Discover power of green

By Christine Laughren
Aug. 17, 2009    ·    10:55 a.m.

These days it seems like everybody is throwing around the term “green.” 

From the cars we drive, to the everyday items we buy, “green” is the buzzword that gets people thinking about a healthy environment and a new way of life. 

For years now, residents in Ypsilanti have been at the forefront of a green movement in Washtenaw County, right down to the solar panels scheduled to be installed on City Hall this summer.  

It’s no surprise then that the Heritage Festival’s Green Tent will be the perfect source for a wealth of information on ways to save the environment, your health and ultimately your pocketbook.  

The Green Tent was started as a way to educate the public about how stormwater discharge impacts the local rivers, lakes and streams.  

“Environment management and protection happens at the local level and environmental education is instrumental to the success of stormwater management and pollution prevention,” John Foley, chair of the Green tent committee, said speaking to the importance of having the tent at the Heritage Festival. 

Foley said getting individual property owners to manage their stormwater by utilizing rain gardens and rain barrels contributes to the overall success of stormwater management. He also said little things like stressing the importance of street sweeping and clean curbs and gutters on local streets is also a big part of educating the public. 

Visitors to the Heritage Festival can learn ways to creatively manage their stormwater and help the environment with information provided by the city of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Superior Township, Eastern Michigan University, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Washtenaw County Water Resource Commission and several other resources. 

The Huron River Watershed will also give a demonstration of a benthic examination, which gives an assessment of the health of the Huron River by looking at the type of organisms living in the water.  

Foley said in the past three years the tent has expanded to include a green technology and transportation facet, as well as a healthy living/eat local campaign.  

“The Ypsilanti Food Co-op is a big player in the Green Tent now,” Foley said.  

The local grocery store, located at 312 N. River Street in Depot Town, will join Growing Hope, a local non-profit dedicated to helping people improve their lives and communities through gardening and healthy food access, at the Green Tent.  

Both organizations, which are heavily involved in creating a sustainable urban agriculture and food systems, will be highlighting ways people can grow their own food, buy from local farmers and prepare nutritious meals for their families everyday. 

“The Green is a great way for people to see what it means to live green, whether its growing your own garden, installing solar panels on your house, changing to energy efficient light bulbs or shopping local,” said Corinne Sikorski, general manager of the Food Co-op.  

This year, visitors can swing by the Green Tent to buy and sample fresh Michigan fruits grown in local orchards. There will be an opportunity to meet Farmer Steve Karpo, owner of Karpo Farms in Tipton. People can also learn to can with the folks from the Pittsfield Grange and sign up for a pie baking class at the River Street Bakery. 

Growing Hope will show people how to build a raised bed in thier backyard on a budget and Think Local First will provide information on how purchasing local helps the local economy we live in.  

All the participants in the Green Tent will have a table-top display and different demonstrations will be given at the top of every hour. Demonstration subjects include rain garden demonstrations, composting, food preservation, solar power and more.   

Foley said the Green Tent is a “vital asset” to the community because “it is the single concentrated venue that brings a host of green technologies to our citizens.” 

“This event is not only the source of learning about the threats to our most precious resource (water) but what to do to help protect from irreparable harm,” Foley said. “We just have to return to the way of life where we are appreciative of our land and water.  

“We have to become better land and habitat stewards,” he said.