The651.com

By now all die-hard Minnesota State Fair fans have been to the fair at least once. But have you been to the Eco Experience in the Progress Center at Cosgrove St. and Randall Ave.? This is the first year I’ve ventured so far from the midway and endless food booths, and now I’m wishing I had done so earlier. It’s just a quick walk, but feels a world away.

First, there’s the Net Zero Eco House, which is ridiculously impressive and beautiful. Not only is it designed to produce the energy it uses with its three dozen solar panels, it also houses energy-efficient appliances and funky details like a kitchen countertop made locally from crushed walnut shells. The garage’s roof is covered in grass and the yard uses native landscaping and a rain garden so that it’s friendly to wildlife and doesn’t need toxic pesticides or fertilizers. As we refinish the basement in my own house, I’m inspired to investigate more green remodeling options.

Before popping into the Eco House, I stopped at the Countryside Market for a caprese salad on a stick—wildly tasty tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Naturally, the tomatoes and basil were supplied by a local farm. (Ironic how we don’t get much local food at the fair, given that much of the fair celebrates farm life!) As much as I love my pronto pups at fair time, the hot dog I’d eaten earlier didn’t compare to the natural juiciness and flavor of these tomatoes.

Wandering through the rest of the Eco Experience building, I couldn’t help but feel proud of all the green options available to Minnesotans. There’s an opportunity to sign up for wind power, to learn about green jobs, electric cars, wind/solar power, and composting. This part of the fair is educational and fascinating, without being pretentious. Now the next step: what to do with all this newfound, eco-savvy, know-how?

While planning my upcoming trips (plural!) to the Minnesota State Fair, I was thrilled to realize that (although tasty and tempting), a fair adventure doesn’t have to be ALL about fried things on a stick. I definitely plan to attend the Minnesota Cooks events Sept. 1, when nearby farmers and chefs from restaurants all over the Twin Cities will pair up to create seven 45-minute cooking shows using Minnesota-grown ingredients.

JD Fratzke, executive chef at St. Paul's The Strip Club

Starting at 9 a.m. and running until 5 p.m. next Tuesday, you can watch chefs from Common Roots Café, Red Stag Supper Club, The Craftsman, Birchwood Café, The Strip Club, Trotters Café, Spoonriver, and others, as they create dishes like grilled pork loin with heirloom tomatoes, polenta with smokey black eyed peas, grilled lamb, and local corn grits with sweet corn, tomatoes, and tarragon. Need your taste buds ask for more?

Along with delicious, local eats, you can also learn about sustainable, green living at the Eco Experience Sustainability Stage. Every day at the fair, there is programming at this stage running from 9:30 a.m. until after 6 p.m. Check out topics like how to reduce your carbon footprint, solar on a budget, rain gardens, bike commuting, and keeping your home clean and green. Download a PDF of the schedule here.

See you at the fair!