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Sustainability Fair: A Low-impact Experience

Sustain Door will attempt to practice what it preaches by incorporating more sustainable procedures at the 2010 Door County Sustainability Fair. The local nonprofit organization seeks to exemplify ways to operate that reduce dependence on mined and synthetic substances and minimizes encroachment upon nature while efficiently meeting human needs for other Door County festivals.

Some of the more sustainable practices incorporated at the fair this year are:

• A solar electric array is temporarily installed to help power the fair and offset greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

• Carbon offsets will be available for purchase by fairgoers to mitigate their greenhouse gas generation traveling to and from the fair.

• A carpool matching service is provided. (Persons interested in taking advantage of this service need to contact Door-Tran at 920.743.9999.)

• Local and organic food will be provided by area vendors.

• The fair will recycle and compost its waste.

• Printed materials are 100% post-consumer fiber content.

• Plastic and Styrofoam packaging is discouraged in the exhibit and food vendor areas.

• Vendors and exhibitors have been screened for environmental responsibility.

Traveling Sustainably to the Fair

Door County residents who choose more sustainable options for traveling to the Sustainability Fair on Saturday, April 24 will be rewarded for their efforts.

In addition to the intrinsic benefits of exercise and/or the camaraderie of traveling together, Robertson Orchard is providing free cider while supplies last to fairgoers who hike, bike, ski, or carpool (consisting of four or more people) to get there. The first 25 persons who elect to arrive in less environmentally harmful ways will receive a $4 coupon to use at the Healthy Way booth, serving smoothies, crepes and box lunches. Additionally, all sustainable travelers 18 years old or older will be eligible for a drawing of a donated prize from The Cookery of Fish Creek.

Door-Tran, the Door County transportation and referral service, will match drivers and riders for carpooling to the Sustainability Fair. Interested travelers may register for the free carpool matching service by contacting the Door-Tran mobility manager at 920.743.9999 or 877.330.6333, or by applying online at http://www.door-tran.com. Fairgoers who choose to carpool by taxi can purchase transportation vouchers in advance from Door-Tran and ride for half price.

Fair attendees will also have the opportunity at Nature Conservancy’s exhibit to purchase carbon offsets – a financial contribution to a project which compensates for the negative impact of energy-intensive activities, such as the operation of an automobile. To offset one car traveling to the fair, a voluntary 75-cent donation will be accepted. The proceeds from the carbon offset activity will be used locally for Crossroads’ energy efficient lighting and renewable energy projects and to plant more trees throughout Door County.

Sustainable transportation is transportation that:

• reduces wasteful dependence on fossil fuels,

• reduces wasteful dependence on chemicals and synthetic substances that accumulate in nature,

• reduces encroachment on nature, and

• meets human needs for mobility.