Recently, I interviewed  Jennifer Tlumak, Executive Director of Urban Green Lab, about their organization and about the upcoming events they have scheduled for the summer. Check out the interview below and see how you can get involved this summer and learn more about how you and your family can implement more sustainable activities and how to help make Nashville and your own community a “greener” and more sustainable city and place to live.

Q. Jennifer, Urban Green Lab is such a unique organization. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

A.We facilitate a range of educational and social programs that inspire participants from all socioeconomic backgrounds to make sustainability a bigger part of their lives–in their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses.  We are working to make sustainability part of the culture of Nashville that connects past, present and future generations.  Essentially, we want to teach people how to make sustainable living simple, achievable, and inspiring.

Q. I understand you are raising funds for a Mobile Green Lab. What exactly is the Mobile Green Lab and who will it serve?

A. The Mobile Lab is a vehicle that will be equipped with interactive exhibits that allow people to discover ways that they can incorporate sustainability into their daily lives.  It will include topics such as solar energy and energy conservation, local water sources and how and why we need to conserve them, sustainable transportation of people and food, food and agricultural practices such as composting, and green building technology.  The lab aims to reach all people in the community.  It will travel to schools, businesses, and community events throughout the city.

Q. What made you choose Nashville as the city to start UGL in?
A. The Urban Green Lab was born out of the East Nashville community where our founders saw a need to raise awareness around issues of sustainability.  The focus started in Nashville because there is a need to spread environmental education in order to improve our health and well-being, save money, and conserve resources.
Q. Are  you having any workshops this summer?

A. Yes!  We will be having our monthly Engage Green workshops on July 2 and August 6.  July’s will feature information on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and a chance to try your hand at a fresh, seasonal recipe led by a local chef.  August’s will teach about home brewing and the importance of drinking local!  In addition, we will be present at the Pride Festival this Saturday, June 14th, the Vans Warped Tour on July 29th, and the Tomato Art Festival on August 9th.
Q. All of this sounds wonderful. How can Nasvillians find out more about your organization and get involved?

A. The community can get more involved by visiting our website and signing up for our newsletter at www.urbangreenlab.org, attending our events and workshops to learn how they can incorporate sustainability into their everyday lives, becoming a volunteer, or emailing us with any questions!  Follow us on Instagram @theurbangreenlab, Twitter @UrbanGreenLab, and Facebook! 

Finally, don’t forget to buy tickets to our Green Garden Party benefit on June 28th at http://tinyurl.com/mxg7cpg.  Come out and help Urban Green Lab reach its goal of funding the city’s first mobile sustainability lab!  We’ve already raised the majority of funds for our mobile lab project through the generosity of hundreds of individual donors, our Founding Partner, Nissan, and other foundation and corporate partnerships.  Come out and help put us over the top!

Julia: Thanks so much Jennifer for taking the time to tell us more about the Urban Green Lab.   It sounds like you have a lot of exciting events coming up soon and I hope many of our readers will be able to participate in them!

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