Hi All,

I just returned from a quick visit to Costa Rica, where I attended the Envision Festival, in Utiva, on the Pacific Coast. I went there to watch and support my youngest daughter, Elana Meta, perform her unique form of hip hop dance and music. I had no idea what I was getting into! Elana’s performances were amazing and blew me away, but I expected that. What I did not expect, was the level of high consciousness at the festival. It actually gives me hope for the future! The organizers of the festival put a lot of thought into making it as “green” an event as possible, asking attendees to bring their own plates and silverware, serving local, healthy foods, separating out the recycling and composting from trash, and promoting healthy living. There were classes in Yoga, Tai Chi, Hip Hop Dance, Meditation and Healing Arts during the day, as well as scheduled speakers on Sustainability, Community and the Environment. There were 3 stages with music playing, all going on simultaneously, with a myriad of performers at any given time, from dancers, to fire spinners, to aerialists, to a giant hula hoop spinner. What amazed me the most, was the quality of the young people there. Everyone was respectful, kind, sincere and helpful, while having a great time dancing the night away, filled with the contentment that community can provide. I felt the optimism and potential that this new wave of Festival Community can have on the future of our planet, and I look forward to watching and participating in many more festivals down the road!

My guest this week on the Progressive Radio Network is Margaret Brown, NRDC’s (Natural Resource Defense Council) first Food Law fellow.? She has been working to build a better food system in the New York region?specifically using legal tools and policy reforms to help sustainable farmers, encourage the development of key regional infrastructure, and leverage the power of large institutional purchasers for regional and sustainable food.? Margaret also has a personal connection to farming?growing up on her family’s dairy farm in Maryland and working on an organic farm in Maine. Please join me this Thursday, as Margaret shares her story, and brings us up to speed on the sustainable food movement in the New York region, and how it can impact our children’s school lunch program.

Remember, my show is recorded live, every Thursday, from 10-11 am, EST.? To tune in, navigate to?PRN.fm?and click the ?Listen Live? button on the left. Also try downloading the?PRN mobile app, and take the station with you wherever you go! If you want to call in during the show with any questions for me or my guest, the call in number is 888-874-4888.

If you can?t tune in at that time, you can listen to the show in the?PRN archives,?or on my website, or through iTunes. You can also access the show by calling in to?The Progressive Radio Network?at 619-550-0869. Please ?like??iEat Green?s Facebook page?and feel free to?rate the show and leave comments on iTunes and on my website.

With love and gratitude,
Bhavani