Mother Earth News Fair

We have spent the weekend at the Mother Earth News Fair and had a wonderful time! What a fabulous event it was.

The overall event was extremely well done, nicely laid out at good facilities, manageable schedule, interesting and valuable content, and applicable exhibitors. Rarely have I described an event like this in such glowing terms in the technical industry. This was truly a pleasant surprise! I strongly encourage you to attend the remaining events if one is anywhere close to you.

Another important aspect of the event's success was the child friendliness of it. We traveled with our four young children (ages 7 months to 8 years) and a conventional "no children allowed" approach would have been detrimental at most trade shows, but not here! The Mother Earth News staff and volunteers were very helpful, accommodating, and kind to children. The schedule included plenty of interesting workshops for the little ones and they were well attended ad well managed. This afforded us the opportunity to keep them happily busy while we took moments to devote our full attention to a workshop or two, or have in depth conversations with exhibitors. The classes were even truly educational for children, not just busy work "color inside the lines".  I applaud Mother Earth News for their forethought in setting this up.

We ran into several people at this fair that we have been in contact with previously, which was also a great aspect. The audience and exhibitors were spot on!

The most encouraging aspect of this event is this... we are not alone! Sometimes in our quest for excellence and the necessary "controversy" that being "different" brings, we forget just how big but yet small the world is. Big because there are plenty of other people following exactly the same path, whichever path you choose. Small because you come across those people so easily. At this event we fit in perfectly! All the "controversial" aspects of our life became the norm, the accepted, the expected. Our intense search for true health was the focus of much of the exhibitors and talks. Our commitment to natural and humane animal treatment plus  organic and sustainable farming practices was shared and taught by everyone present. The books and videos available preached the very message that our life follows, and this blog explains. Even homeschooling was not shunned as the "silly practice of anti socials". Yes, it was a refreshing and helpful break from the bulk of hte conventional world that preaches sameness, conformity, and mediocrity in everything.  We came away thinking that there is more hope for America than we imagined. There is a grassroots effort of people, just like us, who are fighting the unseen battle of conventional thought against true wisdom of time.  Even thought we might not agree on the details of practice, we are all moving in the same direction of reconnecting with our past and reimplementing what made America great.

As we head home, our thoughts and hearts are full of encouragement, information, motivation, and validation.  Was it worth an 8 hour drive with 4 young children? you bet it was! I would do it again in a moment!