Peterborough Green Expo 2009 and CNIB Tech Fair

At the end of a broadcast season, you might think we don't have much going on. To be honest, I was starting to think it was going to be a bit quiet for me, but lo and behold - there's plenty to keep me occupied!

This past weekend we visited the Green Expo and saw some really different exhibits. We saw much of what you would expect - green lawn care, services and products for a greener home and workplace and local city/county initiatives. I picked up brochures and business cards for many products that I'll have to follow-up on.

Peterborough Green-Up was there with several displays. Today (April 30, 2009) is the launch for this year's Peterborough Moves program. Information was available at the Expo, but you can find out more about this program at http://www.peterboroughmoves.com/.

Some of the exhibits I wasn't expecting though. Once such display was Leading Lady Image Consultants (http://www.theleadinglady.ca/) with their green line of Rocia cosmetics and skincare.

There was representation from local farmers and By The Bushel Community Food Co-operative (http://www.bythebushel.ca/). I didn't get too much time to find out all I wanted to know about this organization, so I will follow up soon. They did have some literature available but I would have loved to see a "sample weekly basket". I know it would very depending on the season and availability what the basket held, but it would be helpful.

Kawartha Country Winery (http://www.kawarthacountrywines.ca/) had a lovely display of their products and I know we'll take a road trip this year to their winery. I have tasted their wines at Fiesta Buckhorn (http://www.fiestabuckhorn.com/), a local food and wine festival a couple of years ago and still remember their Black Currant wine being my favourite. There was no surprise when she told me that it was an award winner!

The other display that I was excited to see was Green St. e-bikes (http://www.green705.com/). I have been talking about getting an electric assist bike ever since we moved to Peterborough. Over the past few years I haven't seen anything that really got me seriously thinking about it until last weekend. At present you dont need insurance or a license - but the Ontario government's trial period on this is due to end in October, so things may change. I'll be watching http://ebikernetwork.org/ and the links posted to find out more. We'll have to wait and see if this is the year I get the bike of my dreams!

The students from Fleming culinary programs and Kenner Collegiate were hard at work in and out of the kitchen with their lunch of local flavours. We were speaking with the chefs before things got rolling and the kitchen at that time was quite warm. I didn't get a chance to eat as we had to tape and run, but I did see lots of people enjoying their tasty lunches.

Today we visited the CNIB Tech Fair held here in Peterborough and got a chance to see some of the amazing technology available - both low and high. From hand magnifiers and stand cameras that can scan pages as fast as you can turn pages to talking GPS systems, Bluetooth Braille keyboards, we got a chance to see it all. One of the most amazing items was a simple USB drive called a "System Access Key. Simply by plugging it into a USB drive on computer makes that system "Accessible" without software or hardware installation, Amazing!