Only 18 days to go!…to Green Fest Indy 2010 …lets chill out and relax…

It has been pounded in our brains that we need to take time for ourselves.  How do you keep in balance?  The key to balance is how you think.

You think yeah…. Yeah I’ve heard that before.  How can I change the way that I think!… Well ,I am here to tell you that you can change the way you think.  Once you start to “feel” this, you begin to see that you have more control in your life.  Seriously! The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It produces our every thought, action, memory, feeling, and experience of the world.  Here is the thing, the mind can not tell the difference between live events or a generated memory.  For instance, Olympic track athletes were hooked up to monitoring equipment when they ran their race. Then they were asked to run their event in their imagination only.  Their mind responded the same way as it did when they actually ran their event.

Right now, scientists calculate that we only use 10% of our brain.  Think about it.  We take in 400 billion bits of information and are only aware of 2000 bits.  Where does all this info go?  It’s in our subconscious. The vast majority of the brain’s activity is subconscious; we just have to understand this.  What capabilities do we have in the other percentage of our brains?  A lot more control of our well being than we were aware of.

I believe discovering our possibilities is the final frontier!  How do we use our mind in a proactive way?  Turn off the “auto pilot” button and use more of the other percentage of our brains.  Remember, your mind doesn’t know if it is live or if it is a memory.  It still reacts the same.  Input  some good stuff.

The use of Mind “exercises” opens a door.  The more you exercise your mind, the easier it gets.  Just like when you work a muscle, it gets stronger. 

Stimulating the brain in this way slows down thought.  The idleness recalibrates the brain and the body.  This is not the same effect as the state of sleep.  It is more powerful, because the mind is directed in slow motion and at some points,–standing still.

Let’s begin with this exercise.

I want you to recall a memory that is funny.  You know the one I’m talking about.  The memory that makes you laugh out loud when you think about it!  (Family member, friend, a joke, your animals). View it in your imagination.  Got it? Are you laughing…..? Good. Now feel the feeling.  Really feel it.  Feel how it feels in your body.  Feel the entrance point deep in your chest.  Focus there.  Hold that feeling.  (if your mind wanders…… put your focus back on the memory and the feeling.) Hold it for 30 seconds. What does your face feel like?  See your happy face in your imagination.  Hold the feeling and the vision of yourself for 30 seconds. breeeeeaaaaaaaath.

Slowly take a deep inhale through your nose filling your belly and chest.  Hold the breath for 5 seconds. Exhale through your mouth and press your belly down completely to remove all air.  Hold for 5 seconds. Take 2 more breaths like this. breeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaath. Yes. Aaaaaahhhhhh it feels good.

Recall the memory if needed. Keep feeling it in your body. 30 seconds. Take your focus back to the entrance point of the joy deep in your chest. Now while feeling this, Imagine the entrance point is warm and is a golden light.

See it begin to radiate out in all directions of your body. Feel your body vibrating with this golden warm feeling.  It feels peaceful and nourishing.  Your body is engulfed with golden light. Hold this feeling and vision for 30 seconds. Feel that feeling of Joy.  Holding……..holding……..

See your smiling face in your mind.  Think about all the things that you are thankful for in your life.  Keep going…. I know you have a long list.  Take 3 deep breaths.  Aaaaaah life is good!

You, my friend, have just focused your thinking.  Look how easy and relaxing that was, and it only took a few minutes!

Janet A. Tarr, B,Msc, RMT, LR, Energy Therapist, Balance Adviser, Relaxant www.j-tarr.com – janet@j-tarr.com -317-440-1732

“Janet will be running the Relaxation Zone at Green Fest Indy 2010, so when you’re ready for a ‘me moment’, go along to the Zone and take part in a 15 minute relaxation session – I might event see you there!  Tina Jesson, Green Fest Expos, Event Director

Kelly McNulty and Tina Jesson, who both live in Brownsburg IN, and Bill Mentgen came together to form Green Fest Expos Inc back in the summer of 2009

Bill, originally from Devour Colorado, had a vision of a large ‘green’ festival like those run in Chicago and West Coast, and when he saw that there was nothing like it in Indy, the question just wasn’t why? By why not? He decided to do something about it.

Kelly, from Wisconsin, met Bill through racing and Kelly, an entrepreneur and property investor herself, was helping Bill with sales in his Energy Conservations Solutions business. www.energyconservationsolutions.net

Tina and Kelly met at Earth Day 2009 and had spoken about running an event and Tina was interested in getting involved.

