Earth Watch

GreenFest Philly Happenings

by Aaron Moselle

What it lacks in traditional glitz and glam, this year's GreenFest runway makes up in eco points. The show will feature pieces made from recycled, organic and/or fair trade materials as well as hair and makeup by Moko Salon. In conjunction with the fashion show, a clothing swap will run throughout the day, but leave your threadbare T-shirts and dated jeans at home.

Don't expect to see any Evian for sale at GreenFest. In an effort to cut down on the deluge of plastic water bottles, the day will be hydrated with bottleless water coolers placed throughout the grounds. Visitors will be able to fill and refill their reusable containers or provided biodegradable cups (free of charge) with local spring water courtesy of Spring Water on Tap. Afterwards, they can toss the cups, and any other trash, into one of the handmade recycling stations, which also feature space for compost. West Philly's Pedal Co-op will then ride away with the waste, taking the recyclable materials to Philly's plant and the compost to the folks at the Headhouse Farmers Market.

Vegan deserts and pastries are everywhere now, but it's not easy to find a quality egg-free treat. A panel of five judges (including our own food editor Drew Lazor) will rate each entry in this butter-less contest based on taste and presentation as well as their local, organic and vegan attributes.

GreenFest isn't just eco-friendly — it's kid-friendly, too. Under the kids tent, Philly's own Spiral Q will host a puppet-making workshop using recycled and reused materials such as plastic bottles and bags. Magical Music Together and Enchanted Music Together will show how household items can be transformed into instruments; and Philly-based artist Zendra Shareef will be inking up little paws with some organic henna.