Homegrown Alabama will kick off its season with a demonstration of how to clean in an eco-friendly way and a “stuff swap.”

The student-led group that hosts a weekly local farmers market is hosting the event in conjunction with the University’s Sustainability Day Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Canterbury Episcopal Church.

The market will have demonstrations to teach attendants how to make natural cleaning products and show ways to clean using baking soda instead of harsh chemicals as a way to keep the theme of sustainability. Customers are also welcome to bring items from around their home that they would like to trade with others as part of a “stuff swap.”

“We wanted to show people how they could be more eco-friendly in their cleaning, because a lot of cleaning products are really harsh on the environment, and that was something we wanted to endorse at the sustainability market,” Heather Lightsey, Homegrown Alabama events coordinator, said.

Homegrown Alabama is currently in a transitional phase, so customers will be seeing some old and new vendors. Burnette Farms, Red Bud Botanicals, Left Hand Soap Company and Sunny Seedlings will all be present during the first weeks of the market. New vendors this season include Belle Meadow Farms, selling organically grown produce, and a new egg vendor which will alternate with the current egg vendor.

Market manager Mo Fiorella said the market will be a little smaller than usual because it is still early in the season, and it is working in a tighter space due to its new parking lot. However, she said there will still be the same amount of variety at the market, such as popular items like produce, goat cheese and strawberries.

“We are always flexible to meet the needs of customers and the attendance of our customers,” she said.

Fiorella said the market tries to be convenient for faculty and students, eliminating reasons to not buy local.

“It’s really convenient because it’s right there, and you can get everything that you need, lots of vegetables,” Fiorella said. “We’re trying to get rid of all the excuses people have not to go to farmers’ markets.”

In addition to the kickoff event, Homegrown Alabama has themed markets the first Thursday of every month. May 2 it will be hosting an herb festival where they will feature herb-themed recipes. In June, it will host a tomato festival and a melon-themed market in August. Later in the summer, it plans to host a welcome-back barbecue for students to learn about the market and how they can get involved.

In her first year of working with Homegrown Alabama, Lightsey, a junior majoring in restaurant and hospitality management, has learned about the importance of promoting sustainability through events like Sustainability Day as a way of maintaining a clean, healthy earth and reducing the distance from farm to table as a way of reducing the amount of processing food goes through before it reaches the consumer.

“We’re going to be in our parents’ place in 30 years, so it’s up to our generation to make sure we take good care of the planet, to keep it as clean and as healthy as we can,” she said.

There will also be face painting, children’s activities and live music at the event. For more information about Homegrown Alabama or to get involved, visit homegrownalabama.ua.edu or contact [email protected].