For five years, the Berkshire Earth Expo, organized by Living the Change Berkshires, has been a meeting place to learn about climate, energy and conservation related topics, to celebrate nature’s beauty and to take action to protect the earth.
Because of COVID-19, in 2021, Living the Change Berkshires collaborate for the first time with Berkshire Museum to hold the 5th Annual Berkshire Earth Expo online.
From November 1—14, 2020, Berkshire Museum hosted a wide variety of exhibits and interactive programs on its website, for example, a juried art show called “How Shall We Live?” – Climate Visions of Berkshire Youth Artists, podcasts about Berkshire students’ work to protect nature, poetry readings, and several workshops and webinars on climate solutions. These can still be viewed here.
Courtesy of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s Cooler Communities program, participating students receive mini-grants for their projects.
Another key feature of the Berkshire Earth Expo is the Cooler Communities Action Platform, a virtual place where Expo visitors can take action, no matter their age, background, or pocketbook.
Together community members can channel their inspiration and concern for the Earth and their local communities into measurable actions. They can browse and learn about the many actions available, create a profile and pledge one or more actions that are a good fit for them. The platform will compile all of the individual pledges to allow the whole community to see it’s collective impact.
The Berkshire Earth Expo will resume in person in 2022 and, along with Pittsfield Public Schools, will present activities, exhibits, food and fun. Visit the EVENTS page on the Cooler Communities Action Platform for events details and registration in Spring 2022.
Previous events:
2020 BERKSHIRE EARTH EXPO ● NOVEMBER 1—14th
ONLINE
ONGOING & SPECIAL EVENTS throughout Expo
- Cooler Communities Action Platform
- Juried Art Show “How Shall We Live?” Climate Visions of Berkshire Youth Artists
- Podcasts: Six Berkshire students present their work on protecting the Earth
- En-Roads Climate Solution Simulator – an interactive webinar
- Center for Eco Technology (CET): DIY workshop on weatherproofing your home
- CET: Reclaimed Building Materials: a webinar on using reclaimed materials for building and remodeling, including deconstruction for reuse.
- Singer/ Songwriter Fiora Laina
- Daily on Facebook: Young Voices for the Planet – a series of short films
- Berkshire Environmental Action Team: Shaving the Peak – a webinar
- Berkshire Environmental Action Team: Home Energy Efficiency: Offers for homes and businesses to save on bills – a webinar
- November 1, 6:30 pm — Community Conversation on Environmental Justice
- November 8, 4:00 pm – En-Roads Climate Solution Simulator – an interactive webinar
- November 9, 8:00 pm — WordXWord poetry and spoken word, recorded and live event
- More exciting events to be announced!
Want to get involved?
For questions or to participate, please contact Uli Nagel, uli@livingthechangeberkshires.com or telephone 413.329.3514
Working Together for a Greener and Brighter Future
Berkshire Earth Expo is a community fair focused on energy efficiency, climate resilience, and the protection of nature and our health. It is an event where visitors learn and take action to reduce their energy use and save money.
On April 9, 2019, this unique event featured local students’ exhibits, eco-friendly vendors and organizations, food, games and fun for the kids, arts and crafts, WordxWord, and much more.
With the new Cooler Communities Challenge, individuals, families, and businesses had access to easy and convenient steps to reduce their carbon footprint. By accessing the resources and presentations at the expo, visitors made pledges and learned how to adopt new habits that made sense for them. These actions are not only be good for the earth, but will save money and time. The pledges of all attendants will be added up to determine the collective reduction of our community’s carbon footprint.
For every pledge sheet turned in by visitors at the expo, Berkshire Children and Families received a $5 donation from our co-sponsor, ener-G-save!
Students at Berkshire County schools have taken on the Cooler Communities Challenge and presented their work on climate and environmental classroom activities. These student exhibits enlivened the Expo and inspired all of us to do whatever we can to ensure our young people have a livable future!
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Schools participating were:
Muddy Brook Elementary School, Great Barrington — The Muddy Brook Green Team presented their work on composting at their school and why it is important to compost.
Bard Academy at Simon’s Rock — Tate Coleman is a student at Bard Academy who presented his work on public transportation in the Berkshires. Students of Professor Michael Bergman did a presentation of the science of climate change.
The Darrow School, New Lebanon, NY — Darrow Environmental Science students and their teacher, Leah Penniman, presented their research on solutions for feeding a growing population without squandering the earth’s resources. Combining soil science, food justice audits, and climate analysis, Darrow’s young scientists chart a way forward to a sustainable food future.
Miss Hall’s School — 10th Grade students presented their campus efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate single use plastic bags and offer tips for more green practices while using reusables.
Taconic High School — Students brought their science fair exhibits related to climate/energy.
Waconah Regional High School — Students shared their experiences and methods in researching and implementing a school-wide cafeteria composting operation to reduce the amount of waste from their school going to landfills.
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Vendors and Organizations who attended the 2019 Expo!
350mass Berkshires
Ampion Community Solar
Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)
Berkshire Compost
Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)
Beyond Plastics – Bennington College
No Fracked Gas in Mass (NFGiM)
Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC)
Berkshire Photovoltaic Systems (BPVS)
Citizens Climate Lobby
Center for Ecotechnology (CET)
Climate Action Now of Western MA
Dark Sky
ener-G-save
Flying Cloud Institute
Green Fire Press
Greenagers
Helia Native Nursery
Hoffman Bird Club
Lee Greener Gateway Committee
Mass Audubon
Northeast Solar
N.O.T. Enterprises- I’m N.O.T. Gonna Get Ticked
Pittsfield Green Commission
Pittsfield Bag Share
Pittsfield Recycles
Progressive Asset Management
Regeneration Massachusetts
Working Cities
