Go Green Expo 2011

Go Green Expo 2011, the peninsula's premier sustainability event, was a one day event for consumers and business leaders featuring eco-friendly products, interesting and educational speakers, and easy ideas for eco-living, no matter what your shade of green. Go Green Expo focused on going green, by making simple green changes for everyone. This event was sponsored by the Newport News Master Gardeners Association and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Admission was free and was held at the Newport News Brittingham Midtown Community Center located at 570 McLawhorne Drive on September 24th of this year.

On behalf of the Master Gardeners of Newport News, we wish to thank you for helping make our Go Green Expo such a great success. We couldn't have done it without you!

We had 401 attendees at our Go Green Expo which was a huge increase from last year! Your part in helping us accomplish our mission of expanding the number of citizens engaged in Go Green practices was outstanding.

We look forward to seeing you again next year at our 2012 event!

Newport News TV made a video of the event which can be viewed here—Newport News MG Go Green Expo Event.

Special Event Highlights were: • Vendor hall with many eco-friendly products and service vendors • Special state and city representatives discuss green initiatives • A garden marketplace with plants, garden accessories, and baked goods • Live music • Raffles • Free sustainable gardening lectures • Hugely Popular rain barrel workshops • A fun Kid’s Zone • Compost • “Ask a Master Gardener” booth • Chick-fil-A was also on site for lunch.

Other exhibits, lectures and demonstrations included topics on:

Bees (Colony Collapse Disorder)
City of Newport News Public Works
Composting and Vermiculture
Container Gardening
Fall Lawn Care
Organic Gardening
Right Plant, Right Place
Shade Gardening
Zoo In Your Garden

We also had exhibits and speakers from the following vendors and organizations:

Adios Adventure Travel
Better Blades by Bill—For a great sharpening experience, bring your garden tools, shears, scissors and knives and get them honed to perfection!
Biome in a Box
Bunting Daylily Gardens
Colonial Beekeepers Association
City of Newport News, Parks Division
Eco Maniac Company
Foxy Lady Press, Inc.
Gardening Hear Say and Seed and Garden Cruise
Gold Canyon Candles
Hampton Roads Solar Group
Hampton Roads Water Gardens
Hendron Tree Care
Newport News Green Foundation
Peninsula Council of Garden Clubs
Peninsula Hardwood and Mulch
Peninsula SPCA
Peninsula Water Stewards
Shaklee (Safe and Healthy Solutions)
Sierra Club—York River Group
Skin Solutions by Thea
Son Soap
TFC Recycling (Tidewater Fibre Corp.)
The 4-H Club (Kids' Zone)
The Gardener's Workshop
Through My Lens Photography
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Virginia Master Naturalists—Peninsula Chapter
Virginia Native Plant Society—John Clayton Chapter
Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Zoo in Norfolk
Wildlife Response

Our own Newport News Master Gardeners hosted a bake sale and a plant sale. Raffles held included a rain barrel and a hand-made quilt! We also featured an information booth and our popular “Ask a Master Gardener” table where you could ask your most perplexing gardening questions.

Rain barrel to be raffled

Quilt to be raffled. (click image for larger size)

"Nature's Kaleidescope"
Made by Vanessa Connell and Pat Brazzale.
Machine Quilted by Debbie Patrick.

This quilt represents the colors and creations of Nature. It is made of 100% cotton fabrics and the batting (filling) is made of recycled plastic bottles!

Music, provided during this event, included the STAHR Musicians and André Cotman, our own Newport News native, who is a renowned professional saxophonist with many credits to his name.

A “special thank you” is given to www.virginia.org for listing our event on their resourceful site!

There was something special for everyone at this event. Come join us again next year for a day of gardening fun and education!