During the week of October 20, 2008 several Sustainability Week events were held on campus and in the Town of Blacksburg.
Anthony Flaccavento, executive director of Appalachian Sustainable Development, was the keynote speaker on Wednesday, October 22.
Other speakers included:
Joel Salatin from Polyface Farms speaking about local food production
Architects Jim Kirby, Doug Gehley, Rich Hubacker, and Mike Brennan speaking on building green.
Workshops were held on No Child Left Inside, Food Waste Diversion, Blacksburg Climate Action, Sensuous Sustainable Lifestyles, Backyard Composting, Recycling Old Clothes Craftily, and Greening Your Business.
Coca Cola Bottling Company of Roanoke donated twelve rain barrels to the Town of Blacksburg for local schools and artists to paint. These rain barrels were auctioned off at a silent auction held during the week.
Tours of the Blacksburg Motor Company and the Poplar Manor Enterprises (PME) commercial compost facility in nearby Riner.
Entertainment was provided by The Lyric Theatre’s showing of Flow: For Love of Water and music by Earth Mama Joyce.
Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg held Campus, Home, and Transport Sustainability Fairs.