Green Festival: Building the Green Economy
By Melissa Mansfield | November 12, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Melissa checks out the Nissan LEAF display.
Over 300 green businesses set up booths to educate, inspire and connect with attendees (and, of course, to sell some green products too!) They covered a range of industries, from home decor and solar power to children’s clothing and organic food.
I’ve been to nearly a dozen Green Festivals, but attending my first Green Festival in 2005 was a turning point for me.
I hadn’t realized how many solutions there were to the environmental and social problems we faced – but then I saw 300 green business booths, listened to speakers like Van Jones, Bill McKibben and Amy Goodman, and tried out the delicious, organic food and beverages myself.
Being able to experience the green movement in so many ways proved to me that it was a growing, solutions-based community that I wanted to be a part of. And at each festival, I see something new that inspires me.
Here are some of the things that caught my eye last weekend:
- Nissan LEAF – I love the elegant and practical design of this all-electric car. No gas, no tailpipe, no emissions! It’s got a 100-mile range per charge, but they do recommend buying a home charging station for quick charging.
- Boost Home Boxes – I think these are so clever! Each box has everything you need to get started on energy efficiency, water savings and more. Perfect holiday gifts to encourage your loved ones to go green!
- Golden Path Alchemy – These bodycare products seem to have it all. They’re vegan, cruelty-free, natural, they’re packaged in glass bottles for better recycling, and they’re edible! You probably wouldn’t snack on them, but it’s technically safe to do so because they’re food-grade products, according to co-founder Ashley Beckman who says that you could reuse the spray bottles for salad dressing.
- Water Beads – Made from the same material as contact lenses, these little beads look like marbles after being soaked in water. They’re non-toxic and reusable. And because they constantly absorb water and leach it out, you can save water while displaying plants, cut flowers or fish. You just rehydrate the beads, rather than filling up the vase or tank again.
- Blue Orange Games – Fun and challenging games for all ages that are made with durable materials like wood and tin. The company plants two trees for every one used in producing the games, and they also sell replacement pieces on their website. I tried one of the card games and it was very clever and entertaining!
You can browse more green businesses in the Green Festival directory.
What green business ideas or products have recently caught your eye?
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