Red Deer EcoLiving Fair

About the EcoLiving Fair + Workshops

EcoLiving Events was founded in 2002 in Calgary, demonstrating a proven track record of success with all of their events being volunteer-driven.

Red Deer picked up the event in 2013 as an evolution of the local Seedy Sunday seed swap. EcoLiving brings environmental innovators together to talk about their projects and to learn from each other. This interaction between innovators is very important, as it builds relationships and could lead to new or improved technologies. EcoLiving provides events to teach about ways to reduce our collective ecological footprint, create more sustainable and energy efficient buildings, and share information about local environmental initiatives and services. These events show citizens how to save money while using fewer resources.

The EcoLiving Fair + Workshops is Red Deer's one day event bringing together community groups, innovative local businesses, makers and artisans in an indoor marketplace. Connect to local expertise through workshops and engaging presentations, and gain an overview of what’s happening in Red Deer’s sustainability scene.

2024 Red Deer EcoLiving Fair & Workshops

Saturday, March 23 from 10am to 5pm at Red Deer Polytechnic in the Cafeteria (1007) and the Energy Innovation Centre (Alt Energy Lab) - watch for the directional signs posted - co-presented by ReThink Red Deer and Red Deer Polytechnic Green Campus 

Click to enlarge the Campus Map

Repair Cafe (Energy Innovation Centre / Alt Energy Lab) and Seedy Saturday Seed Swap (Cafeteria - 1007) run from 10am to 5pm

PLEASE NOTE: if you are bringing a bike to the Repair Cafe, please drive around to the south side of the campus to Lot J to drop it off - bikes are not allowed inside the main buildings. And parking is not allowed in the Residence spaces.

Workshops run 12pm to 5pm and are "pay what you can" with all proceeds going towards volunteer appreciation (suggested ticket price $5 per workshop, or $10 for an afternoon pass)

Feature Workshop - 12:30pm to 2pm in room 1007 (Cafeteria Conference Room) - Worming Your Way to Healthy Soils and Plants with Rhonda Sherman

Learn how to successfully vermicompost and use the product to enrich your soil and increase plant growth and yields. In addition to vermicomposting household food scraps, you can do it on a larger scale with other organic materials. Large vermicomposting operations exist on every continent except Antarctica. One of the leading experts worldwide on vermicomposting, Rhonda Sherman was the director of the Compost Learning Lab at North Carolina State University for 30 years until she retired in 2023. The author of 65 publications, her latest book is The Worm Farmer's Handbook: Mid- to Large-Scale Vermicomposting for Farms, Businesses, Municipalities, Schools, and Institutions. Links to her videos and publications are at https://composting.ces.ncsu.edu/

NOTE: Detailed Workshops and Demos schedule subject to change

'Between Panic and Presence' with Ian MacKenzie, visionary artist and storyteller. 

Recorded on Saturday March, 21, 2020.

Given the postponement of the 2020 EcoLiving Fair, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we're happy to share that we were able to move ahead with a special online webinar from our keynote speaker, Ian MacKenzie. Ian is an award-winning visionary filmmaker who explores the hidden stories of the culture in this moment, allowing for both a clarity and sense of meaning to emerge, inviting a new pathway forward.

check out his short film Sacred Economics, based on the book by Charles Eisenstein.

Ian shares: "We have to proceed now into an uncertain future without 'hope' - that is, hope that we can sustain the system as it is today. And really, if we dig deeper, why would we want to sustain a society that is built upon a story of separation? Instead, we are called to return to the recognition of a living earth, a planet that is alive. And from that spiritual and experiential truth, respond with the right actions that serve a living being."

The webinar explores the cracks in the current system being exposed by the global pandemic and how this moment could be an initiation into a new story that works for all life. 

ECOLIVING 2020: POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. contact: sarah@rethinkreddeer.ca

Presented by ReThink Red Deer and Red Deer College Green Campus with support provided by Alberta Environment and Parks' Community Environmental Action program.

Saturday, March 21, 10am to 4pm at Red Deer College (Cenovus Learning Common - east Trades wing 2nd floor, room 2900)

The EcoLiving Fair + Workshops is Red Deer's one day event bringing together community groups, innovative local businesses, makers and artisans in an indoor marketplace. Connect to local expertise through workshops and engaging presentations, and gain an overview of what’s happening in Red Deer’s sustainability scene. Come and enjoy the spring fair feel with live music provided by Stephen James Scott, Jaydin Vonkeman and Bradford Lawlor.

