The 4th Annual Organic Okanagan Festival is 1 week away! The Okanagan’s finest green living exposition will be held on Sunday September 20, 2009 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at Summerhill Pyramid Winery, 4870 Chute Lake Road Kelowna. General admission is $5 at the door plus a non-perishable food item for the Kelowna Community Food Bank.

The Okanagan Greens Society is delighted to welcome Choices Market as a new festival partner and Green Sprout Sponsor. Founded in 1990, Choices is Western Canada’s largest retailer of natural, organic, specialty foods with a sound commitment to their customers, their community and our planet. With the support of their community, this family business has grown into eight stores throughout Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan while remaining 100% BC owned and operated.

A portion of Choice’s sponsorship will be donating reusable shopping bags for the first 1000 festival attendees! The bags will be stuffed with tempting green goodies such as organic cereal & bar samples from Nature’s Path Food and herbal tea samples from Kelowna’s Silk Road Teas & Tonics.

Over 1000 people enjoyed the 2008 Organic Okanagan Festival and forty-four Okanagan businesses and organizations participated in the event. The Okanagan Greens are anticipating larger guest attendance for the 2009 celebration and have already booked stimulating new initiatives for the day.

A selection of events include: a talk with Percy Schmeiser, a consignment fashion show by Frock clothing, local music including the Raging Grannies and a Xeriscaping lecture. The event schedule is listed below.

Attendees can even ride the Mission Family Chiropractic hybrid festival bus shuttle to Summerhill Winery and enjoy green transportation to the event! Click on the bus schedule above for more info.


2009 ORGANIC OKANAGAN EVENT SCHEDULE

IN THE SUMMERHILL PYRAMID:

Keynote Speaker - Percy Schmeiser
www.percyschmeiser.com

Time: 1:00 pm

Percy Schmeiser, an internationally renowned farmer and farmers' rights advocate from Bruno, Saskatchewan, discusses his 10-year battle with agribusiness giant Monsanto after his fields were contaminated with genetically engineered (G.E.) canola in 1998. Learn how Genetically Engineered foods have entered into the Canadian food supply and learn of the efforts to establish an Okanagan that remains free of genetically engineered plants and trees.

Xeriscaping your Yard: An Introduction to the Basics- Lisa Masini
www.waterwisedesign.ca

Time: 3:00 pm

Xeriscape landscaping is growing in popularity across North America as a way to conserve water. Rather than rocks and cactus, xeriscape gardens can range in style from the English country garden, to the dry Mediterranean garden, to vegetable gardens! It is all about following a set of seven gardening principles that result in using water as efficiently as possible. This lecture will explain the seven xeriscape principles and give suggestions on how homeowners can make changes in their yards, as well as show photos of xeriscaped gardens and low water plants suitable to the Okanagan.

An introduction to the basics of xeriscaping your yard with Lisa Masini of Waterwise Landscape Design


IN THE HERITAGE MUSIC TENT

Consignment is Chic & Green - Kaela Ayrn

Time: 12:00 pm

Kaela Ayrn of FROCK clothing is producing a green fashion show with gorgeous consignment clothes from her boutique.
www.frockclothing.ca

The Raging Grannies

Time: 2:30 pm

OOF favourites entertain - caring older women who use song to protest and raise awareness of the issues of Peace, the environment and social justice.

Ellsie Kay & the Love Affair

Time: 4:00 pm

A fiddle playin' country vixen backed by a shoobie-do-wop rockin' band!


EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION TO THE 2009 4th ANNUAL ORGANIC OKANAGAN FESTIVAL IS  OPEN AND WILL CLOSE FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2009.

Who can exhibit?

If your company or organization can be classified as a Certified Organic farm or business, Natural (non-GMO, additive/preservative free), Ethical or Fair Trade, Local and Sustainable, Natural Health Care, Eco-Friendly, Recycling or Artisan then you are invited. We also welcome any like-minded pitches and ideas!

How To Apply for an Exhibit Space:

  1. Contact Wendy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive a registration package.
  2. Or phone Wendy at (250) 469-1881 for assistance.

Your Exhibitor’s Fee Includes:

  • Festival exhibit space.
  • All of your products, services and information are showcased 3 times - at the event, in the printed festival program guide and on the web site.
  • Face to face interaction with 1200 - 1500 Okanagan customers who will learn how your business or organization is contributing towards our sustainable local future.


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