Beekeeping to Alternative Energy at the Laramie Conservation Expo

LARAMIE -- The annual Laramie Conservation Expo was a great success, according to Trish Penny, Education Coordinator with the Laramie Rivers Conservation District. The expo was held Saturday at the Albany County Fairgrounds right here in Laramie.

Sponsored by the Laramie Rivers Conservation District, over 50 exhibitors representing businesses, government, the non-profit sector, and the seasoned home practitioner provided the Albany County community with information on conservation in our homes, businesses, and personal lives.

From left, Amelia, Paige and Penny Lindmier of Laramie get a hands-on lesson about erosion at Saturday’s LRCD Expo. Trish Penny, Education Coordinator with the Laramie Rivers Conservation District, said the “stream trailer,” affectionately referred to as the “big sand box” by those in attendance, is a model used to teach kids and adults how rivers are made and how erosion affects the landscape. "People can select a location in the stream trailer where they might consider building a house, for example. They can turn the water on so it flows downstream, and they can see if they selected a good spot or not. It’s a good teaching tool,” said Penny. (LaramieLive photo/Tom Kocal)

The wide range of products and information included everything from alternative energy, and conservation construction methods - to wildlife management, small acreage landownership, high altitude gardening, low-impact landscaping, beekeeping, composting, wildlife conservation, and local food production presented by Feeding Laramie Valley.

Scott Schell, Assistant Extension Entomologist at the UW Ecosystem Science and Management Department, brings a lot of different samples of insects, butterflies, moths, and more for kids and adults to view, as well as a microscope, in case they haven’t had a chance to see the critters up close.

Jonathon Kinzer, 7, of Laramie, takes a close look through a microscope at a Brown Recluse Spider while perusing the bugs and other information at the University of Wyoming Extension display at Saturday’s LRCD Expo. (LaramieLive photo/Tom Kocal)

“I also use little bug jars so they can actually bring them right up to their eye and look at them closely, but safely,” Schell said.

Several members of the Laramie Chapter of the American Sewing Guild displayed their handiwork, promoting repurposing, recycling, and reusing any and all types of clothing and materials.

ASGLC President Sue Green said the Laramie Chapter is actually the Wyoming Chapter, since Laramie is currently the only chapter in the state.

Four of the members of the Laramie Chapter of the American Sewing Guild at the LRCD Expo, promoting “repurpose, recycle, and reuse” any and all types of clothing and materials. From left, Carol Bartholomew, Tammy Huling, Bobbie Schimek, and President Sue Green. The quilt in the left background is a quilt made from old blue jeans and the colorful rug at right is being weaved using repurposed t-shirts. (LaramieLive photo/Tom Kocal)

“We are surprised that we’re the only chapter in Wyoming, as we have a lot of people who sew in this state. Where are they?!” Green quipped. “A lot of people we visited with today said, ‘Well, I used to sew.’ Or their mother used to sew. One of our members started sewing in her 60s. As life changes, you start and end things. We are trying to encourage young people to sew. It’s kind of a dying art in some ways, but we’re here to tell Laramie that we are here, we are active, and you are welcome to join us.”

Presentations by exhibitors included how-to techniques for starting garden plants indoors from seeds by Jennifer Thompson, UW Extension; native pollinators by Scott Schell, UW Extension; backyard shrubs and small trees for fruit production in Albany County by Brian Sebade, UW Extension; and microbial source tracking and water quality on the Laramie River by Tony Hoch, LRCD.

Speedgoat was on hand, selling locally-baked pastries from Sweets Bakery along with burritos, nachos, and other tasty treats.

For more information about the Expo or the Laramie Rivers Conservation District, email laura.mcginley@lrcd.net or call 307-721-0072.

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