Featuring: Ian MacKenzie

Ian MacKenzie is an award-winning visionary filmmaker and writer who has been tracking the seeds of emergent culture for over a decade. His work as a visionary artist has attuned Ian to the power of story. At this EcoLiving Fair you will be invited to explore the stories that build our community, and shape society. The world is made of stories, what world do you want to create?

Marketplace - 10:00am - 4:00pm

Workshops - 10:30am - 12:30pm

• How to recognize toxic ingredients in your personal care products

  • Lisa Morissette

• How students and teachers can implement effective environmental change in their schools

  • LCHS EcoVision

• How to grow & design with indigenous plants

  • Cynthia Pohl

• What is regenerative agriculture and why does it matter?

  • Mike Kozlowski

• + Gardening and composting workshops for kids!

Ian MacKenzie keynote presentation - 1pm

Storytelling Workshop with Ian MacKenzie - 2:30pm

Film Screening of Sacred Economics followed by Q+A with Ian

Friday March, 20

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Margaret Parsons Theatre, Red Deer College

Confirmed Exhibitors:

The City of Red Deer Parks Department

LISA holistic bath and body

Greenroots Eco Farming

Red Deer Association for Bicycle Commuting

Norwex

Kerry Wood Nature Centre

Steel Pony Farm

Green Deer Sustainability Hub

City of Red Deer, Environmental Services

Sherpi’s Mittens

LCHS EcoVision

Illicit Metalwork

Red Deer Public Library

Living Lands Landscape & Design

Pefferlaw Maple Syrup/ Nixon Honey

2019 Red Deer EcoLiving Fair & Workshops

Co-presented by ReThink Red Deer and Red Deer College Green Campus with support provided by Alberta Environment and Parks' Community Environmental Action program.

Saturday, March 23
10am to 6pm
Red Deer College
Cenovus Learning Common (east Trades wing - room 2909)

The Red Deer EcoLiving Fair + Workshops is a one-day event dedicated to sharing knowledge and building practical skills for sustainable community living. The fair is free to attend and showcases locally-crafted and eco-friendly products, innovative sustainable practices, and dedicated organizations in Central Alberta. With several workshops going on every hour - tickets $5ea. at the welcome desk - and plenty of networking opportunities, this year's EcoLiving Fair is not to be missed!
 

Check out this awesome line-up we have for 2019, workshop info below:

Illicit Metalwork (live demos!)
Jora Composters
Prairie Gold Pastured Meats
Eco Vision (+ Workshop)
Red Deer Public Library (+ Workshop)
City of Red Deer Parks Department
City of Red Deer Environmental Services
Red Deer Association for Bicycle Commuting
LISA holistic bath & body (+ Workshop)
HempE Health & Beauty (+ Workshop)
Invest Green Inc. (+ Workshop)
Norwex
Sunfind Solar Products Inc (+ Workshop)
Fetch Kayaks (+ Workshop)
Seeds of Diversity Canada
Wildrose Heritage Seed Company
Kerry Wood Nature Centre
Climate Leadership Lab (+ Workshop)
Medicine River Wildlife Centre
Red Deer Garden Club
CCBee's Natural Products (+ Workshop)
Living Lands Landscape and Design (+ Workshop)

If you'd like to be a vendor at the EcoLiving Fair, please contact  sarah (at) rethinkreddeer.ca for a registration form.

2019 Workshop and Attraction Schedule

2018 Red Deer EcoLiving Fair & Workshops
presented by Peavey Mart

Saturday, March 24
10am to 6pm
Red Deer College
The Forum & Margaret Parsons Theatre

Featuring Hands-On Workshops, Garden City (Farmers) Market, a Repair Cafe, Rain Barrel Sale, Seed Swap, Blacksmith and Forging Demo, Electric Bus, and more!

Full Workshops and Attractions Schedule here
(schedule subject to change)

2018 Exhibitors:
- Peavey Mart
- Country Thyme Farm
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary
- The City of Red Deer Parks - Community Gardening
- The City of Red Deer Environmental Services
- CCBee's Natural Products
- Kerry Wood Nature Centre
- Sunfind Solar Products
- Red Deer Bee Keepers Association
- Seeds of Diversity Canada
- Canadian Blood Services
- Red Deer Association for Bicycle Commuting
- Red Deer Garden Club
- Norwex
- Bee Wise Program
- Bummin' Around Cloth Diaper Services
- Clean Conscience Recycling
- Illicit Metalworks
- Newo Global Energy
- Perfectly Imperfect Pottery
- Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
- The Barrelman Inc. - Rain Barrels

