Earth Fair is Next Weekend

The annual will be Saturday, April 28, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at . We're chatting with Kristy Medina, an organizer of the Earth Fair, about the event.

1. How did the Earth Fair come about? How many years has this been going on?  

This is it's 5th year, and my 4th year running it.  I have had a table at it for all 5 years.  Originally there was a pizza party on the Common after the Town Wide Clean Up.  That produced a lot of trash, so Jennifer Almeida started the first Chelmsford Earth Fair.  It was on the Common, and has several local eco-friendly companies and crafters as well as some live music.  

2. What can people expect at the earth fair?
This year's Earth Fair will have live music from local bands, a young magician for the kids, a storyteller for the kids, healthy food to purchase, a yoda demo on the Common, Allied Waste will be bringing one of their trucks for people to check out (touch-a-truck), raffle baskets, and lots of vender tables.  There will be one or two raffle baskets with eco-friendly themes, one will be a vendor basket (containing items from the various vendors), and a Red Socks basket.  The Red Socks basket will contain a few Red Socks items and a pair of tickets that Allied Waste donated.  The vendors range from education and information, to local businesses, to local artisans.  

Kristy Medina: eco crafts

Jeffery Merrill: Furniture and bird houses 

Susanna Delgado: Recycled glass products

Gopika Narula: Nature art

Frances Killam: Jewelry & Spindles

Virgino Mendonca: Solar oven & vegetable oil car

Kevin McMullin: Solar Energy

Sue West: Info about GMOs

Ami Hughes: Homemade eco-friendly household cleaners

Mary Kay

DGC Fertigation Masters

Next Step Living: Home Energy Assessments 

The Recycling Office 

The Clean and Green Series from the Chelmsford Library

Cub Scout Troop 77: Leave No Trace & Tree City

3. What is the importance of the earth fair to the community?
We are a green community with a lot of people involved in making it so.  This is a way for those people to let others in the area know about ways in which they can live more environmentally, including informing them about various products, classes, events, things provided by the town, and to support local artisans.  

4. What do you enjoy most about putting this together?
The event itself.  It is a lot of fun.  I get to meet new people, learn new things, and buy awesome stuff in the process.  I have organized it for the love of the event itself.  It would be wonderful for people to come and experience the great vibe for themselves.  

5. Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to about the event?
This will be our first year selling food and having a touch-a-truck at the  Earth Fair.  Last year Allied Waste provided popcorn, but this year there will be healthy snacks for people to enjoy.  Plus it will be nice to be able to feed our vendors.  

This is a non-profit event.  The money from the raffle baskets and the food sells go to reimburse the people behind the scenes for advertising and other things. Any money left over will be donated to something local for the town.