Tina is originally from the UK and has been working with businesses for over 11 years, promoting them and helping to get their message out both here in the USA and in Europe. Tina is founder of the British Academy of Business Success and through her Visibility Creator program has worked with businesses around the world to get them exposure and connected to their target market. www.tinajesson.com

Bill had years of experience in health conferencing and Tina had experience in large home and garden events in the UK

Green Fest Indy 2010 was born where all 3 are committed to connecting green & eco friendly businesses with the wider public and Business Leader is proud to be one of the media sponsors for this land mark event.

So what is Green Fest Indy 2010 all about?

Green Fest Indy 2010 will be the largest green event in the State of Indiana with an expected 10,000 visitor turn out over 3 days, March 26, 27 and 28th, 2010. The event is held centrally at the State Fairground

Taking part will be local and national business and green/eco-friendly organisations who reach out to the community.

The purpose of Green Fest Indy 2010 is to take green mainstream to businesses and to regular people to empowering them with the knowledge to help them make good buying decisions to help rejuvenate the local economy and environment around us.

There is something for everyone including, competitions, a series of eco chic fashion shows, grass roots involvement and community projects, and the first Indiana Green Business Awards. Local TV personality Sara Snow will be speaking on Sunday March 28^th on the Green IT! Stage sponsored by Meijer.

Maribel Alchin, Healthy Living Advisor for Meijer will be running cookery demonstrations daily on how to cook healthily.

On Saturday there will be a series of 3 Eco Chic Fashion Shows sponsored by Fresh Fettle

11:00am    Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana and The Art Institute of Indianapolis present “The Sustainable Student Stylist Competition”

1:00pm      Local Designer Liz Alig presents ‘Spring 2010 The Village Collection’

4:00pm      Salon Orange Moon presents ‘Be Beautiful, Be Green’

Supporters of the eco chic fashion showcase include Fresh Fettle, LLC, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, The Art Institute of Indianapolis, Salon Orange Moon, Liz Alig, LModelz Model Management

The Indiana Green Business Awards – The 1^st Annual Indiana Green Business Awards 2010 – sponsored by Rolls-Royce Corporation; will run in conjunction with Green Fest Indy 2010. The awards dinner will be held on March 25^th 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 6930 Intech Boulevard. Indianapolis IN 46278 at 7pm, the evening before Green Fest Indy 2010 opens its doors

Rolls-Royce Corporation proudly sponsors the Indiana Green Business Awards 2010 in support of businesses in the state of Indiana and in recognition of the work companies and individuals are doing to move the state along a road which helps us all the become more eco aware, more sustainable and planet friendly while helping our local economy grow.

Sara Snow, TV host of the Discovery Networks’ ,”Get Fresh with Sara Snow” will be presenting the awards and the sponsoring judges include representatives from Rolls-Royce Corporation; the USGBC (US Green Building Council), Whole Foods Market, Center of Wellness for Urban Women, Nuvo and IndyMetroBALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies)

Tickets for the evening are $50 per person and include a three course dinner and can be purchased from

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/571975795

There will also be a raffle with tickets available on the night for $5. All proceeds will benefit Jameson Camp, the nominated charity for 2010. Companies wishing to donate prizes with a total value of $50 and above can do so by contacting info@greenfestexpos.com

More information can now be found at www.greenfestindy.com

When Reid Boultbee was down sized as an accountant last year, he knew he had to re-invent himself to adapt to the new economy. He knew this was the time to do something completely different and to follow his passion.

He and his wife Shari had always tried to use as many organic food products as possible so when they started thinking about learning to roast coffee as a hobby at first, coffee was the natural choice for them.

Reid, having more time on his hands he decided to train as a master roaster.

Reid goes on to say, “As our passion for the knowledge and taste of coffees from all over the world grew, we started investigating and developing it into a business. We took training in Clearwater FL under two master roasters and purchased a custom built roaster. With word of mouth marketing, in just ten months we have built the business (Midwest Coffee Company) into what it is now. We consider all of our clients our “coffee friends”. We have enjoyed getting to know them and learning their taste preferences.”

Can you tell the personality of someone just by the taste preferences?

Reid will roast for his ‘coffee friends’ as they order, so everything is fresh and nothing is left sitting on a shelf. All the packaging is earth friendly, which means it is recyclable. Reid and Shari are dedicated to educating people on what they are drinking and what is making their product so superior.

“We love to educate our coffee friends on all the aspects of the coffee they are drinking, from the green coffee bean into the cup. Where it comes from, taste, storage, why organic and fair trade is so important and why we roast the way we do. Nothing is artificial, no chemicals, just a pure clean cup of coffee. Our decaf coffee is Swiss Water Processed coffee, it is 99.9% caffeine free and 100% chemical free. Unlike most decaf coffee ours is loaded with flavor and we encourage our coffee friends to put their coffee grounds in the garden.”

