Redland Rambles

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Miami-Dade Parks, Earth Learning, and Expand the Love present the annual Earthfest 2010, an annual festival promoting all things ecologically sustainable, on Sunday, April 18, noon – 6 p.m., at Crandon Park Visitor and Nature Center, located at the north beach entrance of Crandon Park, 6767 Crandon Blvd., in Key Biscayne.

The free, day-long annual event will feature the very best vegetarian and vegan foods, live performances, workshops, “green” vendors offering earth-friendly products, an electronics recycling center, and environmental educational organizations. Redland Organics will be there selling fresh herbs, heirloom tomatoes, carrots, dried fruit, honey and other late-season goodies. The Miami-Dade Parks EcoAdventures™ staff of naturalists will provide Eco Tram tours of the Bear Cut preserve and guided nature walks through the coastal hardwood hammocks of Crandon Park.

Workshops will be going on from noon to 5 p.m. on various topics including:

• Raised bed organic gardening
• Raw foods preparation
• Introduction to permaculture design
• Retrofitting your home for greater efficiency
• Growing a food forest in your backyard
• Qigong and Yoga
• Every child outside
• World Café
• Deep ecology, and more

Earthfest will also feature musical and artistic performances by groups including Heavy Pets, Teri Catlin, Sosos, PHIsonica with Kavayah Amn and Xavier Hawk, Soulflower, Jai (formerly Soul Temple), Jude Papaloko, and Lucho performing an Earth healing ceremony hosted by Val Silidker. Performances are presented by Expand the Love.

There will also be a community drum circle and patrons are encouraged to bring a drum or other percussion instruments to participate.

Admission to Earthfest 2010 is free.  There is a $6 per car parking fee.  (There is a $1.50 toll on the Rickenbacker Causeway.)  Sorry, no pets! For more information on Earthfest 2010, please visit the website at www.earthfest.us, or call the Crandon Park Visitor and Nature Center at 305-361-6767, ext. 112.