Green Earth Fair celebrates sustainability

By SANDY LONG

LACKAWAXEN, PA — Music filled the air, alternative energy information overflowed the Lackawaxen Firehouse and environmental advocates greeted all those who attended the Green Earth Fair last weekend. The new event was created from combining the Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s Meadow Party with the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition’s Lackawaxen Energy Fair.

Patricia Diness, of Wurtsboro, NY handed out free reusable bags created during a project intended to help her town eliminate the use of plastic shopping bags ( www.wurtsboro.org ). Since the bags became available, other towns along the Delaware River have contacted Wurtsboro to learn how to replicate the effort.

Tom Holmes of Greeley displayed a hydrogen-assist system intended to improve fuel efficiency. “The assist will be the bridge to the hydrogen car,” Holmes told interested fairgoers.

Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) invited people to attend their upcoming workshops on energy audits, solar energy and geothermal systems ( www.SEEDSGroup.blogspot.com ).

The Damascus Citizens for Sustainability ( www.damascuscitizens.org ) and the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition ( www.udpc.net ) provided information about environmental threats related to natural gas drilling and powerlines.

Filmmaker Josh Fox showed clips from his upcoming film about gas drilling to a room packed with interested spectators ( www.WaterUnderAttack.com ).

Northeast Audubon invited people to join their bus trip to the Alternative Energy Festival on September 20 in Kempton, PA (Audubonworks@gmail.com.

Stephen Stuart talked about getting off the oil diet and green building; Columbia University presented a discussion on residential subdivisions; and architect Buck Moorhead spoke about bio-regions and earth-centered renewable energy

Nature hikes were led while children enjoyed environmentally-themed games as auctions were conducted. On display were three bio-diesel-powered automobiles, a mini wind turbine and various small-scale alternative energy-generating devices. Pottery and fiber arts graced the fire hall, while birds of prey from the Delaware Valley Raptor Center ( www.dvrconline.org ) captivated the crowd.