- Mortar and Pesto
- The Grow Zone
- The Natural Step Canada - Sustainability Information
- Wild Brewing Co.
- Living Lands Landscape and Design
- Rocky Turel - Blacksmith
- Rental Bus Lines - Electric Bus
- Sun Country Farms
- Green Thumb Technology
- Top Peg Timber Frame Construction
- VokeStone - Concrete repair
- Heron's Nest Landscape Design
- Modest Grace - Ethical Fashion Line
- SkyFire Energy Inc. 
- Rosy Farms
- IG Verifier - Green Investments
- Barb Miller - Red Deer South MLA (Energy Efficiency Info)
 

Full Workshops and Attractions Schedule here
(schedule subject to change)

2017 Red Deer EcoLiving Fair & Workshops
presented by Peavey Mart

2017 Exhibitors:
- Peavey Mart
- Garden City Market

• Country Thyme Farm
• Nixon Honey
• The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary

- Sol Invictus Energy Services
- The City of Red Deer Parks - Community Gardening
- The City of Red Deer Environmental Services
- CCBee's Natural Products
- Alberta Food Matters / Growing Food Security in Alberta Network
- Little Green Thumbs Program - Central Alberta
- Kerry Wood Nature Centre
- Tiber River with Elizabeth
- Sunfind Solar Products Inc
- Casey's Heirloom Tomatoes
- Heavenly Dexter Ranch
- Red Deer Bee Keepers Association
- Seeds of Diversity Canada
- Canadian Blood Services
- Red Deer Association for Bicycle Commuting
- Sweet Pure Honey
- Red Deer Garden Club
- Grass Roots Family Farm-Organic Milk Fed Pork, Beef, Eggs, Honey & Veggies
- Charity's Case
- MEALIFE
- Living Lands Landscape and Design
- Norwex
- Ecovision's Friends of the Greenhouse (FOG) - LCHS
- Green Bos Farm
- Tiber River with Elizabeth
- Joseph Henry 1895 / Medicine River Soap Co.
- Red Deer Wonderflow School House
- Up to Kode Carpentry

For inquiries, please email karissa(at)rethinkreddeer.ca

The Workshops are sponsored by Big 105 FM and will run hourly from 10:00am to 5:45pm. See the full Workshops Schedule HERE; topics include green building technologies, preservation & pickling, zero waste DIYs, rainwater harvesting, urban beekeeping, seed saving, homesteading, and much more! Tickets are purchased at the event welcome and registration desk, $5/workshop or $20 for an unlimited pass (per person).

All proceeds go towards projects and programs of ReThink Red Deer. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you there!

2016

Peavey Mart presents the 5th Anniversary 2016 EcoLiving Fair + Workshops! The demand for sustainable living solutions continues to grow in Central Alberta so ReThink Red Deer is proud to host the EcoLiving Fair + Workshops at the Red Deer College!

Location: Red Deer College, Cenovus Learning Common - east Trades wing (2nd floor)
Map of Red Deer College HERE

This unique spring event is a showcase of dozens of exhibitors providing local food, products and services for sustainable and eco-friendly living where you have the opportunity to take in a workshop (or two!) to build practical skills for thriving in the 21st Century! It also features an open-pollinated and heirloom variety seed swap, showcasing the new Central Alberta Community Seed Bank initiative sponsored by the Bauta Family Seed Initiative and Seeds of Diversity Canada.

This event is usually one day, but for 2016 we celebrated the 5th Anniversary of the EcoLiving Fair in Red Deer by teaming up with the Red Deer Public Library to introduce a new attraction over 2 days called, The Repair Cafe! Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things (together).

2016 EcoLiving sponsors included:

- Peavey Mart (Presenting),
- Red Deer College Green Campus (Venue),
- Red Deer Public Library (Repair Cafe)
- Red Deer Express (Promotions),
- Sunny 94 and KRAZE 101.3 (Promotions)
- The Recycling Council of Alberta (Promotions)
- Noodle Box Red Deer (Green Drinks)
- Troubled Monk Brewery (Green Drinks)

Access to the event is free but there is a fee for participating in the workshops - $5 each or $20 (per day) for an unlimited pass (cash only please). The workshops open at 10:00am and run until 5:45pm. For those wanting to enhance their conversations and idea sharing we hosted Green Drinks Red Deer at Noodle Box Red Deer (Village Mall) with Troubled Monk Brewery immediately after the event.

Promotions for the Lexicon of Sustainability Exhibit were also on site plus info on the new MakerSpace initiative hosted by Red Deer College!

