"Saving the Environment One Yard at a Time" was the theme of Howard County's 5th Annual GreenFest.

Saturday's event aimed to educate the community about ways to be more environmentally friendly at work and at home. Over 100 vendors filled the Howard County Galleria with "green" goods to buy, educational advice, awareness campaigns, give-aways and more.

GreenFest included (from www.hcgreenfest.org):

- Bikes for the World (used bike and sewing machine collection for developing countries)

- Nike ReUse-A-Shoe (worn out shoe collection for recycling)

- Aveda Salon Marielle Cut-A-Thon for a Cause  (get your hair cut and proceeds will be donated to a watershed organization)

- Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake Collection Truck for donation of new and reusable household items

- Goodwill Industries donation collection truck

- Children's nature play space

- Children's craft and nature activity 

- Tree planting on-site

- Live reptiles and birds

- Mini farmers market

- Solar telescopes for viewing on the Quad

- Rain barrel workshops (free barrel registration is now full, however the workshops are open to the public)

- Compost and gardening/landscaping workshops and speakers

- Free document shredding (up to three bags or boxes) and electronics recycling event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

- Free compost bin giveaway 

And more! Visit Howard County GreenFest online for more information about this year's event and upcoming programs.