It was completely awesome. It was busy from 10:00 until about 3, when it became markedly slower, but still with a steady stream of people. Some vendors sold nearly out of what they brought!
These photos are from when everyone was getting set up, after our heart-attack inducing discovery that they had NOT emptied the room as they were supposed to, and we had to do quite a bit of very fast carrying of things into the back room. BUT! It all worked out!
Filed under: Events
I’m so excited about this! Natural Living Des Moines will be hosting the first annual Des Moines Green Gifts Fair in November!
The fair will be November 15, 10-4, at the Des Moines Social Club downtown. It should be an excellent opportunity to purchase eco-friendly gifts for the holidays – or for any event – or just for yourself!
We are currently accepting vendors for this awesome, unique event.
We are looking for vendors to sell items that are eco-friendly and that would make good gifts. We will be choosing vendors based on the items they plan to sell at the fair. Obviously, items should be eco-friendly in some way. Additionally, we will have a bias towards localism – items made from locally-sourced materials, items made locally, etc – but are not excluding non-local items/materials. Items do NOT need to be handmade, as this is not necessarily a craft fair. Additionally, food and wine vendors are welcome, as long as no alcohol is sold to be consumed onsite. Green service providers would also be a welcome addition, if there is some sort of “gift” component to what you do (even if it’s just gift certificates – who wouldn’t love a gift certificate for a massage for Christmas?).
Each booth will be 10’ x 10’ and will cost just $20. Please just let me know if you’d like an application! (sarahtar1@gmail.com)
It’s State Fair time again, and I thought I’d trot out last year’s post on healthy eats at the fair.
At Gray’s Lake: Saturdays 9-10, led by various Yogis.
At the Downtown Community Garden: Sundays at 5, led by Maggie from Firehouse Yoga. (E 6th and Scott)
It’s Farmer’s Market season! Here are the markets in the Des Moines metro:
- Downtown, Saturday mornings (7-12)
- West Glen, also Saturday mornings, starting at 10.
- Urbandale, at Living History Farms, Thursday evenings
- Drake, by the Drake Diner, Wednesday evenings (4-7)
- East Village, Friday Evenings, 4:30-7:30
- Valley Junction, Tuesday evenings.
Other Polk County Farmer’s Markets are listed here.
I have no good way to update the calendar just now (laptop in the shop), but wanted to be sure to share this exciting event:
Des Moines Really Really Free Market
May 2, 11-3, Drake Park (24th and Cottage)
Everyone is welcome at this free event, where all are encouraged to give, receive, and create on their own terms. This free and open market will be a celebration of the cooperation and gift-giving that make life possible beyond the constraints of capitalist markets. The event is self-organized by everyone who participates. No authority rules over the RRFM. As at previous events, we trust that people sharing rather than competing will be able to find their own ways to cooperate with each other and function smoothly.
Everyone is invited to arrive from 11am ’till late afternoon with goods, services, skills, performances, stories, crafts, food, games, music, clothing, furniture, plants, and resources to give and share with others in the community. There is no buying, selling or exchanging involved—in this market, everything is strictly free. Better than a yard sale, the Really Really Free Market has no price tags!
As at other Really Really Free Markets across the U.S. and around the world, we create and participate in an alternative world, a world in which resources are held in common, the community meets the needs of the community, and “free” means just that: really, really free. The Really Really Free Market is an afternoon when social status can be earned by giving things rather than owning things, and when giving and receiving happens directly rather than being administered through an institution or organization.
Nothing is required for participation, but if you would like to give something at the event, please think creatively about the skills you have and could teach, the useful or beautiful things you have and don’t need, or the resources you might be able to bring and share with people to create something during the event. This event is not a ‘dumping ground’ for people to get rid of things they don’t want; rather it is a space where people come together to provide for each other, inspire each other, and share together in the abundance of goods, skills, and creativity of our community. People are encouraged to take responsibility for any goods they bring that are not taken by the end of the event.
Filed under: Events
There are tons of Earth Day related activities around Des Moines, if you’re so inclined. One of the more popular is Earth Day in the Junction at Valley Junction. There are exhibits and a few activities throughout the day on Saturday, April 18.
This one looks like fun: the Vegetarian Community of Iowa is hosting a celebration on Wednesday, April 22, at Ritual Cafe. There will be yummy samples of vegetarian food and, of course, the Ritual Cafe menu is full of vegetarian, organic, and local foods. (4:00-7:00, swing by after work!)
The Botanical Center is offering free admission all day on Earth Day (April 22). The Iowa DNR is unveiling a new trash sculpture.
Earth Day is, of course, April 22, and many families plan special activities for the day. For example, we usually go for a walk around the neighborhood and pick up trash, and talk to the kid(s) about the importace of not littering, keeping nature beautiful, taking care of our surroundings, etc. What does your family do for Earth Day?
Filed under: Events
This is old news by now, but West Glen has announced they will have a Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings beginning at 10:00 am.
I’m not personally sure how I feel about a West Glen market that will directly compete with the downtown market. I know I personally really only have the stamina for one market per day!
Join FOIM on Saturday Feb 14 to write a handwritten letter to your lawmakers in Iowa, asking them to support direct-entry midwives. You can learn more about this event HERE. FOIM will provide paper, envelopes, and postage – you provide the handwriting! There will be events in both Des Moines and Iowa City. (Des Moines is at the Urbandale Public Library 10-12.)
A recent post at the Prairieland Herbs blog reminded me that I haven’t mentioned all the awesome classes and programs that can be found at county conservation boards. I personally like the Dallas County Conservation Board programs way better than Polk County’s, but your mileage may vary.
Dallas County has a Vermicomposting - how to build your own bin class coming up in March. Polk County has Backyard Conservation as well as Rain Barrell workshops in March.
