Eight sessions of gardening for fun for second, third and fourth-graders. Held Wednesdays Sept. 5 through Oct. 24. Cost: $30 residents, $40 non-residents. Online registration required: livegreeninplano.obsres.com

Fairview Farms Marketplace is open seasonally May through October for all your farm fresh produce, flowers and plants. Open Tuesday through Sunday in September.

Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week, March 22-Oct. 20. On top of all the great local produce they always have, this year they're offering local organics. Check out their website to see list of vendors.

Held on six consecutive Thursdays. • Get the scoop on green living topics such as water conservation, responsible yard care, managing household waste, green building and renovation, energy efficiency and air quality. • Understand how daily decisions impact the environment - for better and for worse. • Discover simple ways to inspire people in making greener choices. • Contribute 24 hours of volunteer service, matching your passion for the environment with new skills and fun opportunities.

The Downtown Arlington Farmer’s Market is a community-oriented market focusing on Texas provided foods, arts, crafts, services and wares. It is open every Friday and Saturday. The goal of the market is to provide a venue for local vendors to offer Arlington, Texas residents an opportunity to buy the freshest meat, produce, breads and other great foods, crafts and products available. Visit their website to learn more about vendors.

You don’t have to travel around the world to photograph wildlife in natural settings. Take a guided tour with staff photographer Cathy Burkey as she leads participants to animal habitats that offer the best opportunities for photographers. Zookeepers will be on hand to help encourage the animals to be in the best possible locations for photography. Photo Safaris are limited to 15 participants and pre-registration is required. A continental breakfast is included. Call 469-554-7423 for more information or to make reservations. Cost: $45 (DZS members)/$55 (non-members).

Local homesteading and sustainability exhibitors/demonstrations/speakers/farmers bring their knowledge to share and wares to sell. From renewable energy to green building to permaculture to intentional communities to farm produce to canning to oat rolling and more, learn what you need to live more sustainably. Admission is free.

Kids Club is a joint program of the Dallas Zoo, Dallas Museum of Art, Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Dallas Arboretum, Trinity River Audubon Center and Crow Collection of Asian Art. Each institution hosts an exclusive event once a year for all Kids Club members. Dallas Zoo members at the Passport or above levels are eligible to participate in Kids Club activities. Upgrade today to join in the fun.

PLEASE BRING: Chemical products for home use, paint and home repair products, automotive fluids & oil filters, lawn and garden chemicals, craft and hobby supplies, fluorescent light tubes, cleaners and polishes batteries of all kinds, aerosol sprays, pool chemicals. DO NOT BRING: Containers larger than 5 gallons, business or commercial waste, common trash or recyclables, explosives or ammunition, shock sensitive materials, radioactive materials, construction debris, smoke detectors, medical waste, medications For residents of Dallas, Addison, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Highland Park, Irving, Mesquite, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, University Park and unincorporated areas of Dallas County. Residents of all other cities pay $95 fee. Bring driver's license and utility bill as proof of residence.

Courtney Blevins from Texas Forest Service will teach participants about the Texas Tree Trails program and how they can participate. Benefits of participating in the program include recognizing and promoting historic trees, encouraging tree diversity, accessing trees and tree trails using the Texas Trees Trails Web site, and viewing trees that are on private property virtually through the Web site. This adult workshop is best suited for ages 10 and up.

Space is limited, please RSVP to 817.860.6752.

Class presented by the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association. Fee is $15. To register or for more information, contact Billie Hammack at 817-884-1296 or blhammack@ag.tamu.edu.

