BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – This weekend’s North Country Sustainability Day and Green Living Fair will be held as scheduled but under strict COVID-19 protocol.

After addressing COVID-19 concerns, event organizers and representatives from St. Lawrence University, who are hosting the two-day event, decided to proceed with the festivities. The university is requiring 100 percent mask compliance for all Sustainability Day and Green Living Fair events.

Masks will be made available.

Another change involves the Green Living Fair workshops moved to a virtual format due to the lack of ventilation in the presentation space.

Despite the mandates and changes, the theme and the goal of the event will remain the same.

“North Country residents know a changing climate and other environmental problems are happening and affecting us, and they want to know what to do,” stated Ginger Storey-Welch, a co-coordinator. “Our Sustainability Day is designed to help people visualize and actualize the climate future they want.”

Event organizers are excited to welcome Robin Wall Kimmerer to this year’s event. Kimmerer is a scientist, decorated professor and an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

Her keynote presentation, titled “The Honorable Harvest,” will be held Friday at 4 p.m. in Gulick Theater in the Noble Center.

“Everyone I know who has read Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass seems to be very moved by her book,” said Storey-Welch. “Kimmerer inspires people who feel hopeless in the face of a changing climate to see themselves as agents in restoring the planet.”

Her talk will be streamed live at at bit.ly/SDGLF)

Another new twist will feature a talk by Glenn McClure of Paul Smith’s College at 1 p.m. Friday in the ODY Library, Room 140B.

Storey-Welch noted that his workshop references a chapter in Kimmerer’s book where she spoke of relearning to see the natural world as a “who” to be known and possibly used with appreciation rather than an “it” to be seen only as a commodity.

At the Green Living Fair on Saturday, vendors and organizations will provide a wide range of experiences and information. Several energy companies will be present as well as tables with information on Heat Pumps, geothermal heat, and masonry heaters. Visitors can view the insides of a hybrid electric battery, and later learn about the electric vehicle charging ecosystem, noted Storey-Welch.

“Fair visitors are encouraged to tour the Power House, a tiny house with multiple energy efficient features,” she said.

Various nature-based organizations, local food producers, and even a local producer of CBD products will be present as well as many other interesting tables, including one with the Ecoblitz website, designed by a local youth and his grandfather, where visitors can measure the impact of their carbon footprint.

“Our event is free and open to the public, especially for those looking for inspiration for living a more sustainable and green life,” she remarked.

Food will be available from Big Spoon. The Potsdam Co-op will have snack items available for purchase.

For a complete schedule, visit Pages 16-17 at https://www.northcountrynow.com/external_links/view-latest-potsdam-canton-edition-north-country-week-6