Grey to Green Fest Sept. 10 at Wick Park

YOUNGSTOWN

The fourth Grey to Green Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Wick Park on the North Side. Workshops include starting your own backyard composting project, with composters available for preregistered attendees; Wick Park tree identification; and information on making your own baby food, school gardens and more.

The opening ceremony at 12:10 p.m. at the park pavilion will recognize leadership in efforts to reduce global climate change, highlight “green businesses” in the region and explore ways to build on the Youngstown 2010 plan, which placed the city on the national and world stage as a pioneer in “shrinking smart.” Ways to move toward 2020 that expand green jobs and reduce the city’s carbon footprint will be central to the event.

The Northside Farmers Market, which includes regional farmers as well as beginning urban farmers, will offer healthy regionally grown food as part of building a stronger economic base buying from area growers. The market will also serve as a food court, with local chefs using locally grown vegetables, fruits, bakers and other value-added producers.

The event also will include an essay contest on the topic “Who Cares? My Commitment to Action”; a “Soap-Box/Open Mike” from which to give three-minute views on “Making a Difference in Global Climate Change”; and Dr. Ray’s Amazing Sideshow of Science presenting “Earth Elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth.”

To keep up-to-date on the program, sponsors, vendors and entertainment, visit www.greytogreenfestival.org/schedule-2011.