School Lunch? I Don't Think so...

Two unique dining experiences await Earth Fair attendees this year. 

The Good You Food Truck returns following their sold out appearence at the 2011 Fair. Good You serves unique, gourmet fare made from scratch using healthy, local ingredients.

This year Good You will be joined in the Shawnee Mission East High School parking lot (the one off Mission Road) by Prairie Fire Pizza Ovens. Prairie Fire artisan pizzas are created from local ingredients prepared on site in their custom wood fired ovens. Yum.

Last Chance for Vendor Sign-up!

If you have not had a chance to sign-up to be a vendor, there are still a couple of days left. Applications received by Wednesday, April 18 will still be considered, based on space availability!

Click here to sign up

Making the Composting Connection

Come learn the Five Rules of Rot and make your "just sits there" compost pile into a dynamic garbage eating machine. Prepare to be inspired by the wonder of Nature at the micro level.

Master Gardeners from the K-State, Johnson County Extension Program will be on hand from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. to answer all your composting questions and offer solutions tailored to your individual garden needs.

Eco-touring at the Earth Fair

This year's Earth Fair visitors will provide a unique opportunity to tour the Prairie Village Geothermal Project.

On April 21^st Assistant City Administrator Dennis Enslinger will conduct two tours of the installation; one at 11:00 AM and the second at 1:00 PM. (In addition to registering for one of these tours right here on the Earth Fair website, you may also signup at the Information Desk on the day of the event.)

Eco-tourists should plan to meet at their preferred time at the Prairie Village Community Center, 7700 Mission Road, and then take a short stroll (just across the driveway) to the geothermal operating well for a look-see and a walk-through with Dennis.

The Prairie Village geothermal system heats and cools our City Hall, Police Station and Community Center and is the first such civic installation in Johnson County. It will conserve enough electricity and natural gas to be equal to a savings of 33,484 gallons of gasoline or the removal of 134 cars from the road or the preservation of 277 acres of pine forest. The Geothermal Project and energy conservation measures are sustainable and will yield an annual savings of $53,500.00.

Clean out that garage and donate that old bike and building material!

Every year so many perfectly serviceable building materials and bikes get left on the curb for Prairie Village Big Trash Pickup.  This year we should avoid such waste and spread the word to our neighbors, friends, and family that The 816 Bike Collective will be on hand at the upcoming Prairie Village Earth Fair, April 21, 2012 and they will be collecting donations from your garage cleanup :) 

Wishlist: bicycles, bike parts, bike tools, shop supplies (rags, grease, cleaner, etc.), construction materials or resources (lumber, roofing, peg board, hooks & fasteners, Velcro, hinges, etc.), hand and power tools

Who are The 816 Bike Collective???

The 816 Bicycle Collective is a community bike shop that has been collectively run by volunteers since 2008. Volunteers and shop visitors work together to repair bicycles and learn bicycle maintenance and safety. In Fall of 2008, the Bicycle Collective became part of the Kansas City Bicycle Federation, a 501c3 not-for-profit bicycle advocacy organization. In the summer of 2010, the Kansas City Bicycle Federation and the 816 Bicycle Collective purchased three derelict buildings from the Jackson County delinquent tax auction to accommodate the growth of the organization. These buildings are in need of a lot of repair before the shop can function in the new location with added programming and outreach opportunities. With the efforts of volunteers and community support, the Kansas City Bicycle Federation hopes to develop a space that can become a hub for Kansas City's cycling community. The rescue and repair of these buildings will follow the model that is in place at the bike shop-- reusing valuable materials to build something new.

How can YOU help???

If you would like to give more than that bike that has just been sitting in the garage for years, The 816 Bicycle Collective is always looking for individuals with the time and motivation to learn about bikes and in turn pass that knowledge on to others. Volunteers can also help greet visitors and keep the shop maintained. If you are interested in volunteering, you can stop by during shop hours, Saturdays 2-5 pm and starting in May, Thursdays 3-6 pm. Sign in and let the greeter know how you would like to help. You can contribute right away by making monetary donations or by providing contact information in regards to donating building materials, construction hours, or any expertise to contribute to the renovation of the new location. Please contact the Kansas City Bicycle Federation, the parent organization of The 816 Bicycle Collective, at kcbikefed@gmail.com with subject heading “Donation” for more information on how to donate. Bicycles or other physical donations can be delivered during shop hours.

For more information visit their website http://816bike.org/

Email: the816bike@gmail.com

kcbikefed@gmail.com

Address: 3116 Forest Avenue   

Kansas City, MO 64109

And good Luck with that spring cleaning ;)

Come join the fun! We paint the Johnson County Transit's Magic Bus!

Every year we have a giant craft project that lasts all day, courtesy of The Jo!

There are lots of free fun activities for families all day long!

The Used Book Sale Returns (at last) to the Earth Fair

An eclectic variety of titles will be available at significantly discounted prices. Paperbacks will go at $1.00 and under and hard bound will sell for $2.00. There will also be an end of day bag 'o books blow-out. The sale will be held in the Small Gym and will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday April 21st. It will last until the last book is sold or the Fair ends at 3:00 pm (whichever comes first). 

If you wish to donate to this worthy School fundraiser you may do so from now until April 18th. All the money raised will go toward the purchase of books for the Shawnee Mission East School Library. Just call 913-993-6617 during school hours and students will collect your book donations at the Library doors (entry #37, just off Mission Road). After hours, donors can leave boxed or bagged books under the overhang by the library entrance.