City College’s Adult Education program and the Sustainability Project are painting October green with four free classes on sustainability and easy green living.

Learn about simple, affordable lifestyle changes for businesses, homes, food, and the local community. Meetings are being held 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. each Tuesday of the month at the Santa Barbara Central Library in the Faulkner Gallery.

The class held on Oct. 6, “Businesses and Jobs – Green Collar Economy for Santa Barbara” will feature facilitator Paul Poirier of Poirier and Associates, addressing cutting-edge information from the U.S. Green Building Counsel.

Poirier will share information about a Goleta-based business, EcoSneaks, that makes earth-friendly, vegan sneakers. Joyce McCulloch of Habitat for Humanity will be on board to explain green building techniques and offer participants volunteer opportunities.

City College professor Dr. Adam Green will present information on the changing curriculum to support education for Santa Barbara’s future green community. The evening will culminate with a representative from Citrix Online, a green software company from Goleta that has developed the business meeting software, Go-to Meeting, Go-to Webinar, and Go-to My CT.

The class on Oct. 13 will highlight, “Food and Clothing – Tasty Green Choices.” Facilitating the class will be Heather Allen, a redevelopment specialist for the Santa Barbara County Redevelopment Agency. Joining her will be Tahara Ezrahti.

Green Schools Education Director from Art From Scrap will be speaking about local school gardens. Ellen Kelley, an artist, and Karen Stancer will give a presentation about neighborhood clothing exchanges and “thrifting.” Susan Alexander will be teaching neighborhood garden exchanges.

The class held on Oct. 20 will be “Home and Garden – Affordable Green Comfort.” Coordinator Deann Wilson from EcoBroker will speak about the year in review on green building and landscape. Deann and Daniel Wilson from WELDesign will share on the legalizing of grey-water systems and cost savings with edible landscapes. Adam Sharkey of Blackbird Architects will lecture on green additions to a budget, while Carol Ashley, of
<href=”http://www.demo2design.com/”>Demo2Design, will address using reused and recycled materials to create backyard guest rooms.

The class on Oct. 27 will culminate with “Community – Be Part of the Big Green Transition.” Architect John D. Kelley will lead the class. Dennis Thompson, Thompson Naylor Architects, will be speaking about the Mesa Neighborhood while Eric Lohela, City of Santa Barbara Recycling, will expound on Transition Town.

In addition to the four classes, students will be invited to two fieldtrips touring the Fairview Gardens and the Habitat for Humanity store for additional hands-on learning.

The Sustainability Project, the host of the series, is a non-profit organization sponsoring events and educational seminars that help educate the community on the green living and sustainable lifestyles.

Deann Wilson of EcoBroker, summing up the monthly series said, “The classes will show how you can go green without going broke.”

For more information, please contact John D. Kelley at (805) 963-1013 or via email at [email protected].