Learn how to live a greener life at Aurora Green Fest

Food is the focus of the fourth annual Aurora Green Fest.

Organizers say visitors can see locally raised chickens and goats and learn about sustainable farming and organic gardening practices during the free event, which connects people to green businesses and resources in the Aurora area. The fest runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora.

“We’re emphasizing food, which includes local food,” said Mavis Bates, chairwoman of Aurora Green Lights, the nonprofit running the festival. “We’re going to have a lot of local farmers there.”

Food joins the fest’s other themes of shelter and transportation as an aspect of life in which Bates hopes people can learn to make more environmentally sound choices.

“Our emphasis this year is to raise awareness for making positive changes in our daily lives — from the food we eat to the cars we drive to the choices we make every day that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and our whole quality of life,” she said.

In the realm of shelter, businesses that sell energy-efficient or eco-friendly home and personal products will help people with an interest in greener living improve the sustainability of their homes, Bates said. Items as varied as solar panels, rain barrels and organic hand lotion will be for sale.

A green car show — featuring a Tesla Roadster owned by Stefano Durdic of Lombard as well as a Chevy Volt, a Nissan Leaf and a Toyota Prius — highlights the festival’s transportation-related activities.

Recycling of electronics, light bulbs, old medications and cellphones will be available throughout the festival, along with a document shredding session from 1 to 3 p.m.

Children can get their green on by making nature-themed balloon creations and other art projects with recycled objects.

Bates said organizers are excited about two other aspects of this year’s Green Fest — one new and one returning.

A company called Urban Worm Girl has participated in the previous three festivals, drawing large audiences for presentations about composting using worms. But a presentation about bats is all new, and Bates said people can learn about their role in the ecosystem, especially their ability to eat up to 7,000 mosquitoes in a day.