Sustainability celebration fair to have local ‘green’ businesses, programs

Sustain Bloomington, a celebration of the city’s natural resources, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m today at Peoples Park. The free event is a partnership between Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the IU Office of Sustainability. 

“It is an information fair that will create an understanding and awareness of sustainability efforts in our local community,” Elizabeth Tompkins, Bloomington’s natural resources coordinator, said.

The fair will feature local “green” businesses and programs and provide information on environmentally friendly transportation, cleaners and seed saving.

Visitors will have the chance to participate in a number of interactive exhibits.

“Sustainability and being environmentally friendly seems like something a lot of people want to do and think about, but don’t get around to doing,” sophomore Tyler Love said. “So I think it’s a good thing, getting awareness out.”

The IU Environmental Management Association is sponsoring a display as well as selling T-shirts.

A volunteer-run table will teach participants how to make household cleaners out of common products such as baking soda and borax.

They will be able to take these cleaners home with them. 

“We are trying to promote alternatives to chemically heavy cleaning products,” said Jenna Morrison, a graduate student and EMA volunteer. 

Hands-on exhibits like these are what set the celebration apart from similar Bloomington Parks and Recreation events. 

“It will be informative but also interactive,” Tompkins said. “Participants won’t just come and pick up information about businesses and programs but will have a chance to talk to people who are affecting change. They will also be able to take steps to make their own homes sustainable.”

If the fair is a success, Tompkins said, it might return next fall.

“We really just want people to learn something,” Morrison said.