BY SCOTT NEILSON

The 8^th Annual RITE (Really Into the Earth) of Spring event will be held Saturday, April 26, 2014, 9–12 at the Mahtomedi School District Education Center. This free Earth Day event sponsored by the City of Mahtomedi and Mahtomedi Area Community Education features sustainable organizations and displays from throughout the metro area. Also, there will be various sustainability hands-on workshops.

The event will feature information stations from the City of Mahtomedi, Washington County, White Bear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Waste Management, Alliance for Sustainability, local bike clubs and biking resources, and many other organizations.

New this year will be an introduction to growing your own herbs, along with cooking demos featuring delicious ways to use your home-grown herbs.  Or learn how to make a reusable bag from a common t-shirt.  And back by popular demand is the free make-and-take nontoxic cleaner workshop.

This year’s special feature will be free electronics recycling, battery and holiday lights drop off, along with inexpensive compost bins available for pick-up. At the event, you will be able to bring in old unwanted electronic equipment to dispose of. This includes home computers, cellphones, stereo equipment, VCRs, TVs and other stuff that contains cadmium, mercury and lead that can contaminate groundwater.

Girl Scouts will be collecting used batteries (all types) and non-LED holiday lights for disposal.

It is never too early to begin planning for spring gardening. The Alliance for Sustainability is offering an easy solution to green up your backyard this spring by providing compost bins at a wholesale price. By composting organic waste (vegetable scraps and yard waste) you can create valuable compost for your garden. Through a group purchase the Alliance is offering Mulch Machine Backyard Compost Bins for only $42.00 (including a ‘how-to guide’ on composting best practices compiled by industry experts.)

Please pre-order your compost bin by April 10 from Alliance for Sustainability and plan to pick up your compost bin on Saturday, April 26, 9–noon at the RITE of Spring.

Finally, everyone will have the opportunity to enter a drawing and win a rain barrel.

We encourage families to walk and bike to the event. There will even be bicycle safety checks.