Comments for Sustainable Festivation http://www.bluegrass.com/blog The Planet Bluegrass "Green" blog Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:43:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Living on Earth by Cheryl Bergeron http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/35#comment-44 Cheryl Bergeron Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:37:30 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=35#comment-44 Awesome info and efforts through Planet Bluegrass and the Colorado Bluegrass community! While it is true, the incredible beauty of the surroundings provides tremendous "GREENspiration"; I feel that there truly is something about the bluegrass community itself that tends to the environment and to local sourcing. For example, the task this past summer at the Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg NY was composting. All of the vendors had to comply with the composting guidelines to be part of the festival and festivians were able to pitch in by placing the compost products in the clearly marked receptacles. Everyone, vendors and partiers alike seemed genuinely happy to participate in the efforts. The core premise of the Grassroots Festival is supporting arts, education, and the fight against AIDS. The Ontario Barn Festival at 513 Whitney Road in Ontario NY supported the solar energy cause for the third year at the festival on 9/5/09 and is ramping up that support for the fourth annual festival on 09/04/2010. There are plans to have a solar education session during the festival so everyone can learn a little something and get involved. Last, but never least the Great Blue Heron Festival in Sherman NY has actively participated in the "green" cause campaign through the years with its Rainbow Recycling center and program. Again, receptacles are clearly marked and participation by all is recommended by staff, volunteers, and festivians too. Regardless of location or scenery, the bluegrass community seems to be one of the groups at the forefront of responsible living. As Donna the Buffalo sings in their song Conscious Evolution "Conscious Evolution in front of your eyes, Conscious Evolution in the back of your mind, Conscious Evolution go on spread the word, We're all busy on a learning curve". Ten years ago many may not have realized the future impact of our actions, but the bluegrass community seems to have moved quickly along the learning curve to make responsible living a natural way of life. Thanks much for letting me comment. One Earth, One Future! Cheryl Bergeron, Great Blue Roots Radio Awesome info and efforts through Planet Bluegrass and the Colorado Bluegrass community! While it is true, the incredible beauty of the surroundings provides tremendous “GREENspiration”; I feel that there truly is something about the bluegrass community itself that tends to the environment and to local sourcing.

For example, the task this past summer at the Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg NY was composting. All of the vendors had to comply with the composting guidelines to be part of the festival and festivians were able to pitch in by placing the compost products in the clearly marked receptacles. Everyone, vendors and partiers alike seemed genuinely happy to participate in the efforts. The core premise of the Grassroots Festival is supporting arts, education, and the fight against AIDS.

The Ontario Barn Festival at 513 Whitney Road in Ontario NY supported the solar energy cause for the third year at the festival on 9/5/09 and is ramping up that support for the fourth annual festival on 09/04/2010. There are plans to have a solar education session during the festival so everyone can learn a little something and get involved.

Last, but never least the Great Blue Heron Festival in Sherman NY has actively participated in the “green” cause campaign through the years with its Rainbow Recycling center and program. Again, receptacles are clearly marked and participation by all is recommended by staff, volunteers, and festivians too.

Regardless of location or scenery, the bluegrass community seems to be one of the groups at the forefront of responsible living. As Donna the Buffalo sings in their song Conscious Evolution “Conscious Evolution in front of your eyes, Conscious Evolution in the back of your mind, Conscious Evolution go on spread the word, We’re all busy on a learning curve”. Ten years ago many may not have realized the future impact of our actions, but the bluegrass community seems to have moved quickly along the learning curve to make responsible living a natural way of life.

Thanks much for letting me comment. One Earth, One Future!

Cheryl Bergeron, Great Blue Roots Radio

]]> Comment on Jambase Green Blog by Green Tips http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/27#comment-23 Green Tips Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:15:34 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=27#comment-23 Great Green Blog. Check out my green tips blog http://www.cipacs.org Great Green Blog. Check out my green tips blog http://www.cipacs.org

]]> Comment on Our Sustainable Festivation Manifesto - 2008 Telluride Bluegrass by Brian Eyster http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/24#comment-15 Brian Eyster Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:34:49 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=24#comment-15 Ken, your point is very well taken. We've had a lot of discussions about this recently, actually. We agree that it is a clean air issue that we need to address. At our Lyons festivals we've added a "smoking tent." That's had mixed results, but it's a step in the right direction. In Telluride, we just don't have the room inside the festival grounds for any kind of designated smoking area. We have increased the signage this year - asking smokers to please move away from their tarp to smoke. We will also be making several daily stage announcements about that this year. Part of it is educating the festivarians and that's going to take a little time. But it's a step toward a solution, and in the off-season we'll be giving this a lot more thought. Feel free to share your suggestions... Ken, your point is very well taken. We’ve had a lot of discussions about this recently, actually. We agree that it is a clean air issue that we need to address. At our Lyons festivals we’ve added a “smoking tent.” That’s had mixed results, but it’s a step in the right direction. In Telluride, we just don’t have the room inside the festival grounds for any kind of designated smoking area. We have increased the signage this year - asking smokers to please move away from their tarp to smoke. We will also be making several daily stage announcements about that this year. Part of it is educating the festivarians and that’s going to take a little time. But it’s a step toward a solution, and in the off-season we’ll be giving this a lot more thought. Feel free to share your suggestions…

]]> Comment on Our Sustainable Festivation Manifesto - 2008 Telluride Bluegrass by Ken Zeff http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/24#comment-14 Ken Zeff Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:31:48 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=24#comment-14 Still no mention of any smoking policy at your event. I attended three years ago and noted the sign requesting "consideration" but found none. Festival volunteers and attendees were freely using tobacco without restriction. This should be a part of your "greening" strategy. I'm surprised that it hasn't generated more interest. Thanks for listening. Still no mention of any smoking policy at your event. I attended three years ago and noted the sign requesting “consideration” but found none. Festival volunteers and attendees were freely using tobacco without restriction. This should be a part of your “greening” strategy. I’m surprised that it hasn’t generated more interest. Thanks for listening.

