It IS Easy Being Green Day

November 8, 2008 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

It IS easy (and FUN) for your whole family to live “green,” save money and protect our precious environment. Come see how local organizations, non-profits and businesses are working to preserve our earth and what you can do to make a difference.

The day will be filled with activities, learning and fun, including presentations by Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and Bayou Rebirth. Landscape architect Elizabeth Mossop will talk about green infrastructure in New Orleans neighborhoods and local artist, Trish Ransom, will share the joy of making art out of recycled materials. The event will also feature the Audubon Nature Institute’s Bugmobile, an arts market, raw food “no” cooking demonstration, voter registration, garden tour of native plants, plant sale, food, entertainment, crafts and games.

Cost $5.00/Friends of Longue Vue Members; $7.00/Non-members. Ride your bicycle to the event and receive $1 off admission. For information contact Jennifer Gick jgick@longuevue.com

Events and Participating Organizations

PLAYHOUSE
10:30 am – 11:15 am: 
“Save Our Coast, Protect Our Community”
JoAnn Burke, Education Coordinator
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation

Learn why protecting our coast is vital to the preservation of South Louisiana communities.  Explore the natural and man-made history of the Mississippi River watershed, the creation of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, their current water monitoring projects, and the Pontchartrain Coastal Lines of Defense Program. 

11:45 am – 12:30 pm: 
“Save Our Coast, Protect Our Livelihoods” 
Colleen Morgan, Founder
Bayou Rebirth Wetlands Education

Discuss how wetlands preservation is essential to protecting industry and our economic interests, in Louisiana and along the Mississippi River.  Learn why the safety and continuance of oil, shipping and other port-related industries necessitates wetlands preservation and managing a balance between commerce and nature.

1:00 pm – 1: 45 pm: 
“Green Infrastructure and Urban Regeneration”
Elizabeth Mossop, A Principal of Spackman Mossop+Michaels Landscape Architects and Professor of Landscape Architecture and Director of the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture at LSU

Discuss a series of case studies in the use of green infrastructure for community regeneration in New Orleans using a combination of water management, infrastructure and open space to create new frameworks for urban development. Specific examples will be drawn from Longue Vue's Pontchartrain Park + Gentilly Woods initiative, and projects in the Lower Ninth Ward and East New Orleans.

WHIM HOUSE—10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Energy Expo
Learn strategies to make your home more energy efficient

ON THE GROUNDS
11:15 am – 11:45 am:  Raw Food “no” Cooking Demonstration
1:30 pm:  Reading of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax at the Discovery Garden Sundial
2:00 pm –2:30 pm:  Cleaning Green with Denise Meunier

ON THE EAST LAWN
An interactive educational game for the whole family created by a partnership between Teaching Responsible Earth Education (T.R.E.E.) and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and presented by Teaching Responsible Earth Education.  Take a “journey” as a droplet of water traveling through our local watershed in a fun exploration of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.
11:20 am – 11:40 am
12:35 pm – 12:55 pm

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
“Artist Talk with Eric Dallimore:  Sculpture and Found Materials”
Eric Dallimore
Meet artist Eric Dallimore as he discusses the inspiration for his latest endeavor, untitled #6209.  The sculpture, crafted largely of found wood, was installed on Longue Vue’s East Lawn during October 2008 as part of a project sponsored by the Arts Council of New Orleans.

ONGOING EVENTS—10:00 am to 3:00 pm
NOPL Children’s Bookmobile
Recycled Materials Arts Market
Native Plant Garden Tours
Native Plant Sale
Children’s Crafts & Games
Louisiana Public Broadcasting presents Return to the Forest Where We Live
Family Fun in the Discovery Garden

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE:
Alliance for Affordable Energy
Animal Rescue of New Orleans
Audubon Insectarium
Bayou Rebirth Wetlands Education
Global Green
Green Light New Orleans
Gulf Restoration Network
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
Levees.org
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans
MyGreenDean.com
National Wildlife Federation
NewOrleans.com
New Orleans Food and Farm Network
NOPL Children’s Bookmobile
Phoenix Recycling
Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Studies
Preservation Resource Center
Recycle for the Arts
Stay Local!
Teaching Responsible Earth Education
The Green Project
Tulane University Environmental Law Clinic

BUSINESSES
Learn about local “green” businesses working in fashion, health & beauty, home improvement, food & drink, alternative transportation, and gardening.

ARTISTS
AvanteGarb- Christeen Wright
Christine LeDoux Art
DCP Designs- Dave Porretto
Dismantled Designs- Mallory Whitfield
Happy Hour Kitty Art- Karen Miller
Unique Products- Heather Macfarlane & Mark Kirk

PARKING
Limited onsite parking available.  Additional parking available at Metairie Academy, located at 201 Metairie Road.  Neighborhood street parking also available.  NO VEHICLES WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARK ON BAMBOO ROAD.

WEATHER
Rain or Shine