Watermelon Park Fest Green Efforts
Thank you for helping to “green” Watermelon Park Fest .We are proud to announce that, with the generous help of eCycle Green Collective,
http://ecyclegreencollective.weebly.com/
it is our goal to make this a Zero Waste and Carbon Neutral Event! And we are greening the Fest in many other ways as well. Read on to learn how…
Zero Waste: Recycling and Composting Initiative
Ecycle’s Green Mission: To provide quality, environmentally responsible zero waste and carbon neutral events offering educational opportunities while fostering a fun sustainability and environmental-awareness experience that is family-friendly.
As a Park Fest attendee or vendor, you are key to the success of our Zero Waste initiative. The goal at a Zero Waste Event is to bring and distribute only materials, products and packaging that are recyclable or compostable and avoid any materials that must be landfilled. There will be Zero Waste Stations for recycling and composting available to Vendors and Fest go-ers. Please help us by self-sorting your compostables, mixed-recyclables and trash.
Click here to learn more about Why Zero Waste (.doc)
• Vendors and exhibitors attending Watermelon Park Fest '09 are required to distribute only recyclable or compostable materials. With eCycle’s extended acceptable materials list we have made it easy to comply.
Click here to see acceptable items list (.doc)
• Food Vendors: All food must be served or packaged in recyclable or compostable serveware or containers. NO Styrofoam please. NO glass is allowed in the performance/vending area. We also prefer aluminum cans to plastic bottles. Vendors may wish to bring some buckets or bins for separating in their kitchen or we will provide some for you. A Zero Waste Station to empty your recyclables and compostable containers into, and for your customers to use, will be provided in the vendor area as well as throughout the Fest campground.
• Campers: Plastic recycling bags ( sponsored by Berryville News Stand ) will be distributed throughout the campground for campers to fill with their mixed glass, aluminum and plastic recyclable items. More bags will be available at the Green Tent or the Security Station. Campers can then deposit their full bags at the nearest Zero Waste Station.
• Merchandise Vendors and Exhibitors: While paper handouts may be necessary for some businesses, if possible, vendors are asked to run a power point or digital picture frame at their exhibit instead or create an email list to contact interested parties after the Fest. We will have a paper literature deposit station at the eCycle Green tent and other locations to provide fest go-ers with a place to return unwanted literature or Festival Programs which will be returned to the proper vendor for reuse or will be recycled.
• All compostables and recyclables collected during the event will be delivered to local commercial composters and recyclers after the event by the crew of eCycle Green Collective. If you’d like to help with this, visit The Volunteers Page.
If you have any questions about zero-waste, recycling or composting, please call eCycle at 540-323-0888 or email ecycleconsulting@gmail.com.
Watermelon Park Fest is Going Carbon Neutral
With the help of eCycle Green Collective, we are extremely proud to offer Watermelon Park Fest as a carbon neutral event. This will be accomplished using two methods of carbon offsetting.
• Like last year, Wind RECs (renewable energy credits) will be purchased from Clean Currents to offset the kilowatt usage at Watermelon Park Campground during the festival (based on last years’ use).
• Virginia native Loblolly pine trees will be planted along Virginia river, creek and stream banks (which curtails erosion for a double environmental benefit) to offset the estimated carbon released by the travel of our attendees. To begin the estimation process, a survey volunteer will visit as many of our attendees as possible during the course of the event to poll their carbon output to arrive and attend. You may also stop by the eCycle Green Tent and participate in the poll. Once these surveys are completed, we will add the amount of human foot traffic and estimate vehicle usage (per EPA guidelines) which will then be entered in an equation to estimate the total amount of carbon released. With that end figure eCycle will sponsor the planting of the appropriate amount of trees to complete the offset. Information regarding the outcome will be available on our website after the event if you are interested.
Free Filtered and Chilled Water by Nikken
Once again this year, Linda Kurtz of Nikken will provide free, filtered and chilled water to reduce the demand for single-use bottles of water. Learn about how you can use their filtration system to filter your own water at home or work. But remember, while the water is FREE, the compostable cups will only be available for a fee. To reduce waste, we encourage our patrons instead to bring ANY reused container and refill it. Stay hydrated while you stay green at the Green Tent.
Pedal Power
Element Sports of Winchester is providing bicycles which will "pedal power" the Green Tent. Stop by and take a spin!
Shenandoah River Stewardship for Young and Old
Since Watermelon Park is located on the beautiful Shenandoah River, taking care of this jewel is very important to us. To that end, we are provided education opportunities for our patrons.
• Shenandoah: Voices of the River. This educational documentary movie created by the Downstream Project about the river will be shown three times in the Sunspot Dance Tent. See the schedule for more information. And thanks to Mountain Media Systems for providing the audio visual equipment. http://www.thedownstreamproject.org/feature.html
• River Stewardship for the Youngsters: Middle school science teacher, John Schneider, will lead two hour long programs teaching kids how to identify and support the health of the river ecosystem. Check the schedule in the Mountain Media Systems Kids’ Tent on Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Green Beans in the Mountain Media Kids’ Tent
Learning to be green sticks better when it starts young. Check out the green activities available to the Park Fest kids:
• River Stewardship: John Schneider will teach kids about identifying and supporting the health of the river ecosystem.
• Make Your Own Instrument: Dave and Lisa Coe of Mountain Media Systems will help kids make musical instruments out of recycled materials.
• Recycled Colors: Complementary coloring books printed on reused office paper will be available for kids to color and take home.
See the full list of Kid’s Tent activities here.
Eco Pals
Come check out the efforts of these fine folks in the Green Tent:
USGBC, Shenandoah Area Branch
Green Drinks of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
The RiverRidge Foundation
The New Leaf Vegan Society
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Shepherd’s Ford is Just Green
Shepherd’s Ford Productions, the production company who creates the Fest, is a Green Certified Office. That means that:
• All the programs and handbills printed to promote the event were printed on recycled paper.
• Watermelon Park Fest T-shirts sold at the Fest Store are all organic cotton.
• The office recycles all is paper, plastic, glass and aluminum throughout the year.
• We started and continue to flesh out the green efforts at the Fest.
Learn more about Shepherd’s Ford Production’s here: http://www.shepherdsford.com
