WICHITA, Kan. - To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, several Wichita groups have joined with Earth Spirit Kansas for a day of fun, food, and music, Earth Fest 2010: "Just Food." The all-day event is set for Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Wichita Water Center in Herman Hill Park, 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, Kansas. Festivities will start at 9 a.m. and will end at 10 p.m.
The Earth Spirit Coalition Annual Project will have as a theme, "Plant Thoughts, Grow Networks, Nurture Kansas Families." One of the highlights of the event is a tour of the Wichita Water Center, which Rev. Connie Pace-Adair, Earth Spirit chair, calls "an exemplary water treatment plant."
According to Rev. Pace-Adair, the Water Center pulls polluted water from downtown Wichita and mixes it with air, ridding it of pollutants. While the treated water is not potable, it is usable for irrigation. Right now, the water is being used to irrigate Herman Hill Park.
Rev. Pace-Adair said that the Water Center also features an aquarium filled with fish that represent fish found in local waters. She said the Water Center is a beautiful facility and a healthful environment. Poetry by WSU professor and poet Albert Goldbarth can be found on the walls of the Water Center. Jack Brown, one-time director of the Water Center, will speak at the event.
Tours of the Wichita Water Center will be available at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. All the events are free, courtesy of the City of Wichita.
Local musicians will perform throughout the day and evening and vendor booths will open at 11 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.
Other events include a Celebrate Earth Day Proclamation read by Wichita Vice-Mayor Jim Skelton and a presentation by Ken Warren, managing director, The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas, on "The Land's Institute's Mission: Perennial Polyculture." A panel of area food and environmental experts will discuss the topic, "Just Food."
A recycled fashion show will take place in the afternoon and an LED light show is set for 8:30 p.m.
Advertised as a brown bag/family picnic day, Rev. Pace-Adair encourages families to spend the day having fun as they learn about food and the natural resources available to Wichita area residents.
Rev. Pace Adair said Wichita city officials have been more than cooperative in helping make Earth Fest 2010 a success. Wichita Parks and Recreation Department personnel have been especially helpful.
Other sponsors include: Wichita Renewable Energy; Peace and Social Center of South Central Kansas; Great Plains Institute; Healthy Solutions at Barney's; KCTU-TV 43; Global Faith in Action; Lucky Star Farms, Eureka, Kansas; Mid-American All-Indian Center; Green Sanctuary Committee, First UU Church; Wichita Indochinese Center; Trees for Life; Naked City Magazine; Roots and Shoots of South Central Kansas; Vegetarian Meet-Up Group of Wichita; WIRE (Wichita Initiative for Renewing Environment); WSU Greens Group; and Home Grown Kansas, Prairie Land Foods. Waste Connections has donated recycle bins.
For more information, contact Rev. Connie Pace-Adair at earthspiritkansas@googlegroups.com, or call (316)-708-9701
Angie Allen at info@intoxicatingdesigns.com, or call (316)-650-0707.
Web site: http://www.earthspiritkansas.com.
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