The PEA Pod, June 2010


June 2010
From the Executive Director PEA is at a crossroads. Over the past five years, PEA has been working to promote sustainability in our community. We have educated the public on issues ranging from eco-friendly events to business recycling. We have promoted businesses that offer environmentally-friendly products and services or that operate their businesses in eco-conscious ways. We have developed partnerships and brought together environmentally-focused groups to support their work. We have created and provided to our community a comprehensive, environmentally-focused website. We have produced five increasingly successful Piedmont Earth Day Fairs. And, we have grown – our programming, our staff, our website, our budget, our board. In every way, we are bigger than the little fledgling organization started five years ago. This growth has outstripped our human resources. It is time to either grow the organization under the guidance and leadership of a paid executive director or to return to a level of activity sustainable by a volunteer staff and board of directors. If you are a PEA member, you recently received a survey asking for your thoughts on this transition. Thank you for sharing your opinions and ideas with us. We will use this information to help decide how to move forward. Ultimately, how we move forward will depend upon your support – both your financial contributions, which will enable us to hire an executive director to lead us in this important work, and your willingness to serve, as program volunteers, as Earth Day Fair team members and volunteers, and as board members. If PEA is important to the community, then the community must support it and enable it to continue. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for PEA and the volunteers, organizations and businesses that have supported it. Through my work with PEA I have developed lifelong friendships. I have learned from and been inspired by many of you who have worked with us. I feel like we have made a difference in our community, and I hope that PEA will be here for many more years, working to make the vision of a truly sustainable community a reality. Drop a note to info@peaNC.org to let us know what PEA means to you. Support us with your membership or donations. Help us map out the future growth of PEA and of our community. Terri E. LeGrand Executive Director Buy local, Eat local and Eat In Season Who are the farmers in your neighborhood? Find out and support them while enjoying their products. Know where your food comes from. Read labels and buy from local and organic farms if possible. Krankies Farmers Market is a great place to do this. The Krankies Farmers' Market, a joint effort between Triad Buying Co-op Inc. and Krankies Coffee, features locally and sustainably grown and/or produced foods, including vegetables, fruit, honey, eggs, cheese, pasture-fed meat and bread, as well as flowers and plants. The market is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of November. Also check out Reynolda Farm Market. They have locally grown fresh produce, some of which is organic, goat cheese, eggs, honey, poultry and some meat. It is located at 1206 Reynolda Road and is open Monday-Saturday from 7am-8pm. Read more 5th Annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair Great Success An estimated 8,000 attended the 5th annual Piedmont Earth Day Fair on April 17, 2010. The Fair was a Day of Action! Not only was it a celebration for our planet, but the Fair provided an opportunity to take action to make our planet cleaner and healthier. Our Kids in Action program, featuring engaging interactive activities, taught our children how they can take action to protect our planet in ways that are meaningful to them. More than 100 exhibitors demonstrated a variety of ways to reduce your impact on our planet. And, hundreds took action by documenting the changes they planned to carry out in their own lives to protect our planet. Of course, everyone enjoyed the great lineup of all-natural foods from a variety of local eateries while listening to a stellar line-up of local, live music. And, our Zero Waste Challenge once again significantly reduced the amount of waste that was generated by the Fair. Thanks to all our volunteers, sponsors and exhibitors for making this the best Earth Day Fair yet. Pledges to “Take Action” It has been documented that the United States could cut greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of France’s total annual emissions by getting Americans to make simple lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes range from driving behavior to laundry habits to home insulation. At the 2010 Piedmont Earth Day Fair, PEA and the Department of Sustainability at Wake Forest University teamed up to inspire visitors to commit to make one or more of ten easily adopted lifestyle changes with the greatest potential for impact. PEA documented over 1,300 commitments to ACT from 266 people. A majority of people pledged to power down and unplug electronics, reduce their water usage by 20% or more, choose durable reusable products over disposable and buy from local farmers while eating in season. If you would like to make a pledge to take action, click here. Sustainable Landscaping Need some help figuring out what you can do to make your yard more sustainable? EcoLogic Environmental Landscaping offers a free consultation up to 2 hours and 10% off any tree planting for PEA members. The Winston-Salem based company specializes in resource-responsible landscape designs that work with nature to reduce irrigation, fertilizer, and chemical needs and help you enjoy your outdoors more. Applying a sustainable ethic to the everyday yard means a focus on healthy, living soil, a broad plant knowledge to get the right things in the right places, and a commitment to energy conservation, water quality, and overall human health. Read more New Local Restaurants Willows Bistro will be opening in the former Winston's Eatery location at 300 S. Liberty Street, Suite 125 in the Historic Railroad Building. The bistro will feature southern comfort food with a flair. Many items on the menu will be purchased from local farms, fisheries and purveyors such as Tanglewood Farms, The Goat Lady Dairy, Grayson Beef, Krankies and Shore Farm Organics. The anticipated opening is June 7th. Telephone: 293-4601 (Smitty’s Notes). The Grilled Asparagus, a vegetarian restaurant, will open in the soon to be former Mary's Of Course! location at 301 Brookstown Avenue. Features on the menu include hummus, barbeque tofu, vegetarian pizzas and wraps. The restaurant will have a gluten-free menu and raw menu. The anticipated opening is July 1st (Smitty’s Notes). Community Recycling Day Goodwill is partnering with the City of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, Primo Water and Waste Management to host a Community Recycling Day on Saturday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at their green facility at 2760 Peters Creek Parkway. Consumer electronics, computers, telephone books, office paper, appliances, electronic toys and other recyclables from the community will be collected at the event, and local businesses including PEA, Smart Cork, Primo Water, and Waste Management, among others, will host booths. PEA Welcomes two new PEA Savings Partners: The Dan River Company and SunVolt Energy Inc. The Dan River Company offers canoe and kayak rental, as well as shuttle services, along the Dan River. Bring your own boat or rent theirs and get out on the river and enjoy a scenic paddling trip. DRC is located in the foothills of the Sauratown Mountain Range and adjacent to Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, North Carolina. PEA members receive a 10% discount (Except Saturdays). SunVolt Energy Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of Solar Powered Renewable Energy Products. They offer a wide variety of solar products including lights, attic fans, pool heaters, hot water systems and complete power systems. PEA members receive 10% off their retail purchase. Welcome our New Organizational Members: Reynolda Farm Market Sure Foundation Ministry/Walk for Water Africa Not a Member Yet? Join Today! Please join and become part of the solution for a sustainable future. To become a member, you may join on-line or download the membership form from our website and mail it to us. PEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported solely by membership dues and donations.