Growing the Village

Written by Sandra Marshall

Earth Day SLO 2011

The foundation has been laid; now all that’s needed is for the people to come to complete Growing the Village for Earth Day SLO 2011 on Saturday, April 23 at El Chorro Regional Park and San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. The hosts, Earth Day Alliance, San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens and San Luis Obispo County Parks and local volunteers have created a free day of education, fun, motivation, action and entertainment for all ages from 10 am to 5 pm at the 21st annual San Luis Obispo County Earth Day.

As visitors breathe life into the Earth Day Village they will get a taste of what San Luis Obispo County will feel like as an ecologically sound and economically prosperous community. Community leaders, businesses, organizations, government agencies, schools, and families will share what green practices they have learned and inspire a vision for the future.  Over 100 exhibitors are expected to be present.

The village will include components of a healthy, sustainable community: Children / School Zone, Village Kitchen, Power Source, a Marketplace, People Movers, Health and Well-being Choices, Home/Building Goods and Services, Community Programs, Communication Center, Art, and local food, wine and beer. Villagers can listen or dance to live music by some of the most popular artists in SLO County: Zongo-All Stars, Jill Knight, Guy Budd & the Gypsy Souls and the Up in the Air Band. The SLO Botanical Garden has created a special program of events for the day: hikes, art tours, lectures and demonstrates. Guided tours through the Steve Weiss AIDS Living Memorial Grove will reveal the healing herbs in the grove. An array of children’s activities are planned and Sammy the Steelhead will make a visit.

Begin your village experience by riding the bus, carpooling or bicycling to Earth Day.  RTA and SCAT are providing free bus rides countywide and to El Chorro Regional Park. From the SLO downtown transit center children and adults can catch a free ride on the Double Decker every hour. Carpool and park at Cuesta College; a shuttle will take visitors into the park. Bicyclist can ride into the village and park at the People Movers Circle. All bicyclist, carpool drivers and bus passengers will receive one free ticket for the Earth Day Movers Drawing.

Applications for participation continue to be available. Individuals, schools, nonprofit organizations, clubs, businesses, government agencies, etc. are invited to share their green message, program or product as an Earth Day Village Leader (sponsor) or Dweller (exhibitor). Volunteers can show their enthusiasm by helping with preplanning or on the day of the event.

Sponsors of Earth Day SLO 2011 include First Solar, Air Pollution Control District, RTA, New Times and Information Press. The organizing group includes RTA, Rideshare, the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo Public Works, EcoPlanners, LLC., and Information Press.
For more information or to sign up call (805) 544-8529, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the Earth Day website: earthdayalliance.com