So what blends are the most popular?

“Our top selling coffee is our own custom blend of Mocha Java. We always have a least one Kenya coffee to offer, which is considered by many to be the best coffee in the world.  We also create custom blends for our customers. We do this especially for our Half-Caf customers, who want to reduce the amount of caffeine in each cup while maximizing the flavor.

Shari and Reid often have coffee tastings at their roastery located in Marion and at various public locations. This is an opportunity for people to find out what their coffee preference is and to learn the process of how the coffee goes from the tree to their cup. It is a lot of fun for everyone.

Call 765-674-7226 and schedule a private tasting.

Or you can order on-line at www.midwestcoffee.com

Midwest Coffee is a part of Indiana Green Pages, www.myhomegreenpages.com a consumer web site the most comprehensive source of information and customer reviews of local green products and services. Green pages directory is a statewide community effort to help Hoosiers products and services that are health conscious, socially responsible and safe for the environment.

You will have heard on TV and in the media all about this thing called weatherization and how the government wants all property to be properly weatherized. But what exactly does that mean for the regular home?

I asked Bill Mentgen from Energy Conservation Solutions (ECS) to tell me all about it as he did a weatherization audit on my home.

It was a cold October morning when Bill and his team knocked on my door. 10 minutes later they had filled my hallway with an array of expensive testing equipment. Bill started in the kitchen to test for air quality, which essentially tests for carbon monoxide levels coming from appliances in the home. Its funny because I thought weatherization was all about sealing the house for drafts, but first a home needs to be audited to test to see if its first safe to do so. Health and Safety come first and that’s what a lot of residents don’t realize. You make a house draft proof and you can save money but not at the expense of increased carbon monoxide levels in the home.

The test is measured in parts per million (ppm). First the equipment is base lined outside. Depending on if you live in the center of town in a high pollution area or in the country, this baseline will defer. The recommended maximum on an appliance is 35ppm. My gas hob? (range)did ok but one burner had an elevated reading of 28ppm and I was advised to get the burner serviced.

Weatherization really does need to be done by a trained professional with the proper equipment. If you attempt to do it yourself you run the risk of an increase in sickness due to carbon monoxide poisoning, moisture and mold which grow in damp environments. Once these issues have been identified, the root cause needs to be addresses before the property is weatherized and these problems are made worse.

After the oven, the hot water was run to see how hot it got. It should be around 120 degrees F but mine ran out at 141 degrees, 21 degrees hotter than it needed to be. A slight adjustment to the Hot water heater setting should keep the water from getting too hot and saving me money on heating and in water usage cooling it down again.

Next was the blower door test. This was an interesting piece of equipment. What looked like a red curtain was hung over the opening to my front door. On the ground was attached a big fan which when turned on, draws the air out of the house. This then helps to check for air leaks by measuring the pressure at various points. Bill assured me that new 4 year old house was pretty tight, but then we went around all the risk areas to test where the air was being drawn in from. My fireplace is a closed unit so that was ok, if you have an open fireplace or old single glazed windows, you’ll lose a lot of heat from there. The patio doors had a slight draft (air leak) at the top and the bottom.

It turns out that my upstairs is more leaky than my downstairs. Even where the light fittings have been fitted in the closets was letting in a draft from the attic. A massive 30% leakage. Just by sealing the fitting in to the ceiling I would prevent these drafts from forming and letting expensive hot air escape from my home.

Then my attic insulation was tested for thickness. I had the minimum requirement and could save money by getting it twice as deep.

Then it came to checking out my furnace. I don’t know much about furnaces, that’s more my husband’s department, but I really learned something.

Evidently my ‘fan off’ temperature on the furnace was 15 degrees F higher than it should be. That’s 15 degrees of heat not going in to the house.

Power companies will come out and check gas and water heater and even offer the blower door test, but not the detailed testing a specialized weatherization company can offer. Have a qualified service technician come to evaluate the system, one that is independent of sales.

Furnace efficiencies start to drop after 10 years, so if you are looking to replace a furnace, look to replace it with a 90+% efficient option to help you save even more energy and money. An annual service of your HVAC systems is recommended (air conditioning and heating). I don’t think mine has been done since the house was built.

A qualified weatherization company will do all your testing first and ensure that the recommended work not only help you to save money but also ensures you save money.

Bills final recommendation was to consider putting a solar fan in to the attic to keep my cooling costs down in the summer. When you think of that ductwork going across the inside of your roof, it gets mighty hot in the summer as the heat rises through the shingle roof. The unit is less than $1,000 and with an 80% tax rebate (50% state rebate, 30% federal tax rebate) it has to be worth $200 of actual cost, especially when I’ll save approximately 30% on my bills over the summer. It could pay for itself in a single year.

