Green Festivals…not only for hippies!

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Hudson Valley Eco Chic | Leave a comment

Last summer, in the midst of my summer of amazing travels, I was fortunate enough to land in one of my favorite destinations on the East Coast – Newport, Rhode Island. As a folk music enthusiast (I’m such a sucker for anything with group sing-a-longs alla Lumineers and Avett Brothers!) I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go to the annual Newport Folk Festival held every summer since 1959.

My boyfriend and I purchased our tickets late (luckily for us they still had two day passes available in March), and therefore were not able to camp within a 10 mile radius of the festival. This put a momentary damper on our plan as we originally intended on camping for the weekend and riding our bikes to and from Fort Adams every day (due to the on and off rain that took place during the event, I can’t say that I was disappointed in our camp plans not working out). We ended up booking reservations at The Carriage House Inn, in Middletown, RI. Even though the location of the Inn was four miles from Fort Adams, and a mile from downtown Newport, it ended up working out really well. We decided that if we returned again, we would definitely be able to easily bike this distance to the park (and burn off some of our beer calories!).

Within five minutes of our arrival at the festival grounds at Fort Adams, it was apparent we were in a safe haven for environmentalists and sustainability supporters. I reached my nerdy peak before even reaching the festival grounds. Pulling into the park, the signs posted along the entire entrance reminded visitors to pick up after themselves, recycle, use refillable water stations, support local shops, and use the composting and recycling provided by local community businesses. I ended up being so surprised and excited about the signs that I snapped more pictures of the signs than of the artists I would see throughout the weekend!

final sign at Newport entrance 2013

To our surprise, the majority of the festival attendees paid attention to these signs and composted and recycled accordingly! I was surprised by this because going into the festival, I expected a certain level of entitlement that I often find does not mesh well with environmental stewardship this day in age. And being that the ticket prices for a three day pass are over $200, there are not too many true hippies that would be able to afford festival attendance. I was glad to be proven incorrect. Father John Misty, one of the folk performers, did seem to have similar expectations which he jokes about during his performance at the audiences expense. You can view a little bit of the rant here.

The local vendors that were providing food encouraged recycling and compost by giving away items if you were caught recycling by one of their crowd scanning employees during the day. Other vendors gave discounts if you approached with refillable containers. It was such a fantastic vision to encourage people to consider their environment in the midst of such a carefree atmosphere.

Here are just a few vendors to check out –

Vision of Tibet
Crafts from the Himalayas

Luksin Designs
Eco-friendly, New England Made Clothing & Accessories

Newport Sea Foam Trading Co.
Handcrafted, Natural Soap, Candles and Lotions

April Gramolini
Upcycled Burlap Accessories

Even though the selection of food wasn’t enormous at the festival, it did definitely hit the spot when needed. The taco truck that was provided by Tallulah on Thames, a local newport restaurant, was amazing. Really…AMAZING. Additionally, the falafel vendor, and pizza were consistently busy as well. There were a few other locations that served snacks like pretzels, mac and cheese, and ice cream, but no other huge standout food vendors. Honest Tea was a busy spot throughout the day due to the heat. I personally snuck back up to the sample trays three or four times when I needed a break from beer and water.

One of the last things worth mentioning was the Tretorn Backyard. It is a closed off section for adults 21 and above where they had tents to provide shade, ping pong tables, photo booth like props, and corn hole toss. I didn’t know what I wanted to do more… hang out in the Backyard and play games with music in the background while having a few drinks, or try to make it to the front of the crowd to get close to the stage to see performers up close.

All in all, I couldn’t have been more excited about how amazing and fun this festival was. A surprisingly large part of my enjoyment came from watching everyone contribute to the atmosphere and mission of the festival by following the green guidelines posted at the entry. We can’t wait to go back this year!

What experience do you have with other festivals? Have you been to festivals or shows that promote sustainable action in a creative way? I’d love to hear about more to try and make it to!

AandCNewport2013earphones

“Not all those …

“Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien

Traveling in an environmentally conscious way is a challenge to do for short trips. Weekends away are costly and not all that eco-savvy when you are driving long distances. Lots of luggage can make the car heavier, burn more fuel, and in general, increase the carbon footprint you produce. Aside from some of the obvious suggestions to make your summer travels more “green” such as car pool, pack light, etc., there are also some less known tips that might improve the overall impact your travels have on the environment.

First, despite the TSA being an added nuisance when needing to take flights for travel, the requirements for carry-on liquids needing to be in containers of 3.4oz or smaller, and smushed together in a one quart clear plastic container does not need to be a tragedy when packing. For example, instead of buying travel sizes of your necessary products every time you travel, you can use BPA Free recycled plastic bottles every time you travel. There is a perk for not wasting additional plastic in purchasing the travel sizes, but also the added benefit that if you buy in bulk, or have DIY products, they can travel easily without interrupting your regular routine. Additionally, this reduces the need to check luggage (which saves you money, and saves on the fuel the plane will need to transport you!) as you will be able to carry-on your needs for vacations.

Some hotels offer more sustainable methods of housekeeping as well. The Liberty Hotel in Boston, which originally was built in the 1850s as a prison, is a luxury hotel which could serve as a model for other hotels and hotel chains. In the bathrooms, instead of providing guests with small containers of toiletries, they use large refillable dispensers mounted to the wall, and housekeeping refills those from bulk containers when they clean rooms. This eliminates the waste of endless trial size bottles, and half used products. Granted, its not a perfect solution, but it’s a start! This in addition to the already green (and relatively popular) option of not changing out the towels everyday that have only been used once. Even modern hotels now have toilets that will flush with more or less water depending on the needs of each use.

While I have much more traveling to do this summer: via flights, car, foot, and bike; I hope to encounter more and more ways to save money and environment. What sustainable travel tips do you have? How do you reduce your carbon footprint in your travels?

Personal Quest: Inspiring Blog

Although I am biased as she is a personal friend, Karyn writes an incredible blog about her quest to become more green. Inspired by reading the book, Sleeping Naked is Green by Vanessa Fanguharson, Karyn started her own mission to be more eco-responsible. She has fantastic pictures, personal stories, and personal experience to make this a fun and accessible read to any one looking for easy methods and recipes to make their lives more sustainable. She finds many of her recipes and methods through research, and saves much of what she finds to a pinterest account (and inspired me to start one too!) Karyn, with a background in science, is just the girl to write about this topic. She knows the methods and science behind sustainability, and makes it a manageable task for all who want to bring this type of change to their lives. Check out her blog and give her feedback!

Likewise, Karyn has inspired me to make some of these changes myself. I’ll share as I test out the recipes and results!

Scary News about Meat

Not that I eat a lot of meat to begin with… and less so now that I am dating a vegetarian, but this is scary news. I don’t think I will be ordering red meat at a restaurant again (even though steak may be one of my most favorite food items!).

I’m now on a mission to find local organic grass fed meat.
I know of Hemlock Hills. Anyone know of others?

If you are going to still purchase processed meat, I did a quick search online and found a few brands that sell sodium nitrate free products. Even Boars Head and Applegate are not entirely sodium-nitrate free, so pay attention to labels!

This however is not a credible source, printed in sensational style, and is definitely missing sources. Not to mention the publication date as being April fools! The New York Times recently published an article with similar danger, an conveys the danger in many red meats, without the sensations. This is the link.

CSA or no CSA?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Hudson Valley Eco Chic | Leave a comment

I have spent a great deal of time in the last few weeks researching local CSAs. I love the concept. For those that don’t know, CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture. Basically, you pay a yearly membership, and in turn, are provided with a “share” of the farms harvest to which you belong. It can be for just veggies and produce, but can also include fruits, juices, wines, and sometimes community pot-lucks, and educational programs. Some even offer a ‘you-pick’ component (I imagine that may be a perk for people with children especially).

In the past, I participated in a CSA located in New Paltz that I loved. It was the Brook Farm Project CSA. I had outstanding veggies from June through October, and was able to participate in a few community pot luck’s that were really fun. They sold fresh eggs and local goat cheese on pick up days as well, and I loved supporting a local farmer and eating fresh and seasonal vegetables.

The debate that I am having now is whether or not to join a CSA that is closer to my new home, or to just shop at local farmers markets and farms as my shopping routine. I am at most, shopping for myself and my boyfriend, so in my experience, the CSA shares are often enough produce for an entire week, plus some! My boyfriend is not in favor of the CSA as he likes to cook what he would like, and not have the menu depend on what if provided. Additionally, as we have at least two, but likely three weeks we are away this summer, its possible we will miss those share weeks, and still have to spend money elsewhere on food. He also prefers to go to a place like Blooming Hill Farm in Blooming Grove, NY. They have outrageous produce that they supply to major restaurants in NYC. On the weekends, they open to the public to sell produce, as well as fresh and homemade items right on the farm (personal favorites include the ramp pizza, and breakfast pizza, as well as the homemade ice tea!) While their produce is delicious, and I love the experience of going to the farm, eating breakfast, and sitting by the stream while I wait for the food, it’s also a bit pricier than a place like Adam’s Fairacre Farms or a CSA.

I’m still doing more calculating, but these are the CSA’s I have found most recently and am still considering.

Obercreek Farm CSA – http://www.obercreekfarm.com/

Fishkill Farms CSA – http://fishkillfarms.com/csa_fishkillfarm.html

Stonegate Farm CSA – http://www.stonegatefarmny.org/

Anyone have any experience with any of these farms? Or shed some insight on how the CSA’s have worked for you?

I want to shop local, I want to eat fresh and seasonally, and I want to support safe farming practices. I need a solution to address all of those things on a budget…I really do want it all!

Revitalization for Newburgh!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Hudson Valley Eco Chic | Leave a comment

This afternoon I went to the Bank Square Coffee Shop to hang out, read, and do a little work for a class I am taking online. I was really excited to overhear the conversation that was taking place next to me. There were two men, both in their 20s and 30s, discussing how positive the changes were in Beacon. The older of the two men (who were both guitarists) noted that, “its [Beacon’s] transformation is profound enough to be wrote about one day.” As someone who is constantly excited to walk down Main Street and see what’s new, and go to places like The Hop, Max’s, and Bank Square, I was really happy to know it wasn’t just me that lived in this bubble of excitement about Beacon.

The gentlemens’ conversation then veered in the direction of discussing Newburgh. For those of you that are not familiar with the Hudson Valley, Newburgh is (was) the murder capital of New York. While there are a number of great up and coming places in Newburgh, the poverty level in the city, as well as the lack of industry in the area, lead to a large crime rate and other typical urban dilemmas. However, as it is located just across the river from Beacon, some of the new business, traffic flow, and investment coming into the area will hopefully makes its way to the much needed community projects and business ventures just across the river.

Some fun Newburgh businesses to check out:

* The Wherehouse – Great bar/pub

* Downing Film Center – Small private film screen with smaller and larger production films

* Caffe Macchiato – Coffee shop just across from Washington Park

Though I haven’t been to any of the restaurants on Front Street yet, many of them have great reviews. During the summer, there are some great bars located right on the water. It’s a fun atmosphere and view, if nothing else! Before I venture there though, I definitely want to try Manchu Picchu, the Peruvian restaurant right on Broadway (my boyfriend, and friends have been and love it…I just haven’t made it yet!)

In general, hearing so much about city revitalization made me feel really happy today. I get excited about growth and positive development anywhere really, so to have it happening in my own backyard is definitely something that makes me smile.

What other places do you see going through this type of change? What other places in Newburgh should I try?? Please share your suggestions!

Hudson Valley Eco Chic

Finding Green in the Hudson Valley of New York

Tag Archives: Sustainability