“SolFest, the Greenest Show on Earth”

Root Concepts is committed to promoting sustainable ways of life, so we could not pass up the annual opportunity to visit SolFest 2007. Hosted by the Solar Living Center, based in Hopland, California, SolFest, “the Greenest Show on Earth,” is packed full of green wisdom, innovation, education, nourishment, and, last but not least, inspirational fun! For each and every ecologically or socially unfriendly issue, there is a sustainable green solution.

Our first stop was the all-around sustainable Thanksgiving Coffee stand, where we were served great coffee in recycled ceramics mugs with a smile - we dunked delicious organic oatmeal cookies. Bellies full, we cruised past a multitude of attractive booths featuring sustainable ideas, services, and products presented by friendly knowledgeable vendors. The newly opened Green Building Exchange based in Redwood City, California, for instance, was actively fulfilling its mission to connect the public with sustainable, green building professionals while promoting its Green Seed Radio show. Nearby, an earnest young woman was surrounded by sustainably-produced clothing and accessories, handmade by women’s cooperatives in Guatemala. The Presidio School of Management’s presence was outstanding with one of its students who wisely summarized the reason for sustainable living as such:
“We’ve got to look at the triple-bottom line, valuing people, profit and the environment equally.”

We couldn’t pass up the delicious smelling pizza baking at 350 degrees in the solar oven before having a private interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. Amy succinctly defined sustainability for us: “Sustainability is about non-violent living in the world, whether it’s in relation to people or the earth…Sustainability is about not only maintaining the earth but allowing it to thrive. Sustainability is about sustaining all of us…I think that if we deeply believe in sustainability, we can abolish war in the twenty-first century.”

Joyous, young girls proudly explained that they were running “the only solar-powered carousel in the world,” as they sipped on their organic grape sodas. We caught up with Serge Labesque, a remarkable beekeeper running a workshop at SolFest this year. Together we visited one of the Solar Living Center beehives while he summed it up: “Without them (the bees), we would not have the plants, the food, the life that we have. It would be totally different. We would not be here.”

As the sun began to set, we found our way to the sustainable wine-tasting tent. We stumbled upon Stephanie Jarvis of Mendocino Farms who was sampling its exquisite biodynamically produced wines. “Biodynamic agriculture is about producing not only in harmony with the earth, but with the entire cosmos,” explained Stephanie.

And what would SolFest be without its Moondance, the big Saturday night bash of of green fashion, veggie-oil wrestling, belly dancers and inspiring hip tunes?!

We left exhilarated and inspired. if we want to improve our ways toward a sustainable future, a multitude of creative and affordable solutions exist for each and every facet of our lives.

If you missed SolFest this year, be sure to bookmark your 2008 calendars!

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