If you missed Sustain-a-Fest, this is the next best thing to being there. Over 50 exhibitors and hundreds of Colorado Springs residents and visitors converged on Acacia Park July 27 to crank up the volume on sustainable living. In this episode, Peak Environment Co-Producer Dave Gardner visits with several exhibitors and with Ryan Trujillo, the city’s Innovation & Sustainability Manager, at the event, to bring us perspectives and stories of sustainability efforts in the Springs.
Producer: Dave Gardner
Editor: Katie Lawrie
Those interviewed include:
Pikes Peak Urban Gardens
– Speak about the (thriving!) state of different community gardens in the area and a little bit about new community gardens in the works.
UCCS Office of Sustainability
– Display activities and initiatives that students have taken part in or built themselves
– They talk bike generators, special courses on solar technology, lead gold building initiatives, and Farmhouse Fridays.
Pikes Peak Children’s Museum
-Speak about how repurposed materials can be used for inventive play among children to help develop problem-solving skills and ingenuity.
Aim High Solar
-This local group sells low-cost residential solar energy systems.
-The Colorado Springs-based group speaks to the podcast about different expandable options for its clients.
Biketricity
– Converts regular bicycles into electric bikes at an affordable price
– Speak about the way electric bikes can help those who are less mobile or who want to get back on the road
Yobel Market
-This fair trade fashion store speaks about the importance of making sure workers behind its products are paid a fair, living wage.
– Leather products, jewelry, home goods
350 Colorado Springs
– Speak about the Martin Drake Coal Plant and efforts to close the plant.
– Coalition with Sierra Club and upcoming events
Ahavah Community Initiative
– partner with a regenerative agriculture farm- hand-based, year-round farming based in Peyton Colorado
– provide local, organic food to local needing families, offer classes for adults and children about regenerative agriculture and sustainability
Ryan Trujillo, Manager of Innovation & Sustainability
– Behind much of the work that goes into hosting Sustain-a-Fest
– speaks about the city’s sustainability office
– asks Colorado Springs residents what the most pressing issue surrounding sustainability is (to be brought to a meeting concentrating on the sustainability plan re-write)
Kids on Bikes
– local non-profit concentrated on getting children in Southeast Colorado Springs outdoors and on bikes through earn-a-bike programs
Techwears
-Speaks about wearable technology- turns recycled circuit boards into wearable art
– Hopes to make a statement about the extent of planned obsolescence involved in the tech industry
Old Town Bike Shop
– impact of the event on the community
– Energy efficiency and heath benefits of bicycling
– How riding a bike makes folks more present in their communities
LINKS:
Colorado Springs Office of Innovation & Sustainability
UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
Thursday, August 22, 2019
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Green Drinks
Podcasting to Save the Planet
Studio 809 / Citizen-Powered Media
2930 Orion Drive
Includes a musical performance by Lindsay Facknitz
More information here
2019 Colorado Permaculture Convergence
August 31 – September 1, 2019
Sunrise Ranch, Loveland, CO
More information here
Creek Week 2019
September 28 – October 6, 2019
Largest watershed-wide cleanup in Colorado. All citizens are encouraged to participate individually in a public event or form a Creek Crew of your own! More information here
The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.
Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future
Pikes Peak Environmental Forum
Pikes Peak Library District Green Team
Pikes Peak Group of Sierra Club
Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Subscribe (free) on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss an episode:
