2023 EarthFest
April 22nd - May 13th
Join us as we celebrate Earth Day & Fair Trade day!
ARTICULATED BY THE BCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BECAUSE OF BCS, PEOPLE IN BLOOMINGTON AND SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA WILL HAVE…
A market for local, fair and healthful products, produced with care for the land, animals, and future generations.
Thank you for working with us to encourage everyone to make every day earth day and to create a higher demand for sustainable and ethically sourced goods!
SATURDAY, APRIL 22 - Earth Day!
Beginning on Earth Day, we will be charging 5¢ per paper bag; all of the proceeds will be donated to the current Positive Change recipient. Paper bags will be free to anyone using an EBT card.
Unfortunately, for our online shoppers, dropping off your reusable bags is not an option. However, we will be sure to always use boxes when they are available to pack your groceries. If boxes are not available, we will use paper bags and the 5¢ per paper bag will be added to your order after your groceries have been bagged.
Facts:
Did you know that as many as 14 billion trees are cut down each year in the U.S. to produce paper bags (Source: Columbia Climate School)?
While 66 percent of paper and paperboard are recycled, the recycling process requires additional chemicals to remove the ink and return the paper to pulp, which adds to paper’s environmental impact (Source: Columbia Climate School).
Contaminated paper bags are rejected from recycling companies and they are sent to the landfill adding to the almost 300 million tons of garbage that goes to the landfill every year in America. Paper and paperboard account for 23% of the waste that goes to landfills (Source: EPA).
The key to reducing your environmental impact is to use whatever bags you have around the house as many times and in as many ways as possible.
Plant Swap - Do you have extra (healthy) fruit, vegetable, herb, native landscaping, and/or house plants that you would like to share with your neighbors in exchange for some of their plants? RSVP (not required but appreciated) by completing the form below and join us at outside the front of our Near West store from 11am - 1pm! Please label your plants and bring your own containers/box to bring your new plants home with you. Never been to a plant swap? All you do is place the plants you want to swap on the table by the appropriate sign (House Plants, Produce Plants, or Non-invasive Landscaping Plants) and swap them out for the plants you want. That’s it and of course meet other plant lovers! First time gardening? Check out this gardening guide and planting calendar for Bloomington.
Double your Bloomingfoods for Earth stamps all day! Limit 10 stamps.
We will be GIVING AWAY branded reusable bags to 100 lucky customers! At each store, 50 reusable bags will be given away to customers at random during checkout. Each customer will get to spin our giveaway wheel (one spin per customer) to see if they have won a reusable bag while supplies last.
Friday, April 21 - SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Receive 20% Off bulk when you bring your own reusable container! Don’t have one? We got you covered - purchase a branded Bfoods bulk bag or reusable container and still receive 20% off!
Not sure how to use our bulk section? We still got you! Visit our Make Every Day Earth Day page to learn how to buy bulk items at our stores!
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
Sycamore Land Trust Native Tree Giveaway from 10am-1pm at both of our stores! One free tree seedling per person while supplies last.
American Plum • Buttonbush • Blackgum • Black Chokeberry • Common Chokecherry • Elderberry • Hazelnut • Gray Dogwood • Persimmon • Red Oak • Washington Hawthorn • and more!
Tree seedlings from Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Vallonia Tree Seedling Nursery.
Help plant over 800 trees in our community. Learn more at www.sycamorelandtrust.org/free-trees.
Photo by Sycamore Land Trust
SATURDAY, MAY 6
Photo by Sycamore Land Trust
Join us for a volunteer stewardship day with Sycamore Land Trust from 1pm - 3pm at Porter West Preserve (carpooling will be required and there is a max of 20 volunteers). RSVPs are required by Saturday, April 29th - please complete the form below. A follow-up email with more details will be sent to the first 20 registrants on Tuesday, May 2nd.
We will be removing garlic mustard and litter and working off trail for the most part. Some of the areas may not be ideal for younger children due to proximity to the road and/or some undesirable vegetation that will need to be identified and avoided. Thus, ages 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult. Any necessary tools and protective gear will be provided.
Tips to prepare:
Wear long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes or boots with good traction
Dress appropriately for being outdoors based on the weather forecast, layering is recommended
Wear work gloves (gloves will be provided)
Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated (water for refill will be provided)Wear a brimmed hat, or other clothing to shield from the sun
Use bug spray to prevent bites from ticks, mosquitos, flies, etc. It is encouraged to bring your own bug spray and sunscreen, however there will be some available.
If cancelled due to weather, the volunteer stewardship day will be moved to Saturday, May 13th, from 1-3pm.
Friday, MAY 12 - Saturday, May 13
$1 OFF all La Riojana wine
La Riojana is one of the largest co-operatives in Argentina and is currently ranked the country’s third largest wine exporter (by volume). But for their growers, their families and the communities they support, La Riojana means so much more than just the company to whom they sell their grapes. Learn more about La Riojana’s story by watching the video below or visiting www.lariojanawines.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 13 - Fair Trade Day!
Enjoy FREE samples of Fairtrade products at both of our stores from 2-4pm!
Learn how to compost! Composting 101 at our East store from 1-2pm (will be moved to outside of our Near West store if there is heavy rain). All ages welcome! Please RSVP by completing the form below.
Let’s become a composting community. Households account for 39% of food waste in the U.S., more than restaurants, grocery stores or farmers. Put more money in your pocket, turn food waste into “black gold,” and reduce climate change. Monroe County Solid Waste Management District’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Elisa Pokral, will reveal the basics and wonders of composting. We will be GIVING AWAY two stainless steel compost bins.
Everyone deserves to be treated fairly.
Why you should buy Fairtrade products:
To show your support for farmers and workers, who work to build a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
For farmers’ & workers’ human rights, such as safety, housing and education.
Fairtrade supports workers’ rights to trade unions and collective bargaining, as well as democratic decision-making at the producer level
Fairtrade tackles the root causes of biodiversity loss in many ways – from training farmers to setting standards for sustainable supply chains, and lobbying governments and corporations.
To create a demand for goods that were purchased on fair trade terms and telling companies that sustainable and ethical sourcing is important to you.
To show that you prioritize the people and places behind your food.
Because it is the right thing to do, and your choices matter — little changes can make a big impact.
For more information about Fairtrade, please visit www.fairtradeamerica.org.
during EarthFest, Both of our stores will have an endcap with fair trade products so that it is easier for you to locate them in our stores.
Owner-Members, enter our EarthFest Design Competition!
Congratulations to Gloria Manzanares Romero for winning the EarthFest Design Competition!!!
Beginning Friday, April 13th, we will be accepting designs from Owner-Members only for our new cotton drawstring bag (15" W x 16.5" H). Owner Members will vote on the design submissions and the design with the most votes will win a $200 Bloomingfoods gift card and will have their design on our new cotton drawstring bag that will be available for purchase at both of our stores.