Trees are barely budding, but the went green on Saturday. The library hosted 19 local vendors and had a several guest speakers at Green Fair 2011. The day was dedicated to educating the public about creating a more environmentally-friendly and responsible lifestyle.
Isidore Foods served up some organically-grown apples along with some artisanal cheeses. Organic chef Carole made a lovely vegetarian Tuscan bean soup and a cabbage slaw.
Cherry Valley Organics displayed a myriad of products, herbs, potted plants, herbal teas and herbal bath and body products all handmade at their farm.
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You could smell the coffee beans brewing down the hall from Bean Catering, a premiere espresso and cappuccino catering company that uses locally-roasted organic coffee beans.
Envirobikes displayed a bright yellow electric bicycle in the library’s atrium.
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Meals on Wheels of Peters Township, one of the sponsors of the Green Fair, was on hand to discuss their services with fair-goers. The organization provides hot nutritious meals to anyone who has difficulty shopping for food or cooking meals, regardless of their income. Their primary service is to senior citizens, but they can assist others in special circumstances.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Backyard Gardener Doug Oster lectured on organic gardening with, “Grow Organic: Easy Steps to go Green in the Lawn and Garden.” It was chock-full of handy tips. He stressed the significance of using compost and mushroom manure over top soil. “Plants are happier in good soil,” he said.
He is an advocate of buying from local family run nurseries.
"If you go into a big store, some people work in the garden department on Monday and then they’re selling hammers on Tuesday," Oster said. "At a local nursery you get people who care for the plants and flowers every day. Besides if you get to know them they might offer you some deals once you become a regular. At the nursery they are always offering half-priced or discount stuff that they know I might want."
He emphasized the importance of keeping a journal. He uses “The Gardener’s Notebook.” Inside, not only did he record the first frost, the first bloom, but it contained amusing anecdotes and family memories.
“My kids are grown now, but I came across something in my notebook about my son when he was six years old," he said. "It was a happy little memory I would have forgotten if I hadn’t recorded it in the notebook.”
He closed his lecture with a Chinese proverb, “If you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk; If you want to be happy for three days, get married; If you want to be happy forever, make a garden.”
At lunch time, Candy S. DeBerry, associate professor of Biology at Washington & Jefferson College, spoke on “Native Plants for the Home Landscape” where she discussed the plants in and around southwestern Pennsylvania.
Later in the day, Faith Starr, local radio host of “Living Green with Faith” discussed “Is Your Home Healthy?”
The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club meets the third Monday of each month in the conference room on the second floor. If you would like to join, or would like additional information, contact them at ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.
