The Wake

Hybrid cars, compact fluorescent light bulbs, Green Routes, organic fruits and veggies, recycling, fair trade, pesticide-free household and hygiene products, local agriculture, biking, hemp clothing, free-range chicken and eggs, windpower, soy milk, public transportation and more. These are just a few components of adopting a sustainable lifestyle—if you can make sense of the environmentally-friendly barrage. Sound like a lot to deal with? That’s where the Living Green Expo comes in.

The fifth annual Living Green Expo, which will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Grandstand building at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, is sponsored by a variety of local environmental groups, non-profit organizations, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other local businesses such as Target, 3M and Twin Cities Natural Food Co-Ops. The expo aims to bring green options to Twin Cities residents to make life simpler and more sustainable.

“Let’s be concerned about how we’re living our lives in the long term,” says Ami Voeltz, the founder of the Twin Cities Green Guide and the lifestyles and recreation team coordinator of the expo. “More than anything, it’s inspiring,” she says.

This year’s expo is drawing big names. Will Steger, a Minnesota native, environmentalist and artic explorer, will speak Saturday at 1 p.m. about the climate changes he’s seen firsthand. PBS’s Wanda Urbanska, who hosts Simple Living, will talk Sunday at 1 p.m. about ways to reduce stress.

“There’s something there for everyone,” says Laurie Gustafson, marketing officer of the MPCA and the expo. “This is about choices and trying to meet people where they’re at, without the guilt factor,” she says. That’s why there’s such a focus on education at the expo, Gustafson explains.

There will be more than 66 free workshops, with subjects ranging from eco-tourism to “green collar jobs” to wallet-friendly health food. They even have workshops on “sustainable medicine for your pet,” on sustainability in religion and, of course, on sharing energy-saving solutions.

More than 230 companies showcasing green products, resources and services will be at the expo. There’s an eco-fashion show scheduled, live music and other environmental artists, such as Richard Bresnahan, a professor of art and sustainability at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict.

Local band The Owls will play at 4 p.m. on Saturday. You might recognize their single “Air” from Radio K.

The extensive list of exhibitors, artists and green organizations won’t include politicians. “This is an event sponsored by so many different organizations,” Gustafson says. “We have a common interest, but there won’t be any campaigning. It’s not a Democrat or Republican thing.” Gustafson says she wants people to learn and get informed at the expo—without the politics.

That doesn’t mean green issues shouldn’t be on political agendas. “As individuals and as a community, we need to be conscious” of our environmental choices, Voeltz says. Frank Duoma, team coordinator of transportation for the expo, agrees. “We need to start to think about these alternatives,” Duoma says. The market will likely adjust to take care of these concerns, Duoma explains, but he favors a dual approach, implementing regulatory measures alongside natural market shifts.

“Avoid the single-occupant car,” Duoma says. It’s the best way to reduce emissions and improve your ecological footprint, which Duoma explains as a person’s impact on the environment in everyday living. Walk, bike, carpool or ride the bus whenever possible, Duoma suggests.

But living green isn’t a lifestyle that can be adopted overnight, everyone admits. The expo is about “how to incorporate simple living ideas” into everyday life, Gustafson says. “We’re looking for simpler ways to live. It’s a fun thing to be a part of.”