The Forest Foundation, Inc.

Wash., DC ( Sept. 24th - 25th, ) – Last weekend an estimated 19,000 people attended the 2nd annual Green Festival in Washington, DC co-sponsored by two internationally known, activist organizations, Co-Op America and Global Exchange. The festival featured an exciting mix of progressive organizations, speakers, and attendees from across the country. These people all gathered for for this “green” event which focused on “green” solutions and alternatives to some of the U.S.’s current and long term complex problems such as the connections between social justice, environmental impacts, consumptive choices and wholistic approaches to healthcare. The festival offered something for just about everyone from lectures, documentary films, live music, children’s stories, and games, to organic foods, and shopping.

The Forest Foundation(TFF) was located amongst the fair trade vendors. Having received a thoughtful donation from a Triangle Community Foundation donor, TFF proudly displayed its new eco-banner at the Festival. Both Marc Dreyfors, Board President, and Mary Katherine Williams, Executive Director were there selling hand-made, imported crafts, such as fashionable, functional tote bags from Madagascar, wonderful Rwandan “Peace” baskets, and beautiful sarongs from Sri Lanka, an area hit by the tsunami last December. People could also get natural chewing gum form Ecuador, organic coffees from various countries, and organic plush monkeys from South America.

Both adults and children who visited The Foundation’s booth could get flyers with information citing the important aspects of fair trade rules, environmental conservation and where, how and by whom the crafts were made. Marc and MK also talked about TFF’s other sustainable livelihoods projects like its biodiesel pump in Durham, NC. There was much interest in this topic as alternative energy and fuels are currently receiving significant attention nationally.

Booths featuring alternative vehicle information, eco-fashions, green gadgets and home/offices products, organic foods, green business and investing groups, non-profits and social activist organizations were amongst the 350 exhibits throughout the 2 day event, which coincided with the National Peace March last weekend.

Attendees could listen in on any of the 120 speakers who addressed a multitude of topics, catch a documentary film, or eat wonderful meals provided by local restaurants and prepared with local organic produce.

Bins for composting food scraps, along with recycling paper, plastics, and aluminum were available throughout the exhibit area. The Green Festival boasts of being the first event to be held in the DC Convention Center which generated zero waste! With alternative energy being one of its focus topics, it also boasted of being the first DC event which offered “bicycle valets” !!!