You can contact Energy Conservation Solutions at 317-641-5555(Indy area)765-676-5779(outlying areas) or visit www.EnergyConservationSolutions.net

… & What We Can Learn From Acid Rain by Terry Black, co-owner, Green Way Supply (www.greenwaysupply.net)

Twenty years ago headlines told of an out of control threat to our environment; reports and studies came out almost daily about the need for immediate action; lakes and rivers in the eastern US were threatened with permanent damage; and Congress was criticized for inaction. The funny thing is that you don’t hear much about acid rain anymore. Why? President George H.W. Bush and Congress implemented a simple cost-effective solution, known as cap and trade. Today, we have an opportunity to follow that example and use that same system to stop global warming.

How does cap and trade work? Under a cap and trade system, the government sets a limit on the total tons of pollution that can be emitted to the atmosphere. Individual companies are given allowances equal to the amount of pollution they are permitted to emit. If a company reduces its emissions below its number of allowances they can sell the extra allowances to another company and make a profit. Businesses that find it more expensive to reduce emissions at their facility may purchase allowances from another source that can make cheaper emission reductions. Companies can also save any unused allowances for future use. The important part is: overall pollution goes down. To enforce the system, businesses that exceed their pollution limits are penalized under the system with fines. What makes the system cost effective is that companies have the flexibility to decide when, where, and how to reduce emissions.

Cap and trade enables the market to reward the most economically efficient methods, without government dictates or controls. When this system was applied to combat acid rain it targeted reducing sulfur dioxide emissions, which were a primary cause of acid rain. Although there was initial skepticism, the program met its pollution level goals quicker than expected and for a quarter of the original estimated cost. A cap and trade system that addressed global warming would focus on reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emissions, which are the chief cause of global warming. In addition to combating global warming, this would also create new economic opportunities. The cap on pollution levels would spur new investments in developing and producing more energy-efficient technology. By encouraging this market we can bring new manufacturing jobs to small towns and rural communities across Indiana.

For example, according to a report by the Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research Institute, Indiana could gain 43,000 jobs through a strong green economic recovery program. These jobs would be found in areas such as solar and wind power, the retrofitting of buildings to improve energy efficiency, expanding mass transit, constructing “smart” electrical grid transmissions and next-generation biofuels. Companies in Central Indiana like EnerDel, I Power Energy Systems, Hoosier Glass, GenFlex Roofing Systems and our business – Green Way Supply in downtown Indianapolis, which offers customers earth-friendly building products – could further grow and expand.

Farmers would also enjoy the benefits of increased demand for the crops they grow that could be used to produce biodiesel, low-carbon ethanol, and other cleaner fuels. They could also get credit for farming practices that reduce emissions and store carbon in soils. Using energy efficient technology and renewable fuels will also increase our energy security.

Currently, America imports nearly 60 percent of the oil we use. And at the current rates of growth, our oil demand will rise more than 50 percent in the next 20 years. Much of this demand will likely be met by importing more oil from countries that are unstable or even hostile to US interests. Twenty years ago, President H.W. Bush and Congress took decisive action to thwart acid rain’s threat to our environment. Today, President Barack Obama has taken the important first step toward addressing the growing problems associated with global warming by supporting investments in clean energy and green job growth.

Locally, Congressman Andre Carson has shown he is a leader in this discussion of how climate change legislation can also boost Indianapolis’ economy.

At a recent green jobs forum held at the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful headquarters, Congressman Carson said, “Energy policy and restarting our economy go hand in hand. A lot of people think about energy policy as primarily an environmental issue. And protecting and cleaning up our environment is incredibly important. But investing in a low carbon, green economy is also one of the best ways to reinvigorate our economy and create new, good paying jobs here at home – particularly in the hard hit manufacturing and construction sectors.” It is hard to overstate the importance of having the strong support of President Obama, Congressman Carson and other key leaders in Congress in favor of global warming action this year. The cap and trade system worked extraordinarily well once before, and with your help, and that of Indiana’s Congressional delegation, it can again. We can stave off the worst effects of global warming and Indianapolis-area businesses can get in on the action and become the manufacturers and marketers of the clean technologies of the future.

Washington, DC  Metro Station: on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about an hour.  During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
      
After 3 minutes:  a middle aged man noticed the musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried on  

4 minutes: The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw the money in the hat without stopping and continued to walk.
 
6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and walked away.
 
10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The child stopped to look back at the violinist again, but the mother pulled hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head back all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:  The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded.

