Details unveiled for dandelion festival

P.E.I. Environmental Health Co-op hosting

The P.E.I. Environmental Health Co-op is hosting its 11th Dandelion Festival at Stratford Town Hall on Victoria Day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The festival is a celebration of the majestic dandelion and of living in an ecologically friendly manner. Admission is free, although there are some charges for food items.

This family event has activities for children that include art and craft tables, making newspaper hats, outdoor games and activities and wall space to post artwork. Chef Chris Sallie of The Island Food Skills Initiative will offer handson food preparation with dandelions.

Display booths cover many topics dealing with healthier living, care of the environment, renewable energy and sustainability. Samples of dandelion pancak

es and syrup will be offered. Everyone is invited to bring for display their art work, writing, photographs and recipes celebrating the dandelion.

There will also be snacks by Kitchen Witch and by Sitti’s Garden, as well as music by Harpist Jill Harris and by the Singing Strings.

Workshops start at 10 a.m. with Cooking with Dandelions (Margaret Prouse); 11:15 Vegetable Fermentation and Kombucha (Amy Smith and Verena Varga); 12:30 p.m. PesticideFree Lawn and Garden Care (Jamey Smith); 1:45 Herbs for Wellness (Cassandra Goodwin).

The PEI Environmental Health Co-op is a group concerned with the health effects of indoor and outdoor contaminants in our environment. The festival allows people to look at ways to reduce their chemical burden to live in a healthier and more sustainable fashion. The dandelion is one of nature’s great gifts due to its nutritional and medicinal properties.

For more information go to www.peienvironmentalhealth. org or contact co-ordinator Ruth Lacey 902-675-4282 or Marion Copleston, 902-6754390.