Marshall Hinsley

VegFest OKC, Oklahoma City's first vegan festival, will be held on Sept. 8 at Myriad Botanical Gardens. It features plant-based foods, cruelty-free products, fitness classes, and speakers promoting healthy lifestyles. The event aims to highlight Oklahoma's growing acceptance of veganism and improve the state’s health statistics.

Evan Boehler of McKinney uses a Home Biogas system to convert kitchen waste into methane gas for cooking, reducing stove use. Developed by Israeli company Home Biogas, it’s an eco-friendly solution addressing food waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and providing renewable energy and fertilizer for global environmental and health benefits.

Dallas horticulturalist Leslie Halleck unveils indoor gardening secrets in her book "Gardening Under Lights," showing how grow lights can replace sunlight for year-round indoor cultivation. The guide covers various plants, lighting techniques, and setups for both novice and experienced gardeners, offering detailed tips and practical advice.

Dallas-based Eden Green Technology launched the region's first vertical farm, producing pesticide-free greens sold at Walmart. Utilizing hydroponics and climate control, crops mature faster and conserve resources. The technology enhances food security, aiming for global expansion.

EarthxFilm's annual student film contest encourages filmmakers aged 12-21 to create 60-second films on the theme "Straw-Less Summer," highlighting the environmental harm of single-use plastics. The deadline is August 1, 2018, with prizes up to $500. This initiative raises awareness and promotes sustainable practices.

Green Source DFW video reporter Marshall Hinsley offers a look inside Dallas-based Eden Green's vertical farm in Cleburne. The company debuted its greenhouses on June 27, 2018. Full story to come.

STEAMGrown Gardens, a Denton nonprofit founded by Jen Bailey, aims to bolster monarch butterfly habitats at underfunded schools while aligning with Texas's STEAM curriculum. The initiative involves grants and volunteer support for creating wildflower gardens that serve as educational tools and help boost student engagement and ecological knowledge.

Kristi Comuzzi faced a bee infestation in her yard and, due to severe allergies, sought eco-friendly removal services. She discovered many companies falsely claim to relocate bees but use pesticides instead, which can damage property. She consulted the Texas Honeybee Guild, finding trustworthy services like Honey Bee Relocation.

A California company collaborates with the Texas Department of Transportation to offer the Texas Sponsor a Highway Program. This initiative allows companies to pay for professional litter cleanup crews in exchange for advertising, making highway adoption accessible to all businesses and supporting environmental efforts.

The Dallas Public Library's Seed Library, housed in an old card catalog, offers free vegetable, fruit, and herb seeds to patrons, fostering urban agriculture. Classes are available, and no library card is needed. Seed donations support the expanding program, which aims to engage and sustain Dallas's gardening community.

Amanda Vanhoozier launched Just Picked TX, a website directory and blog, to connect North Texas consumers with local farmers. It aims to deepen ties in the sustainable food community by promoting fairness, quality, and consumer–producer connections, fostering collaboration and community support for local food producers.

The Monarch Butterfly Habitat Exchange, developed by multiple environmental organizations, offers incentives for Texas landowners to restore monarch butterfly habitats, combating significant population decline. The program finances habitat restoration from Mexico to Canada via crowdsourcing, increasing monarch populations while providing economic benefits to landowners and contributors.