Live It Up Kicks Off with Local Food Celebration at Frank Liske Park

March 17, 2010 – Bring the whole family to the Live It Up Cabarrus kickoff celebration at Frank Liske Park from 2 until 5 pm Saturday, March 20. This celebration of local foods will offer hands–on exhibits to demonstrate practical ways to have a more sustainable lifestyle, such as backyard gardening, healthy cooking, composting, kids activities, a viewing of the short film “Fresh,” plus free samples of local food.

The Live It Up Cabarrus festival will feature a beginner gardening demonstration, food preparation demonstrations, composting, backyard and container gardens, a plant clinic, fresh herbs, produce for sale, local meat vendors, local cheese vendor, beekeepers and honey, plus food samples from Marvin’s Fresh Farmhouse and Gianni’s Trattoria.

Kids’ activities include Biofuel Blast, Hot House Detective, Packing Peanuts Play, Pond Pollutants and How Does Water Travel. All activities are free and open to the public. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the afternoon, including a vegetable garden starter kit, restaurant gift certificates, compost bin, rain barrel and more.

Live It Up Cabarrus is a sustainable living series offered through Cabarrus County. The program kickoff begins with the Celebration of Local Food at Frank Liske Park. Monthly workshops will follow to provide easy–to–implement tips to begin living a life in balance. Workshop topics are:

• Sustainable Neighborhoods: The Impact of Growth – April 22
• It’s Your Health: Demystify Dos and Don’ts of Cleaning Products, Plastics, and more – May 13
• Give Your Home an Energy Tune–Up – June 17
• Natural Assets: Protecting Our Area’s Resources – July 15
• Beyond Recycling: How to Control the Waste We Produce – August 19
• Green Business: Managing the Triple Bottom Line – September 23
• Stepping Out of the Haze: Transportation Solutions for a Green Planet – October 14

These workshops provide learning in a fun, hands–on environment. Individuals who register and attend all seven workshops will receive a special green living certificate and will be entered for door prizes. These workshops are free and are open to Cabarrus County residents who are 16 years old or older. All workshops are held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 until 8:30 pm.

To register for the workshops or to learn more about Live It Up Cabarrus, visit www.cabarruscounty.us/liveitup.