Exhibitors and presenters for 2016 included:

Garden City Market, featuring:

• Country Thyme Farm
• Earth Works Farm
• CCBee's Natural Products
• Homestyle Pies

- Peavey Mart
- Trimmed Line Tree Services (urban lumber recycling)
- Jora Canada Composters
- Earthly Matters Vermiculture
- CanadaHydroponic.ca (The Grow Zone)
- Top Peg Timber Frame Construction
- Living Lands Landscape & Design
- Deep Roots Design
- Nixon Honey
- Sunfind Solar Products
- Clarke Chocolates
- A'Bunadh (ah-boo-nar) Seeds
- Heavenly Dexter Ranch
- Hoven Farms Certified Organic Beef
- The Jungle Farm
- Rancho Relaxo Resort
- TheGreenPantry.ca
- CanAmaze (volcanic rock powder)
- AirTerra Biochar
- The Tulip Farm Red Deer
- Red Deer River Watershed Alliance​
- City of Red Deer (Parks) - Community Gardening
- City of Red Deer (Environmental Services)
- Canadian Association for Rainwater Management - Prairie Chapter​
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary​
- Little Green Thumbs Program
- Red Deer Beekeepers
- The Red Deer Garden Club (Seed Swap)
- Seeds of Diversity Canada
- Alberta Food Matters (GFSA Network)
- Red Deer Public Library (Repair Cafe Reading Table)
- Red Deer College - Green Campus Initiative & MakerSpace
- Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation
- Medicine River Wildlife Centre
- Agroforestry & Woodlot Extension Society (AWES)
- Kerry Wood Nature Centre

Workshop Topics from 2016 can be viewed HERE

2015's Exhibitors included:

- Top Peg Timber Frame Construction
- Taimi Soil Projects
- Earth Works Farm
- Edgar Farms
- Funky Fresh Farms​
- 4DJ Farms
- Gablehouse Farm & Gardens
- Country Thyme Farm
- Tanglewood Garden: Fine Organic Herbal Soap
- Eiiza Jane Soap Company
- Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre
- Living Lands Landscape & Design
- Deep Roots Design
- Yarrow Yardening
- Heron's Nest Landscape Design
- TheGreenPantry.ca
- Red Deer River Watershed Alliance​
- City of Red Deer (Parks)
- City of Red Deer (Environmental Services)
- Canadian Association for Rainwater Management - Prairie Chapter​
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary​
- The Green Clinic
- Harmonic Herbs (seeds via Purearth Organics)
- Alberta Food Matters (GFSA Network)
- Little Green Thumbs Program (Kids Corner)
- Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance
- Parkland Airshed Management Zone
- The Red Deer Garden Club (Seed Swap)
- CLUCK Red Deer
- Seeds of Diversity Canada
- EcoLiving Events (Calgary)
- Council of Canadians - Red Deer & Area Chapter
- Red Deer College - Green Campus Initiative
- Red Deer Association for Bicycle Commuting
- Alberta Environment and Parks

Workshops from 2015 included:

Top Bar Beekeeping
Handcrafted Soaps Using Nature's Colours
From Concrete to Country - Heading for the homestead!
The Water Brothers "Carpageddon" (documentary trailer) - World Water Day promo
Those Remarkable Daylilies
Building with Mortice and Tenon
Backyard Composting 101
Renewable Energy: Grid-tie Solar PV systems for residential, commercial and farming applications
Rainwater Harvesting in Alberta
Living with Water Issues - World Water Day promo 
Ask an Herbalist
Perennial Gardening Basics - Growing Asparagus & Rhubarb
Food Forest Gardening
Grocery Hacks: ingenious tips for saving money and the planet
The Fundamentals of Edged Hand Tools
Creating Pollinator Habitat Structures
Urban Chickens 101
Let's Go Wild: Foraging Local Wild Plants for Food, Health, and Beauty!
Healthy Soil, Healthy People - Int'l Year of Soils promo
Repair Cafes and Zero Waste Living
Local Energy - Vitamin Drinks
Low Maintenance Gardening
Seed Saving for Quality Seeds 

About EcoLiving 

EcoLiving Events was founded in 2002 in Calgary, demonstrating a proven track record of success with all of their events being volunteer-driven.

Red Deer picked up the event in 2013 as an evolution of the local Seedy Sunday seed swap. EcoLiving brings environmental innovators together to talk about their projects and to learn from each other. This interaction between innovators is very important, as it builds relationships and could lead to new or improved technologies. EcoLiving provides events to teach about ways to reduce our collective ecological footprint, create more sustainable and energy efficient buildings, and share information about local environmental initiatives and services. These events show citizens how to save money while using fewer resources.