It may be one of the most annoying questions; where do you want to be in five years? How about 38 years? That’s what The Tomorrow Plan is working on for a “Greener Greater Des Moines.”

The Tomorrow Plan is all about planning ahead for the expected growth of the Greater Des Moines Metro. Their efforts are about connecting and coordinating strategic efforts from all the future-thinking organizations and individuals around the city.

Greener and greater means more class and less trash, so we’ve been doing whatever we can to help the wonderful thinkers, activists and change-makers behind the initiative.

That’s why we encourage you to kick-off your weekend with a sustainable start. The Tomorrow Plan will host their second COSC Connects Speaker Series on Friday, March 29, at 3 p.m. in Vets Auditorium. Peter Katz, the founding executive director of the non-profit Congress for the New Urbanism and author, will talk on combining planning with technology for a better community. (When your career is centered around a subject the New York Times labeled as “the most important phenomenon to emerge in American architecture in the post-Cold War era,” you have to be awesome.)

After Katz speaks, come join in on discussions on local foods, housing, arts and waste management. Guess which one RMI will be leading? The event is free, so stop by and share your good vibes!

Natural Living Expo

Next stop, same place, different day? The all things organic, holistic, renewable, and reusable Natural Living Expo. Held March 31-April 1, the Expo features over 100 exhibitors with interactive, healthy and educational good and services. This is a wonderful time for the whole family, with plenty of things for the little ones to explore.

When: March 31, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and April 1, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: Vets Auditorium/CCCU Convention Center, 833 5th Ave., Des Moines, IA. 50309

Price: 18 and under are free, Adults are $5