Mississippi’s Homegrown Sustainability Conference 2010

Posted by on May 24, 2010

Mississippi’s Homegrown Sustainability Conference 2010
Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi
Bost Conference Center, Mississippi State University
July 30th – August 1st

We are very pleased to announce that Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi will host the first statewide Sustainability Conference at Mississippi State University.

Focus Areas for 2010:

In our evolving world, sustainable practices will be integral to the quality of life.  A sustainable economy meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  By bringing together practical experience with vision and theory, this new economy can be grown at all levels at once from the city hall to the backyard garden. This year’s conference will focus on the following themes:

I.        Sustainable Community Planning – Friday July 30 (12:00 – 4:30) we will host a strand specifically for participants interested in sustainable community planning. Featured speakers from the city of Hernando and around the state will present their experience and ideas. This strand is designed for city planners, government agencies, and elected officials who would like to introduce and develop a sustainable philosophy and plan for their community.

II.        The Sustainable Table – Saturday July 31 (9:00 – 5:00) will provide an exciting day with hands-on learning in the dynamic movement of cultivating and serving healthy and environmentally responsible food and understanding the impacts of fresh local food.  These are some examples of sessions we will include, but are not limited to: Managing a farmer’s market, organizing a community garden, growing edible mushrooms, no-till gardening, cheese making, forest gardening, permaculture, edible landscaping, bee keeping, natural pest control and raising poultry.

III.        Sustainable Design – Sunday will let participants choose from a series of field-trips to see models of sustainable design and building.

1.    University Models of Sustainability – see what Mississippi State University is doing to become environmentally responsible in areas of architecture, landscaping, and administration. Led by Jeremiah Dumas, this field experience will demonstrate how MSU is comprised of systems, representing the holistic campus, that impact resource use, pollution and waste production, and the overall campus and community environment.
2.    Sustainable Community – Visit two local community gardens and speak with their members. See how one business dedicated time and resources to the local farmer’s market and business garden.
3.    Sustainable Home – Tour sustainable designed and built new homes by architect Lee Carson and then tour two homes that have been retrofit to become more energy efficient with solar, geothermal, and design solutions.

Registration

You may register for the conference online or by sending a registration application to P.O. Box 1605, Starkville, MS 39760. After submitting your information, you can use our online payment system to send your membership fees.

Full Conference:  $135
Friday: Sustainable Community Planning, Lunch and Strand 12:00-4:45 $65
Saturday: The Sustainable Table; Sessions & Workshops, 9am- 5pm, followed by Bluegrass Music & Cookout $70
Sunday: Field Trip 9-11am $25
2 Day Package 10% discount off the individual day prices
Supporters to Gaining Ground receive a 10% discount.

To find out more about calls for presentations, sponsorships or exhibit spaces visit our website at http://www.ggsim.org/learn-experience/conferences