Fairfield IA Eco-Fair on Environmental Issues & Sustainable Agriculture

Savvy Vegetarian News

Vol. 1, Issue 4, July 2003

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Eco Fair: Fairfield, IA, M.U.M. Campus, May 23 - 26, 2003: Part One: Introduction

I'm 56 years old, and although I'm current on environmental issues, and sustainable agriculture, I'm sorry to say, this was the first eco-fair I've been to. I enjoyed myself, and learned a lot - who could ask for more? Well, actually, I could have asked for better attendance. I have a hard time understanding why there weren't two thousand people there, instead of a couple of hundred.

One reason could be that this eco-fair took place deep in S.E. Iowa, middle of nowhere, 1� hours from the nearest regional airport, and 4 hours from the closest major airport. It's a fact that it takes all day to get here from anywhere else in the country. Another reason could have been that people didn't know about it, which is a shame.

Would I have come to this eco-fair, if I lived in Chicago, St. Louis, or Minneapolis? Good question! I would've come if I knew how beautiful SE Iowa is in late May, and how perfect the weather at this time of year. Or if I knew that the small town of Fairfield, IA is a major center for alternative healing, spirituality, sustainable agriculture, transcendental meditation, vegetarianism and the arts, with more professional visual artists, actors, dancers and musicians per capita than perhaps anywhere else in the world. All that Fairfield lacks to be completely perfect, in my view, is an ocean, or at least a big natural lake, but who knows what global warming will bring?:>)

I'd have come if I'd known more about the eco-fair host. Maharishi University of Management is a tiny university with a lovely big campus, devoted to consciousness-based education. They are small but noted for academic excellence and innovative vedic education programs, and for amazingly bright, talented students from all over the world. The cafeteria serves delicious organic vegetarian food, the campus is as close to drug-free as it is possible to get, and is going completely non-smoking next year.

I'd have come a long way to this eco-fair, if I knew about the impressive array of workshops and speakers. I'd have jumped right in line, if they offered an attractive package for travel, attendance, meals, entertainment and lodging, to tempt me to the wilds of S.E. Iowa. I don't know anything about organization and publicity for the fair, but my guess is it wasn't nearly enough. But happily, I came, because I live here, and the organizers yelled enough about it locally to get my attention. Next year, read about it here, and come! For now, attend vicariously.

There was the trade show, with a hundred or so eco-exhibitors, worth several hours of happy meandering and schmoozing. There was food from the Red Avocado, a fabulous gourmet vegan restaurant in IA City, hip capital of Iowa. There was an eco-fashion show, which I didn't go to, but I heard was pretty amazing. Music happened on a solar-powered stage. There was a tour of sustainable architecture, and the eco-village project. There were dozens of wonderful presentations and workshops, many of which I missed for lack of time and energy. For details on workshops and presentations, go to:

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Article: Eco-Fair, Fairfield, IA, May 23 - 26, 2003. Part One: Introduction

An extraordinary event took place in this ultra-creative small town in the heart of S.E. Iowa, home of Maharishi University of Management, and a major center for spirituality, alternative healing, environmental activists, sustainable agriculture, and the arts.

Article: Eco-Fair, Fairfield, IA, May 23 - 26, 2003. Part Two: Speakers and Events.

Part 2 of the Eco-Fair Report covers workshops I didn't attend, one that I did, by Tad Hargrave, Entrepreneurial Activist and Coach, and the keynote speaker, Hunter S. Lovins, author of Natural Capitalism.

Article: Eco-Fair, Fairfield, IA, May 23 - 26, 2003. Part Three: Sustainable Agriculture Speakers.

"I was as impressed as I've ever been by the high quality of the presenters - their depth of knowledge, their passion, and dedication. I felt privileged to have the opportunity, and I'd go to see any of them again in a heartbeat" - Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian.com

Review: Article: State of the Eco-Union, by Joel Salatin:

To quote from acresusa.com home page:"Joel Salatin provides a spirited and thought-provoking overview of the eco-ag movement, from his speech at the 2002 Acres U.S.A. Conference."

Review: Website: Organic Consumers Association: organicconsumers.org.

"After only five minutes, I decided that organicconsumer.org is one of the best sites on the web if you're pro-planet earth. Why? Because it's packed to the rafters with wide-ranging, quality content--" Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian.com

Summer Recipe: Tabouleh Middle Eastern Salad

This is a divine summer meal, combining tomato, cucumber and fresh herbs. It's great with corn on the cob too - of course, anything is! Try the farmer's market for the veg's and herbs, if there's one nearby.

Ask The Savvy Vegetarian:

What To Do When Visiting Non-Vegetarian Relatives? From a single, 30 year old Vegan guy.

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