Sustainable Midlands

Free Compost Classes

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:21:36 +0000

Free Composting Classes For Richland County Residents

In 60 minutes you can learn how easy it is to turn grass clippings, yard waste and kitchen scraps into a rich soil amendment.

You will receive a free composting booklet and a free wire composting bin! (Registration required, instructions below. Some classes are full but send us an email and we will schedule more and let you know!)

Class Includes:

Why compost
What to compost
Method: Slow or Fast
What system works best for YOU?
How to use finished compost
Frequently asked composting questions.

September 2^nd 6:30PM

Parklane Adult Activity Center

7494 Parklane Road, Columbia SC 29233

September 4^th 10AM CLASS FULL!

Richland County Recreation’s North Springs Park Building

1320 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229

September 9^th 6:30PM Class Full!

Richland County Library SE Regional Branch

7421 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209

September 11^th 9:00AM

Richland County Library, St Andrews Regional Branch

2916 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210

September 16^th 6:30PM

Bible Way Church Fellowship Hall

440 Atlas Road Columbia, SC 29209

September 25th, EXHIBIT ONLY 10AM -4PM

Forest Acres Green Living Festival: Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, 6500 North Trenholm Road Columbia, 29206

To register for your free class or for more information send email to:

ryan@sustainablemidlands.org

Presented By: Sustainable Midlands &

Richland County Master Gardeners Association

Sponsored By: Richland County Solid Waste Department

August 28th, 3 great events!!

admin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:00:50 +0000

August 28th is a day FULL of great events! Check out a chance to make new friends and help our National Park look great for Labor Day Guests!!! If trail maintenance is not for you…remember the Summer Celebration of Water at Riverfront Park.

Then EVERYONE should attend the SC Wildlife Federation Dinner & Auction that evening.

Care about your world!!

Click below for details!

Friends of the Congaree Swamp work day

Summer Celebration of Water

South Carolina Wildlife Federation Auction & Dinner

September 25, Forest Acres Green Festival

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:47:35 +0000

Come see how to build a green house! Learn about sustainable living!

Hear music, make fun craft items, play games, and eat good food!

The Forest Acres Green Living Festival is Saturday, September 25, 2010

from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The festival will take place at three locations along North Trenholm Road:

Forest Lake Presbyterian Church (6500 North Trenholm Road)

Habitat for Humanity will construct an EarthCraft certified house in the parking lot, using energy-saving materials and appliances.
Vendors who sell environmentally friendly building supplies will exhibit.
Environmental organizations will share their expertise about sustainable living.
Jewelry and crafts will be available for purchase.
Musical groups from local schools will perform.
Forest Acres restaurants will be selling food.

North Trenholm Baptist Church (6515 North Trenholm Road)

Craft activities for children using materials from nature and recycled materials
Fun on inflatables–bungee runs, bounce houses, etc.
Kid friendly food available from Forest Acres restaurants

St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church (6408 Bridgewod Rd. at North Trenholm Road)

Recycling of tires, electronic equipment, paper, cans, plastic, and small appliances by Richland County
Education for youth (in the outdoor chapel) about recycling
Document shredding

Summer Celebration of Water

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:01:12 +0000

“Summer Celebration of Water”

Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 9am-2pm at Riverfront Park (312 Laurel Street).
The FREE event is a salute to National Water Quality Month and will feature tubing down the Columbia Canal, splashing around the Wet Sandals play area, learning about riverfront critters and much more.

Presented by Richland County in partnership with the City of Columbia, City of Forest Acres and the Town of Arcadia Lakes. Look for Sustainable Midlands at this event!

For more information contact Richland County Stormwater Management at (803) 576-3599.

PALMETTO TASTY TOMATO FESTIVAL

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:47:52 +0000

This Sunday evening, August 8th, from 6 to 9PM ! The festival presented by Sustainable Midlands & Slow Food will be held at City Roots Urban Farm. Located at 1005 Airport Blvd across from Owens Field in Rosewood.

Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, (children free) Tickets available online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118638

Celebrate our local food economy and home gardens! Enter the tomato contest, come taste locally grown heirloom tomatoes, share the potluck.. buy a tomato sandwich or bring a picnic, hear great live music and join in the games! (Cash bar) At 9PM, a bonus event… a free showing of The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!

For more information about the contest or the event send an email to: ryan@sustainablemidlands.org

Aug. 11th & 13th Columbia Canal: Save the Habitat

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:24:53 +0000

The City of Columbia has agreed that the trees along the canal need not be cut for a successful inspection for seepage! However, the underbrush must be cut and to minimize the impact on wildlife the City is giving us an opportunity to tag the important habitat plants.

Sustainable Midlands needs volunteers willing to tag the shrubs and vines before the crew comes in to clear away the underbrush. Beautyberry, mature grape vines, etc.(we will have a list and photos) must be tagged. Did I mention WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Are you willing to help? Are you available from 7:30 until 9:30AM on August 11th and/or August 13th? We need to start early because of the heat, if we do not finish we will schedule another workday. I will send workday details to those who respond.

Please let me know if you can help and what day is best for you. Just email to ryan@sustainablemidlands.org.

Thank you!

August 8th Tasty Tomato Festival

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:09:58 +0000

The Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival, presented by Sustainable Midlands & Slow Food: 6-9PM on Sunday, August 8th at City Roots Urban Farm. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, available online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118638

Celebrate our local food economy and home gardens! Enter the tomato contest, come taste locally grown heirloom tomatoes, share the potluck, hear great music and join in the games! (Cash bar)

For more information about the contest or the event send an email to: ryan@sustainablemidlands.org

EPA requests comments on coal ash

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:07:23 +0000

Coal ash is a dangerous mixture of arsenic, lead, mercury and many other poisons. When improperly disposed of it contaminates drinking water supplies, surface waters and communities. There are thousands of these poorly managed and maintained coal ash impoundments across the country and one in Lower Richland County.

The National Riverkeeper Alliance is asking for everyone who cares about our waterways and clean drinking water to write to the EPA to comment on the proposed coal ash disposal plans. The EPA is asking for opinions on whether to treat coal ash as standard waste or hazardous waste. This ruling is one of the most important decisions on water that the EPA will make. Lower Richland County will be impacted by this decision because we have a coal power plant on the Wateree River. Either SCE&G will have to clean up the arsenic and mercury they are currently leaching into the Wateree River or they will continue to pollute. It is up to us. The coal industry & power companies are fighting hard on this issue, will we?

We need many individuals and individual organizations to send a comment letter, asking for coal ash to be handled as the hazardous waste that it is, before September 20th. The Waterkeeper Alliance letter shown below can be sent by clicking on the following link to the Waterkeeper Alliance:

http://www.congressweb.com/cweb2/index.cfm/siteid/WA/action/TakeAction.Background/LetterGroupID/14

A hearing will be held in Charlotte on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 from 10AM to 9PM at the Holiday Inn Charlotte (Airport), 2707 Little Rock Road, Charlotte, NC, 28214; Phone: (704) 394-4301. If you want to speak, pre-registration is suggested. Click this link to pre-register: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-form.htm

August 8th: The Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:21:33 +0000

Celebrate our local food economy and home gardens! Enter the tomato contest, come taste locally grown heirloom tomatoes, share the potluck, hear great music and join in the games! (Cash bar)

For more information about the contest or the event send an email to: ryan@sustainablemidlands.org

July 3rd Food, Inc. at 701 Whaley… free!

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:43:53 +0000

Come celebrate with The All Local Farmer’s Market on their 1st anniversary and see a free screening of the amazing movie Food, Inc. The screening will be inside at 701 Whaley and begin at 10AM. Come early and have breakfast before the film. Stay after and buy great local produce, baked goods, eggs & meat, even prepared foods!