SF Green Festival 2008: Who’s Going?

If you are anywhere near San Francisco next week, you’ve got to carpool, train, bus, or bike over to Green Fest. This green marketplace meets trade show meets sustainable lifestyle conference is a must-attend for the West Coast eco-conscious community.

There will be over 100 eco fashion companies from all over the country including Alchemy Goods, Indigenous Designs, Kate Organic, Autonomie Project, Simple Shoes, Mission Playground, Helen Riegle, and Green Guru. There are amazing deals to be had, especially on Sunday afternoon, when vendors are willing to wheel and deal in order to reduce the weight of the inventory for their schlep home. You can get samples of all kinds of new products: food, beverages, beauty products, bodycare, media.

What I love most about Green Festival is getting a chance to connect directly with the founders, CEO’s, and craftspeople behind all my favorite products. Putting a face and story to my favorite yerba maté, straw fedora, organic soap, yogurt, or toothpaste really makes my shopping experience back home much more rewarding. I feel like I’m supporting my friends, as well as their missions that I’ve come to know, from conserving old growth rainforest to cleaning up rivers to backing sustainable farmers.

This massive space can become a bit overstimulating, but thankfully there’s an incredible food court and beer garden to recharge in. Another great place to sit down and kick back is at one of the incredible talks given by cutting edge innovators and changemakers like Bill McDonough, Dr. Cornel West, Deepak Chopra, Democracy Now anchor Amy Goodman, and Air America host and former Public Enemy front man, Chuck D. Just when you think the festival has shut down for the day, the parties going on Friday and Saturday night in San Francisco round out what’s become an annual pilgramage for thousands of treehuggers, hipsters, and healthnuts. Check it out yourself. For a mere $15, Green Fest can not be missed!