Green Businesses Partner with Renewable Energy Non-Profit to promote Clean Energy and Local Agriculture

By Kashena Perkins 

Who wouldn’t love the chance to meet interesting people, eat amazing local food, win fabulous prizes, and listen to a great speaker all while supporting a grassroots organization committed to promoting sustainability? Well, if this sounds as good to you as it does to me, check out the SEAREI Solar Garden Party Fundraiser on September 28th.

SEAREI is a not-for-profit organization working to build sustainable communities through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and education.  They are modeled after the traditional New England style "barn-raising" of neighbor helping neighbor. This organization works toward this goal by lowering the cost of installing renewable energy systems, providing hands on education, developing support networks and community connections. They serve the Piscataqua region and southern Maine. Help them accomplish these goals by coming to this amazing fundraiser event!

The Solar Garden Party, a collaborative effort between SEAREI and sustainable business Cornerstone Tree Care, gives attendees an opportunity to meet like-minded people who not only talk-the-talk but walk-the-walk when it comes to sustainability and believe in sustainable communities. Also, hear entrepreneur Peter Egelston, owner and founder of Portsmouth Brewery and Smuttynose Brewing Company, speak on “Greening Business and Building Community.” On top of these great opportunities attendees get to sample Smuttynose’s local brews and enjoy a wide array of food supplied by eleven local restaurants.

Everyone who purchases a ticket to the event is entered into the grand prize door raffle. This prize is a weeklong stay in a beautiful ocean side condo in Puerto Rico! You can also purchase raffle tickets for $5 apiece, 3 for $10, 8 for $20, or 15 for $30. Purchase raffle tickets by emailing info@searei.org!

Raffle prizes include: A Solar Hot Air Collector ready for instillation, One Cord of Wood Dried, Split, and Delivered by Green Alliance green-certified business Cornerstone Tree Care, and last but not least a Yeti Solar Light Portal.

Tickets to the event are $20 for SEAREI members and $30 for non-members. Purchase event tkts to the  SEAREI Solar Garden Party Fundraiser at

For more information check out the event description at www.searei.org/september-2013.pdf or learn more at www.wxgrfm.org

Many of the contributors to this local green event are Green Alliance Business Partners.  The Green Alliance works with businesses to help them become more sustainable and educates consumers around making greener purchasing choices. Learn more about the GA at www.greenalliance.biz

Main SEAREI Solar Garden Party host Cornerstone Tree Care “speaks for the trees” and uses sustainable practices throughout their business practices.  The Portsmouth Brewery and Smuttynose Brewing Company, owned by speaker Peter Egelston, have used the “make-it-from-scratch” mentality in every aspect of their business and are determined to keep getting better and more sustainable every day. Other green-certified businesses helping to put on the Solar Garden Party are: Mr. Fox Composting, Poco’s Bow St. Cantina, WXGR FM.