By Teresa McUsic The fourth annual Ecofest Arlington, a free event to promote environmental awareness, will be held Saturday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Founders Plaza, 100 W. Abram St. in downtown Arlington. The event is expected to draw more than 10,000, according to a city official. The festival will feature more than 40 vendors, who will spotlight their green products and services. Ecofest also will include free demonstrations, classes and kid-centered activities. Live entertainment will feature local bands performing at the outdoor Levitt Pavilion. Tap water will be available for free all day, while food and drinks from local restaurants will be on hand as well. “This isn’t a city event, this is a regional event,” said Heather Dowell, parks and recreation urban forest land manager for Arlington. “We want everyone in North Texas to come.” Arlington will give away 1,500 trees in 12 varieties on a first come first serve basis at the festival. Last year, 1,000 trees were gone within the first four hours, Dowell said. Arlington residents also will be able to sign up for a $10 class in the city chambers for making their own rain barrel. Other classes will be open to the public and held throughout the day on irrigation conservation, creating a Smart yard with eco-friendly plants, backyard composting and other ecological topics. Vendors include DFW Reclaimers Inc., who will pick up old electronics at the event, including computers, printers, cell phones and game consoles. “This is our third year at the event, but the first time we will be picking up electronics,” said Kevin McCanlies, owner of DFW Reclaimers in Watauga. “Typically we get 3-4 tons in a one-day festival.” McCanlies said the company completely breaks down the old electronics before selling the chemicals inside. The company does not ship pieces overseas, he said. Other vendors include Green Ox Energy Solutions, Texas Organic Lawn Care, Abibow Recycling, Daylight Ranger and Half Price Books, among others. Dowell said by adding free music and kid’s activities more people come that may not typically seek out an environmental event. “Then they see the products that might help them be more environment and save money,” she said. “You can’t come to this event and not learn something.” In keeping with the message of Ecofest Arlington, event planners are aiming for a zero-waste event. There will be recycling stations set up and vendors are required to use only materials that fit the recycling and composting guidelines. Along with title sponsor, Republic Services, Ecofest Arlington has joined with other partners, including the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, University of Texas at Arlington, Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, Texas Power, Rental Stop, Fast Signs, Arlington Parks and Recreation and numerous city departments. “We are very excited for another opportunity to show our citizens how important it is to live a sustainable lifestyle,” said Dowell. “Every year this event gets bigger and better and we know it is making a difference in our community.” For more information about Ecofest Arlington including a complete list of classes, entertainment and vendors visit EcofestArlington.com or call 817-459-5474. Teresa McUsic is an Arlington-based writer focused on consumer, environmental and health issues for a number of local and national publications. Her column, The Savvy Consumer, appears in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She can be reached at TMcUsic@aol.com

Are you watering wisely or irrigating irrationally? When you hear "soak cycle," do you think of your washing machine? Are you trying to figure out how to keep that sprinkler head from spraying your fence? Then this is the class for you. Learn how and when to water your plants, how to make simple sprinkler repairs and where to go for help. Cost: free.

Geocaching is a scavenger/treasure hunt using GPS units and coordinates to find the treasure. It is the fastest growing outdoor activity in the world. Learn more at this workshop. No equipment or experience needed. This program is limited to 10 families/small groups as the number of GPS units is limited. Call Michelle at 972-291-5940 to check availability. The program is available to the general public and will be held in an outdoor amphitheater that is wheelchair and stroller accessible. All programs are subject to weather conditions.

The Nature Center is full of life in the form of wildlife, wildflowers, trees and more. However it does not take much time on the Refuge to find a tree that is not lush with green leaves. We will discuss these trees called snags and the role they play in nature and at the Nature Center. Program geared for Pre-K to elementary aged children. FREE (with paid admission).

Hosted by the Fort Worth Vegetarian Society. Come share your favorite healthy (and perhaps not so healthy) vegan dishes. Be with others who eliminate animal products from their diets.

SKY EVENTS

Join the Noble Planetarium staff and members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society for free monthly Star Parties. You’ll find plenty of telescopes for viewing and even more astronomy buffs to help you navigate your way through the skies. Star Parties are held once a month held in front of the Museum, on Gendy Street. The party begins at dusk, weather permitting, and lasts until approximately 10:30 p.m. Best of all, it’s FREE! Note, parking is available in the lot south of Harley Street.

Dates for 2012 star parties:

• September  22

• October 6     "Stars over Euless"

• November 17

*To be held in the Museum Lot, directly south of the Museum (corner of Harley and Montgomery)

Please note, parking surrounding the Museum is paid parking managed by the City of Fort Worth. 
More information and a fee structure can be found on the City of Fort Worth's Parking Guide.