La Grande is proud. It is proud of it's mountains, art scene, and extraordinary local produce, so proud that they've decided to celebrate it with a festival. As a homage to what makes this place special and to the Blues as it's backdrop, the first annual Crossing the Blues Festival was in full gear when the bus tour arrived.
The big green bus joined the festivities and set up along with farmer's market's stands and street vendors in La Grande's Adam's Ave. With live music in the background, and in the midst of street dancers, market goers, and festival aficionados, the crew, Liberty, Andrea as well as a handful of ORA members talked to interested and interesting folks about renewable energy opportunities in the area. While ORA members talked to their peers about the potential of woody biomass for local schools, the crew talked to folks about renewable energy and biodiesel. A solar oven baking solar homemade cookies was displayed across from the bus by a locally owned solar energy company and ORA member Steve brought along his Chinese seed press to show his community what pressing seeds and making biodiesel entails. In addition to making biodiesel out of his own canola seeds, he is also working on a hydrogen fuel cell with his son.
The bus, the solar baked cookies and seed press received a great deal of attention. Folks interested in green building stopped by, like the lady who built and lived in an earth-ship or the folks living off the grid for thirty years. People interested in biodiesel production and distribution also paid us and Steve a visit. We also talked with local artisans, farmers, and small business owners about enhancing homegrown prosperity in the community. All in all, the first Crossing the Blues Festival was a success. La Grande certainly lived up to it's name, with a magnificent display of local foods, music, art, and good humor for all to enjoy!
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