharing the Outdoors with Children in the New River Valley
  7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (U.S. Forest Service, Blacksburg Office, 110 Southpark Dr.)
   
  The Blacksburg Forest Service Rangers will introduce you to some of the best outdoor places in the New River Valley, present tips for enjoying the outdoors with your children. Childcare and snacks will be provided in the nature center area by members of the Blacksburg Junior Women’s Club.
   
• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
   
  Irena Salina directs this feature-length documentary about the industry and consumption of humankind’s most precious resource: water. Salina explores how issues of pollution, politics, business, and human rights all impact the availability of water. Price: $4.00, $3.50 for members
   
• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  9:15 PM - 10:45 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
  See film description above for details.
   

Thursday’s climate action workshops will be held in Brush Mountain Room A in the Squires Student Center. Their start and end times are now:

• 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM   VT Climate Action Commitment Workshop
   
• 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM   Blacksburg Climate Action Workshop

Events for Tuesday, October 21, 2008

• Campus Tree Tour
  10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Outside of the Holtzman Alumni Center)
   
  One hundred trees will be planted across the Virginia Tech campus for Campus Tree Tour 2008! Join us at 10 a.m. outside the Holtzman Alumni Center to kick off of the event. We’ll plant the first few of the trees on the grassy hill overlooking the pond behind the Alumni Center (location map).

  The event flyer (PDF) is also available to view online or download.
   

• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
   
  Irena Salina directs this feature-length documentary about the industry and consumption of humankind’s most precious resource: water. Salina explores how issues of pollution, politics, business, and human rights all impact the availability of water. Price: $4.00, $3.50 for members
   
• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  9:15 PM - 10:45 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
  See film description above for details.
   

Events for Monday, October 20, 2008

• Dining Services Local Food Feature
  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Virginia Tech dining halls)
   
  Virginia Tech’s dining halls feature locally produced food. For more information, contact Andy Sarjahani, VT Dining Services Sustainability Coordinator, at 231-1139.
   
• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
   
  Irena Salina directs this feature-length documentary about the industry and consumption of humankind’s most precious resource: water. Salina explores how issues of pollution, politics, business, and human rights all impact the availability of water. Free popcorn on Monday! Price: $4.00, $3.50 for members
   
• Joel Salatin Discusses Local Foods
  3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
   
  Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms is the protagonist of the New York Times bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Mr. Salatin will share his philosophy on local food production. Join Joel after the talk at D2 (upper level of Dietrick Dining Center) for dinner, which will feature local food, including Polyface steamship roast.
   
• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
  See film description above for details.
   
• Film: Flow: For Love of Water (2008)
  9:15 PM - 10:45 PM (The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave.)
  See film description above for details.
   

The barrels will be on display in the Blacksburg Municipal Building lobby beginning Wednesday, October 22. Read more about the silent auction.