About
GreenFest is Howard County's largest celebration of Earth Day. The event aims to connect residents with the resources that local businesses, non-profits and government provide to help anyone be a good steward to the environment. Interact with local green vendors, take home some native plants, attend a workshop or demonstration and much more!
Getting Here
Bike: Choose a "green" mode of transportation this year! Bike HoCo is partnering with GreenFest to provide a free bike corral for visitors and volunteers. If the journey is too far to cycle, consider bringing your bike to an outlying parking lot and biking to the corral.
Bus: There are three RTA buses that serve the Howard Community College campus: 401, 404 and 414. Download the Transit app for real-time date.
Drive: Consider carpooling with other GreenFest attendees! Vendors and attendees should park in the East Garage for easy accessibility to the Academic Commons and outdoor activities.
Workshop Schedule
| Workshop Room AC116 | Workshop Room CL162 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |
|
Box Turtle Garden Guide: Creating Backyard Habitat for the Eastern Box Turtle Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society |
| 11:00 |
How to Outsmart Your Energy Bill Office of Community Sustainability |
Introduction to Native Seed Collection Columbia Association |
| 12:00 |
Howard County Green Awards Howard County Bureau of Environmental Services |
|
| 1:00 |
One Pot Wonder: Climate-Friendly Caribbean Jerk Chili Jessica Carter, Creator of Love Vegan Soul |
Where Have All The Fireflies Gone? Mosquito Spraying: Learn the facts and explore effective alternatives Howard County Bee City |
| 2:00 |
"Scrappy Cooking; Spring Edition" Community Ecology Institute |
Give a Buzz About Pollinators: A Family Adventure Brianna Amingwa, Deeply Rooted Outdoor Education |
Native Plant Vendors
Visit our native plant and local farm vendors in Parking Lot A!
Transition Repair Café
Do you have items in your house that need fixing or mending but you don't know where to start? Bring them to the Transition Repair Café at GreenFest! Volunteers will evaluate and fix as many of them as they can and offer their expertise on items that are too large or not possible to bring in. Please register first before bringing your items to GreenFest.
Giveaways
Backyard Compost Bins
The Howard County Master Gardeners will be available to answer any questions about composting and gardening. They will be distributing 50 backyard compost bins on a first come, first served basis inside in room AC 118.
GreenFest is just one of many opportunities to pick up compost bins and learn how to make your own soil amendment. Visit our Backyard Composting page and download this year's calendar to attend a demonstration.
Rain Barrels
Howard County residents can help reduce stormwater runoff with the help of a rain barrel--they collect and store runoff from roof downspouts, and this water can be reused for lawns and gardens, reducing the use of potable water. This year, 40 rain barrels will be given away at GreenFest. Prior registration is required.
Trees for Bees
Want to help pollinators, fight climate change, and add some beauty to your yard--all for free? Our Trees for Bees giveaway offers native trees and shrubs that provide food and shelter for wildlife while improving water quality and runoff. Quantities are limited, so don't miss out! Prior reservation is required.
Our Sponsors
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Iota Lambda Omega Chapter
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Omega Eta Omega Chapter
Columbia Association
Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park
Garden Sanctuary Design and Coaching
Go Howard
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc.
Howard Community College Green Team
Howard County Master Gardeners
Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy
Howard EcoWorks
Howard Soil Conservation District
Patapsco Heritage Greenway
Power Home Remodeling
Renewal by Andersen
Sol Levinson Funeral Home and Eclipse Funerals
The Roving Radish
Howard Community College, Academic Commons
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044