Green Valentine Eco-Fest set for Feb. 14

Anneliese's Schools will hold its Green Valentine Environmental Awareness Festival on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Willowbrook Campus, 20062 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Admission is free. There will be no parking available at the campus; attendees must park at the Act V lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road and use the free shuttle service.

The fun-filled family day will offer organic food ideas, green vendors, solar energy displays and workshops for adults and children. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities: information-packed talks, garden activities such as making boxes to grow your own salad greens and planting milkweed to attract monarch butterflies, plus face painting and inflatable jumping areas for the younger children. Local gardening expert Green Gene will speak on "Reducing, Reusing, Recycling and Restoring." He will also teach a pruning and easy-composting workshop. Certified organic raw-food chef Jaia Lee will speak about eating choices and their impact on the Earth.

The musical lineup on two stages includes local band Soul Food at 11:30 a.m., popular musician Jason Feddy at noon, Chris Amodeo and Paul Mc Intyre at 1 p.m., Project Renaissance at 1:45 p.m. and Laguna's newest musical sensation Birdsong and the EcoWonders at 3 p.m. At 2 p.m., the Pachamama Alliance will sponsor an interactive, multi-media experience, "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream:

Opening our Eyes and Hearts to What's Really Possible," facilitated by relational psychologist Jeanne Michele. At 3:45 p.m., Jeffrey Briar will close the event leading a Laughter Yoga session.

Food and beverages will be offered by several vendors, including La Sirena Grill, Z Pizza restaurants, chef Cathy Lam, who cooks with only solar power, and Jaia Lee, serving up raw cacao treats. Topping off the festivities will be a giant Valentine dessert served to all attendees.

The event was organized by volunteer Anna Krajec, Liesa Schimmelpfennig, president of SEEDS and program development director at Anneleise's School, and Elise Higley, the school's administration director, with a team of volunteers.

Krajec said, "We are creating a movement to inspire and educate our community into taking daily actions that support our health as well as our Earth. We invite the entire community to come celebrate Valentine's Day in a whole new way: as a Valentine for Mother Earth."

 The Green Valentine Environmental Awareness Festival is presented by SEEDS Art and Education, a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of children's education through funding programs in the Arts, Sciences and Humanities. SEEDS supports programs that promote stewardship of the land, such as organic gardening, environmental awareness, and conservation; and programs that foster academic excellence in literacy, math, science and humanities. SEEDS is devoted to enhancing the quality of life for children and their communities.

Call 949-494-7388 for more information about the Festival.