Last Saturday I braved what I thought was going to be a pleasant weather day to attend the Ozarks Sustainable Living Festival at the Next Step Seventh Day Adventist Church in West Plains MO.
The church hosted a similar festival two years ago with what I believe was a much better organized, attended event (both by vendors and those interested in 'sustainable' living. First, I'm going to show you what I saw then give a this year verses two years ago critique.
These first pictures were taken from three different vantage points around the field/ track of the church yard.
as I approached from the parking area
to the left facing the church
from the back side of the track
I was disappointed in the number of vendors. I realize the weather was questionable, after having survived three days of heavy rain. Two years ago, we had an organic beef meat processor educating as well as offering burgers for sale from their food trailer. There were also a lot more educational booths on sustainability and prepping-type information.
I understand the lack of food availability on the track may have been due to the church offering a vegan burger plate inside the church. (Though I can NOT be sure that was the reason for lack of other options.. just an observation.)
Booths on the lawn included:
Blacksminth Matthias Pen from Ava MO
Garden of Hope (Killian) from Doniphan MO
Garden Nursery, Air Plants, Succulents
Activities for kids such as Balloons
I did not get this gentleman's name but he appeared as if this was the last place he wanted to be.
Very unapproachable. Notice Tupperware in the background.
While Tupperware has been around for generations, any prepper knows that plastic is NOT the best way to store long-term.
There were1 -hr time slots for seminars in the Main Hall:
Sustainability - The Big Picture Overview /w Larry Sweet
Food - Our Unsustainable Food System -- help change it /w Dan Leary
Energy - Everything Needs Power /w Craig Wiles
Community - We're All Part of This /w Galen Chadwick
Shelter - Earthships for Sustainable Living /w Allen & Mary Severin
Panel of 'Experts' - Bring Your Questions
Economics - Prosperity without 'growth' /w Mike Luster
I missed the first seminar, got in on the tail end of the second and sat through part of the third. What I did hear was a lot of 'background' information but no how to put the information into practice. They did offer a sign-up to get an MP3 disk of all the seminars for $5. I signed up for one to hear the ones I missed.
I couldn't sit through the rest of Energy and rain moved in so I headed out for lunch and to pick up a few things at the box store. Before I'd finished lunch, the sky opened up and began flooding the streets so I bypassed the box store and headed home. I later heard on the news that had I not left when I did, I might have been camping out at the local Comfort Inn for the night due to impassable roads.
Sustaining Sponsors (contributing $1000 or more to support the event):
Professional Resume Writers (Mick Slack)
Aside from vendors and children's activities, there was to be music. There wasn't anyone there while I was there.
In comparison to the festival of two years ago, I was disappointed in this festival and would have accomplished more staying home.
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