]]> Comment on Bottlemania by Brian Eyster http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/25#comment-13 Brian Eyster Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:05:36 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=25#comment-13 Thanks for your comment, Chad. We gave this a lot of thought, because as you pointed out the filtering equipment does wear out and the water is safely drinkable right out of the tap. The town water supply does have a trace of chlorine flavor - a byproduct of their water treatment process. Our filters are designed to remove that chlorine flavor. We decided we really needed to make sure the water tasted every bit as good (or better) than the bottled water so many people are used to. It's a transitional step, and maybe in the future we won't need any filters. But this move away from bottled water is fairly significant (and controversial in some circles), so we're trying to address all possible objections. As you'll see, the filters are not very large (we'll post some photos of the water station after the festival). Their footprint is dwarfed by the number of plastic bottles that would have been used... Thanks for your comment, Chad. We gave this a lot of thought, because as you pointed out the filtering equipment does wear out and the water is safely drinkable right out of the tap.

The town water supply does have a trace of chlorine flavor - a byproduct of their water treatment process. Our filters are designed to remove that chlorine flavor. We decided we really needed to make sure the water tasted every bit as good (or better) than the bottled water so many people are used to.

It’s a transitional step, and maybe in the future we won’t need any filters. But this move away from bottled water is fairly significant (and controversial in some circles), so we’re trying to address all possible objections. As you’ll see, the filters are not very large (we’ll post some photos of the water station after the festival). Their footprint is dwarfed by the number of plastic bottles that would have been used…

]]> Comment on Bottlemania by Chad Swenka http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/25#comment-12 Chad Swenka Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:02:19 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=25#comment-12 Just curious, but why did you feel a need to further filter the city's water? Seems that the extra filtering equipment may actually add to the material waste issues of the festival that you're putting a good bit of efforts towards reducing (kudos, BTW). Let's just hope the water's not being filtered with carbon :-) Just curious, but why did you feel a need to further filter the city’s water? Seems that the extra filtering equipment may actually add to the material waste issues of the festival that you’re putting a good bit of efforts towards reducing (kudos, BTW). Let’s just hope the water’s not being filtered with carbon :-)

]]> Comment on Bisphenol-A and Polycarbonate Plastic by paige http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/18#comment-9 paige Wed, 28 May 2008 20:04:29 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=18#comment-9 ...also make sure that IF you reuse the margarine tub, sour cream tub, etc....do not use them in the microwave. Actually, it is better not to heat anything in the plastic containers. You can read a more detailed article in Consumer Report magazine "Shop Smart" this month's edition. Thanks …also make sure that IF you reuse the margarine tub, sour cream tub, etc….do not use them in the microwave. Actually, it is better not to heat anything in the plastic containers. You can read a more detailed article in Consumer Report magazine “Shop Smart” this month’s edition. Thanks

]]> Comment on Welcome to the Sustainable Festivation blog by Sustainable Festivation » Blog Archive » A carbon-neutral Telluride Bluegrass http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/16#comment-7 Sustainable Festivation » Blog Archive » A carbon-neutral Telluride Bluegrass Fri, 16 May 2008 20:57:03 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=16#comment-7 [...] I started typing a response to one of the comments to Steve’s opening blog post - “Welcome to the Sustainable Festivation Blog” - but decided this was worthy of its own post. Here’s Jerry’s comment: …by some [...] […] I started typing a response to one of the comments to Steve’s opening blog post - “Welcome to the Sustainable Festivation Blog” - but decided this was worthy of its own post. Here’s Jerry’s comment: …by some […]

]]> Comment on Welcome to the Sustainable Festivation blog by jerry http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/16#comment-6 jerry Fri, 16 May 2008 19:55:36 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=16#comment-6 even Ostriches don't really bury their heads in the sand.... yet by some wave of a magic wand, Telluride BF is carbon neutral!!! I don't think in reality it works that way! You have only created some feel good voodoo; meanwhile thousands of tons of actual CO2 are about to be dumped into the atmosphere as well meaning (mostly) folks drive or fly hundreds to thousands of miles to the most remote place in the US and the big generators on the grounds run 18 hours a day! Pogo said it best: We have seen the enemy and it is us. Scratch another glacier for Festival! even Ostriches don’t really bury their heads in the sand….
yet by some wave of a magic wand, Telluride BF is carbon neutral!!!
I don’t think in reality it works that way!
You have only created some feel good voodoo; meanwhile thousands of tons of actual CO2 are about to be dumped into the atmosphere as well meaning (mostly) folks drive or fly hundreds to thousands of miles to the most remote place in the US and the big generators on the grounds run 18 hours a day!
Pogo said it best: We have seen the enemy and it is us.
Scratch another glacier for Festival!

]]> Comment on Welcome to the Sustainable Festivation blog by lowlights http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/archives/16#comment-5 lowlights Fri, 16 May 2008 16:14:27 +0000 http://www.bluegrass.com/blog/?p=16#comment-5 Hey Steve: I read you're going carbon neutral for Telluride Bluegrass; any chance you folks are able to do the same for Song School/Folks Fest? Hey Steve:

I read you’re going carbon neutral for Telluride Bluegrass; any chance you folks are able to do the same for Song School/Folks Fest?

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