Multiple Activities and Events at Hamilton's EcoHouse

May 3-4, 2008

Hamilton: Doors Open weekend promises to be a green and exciting time for Hamilton's EcoHouse. The environmental demonstration building will be featuring a variety of events and exhibitions surrounding the Doors Open Hamilton event (May 3-4, 2008)

Doors Open Hamilton is rare opportunity to see inside some of Hamilton's most interesting buildings, many not often open to the public. Doors Open Hamilton began in 2003, just three years after the concept came to North America from Europe, where it has been in place since the early 1990s. Doors open Hamilton 2008 features 61 sites across Hamilton for the public to discover, including Green Venture's "green living" site, EcoHouse.

For information on Doors Open Hamilton, visit http://doorsopenhamilton.ca or contact 905-546-2666.

EcoHouse's Doors Open weekend features:

1. Official Opening of "A Good Start!- Giving Hamilton the Power to Change", renewable energy generation - Sat May 3, 11:00 am.

Since September 2007, Green Venture has been building a wind turbine and a solar PV array, courtesy of funding from the Ontario Ministry of Energy's Community Conservation Initiative program. On Doors Open weekend, this new renewable energy generation project will be officially opened at 11:00 am on Saturday , May 3, 2008.

Green Venture's "Good Start" project is designed for education purposes and has been hosting school children since January, showcasing energy conservation and generation and Grade 5 school curriculum activities.

2. Native Species Trees giveaway- Sat May 3, 10:00 am - 3:00

In the spirit of spring planting, Green Venture is having a Native Trees fundraiser as part of Doors Open Weekend. EcoHouse staff and volunteers will be accepting donations in exchange for the seedlings, which were donated to Hamilton Conservation Authority and to Green Venture from the City of Hamilton. The grown native species stock is earmarked for replanting in the Red Hill Creek watershed.

Trees available include:

Canadian Elderberry, Red Elderberry

Red Osier Dogwood, Gray Dogwood, Round-leaved Dogwood

White Oak

Silver Maple, Sugar Maple

Black Raspberry

Black Walnut

American Bittersweet

Eastern Cottonwood

Chokecherry

Trees for giveaway are being exchanged on a first-come first-serve basis as stock is limited.

3. EcoHouse Bake Sale and Plant Sale - Sun May 4, 10 am - 3 pm

Green Venture's Community Garden team of staff and volunteers will be baking up a storm for Doors Open weekend, as we feature a bake sale on Sunday, May 4, from 10-3. Baked good selections (including vegetarian and vegan baking) will be available for sale, as well as small plants from our gardens and solarium.

4. Gateway to the Greenbelt" Exhibit- April 22 to May 5, 2008

And just in time for spring, Green Venture is featuring a temporary exhibit on the Ontario Greenbelt.

What is green, breathes, feeds millions and is exciting to explore? The Gateway to the Greenbelt exhibit answers this question and more. Highlights of this exhibition include:

* The Greenbelt's significant contribution to quality of life in the province

* Explores the history of the Greenbelt's countryside, its working landscapes and rural communities, as well as its environmental significance

* Captures the area's beauty and diversity in image and text, showcasing places to see and things to do

With a generous grant from The Friends of the Greenbelt, the exhibit was developed by Black Creek Pioneer Village to educate the public about Ontario's Greenbelt and promote its rural communities. Admission is free.

The Greenbelt exhibit starts April 22, 2008 and runs until May 5, 2008.