So, I'm organising a festival in Brisbane. We have changed the venue to Albion Peace Centre, Windsor.

This massive undertaking started at the beginning of 2009 from a seed planted in Nov 2008 by Kas from Adelaide's Vegan Festival and Jess who started Sydney's Cruelty Free Festival. At the time these lovely ladies suggested this to me, I was in the middle of writing my Detox Diet and said that I had way too much on my plate to be adding anything else, but once an idea germinates in my mind, it grows and grows with the possibilities until the prospect of not doing the task seems worse entirely.

So, I'm putting on a festival in Brisbane, Australia called Green Earth Day (previously Green Earth Festival) on Saturday 12th March at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Albion Peace Centre, Windsor - 3 weeks today! This is a beautiful spot in Brisbane that the floods did touch, but luckily the area we will be using wasn't too badly effected. The gardens have public transport access from trains, buses, ferries, bikes and walking. It's right in the middle of the city, near the Brisbane river and as it will be blue skies and sunshine on the day, it will be beautiful!

Last year was our first year and we attracted 3000-4000 people to what some call a niche market. Mostly because it's an real environmental event where everything is vegan (you can't be an environmentalist without being vegan). Most people in Brisbane are sick of the greenwash that exists and were relieved to have a grassroots, community-based event put on by my not-for-profit environmental awareness, Green Earth Group. We had over 50 volunteers who made sure that all aspects of the festival were looked after, including the set up, pack up and general running of the day. See the PHOTOS from last year.

This year we have a lot of local and interstate businesses and not for profit groups attending as Stallholders. Plus some great green cuisine options as well so you can eat as much vegan food as you like. This festival is marketed to the mainstream public, most of whom have never heard of the word vegan let alone eaten any vegan food, so it's great to see many different types of people all in the one area enjoying themselves and learning more about the environment.

Last year our Kids Zone was one of the busiest areas from 10am-4pm with games, entertainment and a lot of face painting! There's also a colouring in competition to enter.

Not only is Green Earth Day family-friendly, it's also drug and alcohol free. We have a main stage for local bands and music performers. I was meant to perform but won't have the time to rehearse at all... We also have a video zone, speakers and demonstrations, art and fashion zone and MORE! We wouldn't be able to put on Green Earth Day without the support from our Stallholders and our Sponsors, including: Australia's newest ethical and cruelty-free Superannuation Cruelty Free Super, Vegan Easy Challenge, VegeRama and Winalite/Love Moon.

The main work for Green Earth Day takes from November to March and it's really all-encompassing and at sometimes overwhelming. Everything relates to Green Earth Day and Green Earth Group at this time, and I mean everything. We have competitions for people to enter - Art, Fashion and Film, we organise fundraisers and events throughout the year as well. This year we have been attending market stalls and selling vegan baked goods. Plus we have regular Meetings that are held at Loving Hut in Mt Gravatt.

We have an amazing range of Volunteers who help out wherever and whenever they can. Since I started on this latest project of mine, I have met some really amazing, inspiring and beautiful people who I hope will be my life-long friends. I do hope that I see you, your family and friends at Green Earth Day on Saturday 12th March at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens - come and say hi - I love meeting new people! If you're interested in Volunteering, we still have spaces available. If you want to be a Stallholder or Sponsor at the festival, you have until Friday the 25th to get your payment and application form in.

If you can't make the festival, please consider becoming a paid member of Green Earth Group where you will get voting rights at our AGM, discounts on our merchandise and discounts from other great businesses. For only $20 per year you can be part of our innovative and successful independent, not-for-profit organisation. You can also check out our Merchandise, Promote us on your website, blogs, social media sites, or Donate to Green Earth Group to help keep us on target with our aims for the future. Thanks for being a part of the changes we so desperately need for our future!

For more information see:

http://greenearthday.net

http://www.facebook.com/greenearthgroup

http://www.facebook.com/greenearthday

http://twitter.com/Green_Earth_Day

http://www.youtube.com/GreenEarthDayBris