Trying to share information about the impact eating vegetarian, vegan, or less meat in general has on the body, mind, environment and economy is no easy task. Vegheads are usually met with sighs, eye-rolling and complaints about their food choices being respected.
Fortunately, pictures are worth a thousand words, and Christopher Baez of GuerrillaWearfare has brought his message down to street level with thought provoking tees for every day wear.
I love gardening, but living in an apartment in Queens, NY, options are limited. I made the main window area in the front of my apartment a sun room, full of house plants some some edible plants I have growing in containers. My basil is doing great, and I've grown several more plants from cuttings of it. I also have an avocado tree growing from a pit, and pineapple from the scrap top of one that I ate one time.
While I adore picking off basil to eat fresh in my recipes, or dry out to save for later, I could live without all the dirt. Especially since I seem to get spider mites on the edible plants. I found them hiding out in the dirt during the winter. I've changed the dirt and cleaned the plants which did help, but all it takes is one hiding out somewhere to find its way back. I just need to dump everything and start again, but getting some hydroponics in my apartment would definitely stop them from hiding out inside the soil.
The Amphora by Cloud Farms is an indoor, hydroponics, "vase" that grows herbs without the use of soil. It holds enough water for the life time of your plant, so it never needs to be watered, which is great for conservation and efficiency. And laziness and forgetfulness, let's be real. Up to 8 plants can be grown with a single kit, for about a years worth of herby goodness. For more about Amphora, check out my video below with it's inventor, Bradley Ferrada at the Green Festival in NYC.
This
passed weekend I went to Green Festival in NYC. went there with my video camera and microphone to get some interviews, and shoot some footage for a YouTube channel I'd like to connect to my blog. Unfortunately, my computer isn't handling Final Cut Pro very well, and it will take longer than expected. I hope I don't have the great exhibitors I met waiting too long!
Otherwise, I spent this week organizing all of the reading materials, coupons, business cards and free samples. There sure was a lot to take in at the festival!
I only wish that I had more money to bring home a lot more than free samples. Although, not for nothing, those free samples came in very handy this week.
greeted by an awesome rainbow upon exiting the convention
Day one at the Green Festival was great! But just like any day at a convention, I am pooped. With so much to see and so many exhibitors to talk to, I didn't much exercise my right to sit the heck down and relax!
You know what else I didn't do? Bring the business cards I took all that time making. Doh!
Either way, it was an amazing day, and I am excited to see so many people out there thinking about the environment and improving the quality of life of others with their creative and conscious products.
From detergent-less laundry balls, electric "uni-cycle" type segways, books, toiletries and clothing, the place was chock-full of green living innovations.
One of the most important things we need to live, let alone live green, is food. Everybody eats. And at this event, I have never seen so many eco-friendly and health conscious products in one place. Not to mention, free samples and snacks galore. If you are coming to Green Festival tomorrow, come hungry! You will nosh on dairy free ice creams, vegan cookies, non-GMO chips and pop-corns, dairy-free cheese, pizzas, gluten-free noodles and a variety of other snacks that are either (or all) organic, fair trade, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, nut-free or local!
I told myself when I came home that I would upload some pictures and video from today's event, but my body shut down the minute I took a seat. I see I have a busy week of editing ahead, and I can't wait to share some highlights and interesting happenings from Green Festival with you. For now, I pass out.
Attending the Green Festival this weekend in NYC was a fairly last minute decision. What makes it even more exciting is that The Green Monger is going in as press! This is my first and biggest event for this blog, so I must say that I am nervous. If I would have found out about it earlier, I could have prepared better. I feel like such a scatter brain! I hope that I don't go in there seeming like a complete amatuer. I have done work with NY Comic Con before, so I am not intimidated by crowds, but this seems different.
Since this was last minute, and I never needed business cards before, I had to fandangle some. This IS a green event, so why not get completely in the DIY, reuse, recycle mode? With some paper I kept from previous print job screw-ups, and some brown paper bag I had lying around, I made up some business cards.
I have a microphone for interviews, and am currently working on a microphone flag. (A flag is the logo box you see on the medias microphone).
I have online storage ready and The Green Mongers YouTube account is set for videos to be uploaded directly from Green Festival in case I start to run out of room.
I don't know what else I need aside from a comfortable pair of footwear, and some confidence!
If you are an eco-friendly or eco-curious New Yorker, The Green Festival should be an educational and fun day for you to check out all the latest products and services in green living. I'm looking forward to it big time!
Green Festival, in cooperation with Green America and the Global Exchange, is America's largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event. For the past 13 years, Green Festival has committed to helping people and communities in America find solutions for living that are physically, socially, economically and environmentally healthy.
The Green Festival launches its third year in New York City April 26 through the 27th at a new venue, Pier 94 with other dates in four cities around the country in the upcoming months. With Earth Day just passing on the 22nd, let's keep it going every day by soaking up some fresh ideas and inspiration at Green Festival! Tickets are only $10 for an incredible event that will change the way you think about your everyday decisions. In addition, this coupon code for 50% off (at the time of posting) makes it even easier for you to save a little green. Use code NATAWKNY14 at checkout.
At Green Festival, there is the widest selection of services and products that fully support a green lifestyle from work to play. Expect to see exhibits of fashion, food, health, construction, and design. Enjoy vegetarian and vegan cooking demos as well as a meatless food court, a sustainable wine and beer garden, educational activities for kids, discussion panels, inspirational speakers, live entertainment and more green fun than you can shake a daisy at...
