TED Talks – The Beauty of Pollination
Enjoy Louie Schwartzberg’s video, The Beauty of Pollination
Like this:
Ecofest Barrie 2012 Website Launch!
Ecofest Barrie 2012 Website Launch!
The Ecofest Barrie website has been updated with a fresh look! Check it out and stay tuned for more program details in the coming weeks.
- Interested in getting involved? Visit our vendor or sponsor pages for info.
- Looking to contribute? We’re happy to talk – drop us an email anytime.
See you on June 9th and 10th!
Launch 2012 supporting programs of Back2Basics in Barrie
Back2Basics Social Innovations group are offering programs supporting youth in the Barrie Area. Teaching, learning, developing new skill sets in a changing world. Ecofest Barrie programs are offered to enhance the environmental outreach and initiatives as offered by Back2Basics. We’re excited to keep the positivity going in the Greater Barrie Area. Join in.
Eco Fashion Friday: Alternative Couture
Kerri Mercer, self-proclaimed ‘mad scientist’ of the fashion world has been creating alternative couture with her co
mpany, Black Orchid Designs for the last 8 years. Based out of Kitchener, her underground styles are inspired by a mixture of old world charm and futuristic visions.
For her 2010 Ecofest Barrie Trashfusion design Kerri was “inspired by the cult film Mad Max and the post apocalyptic future world, where we will have to make our own clothes from leftovers”
Kerri (right) with her design and model, Kim Wall, at Ecofest Barrie 2010
Kerri also entered the Milton Trashfusion contest where she took 1st place with her Roccoco and Marie Antoinette-inspired design.
A quick look at Kerri’s etsy shop and you’ll notice her visionary style with alternative influences immediately.
From her feminine “Air Pirate Dress” to her outrageous and beautiful “Brotherhood of the Raven Mask“, you don’t have to be an alternative consumer to find a piece you can’t help but lust after.
Kerri has decided to once again enter out Ecofest Barrie Trashfusion contest, but you’ll have to come to the show to find out what she dreams up this time!
To check out more of Kerri and Black Orchid Designs:
Website:www.blackorchiddesigns.ca
Facebook:Black Orchid Designs Alternate Couture
Etsy:Black Orchid Designs
Some of Kerri’s designs can also be found at Rare Funk in Kitchener, or by visiting rarefunk.ca
Kerri with her 2010 model and Milton Trashfusion design
3 Ways to Cut Energy Use at Home
As our furnaces and heaters are shutting down, there are still steps we can take to lower our Spring and Summer energy consumption. Thinking beyond the coiled bulb, here are a few things you can do to save energy in your home today.
1) Be conscious of your laundry process.Wash your clothes in cold water. This is also beneficial to help your clothes stay new
photo credit: rachelandrew on flickr
looking longer as cold water is much easier on fibers. You can also dramatically cut your energy consumption by avoiding your dryer whenever possible, the temperature outside is perfect now to use that clothes line. Added bonus: clothes and blankets smell so great after they have been blown dry outside! If you do not have access to a clothes line you can still drip dry clothes inside.
2)Use power bars or unplug your electronics. All electronics use power while on standby or “off”. This includes chargers, toasters, T.V. etc . For a little more info on why this happens view this video, “How Much Energy Do Your Gadgets Use?” on How Stuff Works.
3)Enhance Your Home Efficiency. Before you start-up your air conditioner, check to make sure you’re not wasting your energy and money by scheduling a home energy evaluation. As Enertest states in their website:
Making your home energy-efficient will save you money and reduce the impact on the environment for many years
So true! Curr
ently Enertest offers energy evaluations, building consultations as well as specialty services, such as their infra-red thermography, which will reveal heat loss areas that otherwise may not be detected. Many of their services are eligible for government grants, check their website for more details. To learn more about enhancing your home energy efficiency check out Enertest.ca. You can also speak with them at Ecofest Barrie, where they will be a part of our Eco House Green Build!
Barrie Cycling Club
As part of our Kid (and Teen!) Zone, the Barrie Cycling Club will be hanging out with us at Ecofest Barrie on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon!
The Barrie Cycling Club is made up of a group of local cycling enthusiast who have tons of experience with cycling groups and racing.
They offer all kinds of programs from their ‘Learn to Ride Club’ to their ‘Sunday Touring Rides’. If you are a cyclist or thinking about getting into it, be sure to visit their website at barriecycling.com. You can also view their calender of events here.
Barrie Cycling Club is Holding a Youth Race!
Here is more info taken from their site:
On Saturday May 21, 2011 the Barrie Cycling Club is proud to host our 2nd Annual Youth Race, part of the Ontario Youth Cup Series!
This is a stage race geared for boys & girls ages 10-16, and it features a Time Trial and a Road Race all in the same day.
We have a fantastic course, almost entirely made of brand new pavement! It features some rolling hills, and some wide open flat sections. It measures a perfect 6km in length, with wide, safe corners all the way around.
Registration is located here, on the OCA website. Please note that there will be NO day of registrations accepted for this event.
Click here to view the Technical Guide
We will have some demonstrations from the local bike shops on hand.
We’ll also have a BBQ on site offering food and refreshments.
For more information on the Barrie Cycling Club:
Website: http://www.barriecycling.com/
Twitter: @barriecycling
Facebook: Barrie Cycling Club
David Rankine
On our main stage this year we welcome Progressive Folk musician and artist, David Rankine.
Drawing heavily from such diverse influences as Appalachian folk,Indo-Perisan,Classic Rock, Progressive Rock and also from a background in Scots and Irish folk music (bagpipes), David’s original compositions engage the listener in a way that asks the listener to become part of the music- music that provides a co-creative healing space. Although a devoted player of the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer (a zither like 4 stringed modal instrument) Dave has never let his playing style be restricted by traditional modes or idioms. Composing all of his own material, his playing is eclectic and diversified…mixing the dynamics of bagpipes (his first instrument) and hard rock, with riffs and scales influenced by Indo Persian and Medieval music.
Dave’s compositions run the range from exquisitely sweet ballads (The Knot, May Day, Forsaken) to trance grooves like “Ullalume’s Return” to driving poly-rhythmic stomps like “Circles”, “The Crucible” and “Axis of Love”.
No matter what the tune is, audiences and listeners always comment on how trance-inducing the music is. This may be a result of a playing style that layers lead, rhythm and bass lines, often played all at the same time using combination of fingerpicking, strum and flat picking techniques. It is a style of playing that draws heavily from Scottish Bagpipe classical music (Ceol Mhor) and also Indian Ragas.
David Rankine is the driving force behind the Acid Folk-Rock outfit Dulcimerhead and has also recently formed a new folk jazz collaboration with Jason Pfeiffer (of HAWP, Nollaig) called Daljegg.
David has released 11 CD recordings under his own label (Arathusa Records) including 5 with Dulcimerhead, and 4 solo mediation and healing CDs including his latest release ” Healing Space” (taken from ecofestbarrie.ca)
For a sample of David Rankine’s music check out his songs, Confluence, Entrainment and Relaxation on Reverb Nation
For more info on the Art of David Rankine visit davidrankineart.com.
