Texas Veggie Fair, the largest and longest-running vegan festival in the state, will host its 10th annual event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., November 2, at the Dallas Farmers Market. Weightlifter Kendrick Farris is among the featured guests. He is a three-time U.S. Olympian and one of the plant-based athletes in the upcoming film The Game Changers.

Moving to the Dallas Farmers’ Market, Veggie Fair  will take over The Shed and the adjacent Dallas Sports Park. It’s the first time to be held in November, which is widely celebrated as World Vegan Month. Texas Veggie Fair saw 15,000 attendees in 2018, showcasing a variety of plant-based foods, products from local and national vendors, speakers, cooking demos, live music, craft beer, yoga and kids’ activities, and more.

Feminist-vegan advocate and acclaimed author Carol Adams will speak about her award-winning Protest Kitchen , and eco-entrepreneurs the Sustainable Duo will give their Let’s Get Zero-Wasted presentation. Vegan electro-pop singer/songwriter Miss Krystle will perform on the Blue Circle Media Stage, where local musicians and DJs will also be featured throughout the day.

Eddie Garza, senior food and nutrition manager for the Humane Society of the United States and a leading figure in the movement to reform food systems in Latin American communities, will offer cooking demonstrations in both English and Spanish. Beyond Meat, local Spiral Diner & Bakery and Viridescent Kitchen, a new women-owned vegan kitchen  will all be providing meatless goodies.

Texas Veggie Fair was founded in 2010 to bring together, educate and expand the plant-based community regionally, nationally and worldwide; display alternatives to the norm of destructive, violent food and product production; and provide a positive, entertaining, and educational experience in a fun, welcoming environment.

Admission is free. Location: 900 S. Harwood St., Dallas. For more information, visit TexasVeggieFair.com.

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Hundreds of electric vehicle (EV) owners and enthusiasts will celebrate National Drive Electric Week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., September 21, at the DART North Irving Transit Center (DART facility) in Irving.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) promise a great event for EV owners, potential owners and anyone that wants to see the future of vehicle technology. They expect a turnout approaching 200 EVs and plug-in hybrids.

Location: 5601 Riverside Dr., Irving. For more information and registration, visit driveelectricdfw.org.

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Lime is a transportation service that empowers riders with affordable, sustainable shared transportation options that reach every neighborhood. By partnering with local communities to deploy fleets of free-floating bikes, e-bikes and electric scooters, Lime makes active transportation more convenient and equitable for residents and visitors while helping cities fight car congestion. Lime operates in more than 100 communities around the globe, offering industry-leading data transparency and Lime Access discounts for disadvantaged communities.

Lime has partnered with Austin Street Center as a Lime Hero recipient, which allows riders to opt into a donation program where a portion of their ride fare will go to a local nonprofit organization. Lime Hero is the first of its kind in the micro mobility industry and has the potential to make a significant and powerful impact by raising awareness of nonprofit organizations. Lime has hit a record 2 million rides in Dallas.

In 2018, Austin Street Center served more than 3,000 unduplicated clients, a sharp increase by almost 200 percent from 2015. Austin Street Center works toward the goal of every man and woman gaining their independence and finding a home of their own. Over the past three years, Dallas’ unsheltered homeless population has grown more than 260 percent, and this trend is expected to continue.

For more information, visit li.me.

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Ironically, the products we use to make our homes clean are making us sick, instead. Cleaning products are the number one source of toxins in our homes, linked to reproductive disorders, neurological problems and cancer. Additionally, mainstream companies often use "greenwashing" in their marketing to give the perception that their products are safe and environmentally-friendly when they are anything but.

Detoxing the home can be overwhelming. Sometimes you need help to  detox your home with the safest and most effective products on the market. To get started, here is a list of five of the most toxic products in the home and recommended safe swaps. In addition, focus on reading labels in local stores, as many groceries and warehouse outlets are beginning to respond to the demand for cleaner products.

1) Air Fresheners release toxins into the air that get ingested into everyone’s lungs.

Safe Swap: Essential oils. These fragrant, 100 percent natural plant-based oils combat odor and improve air quality. Many essential oils are naturally antibacterial and antiviral.

2) Fabric Softeners/Dryer Sheets leave a chemical residue on clothing that is absorbed into our bloodstreams when we wear them.

Safe Swap: 100 percent wool dryer balls, which speed drying time and fluff clothes. Norwex's are the highest quality. For softening: add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment in the washer. For fragrance, add 3 or 4 drops of essential oil to each dryer ball.

3) Antibacterial Soaps contain chemicals that have been linked to cancer and other health problems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes these ingredients are no more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of infections.

Safe Swap: Dr. Bronner’s pure Castile soap.

4) Laundry Detergent emits an average of 17 toxins, which attach to fabrics and get absorbed into our bloodstreams.

Safe Swap: Laundry detergents without harmful chemicals, such as Norwex, Molly's Suds and Better Life.

5) Scented Soaps and Lotions contain more than 3,000 synthetic fragrance ingredients, with no way to know which combination of ingredients are in a particular product. Fragrances are not regulated by any government or health agency.

Safe Swaps: Dr. Bronner’s body products, Beautycounter skin care and body products.

Submitted by:  CLEERLIFE.  For more information about CLEERLIFE, email Lisa@cleerlife.com or call 817-966-5057, or email Jennifer@cleerlife.com or call 214-850-9448, or visit Cleerlife.com. 

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The city of Dallas Trinity River Kite Festival will take place from11 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 14, along the Dallas floodway between Commerce Street and IH-30. It’s the most unique free festival in the southwest, with a day of high-flying outdoor adventure and fun.

Highlights include public kite flying, Troy Gunn and Team TKO Stunt Kite Flyers, Gayle Woodul and Christian Baden-Powell with Go Big or Go Home Show Kites, Chris Bangma and Dallas Area Kitefliers Organization, Jewels of the Sky kites, North Texas Hang/Paragliders Association with gliders on exhibit, a Kid's Fun Zone with Bounce House, Trinity Draw n' Go Crafts and Airplane Making Booth for all ages, Trinity Skyline Trail Walks, Trinity Marketplace and City Booths and a Food Truck Zone with food and soft drinks for purchase.

Admission is free, with a free kite giveaway while supplies last. For more information visit TrinityRiverKiteFestival.com.

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