Findings; No one knew this, but:

     · The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world,

     · He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,

     · With a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

     · Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in  Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people’s priorities.

The questions raised: “In a common place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?  Do we stop to appreciate it?  Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?”

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not take a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made… How many other things are we missing?

As we begin a new year, in the midst of all we are committed to accomplishing, may we each dedicate ourselves to seeing the beauty that will surely come our way!!!!   

Happy New Year!!! 

Love to all!! From all of us at Green Fest Expos

New Year – New YOU!

In today’s world, we are all looking to save a buck in all aspects of our lives and going green is no exception. Being environmentally friendly doesn’t have to be this back breaking, budget busting undertaking. You can go green and save the green with these 10 FREE and SIMPLE changes.

1. Use an ultra-cool reusable shopping bag at the grocery, drug store and mall.
2. Forego the gym membership and get out on your local trail or bike for a great workout.
3. Before throwing your towel into the washer, use it 2 or 3 times.
4. Keep your thermostat low in winter and high in summer.
5. Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120° F.
6. Use your own coffee cover, instead of the corrugated cardboard cover from the coffee shop.
7. When you’re on the go, use a refillable water bottle instead of buying pre-packaged water.
8. Don’t run the dishwasher unless it is completely full of dishes.
9. Compost your leftovers, leaves and grass clippings to create free fertilizer for your garden.
10. Stop using paper towels and start using actual dish towels.

These are just a few of the ways you can make a difference in the world today without spending a dime. Going green is just that easy! Taking the time to make these changes will allow you to be healthy, wealthy and wise.

Eco-preneur April Perkins, author of this article, leads a thriving internet-based sustainable design firm devoted to inspiring healthy and happy lives by helping individuals, businesses, architects and developers discover sustainable eco-friendly possibilities. TheEcoDivas.com offers a weekly “Diva-Zine”, eco-blog, teleseminars, consulting and “Green-it-up” programs. If you’re ready to leap into a sustainable lifestyle, start by using the FREE information found at www.TheEcoDivas.com

You will find more money saving and green saving tips by signing up to the Green Fest Free weekly green tips at http://greenfestindy.com/

Are you slowly getting greener?

“More than I realized.” admits Tina Jesson, president of Green Fest Expos – who admits to ‘going green’ more by accident than by design…

Tina Jesson

“I’ve realized that over the last couple of years I have been slowly going greener, one step at a time. I think I’m just more aware. Maybe it’s due to the green message being everywhere; in the papers, on the TV and more and more green and eco businesses setting up. I’m convinced green living is something that society in general will evolve into. To be less wasteful and save money. Why not?”
So what are the little things Tina does differently now?

• Washing clothes at 30 degrees c – it’s simple and saves time and money. The wash cycle is shorter and I use less energy

• Using a concentrated natural biodegradable laundry liquid. One made from Aloe Vera is great as it’s really soapy but contains no phosphates and being concentrated I use so little one container lasts for 6 months so less in land fill.

• Using a tumble ball in the tumble dryer. Yes I still use the tumble dryer but with a re-useable ball which saves using fabric softener in the washing machine, so doesn’t pollute the water

• Recycle as much packaging as I can and don’t buy over packaged items

• I have always taken my never used items to the charity store. That way I know it’s going to be reused when I’ve finished with it

• I car share when I’m out and about with work colleagues. I like driving so I often drive other people around

• I’ve found a great hair dresser who only uses eco-friendly products and that’s kind to me as well as the planet. No bleach, no carcinogenic chemicals. (Contact: Suz Haire, The Studio Salon and spa, 5501 E 71st # 6 Indianapolis, IN 46220 Call 317-40-7894)

Now I live in the US I pay for a re-cycling service. That’s seems odd to me because in the UK we didn’t pay extra, but then our waste was only taken away once every 2 weeks. It certainly made me more aware. Coming from a small island like Britain, we’re all but out of landfill, so recycling is more a way of life. I am surprised that trash firms don’t promote the recycling services more though.

In this economy, businesses, large and small will start to look at saving resources and being less wasteful to save money and that will have a positive impact on environmental issues.

Businesses and lifestyles are changing with people from all walks of life becoming more aware of environmental issues and doing their part. For me, going green is all about small adjustments rather than drastic changes and I’ve already managed to go that bit greener in my home and work life without really noticing it at all.

You can find out more easy was to be a little greener every day by attending Green Fest Indy 2010 March 26-28th 2010

(Based on ‘Accidentally Green’ a seminar presented by Tina Jesson at BBC Summer Festival 2008, Birmingham UK)
See Tina’s FREE visibility Creator training video by going to www.tinajesson.com