April 19, 2010:
Dandelion Festival’s Organizers See Weeds as Nutritious and Symbolic
Next Saturday might just solve your dandelion problem—if you’re open to looking at dandelions in a new light, that is. The Citizens for Pesticide Reform, a branch of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, is hosting the event to celebrate the dandelion as a symbol of healthy and safe environment. The persistent, pesky weed has made a positive comeback with its nutritious value and representation of ending chemical warfare and promotion for a sustainable, green Boulder and beyond.
The festival focuses on harvesting dandelions instead of battling them with chemicals.
“Dandelions are not a problem for the environment,” said herbalist, author and event co-director Brigitte Mars. “Herbicides are.”
Mikl Brawner, co-owner of Harlequin’s Garden, will be teaching a class on the basics of how to garden without chemicals. Brawner has spent 35 years researching and testing alternatives to toxic chemicals, and has managed the nursery and his display gardens organically for 19 years.
“The festival is to celebrate the natural world as good in itself, as not something that you have to fight; something you can be partners with. We’re entering another age in relationship to our planet, having more to do with corporation than domination,” said Brawner.
Randall Weiner, a local environmental and personal injury attorney, is the originator, a major sponsor and driving force for the Dandelion Festival.
“In the mid-90s, the Sierra Club first asked City Council to ban pesticides in City parks and along rights of ways. Boulder’s City Council and Boards have struggled with how to achieve that for 15 years,” Weiner said. “The Dandelion Festival recognizes that it will take individual, not just governmental, action to achieve a community with less toxins in our midst.”
Betty Ball, head of The Citizens for Pesticide Reform, has taken the lead in coordinating the event along with Deb Sanders, also from the organization.
“We are very excited about this fun and celebratory festival and its potential to educate people about the value of gardening and farming organically and in a sustainable manner,” said Ball. “We are also excited about introducing the world of edible plants and herbs to people who may be unfamiliar with their attributes.”
Speakers will lead classes in subjects like gardening without chemicals, edible landscapes and edible and medicinal wild weeds. Vendors from the farmers’ market will be serving dandelion treats as well as organic foods, and festivalgoers will be treated to live music throughout.
Sanders, from The Citizens for Pesticide Reform, highlights the current environmental activism in Boulder but hopes the festival can be a step towards making more improvements.
“The Dandelion Festival is designed to celebrate not only Earth Week and the welcomed signs of spring, but to educate folks on sustainability and how to green up the environment,” Sanders said. “I think that this festival can be a great way to celebrate our commitment to act in more healthy, environmentally friendly ways.”
Very informative entry.
This is off-topic, but what is your favorite soil conditioning fertilizer? I’ve tried Pro-Gro on my veggie garden, but I don’t like the results. Anyone have suggestions?