Following the success of last year’s inaugural Sustainable Living Fest, the High Meadow School in Stone Ridge is bringing back the event on Saturday, March 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. The 2014 version of the Sustainable Living Fest will feature seven master classes on a variety of green topics in addition to a sustainable marketplace, book-signings, homemade treats and demos on buttermaking, maple syruping, gardening, natural dyeing, composting, ice cream-making and herbal remedies. A “spirits and libations” hour from 3 to 4 p.m. offers tastings of local beer, wine and other drinks along with hors d’oeuvres. The fair will close with a world music concert at the Performing Arts Center with electronic and percussion duet Susie Ibarra and Roberto Rodriguez of Electric Kulintang from 4 to 5 p.m.
Admission to the Fest costs $5 for an individual or $15 for a family, which includes the marketplace, live music, book-signings and demos. There is an additional charge of $15 to participate in each of the master classes, taught by members of the community and High Meadow staff and families who will share their expertise.
Leah Glennon and Jodi Palinkas, members of the school administrative staff as well as Moms of High Meadow students, will offer a master class from 2 to 4 p.m. on “upcycling” old wool sweaters to create useful and beautiful home décor. As crafters know, wool fibers will “felt” if washed in hot water and dried on high heat. The fibers mesh together and become a thicker, dense wool that feels more like felt than sweater knit, and it’s easy to work with because the edges will no longer ravel. (It also shrinks up quite a bit.) Glennon and Palinkas will show workshop participants how to turn that thick wool felting into a quilt, or maybe a pair of wristwarmers or a tea cozy.
Join the family! 
