Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. River St. Joe in Buchanan will be presenting Green Drinks, an open-to-the-public event, on Wednesday, July 20th, for an evening of networking between business owners, consumers, and curious community members, discussing sustainable business and the environment.
From 4:30 p.m to 6 p.m, at 15475 Walton Road, enjoy casual conversation with the hosts of the event, Michigan’s Great Southwest Sustainable Business Forum. Founded in 2010, the MGSSBF exists to educate the local business community in sustainability matters as an information source and a force for merging environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic strength.
“The goal of our Green Drinks event is to gather for a conversation about sustainable business, and equitable environment practices with like-minded professionals,” says Rose Spickler, Director of Statewide Engagement for MGSSBF.
Some of their tasks include working to protect local water resources, teaching about energy education and intelligent building technology, and collaborating with other organizations that work to lead the state of Michigan to clean energy and energy waste reduction.
“We promote business practices and policies that advance climate leadership, community resilience, social justice, and the creation of a circular economy,” says MGSSBF. In 2017, MGSSBF merged with West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum to create the largest regional organization for sustainable business practitioners in the Midwest.
Multiple gatherings are held throughout the year for the cause, educating the public and bringing to light the changes and adjustments we can make for better sustainability. The Green Drinks event in May of 2022 was held at the St. Joe Community Taproom, and in August they will feature a webinar about ‘Increasing Acceptance and the Use of Compostable Products in Michigan’.
River St. Joe is located on certified organic Flatwater Farms, and is committed to sustainable organic practices at their farmstead brewery. “Success for us means fulfilling our purpose, which happens when we embody our values and invite our guests and community to do the same, as they experience what sustainable farming, food, and beer look, smell, feel and taste like,” says River St. Joe. “We like to think of (Flatwater Farms & River St. Joe) as a symbiotic relationship and a microcosm of the big picture interdependence of people and planet.”
Delicious beverages will be available for purchase at Green Drinks on Wednesday, July 20th, and all are invited to learn, share, and meet new people while expanding our knowledge of what it means to be green.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
