Conservation

Educational event hosted by the DFW Herpetological Society, featuring speakers and more than 100 species of reptiles and amphibians. Admission $7-$10.

This two-day course is offered by North Lake College Continuing Education. The introductory workshop describes 20 years of thinking about what sustainability is and how to achieve it. It is grounded in best practices, rigorous science and the contributions of thousands of experts, business professionals and community leaders from around the world. This workshop will introduce you to the basic concepts of The Natural Step Framework allowing you to practice applying those concepts to business and detail ways in which others have successfully applied the framework to their operations. Cost is $175. Follow up four-day course is held Nov. 2-10.

By Teresa McUsic
The fourth annual Ecofest Arlington, a free event to promote environmental awareness, will be held Saturday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Founders Plaza, 100 W. Abram St. in downtown Arlington. The event is expected to draw more than 10,000, according to a city official.
The festival will feature more than 40 vendors, who will spotlight their green products and services. Ecofest also will include free demonstrations, classes and kid-centered activities. Live entertainment will feature local bands performing at the outdoor Levitt Pavilion. Tap water will be available for free all day, while food and drinks from local restaurants will be on hand as well.
“This isn’t a city event, this is a regional event,” said Heather Dowell, parks and recreation urban forest land manager for Arlington. “We want everyone in North Texas to come.”
Arlington will give away 1,500 trees in 12 varieties on a first come first serve basis at the festival. Last year, 1,000 trees were gone within the first four hours, Dowell said.
Arlington residents also will be able to sign up for a $10 class in the city chambers for making their own rain barrel.

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council will host the first ever Green Apple Day of Service. For one day, advocates from across the country and around the world will come together in support of healthy, sustainable schools by taking real action in their communities.
For more information or to learn how to fund a service project, see website.

Reservations are being taken for Tarrant County Master Gardener’s fall regional conference, which is open to the public. The all-day conference includes talks on weather trends, native and adapted plants, landscaping with drought-tolerant plants, harvesting rainwater and rain gardens and coping with wildlife and bugs. Demonstrations on drip irrigation and copper rain chains as well as tours and make and take activities. For more information and registration form, go to www.tarrantmg.org or contact Billie Hammack at 817-884-1296 or blhammack@ag.tamu.edu. Registration fee is $45 and includes lunch.

Yard Smart is a free seminar, featuring experts from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, designed to provide effective, beneficial ways to use water wisely in the landscape. Topics vary by season and have included butterfly gardening, landscape watering, container gardens, perennials, trees and much more. This semi-annual seminar is offered each spring and fall. See website for fall seminar topics. Spring seminar topics will be posted in spring. No pre-registration is required.

Yard Smart is a free seminar, featuring experts from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, designed to provide effective, beneficial ways to use water wisely in the landscape. Topics vary by season and have included butterfly gardening, landscape watering, container gardens, perennials, trees and much more. This semi-annual seminar is offered each spring and fall. See website for fall seminar topics. No pre-registration is required.

Social Impact. Dallas. Engagement. Civic-Mindedness.
These are all words that evoke the energy and excitement around this year's bigBang! event, a forum hosted by Dallas Social Venture Partners. We will be convening the thinkers and doers of our city for a day-long opportunity to catalyze positive impact.

This year, bigBang! will be a place to jump in and get hands on. With experiences at every turn to learn about forward-thinking socially conscious businesses and nonprofit organizations, we invite you to be completely immersed in the day.
General Admission with access to all events is $225.
A micro-sponsorship of $1,000 provides two tickets and four Fellowships to be granted by purchaser or given back to bigBang! to be distributed as scholarships.

Over the past 11 years, this community and family oriented Green Living Fair has grown to be the largest “green show” in the South. It occurs at the end of September, every year, in historic Fredericksburg, Texas. You can see the latest in eco-friendly technologies. Learn how to save and create your own energy. Attend informative talks by the experts. Visit with our vendors to see contemporary green living and sustainability practices. Come test drive the next generation in personal transportation. It’s fun, environmentally friendly, and a great place to learn how you can make a difference!

The Dallas Sierra Club meeting will include the following programs. Solar Energy - Jim Duncan, solar PV design and installation specialist, will talk about the fast growing
renewable energy field of solar photovoltaics. Learn about solar power for your home. Find out if purchasing a solar PV system is right for you, and learn the pros and cons of leasing solar panels. More information at www.ntrei.com.

Fall Elections - David Griggs will give a brief overview of the fall Sierra Club electoral plan for North Texas, including a handout of the list of the Sierra Club endorsements.

Contact Kirk Miller at KirkMiller@DallasSierraClub.org for more information.