Great Lakes Bioneers

Greetings from deep within the annual Cherry Festival!

With the onset of summer, it is time to give away your excess lettuces before they go to seed. It is the time of year to give your neighbor a bouquet of flowers for no reason except they are blooming. It is a time of year to cut your co-workers some slack because they are as busy as you are and probably haven’t had enough beach time yet.

Speaking of giving:

Conference Sponsors: It is an honor and a pleasure to let you all know about a few of the returning friends we want to thank:

• Oryana Natural Foods continues to support the conference in a BIG way.
• Green Island and Higher Grounds Trading Company will once again pair up to feed and water us so so well.
• Fernand Footwear will sponsor the Earthwork Music Concert for the second time.
• Organic Bioneer Brownies are available at the Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery and proceeds support us.
• Wash that down with the newly released Bioneers Blend: 100% Organic, Biodynamic, Fair Trade tea from Light of Day Organics.

The proprietors and employees of these businesses are some of our favorite people. They walk their talk; they are breaking old business molds to provide new economic models; they give so much and they give creatively! When you support these businesses it means more than just buying organic baby clothes; your business helps them support your community. Round, round, round.

Want to join this illustrious crew? July 18 is the date not to miss. Get the word out about your green business or non-profit. Or just contribute to a life-changing, life-affirming conference. Become a Business Sponsor, a Non-profit Partner, or an Individual Donor by:

• Making a tax-deductible gift,
• Buying advertising,
• Connecting us to your communication network, or
• Donating to our silent auction.

These are four simple ways you can help us while expanding your own exposure. Make a commitment before July 18 and we’ll include you in all the publicity we produce. Email us now at info@glbconference.org or call 231.947.0312 and tell us how you will help!

Another way to give: Volunteers needed! We have all kinds of things going on this summer to prepare for the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference in the fall. If you’re interested in helping at information tables, passing our flyers and posters, attending a mailing party, or working on specific events such as a movie at the State Theatre, a salon at your house, or Bill McKibbon’s visit September 7, contact us now at info@glbconference.org.

Coming up:

1. We’ll be at the Cherry Festival, Friday July 11 from noon-6pm (our first time!)
2. Food For Thought’s Green Cuisine Celebration July 16, 5-8pm

Final Tidbits of Good News That’s New:

1. New online publication: Sustainable Farmer, written by none other than our favorite vegetarian cowboy’s (Drew Howard) cowgal (Bonnie Bucqueroux). Check it out!
2. July 7, 2008 the Ecuador Constitutional Assembly – composed of one hundred and thirty (130) delegates elected countrywide to rewrite the country’s Constitution – voted to approve articles for the new constitution recognizing rights for nature and ecosystems. “If adopted in the final constitution by the people, Ecuador would become the first country in the world to codify a new system of environmental protection based on rights,” stated Thomas Linzey, Executive Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and former Bioneers keynote.