Sustainable Soirée

It may start small, with swearing off bags at the grocery store, opting for carpools instead of single-driver gas-guzzling, or grabbing a cup of the office coffee so you’re not leaving behind a football field’s worth of empty K-Cups at the end of your lifespan. Whatever began this move toward a more sustainable existence, it influences all aspects of life, including where you spend your time and your cash. Here’s where a thing like the Green Planet Festival South Florida — a link between eco-conscious people and environmentally sustainable companies — comes in handy. The inaugural festival arrives this Saturday with 12 hours of organic food and beer, live music, visionary speakers, fashion shows, hands-on workshops, a green market, and fitness demonstrations. Speakers include the Compassionate Farming Education Initiative’s Karen Ellis-Ritter and Unsung Vegan Heroes Award winner Jennifer Mennuti, who says the festival is a great opportunity for like-minded individuals to exchange ideas about sustainability. “I’m looking forward to inspiring people to take positive steps toward a plant-based diet/vegan lifestyle,” Mennuti says, “which is one of the most powerful things we can do to improve conditions on the planet for all species and one for our future generations.” The Green Planet Festival South Florida takes place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Broward County Convention Center, located at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Admission costs $15 at the door, but advance tickets can be purchased online for $10.95. Visit greenplanetfestival.com.
Sat., Feb. 28, 2015