Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair

Enjoy a weekend of information, education and entertainment at the 11th annual Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair, held August 11 and 12, at the Ogle County Fairgrounds, near Oregon, Illinois.

Fred Kirschenmann, president of Kirschenmann Family Farms, a 2,600-acre certified organic farm in Windsor, North Dakota, and director of the Leopold Center at Iowa State University from 2000 until 2005, will give a talk, Redesigning the Human Adventure: Challenges & Opportunities. John Perlin, who has spent years researching the history of solar energy, will present Solar Homes in the Midwest.

Student contributions include a Rock Valley College student that will demonstrate his capstone project of wood cooking stoves for Third World application. A University of Illinois freshman will explain how to convert a motorcycle from gasoline to electric power.

With more than 40 workshops and 40 exhibitors, topics include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and healthy personal, home and yard care products. Organic produce, native plants and other environmentally sound products will be for sale. Free workshops will be offered all day on both days.

For more information, visit IllinoisRenew.org.