Guest Post! Earth Day Freebies

I asked my husband to write this post. He has taken the kids to Earth Day activities for quite a few years and is much more knowledgable than I am about the event. Thanks Michael.

One of my favorite annual frugal events in St. Louis is Earth Day. This year is the 20th annual celebration.

Eco Expo
This, I believe, is a new event this year, and is being held this weekend. Admission is free. It is sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden, and hosted at the Saint Louis Science Center, Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, 8:30-5:30. Their web site says, "This two-day event will provide ideas and inspiration for all aspects of work and home life, from home building and construction to eco-fashion and beauty. Attendees can speak with experts and vendors who offer products and services designed to help us all lead more environmentally responsible lives.

"Hear low- to no-cost tips on how you can reduce your energy bills. See demonstrations of the newest gadgets to hit the streets. Learn what makes a product “green.” Enjoy unplugged, home-grown musical artists in the beer garden. Let your children explore the wonders of science in the green experiments lab."

They have a lot scheduled for this event, so I recommend you check it out in detail at ecoexpostlouis.com.

Earth Day
Earth Day will be celebrated in Forest Park on Sunday April 26th from 11:00 to 5:00 on the Muny grounds. There are plenty of displays, vendors, and things to do for the whole family. One of the favorite kids' activities is helping to paint a Metro Bus, turning it into a travelling Earth Day mural. Most years, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources also has tree seedlings for free if you need one for your yard. You can get more festival information at http://www.stlouisearthday.org/. Parking is free; I recommend the Upper Muny lot. Better still, I recommend you ride your bike and enjoy the great trails in Forest Park.

Be a Do-Gooder at the Earth Day Forest Park Clean Up
If you want to help out, the Open Space Council sponsors Forest Park Clean Up starting at 9:00 that morning. They'll give you a couple of trash bags, a free pair of work gloves, a free t-shirt, and send you out to pick up trash somewhere in the park. I certainly feel better each time I participate. Look for them in the lower Muny parking lot, just to the east of the Muny. You can park for free in the Upper Muny lot. I would recommend this for ages 7 and up; this makes a great Scout outing! And of course, you are providing free labor. More at http://www.openspacestl.org/.