Leap for Green Event a 'Sustainable' Feast

Island Vision and the City of Mercer Island are coordinating the Earth Day event "Leap for Green: The Food Edition" on April 21 at the from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Leap for Green; the Food Edition is an event focused on community sustainability which includes activities for both children and adults. The annual event highlights how climate change impacts everyone and how to contribute to a world that does more with less. Leap for Green not only educates, but serves to connect the Mercer Island community.

Stop by to say hi to Mercer Island Patch. We're in the Mercer Room inside the Community Center!   

Here's just some of the activities that are on tap for Saturday:

• Chef Tom French of "Experience Food Project" - Kids ‘n the Kitchen, Make your own pizza
• Native legend drumming/storytelling of “Salmon Boy” by Island Vision member Peter Donaldson
• Workshops on chicken cooping, bees, goats, chickens and bunnies
• Food vendors serving wonderful local food
• Learn how to plant food gardens tailored to your needs
• Food justice programs: Bring non-perishable food item for Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Food Pantry

"From its inception IslandVision and the have successfully teamed up to put on this event for the Mercer Island community," said Island Vision President Lucia Pirzoli-Biroli. "We have been able to achieve remarkable things on a shoestring budget, doing much much more with less."

This year, the event will focus on food and bring together several community sustainability initiatives: Mercer Island Farmer's Market, Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (YFS) Food Pantry, Food Revolution (quality nutrition and local ingredients together in the school lunches), TIMI (fostering a resilient Mercer Island that increasingly produces its own food), and Urban Harvest (gleaning fruit from underutilized community trees).

In conjunction with the event, local elementary schools will be promoting the focus on sustainability at their science fairs to encourage projects that reflect "green" themes. Resources from around the region such as local farmers and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organizations will also be in attendance.  

Specific learning opportunities for children include: Kids in the Kitchen with Chef Tom, Cooping 101 workshop, "bees, bunnies, goats and chickens," and planting projects. Fresh and sustainable food will be available. 

Attendees are asked to practice sustainability at the event and bring personal water bottles for drinking water on site and a non-perishable food item to donate to the YFS Food Pantry.

The event is generously supported by the Mercer Island Community Fund. Title sponsors for the event are and Puget Sound Energy. Event sponsors include Allied Waste/Republic Services, Cedar Grove Composting, Parent Map, and the . 

For additional information visit: www.mercergov.org/leapforgreen.

Leap for Green Activities/Sponsors: