We did come and enjoy the music, food, people and the festival this weekend. It was awesome! The music was great, food was incredible and we left with a fistful of information and a gratifying feeling about being part of something good.
Level Ground Co-Founder Hugo Ciro answers questions and jokes about how his Go-One3 is "fuelled by coffee"
From windmills and ginger cookies to yerba mate and aerodynamic recumbent bikes, my Saturday was a real treat. I have attended many green events and have to say the Organic Islands Festival team did a fantastic job. The motto of the festival is; “live green, do good, and we’ll show you the way”. The festival’s commitment is evident in all that they do from having Energy Alternatives on-site to help solar power the event, providing a Tofino Bus biodiesel shuttle, and requiring all vendors to use compostable cups. Started 4 years ago by Deb Morse, the festival attracts thousands of visitors every year to the Glendale Gardens and Woodland for an authentic and magical experience where “organic business” meets the “experience” of holistic living.
Claudio teaches map reading skills to his daughter and friend
I spent an entire day amongst the trees, fields and pathways of Glendale Gardens and was able to connect with numerous people, ideas, and businesses that share my passion and values for a more sustainable world. One such business is Level Ground a Vancouver Island Coffee company that actually pays it’s employees to bike to work. Speaking with Level Ground Co-Founder Hugo Ciro has me wanting to save every dime and give up my car so I can afford a Go-One3 aerodynamic recumbent bike. (which according to the go one 3 website is inspired by Michael Goretsky, a contributing force to the SMART car) Hugo says on his commute to the the office he can maintain a steady 40k/hr speed with the combination of his “coffee fuelled” Go -one3 and the Bionix electric assist he has added to the bike”. Not bad at all, considering he can stay dry, get some exercise and the cost of each commute is…. zero!
I especially enjoyed an unwritten “prevention fist” theme that really resonates with what I believe; that we are spending far too many resources on treating symptoms instead of the root cause of issues we want to improve. It was nice to see organizations like the Capital Regional District helping homeowners to reduce their water consumption, and the wide variety of companies and individuals working to promote preventative health and waste reduction. This included companies like the smart little “Moukisac” foldable and reusable shopping bags, 423 nutrition and fitness counselling, cooking schools, yoga classes and a wide variety of local organic farms that I would highly recommend supporting – the samples were fantastic!! To view the complete exhibitor list please click here.
What a reader, or someone who didn’t attend the festival might find of interest is the consciousness, thoughtfulness, and imagination I found all around me. It’s refreshing to find real innovation and imagination at work…
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