Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair resumes Earth Day tradition
Attendees at a recent Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair use recycled materials to build nursery containers. This year's fair will be April 20 at the Secrest Welcome and Education Center in Wooster.
The Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair will be held April 20 at the Secrest Welcome and Education Center, 2112 Williams Road, Wooster. The fair has been an Earth Day tradition in the area, held every two years since it began in 2007.
The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free.
Fred Michel is president of the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network and a professor at OSU’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Michel said the fair is a celebration of Earth Day, with speakers, exhibitors, activities, music, food trucks and a green car cruise-in.
The fair’s purpose is to advance the use of sustainable energy systems and practices.
“We hope to raise awareness by educating and offering resources to help individuals, the community and businesses become more energy-efficient, use resources more wisely and generate sustainable renewable energy,” Michel said. “We aim to connect the community with ideas and ways to improve the sustainability of their lives.”
The day will include speakers on environmental issues including agrivoltaics, clean energy, incentives and highlights of the 2023 U.N. Climate Change Conference meeting. There will be exhibitors from nonprofits and companies involved in renewable energy and environmental improvement. There also will be demonstrations and tours of the Secrest Arboretum, OSU composting, solar energy, LEED buildings and recycling facilities, and the Quasar Energy anaerobic digester, which powers 30% of the CFAES Wooster campus.
Additionally, the community will have access to a recycling drop for both common recyclables and hard-to-recycle items including light bulbs, batteries, food scraps, U.S. flags, bicycles and other items. There will be document shredding as well. Professional clothing, bicycles, helmets and bike locks will be collected. See the website for specific items accepted, guidelines and hours.
There also is information, including a location map, on the website for a new community recycling center that accepts common recyclables year round. The CFAES Recycling Center is a partnership between OSU and the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District. Information about other recycling and composting options in Wayne County also is listed.
“(The fair was originally started) as awareness of the negative consequences of the use of fossil fuels grew and global warming and the environmental destruction it causes became evident to all,” Michel said. “Citizens wanted to learn about the melting glaciers, the 25% increase in CO2, the fires, sea-level rise and the violent weather with worse to come that all threaten us and nature. They wanted to understand the solutions, many of which cost less than current practices.
“Many at OSU and WCSEN understand that the problem can be solved through creativity, knowledge, and the courage to imagine, develop and implement sustainable practices and wanted to share this knowledge.”
The Scarlet, Green and Gray Fair is a collaboration between OSU and the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network with volunteers from both organizations leading committees and organizing and serving at the event.
Michel said the family-friendly fair is for those interested in learning about a variety of things including how to improve their sustainability; how to implement technologies including geothermal, solar energy and energy efficiency to reduce their carbon footprint and help solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems; and rebates and tax credits for investing in renewable energy sources, electric upgrades, energy-efficient appliances, insulation, and efficient windows and doors.
Those who arrive in a green vehicle — any vehicle with a well-to-wheels carbon footprint of less than 275 g CO2 per mile — get preferred parking. To show a vehicle at the cruise-in, register at https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/event?eventid=4210.
Volunteers, vendors and sponsors are needed. Exhibitors — nonprofits are free — and sponsors may email Dianne Stahl at ers@lek.net. Information about volunteers is on the website or email Sarah McNulty at mcnulty.44@osu.edu.
For general information call or email Michel at 330-263-3859 or michel.36@osu.edu.
Sponsors of the event include the CFAES Wooster campus, the Romich Foundation, Quasar Energy, the Wayne County Sustainable Energy Network and Drive Electric Earth Day.
True to what it represents, the fair will be a zero waste event — all waste will be recycled or composted.
Find more information on the fair at https://u.osu.edu/sggf/, www.wcsen.org and Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057204380052.