SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sustainable Saratoga and Skidmore College organized the first Saratoga Sustainability Fair that took place on April 6. More than 300 people strolled through the Case Center at Skidmore College, where 36 exhibitors were on hand to answer questions and provide resources on a wide range of sustainability topics, including environmental protection, renewable energy, social equity, impact investing, and much more.
Wendy Mahaney, Manager of Sustainable Saratoga, summed up the day: “The success of the fair exceeded our expectations. One of our primary goals was to connect people with resources to integrate sustainability into their lives, but seeing the community engage with one another and express their passion to make changes in our community and our world was what really made this day extraordinary.”
The highlight for many was the keynote address by Aaron Mair: “Democracy, Intersectionality and Building a Strong Climate Movement.” Aaron’s ability to remind us of our history and weave his own personal story into a thought-provoking, inspiring call to action for each of us to come together and make our voices heard was met with a standing ovation by the over 150 people in attendance. Aaron’s talk left a lasting impact on attendees and set the stage for a day that would encourage a broader, more inclusive view of sustainability.
Nineteen workshops took place throughout the afternoon, with a large number in attendance for workshops like “Backyard Composting” and “The Climate Reality Project.” The EV car show was a hit as well, and the addition of a “Ride and Drive” event let people test drive a Mitsubishi Outlander or Hyundai Kona. Some attendees also joined a campus sustainability tour, which showcased student-led programs like their community garden, campus bike share, and apartment composting. The tour also covered other campus-wide efforts like the College’s solar and hydro-electric projects, and even included a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Skidmore’s geothermal energy nodes.
Art Holmberg, Chair of Sustainable Saratoga, hopes to organize another fair next year. “The overwhelmingly positive response we received clearly shows that there is a desire for this type of an event, and this is exactly the kind of educational opportunity that our organization strives to provide to the community.”
