Interested in climate change, overpopulation, sustainable living, and allied issues? Why then, you might like to know about The Muddy Boot Organic Festival this weekend. I haven’t been to it (this is the fourth annual festival) so I’ll just quote the press release:

"…a vibrant, bustling, outdoor sustainability-themed festival featuring stellar live music, organic and sustainable foods and beverages, information booths, sustainable products, educational workshops, and fun activities for families and children. The live music lineup includes musical performers Weinland, Portland Cello Project, Stephanie Schneiderman, Freak Mountain Ramblers, the March Fourth Marching Band and others.

The Muddy Boot Organic Festival’s mission is to promote sustainable living practices within our local communities, thereby enhancing the health of our world, our neighborhoods and ourselves. The theme of this years festival is Connecting Communities in a Changing Climate."

Sounds festive – and interesting. Best of all, I have two free tickets to give away to the keynote speech on Friday night by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben. His talk titled "The Most Important Number in the World" addresses climate change and starts at 7:00 pm this Friday night. Opening remarks will be made by former Oregon Secretary of State, Bill Bradbury.

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McKibben is the author of The End of Nature, the first book on climate change aimed at a general audience, Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future and many other works. He is also a cofounder of 350.org – whose mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis. The number 350 is significant because it is the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit of parts per million of CO2 in our atmosphere. According to scientists, we are already above 350 ppm, and 350.org s goal is to mobilize an international movement to bring our planet back to 350. The founders of 350.org are coordinating a planetary day of action on October 24, 2009, just a few weeks after our Muddy Boot Organic Festival."

So, on to the give-away: the first person to answer this plant-related question correctly on the comment section of the blog will win two tickets to Bill McKibben’s keynote speech on Friday night at 7 pm.

Question: what kind of "cape" is the name of the plant "Cape fuchsia" (Phygelius) referring to? Drop me a line – let me know before anyone else does and we’ll give you two free tickets.

For more information about the festival, please visit www.muddyboot.org

Location:
St. Philip Neri
2408 SE 16th Ave
Portland, OR 97214

Festival ticket price: $15.00 – $20.00

Info Line: 503-231-4955
[email protected]