Natural Living Festival in West Toledo Saturday

6/17/2010
BY TAHREE LANE
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Spotlighting the green side of life, the free Natural Living Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in West Toledo.

This will be the second year for the event that grew out of an online cloth-diaper chat group.

Three years ago the chatters left their computers to meet and swap diapers. They hit it off and decided to launch a community-wide festival to share their approaches to “natural family practices,” which include baby wearing (carrying babies in slings), natural childbirth and home births, breast feeding, eco-living and earth preservation, natural family planning, growing vegetables and eating local, healthy foods, and more, said Tiffani Swartzfager, one of the four organizers.

About 40 vendors, artists, and nonprofit groups will have booths, up from last year's 15. Several individuals will hold “garage sales” with a focus on children's, maternity, and eco-friendly items. Vegetarian tacos and beef tacos made from locally grown grass-fed beef, will be sold from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with snacks and beverages.

In addition to talks and demonstrations, activities and crafts for kids will be offered.

The location is behind Integration Yoga Studio at 4633 West Bancroft St. In case of rain, the festival will take place on Sunday. For information and a full schedule: www.nlfest.blogspot.com.