Above: Leigh-Chantelle Koch, promoter and organiser of the Green Earth Festival.

1. What inspired you to take the health of our environment into your own hands?

There’s a lot of companies out there that are willingly involved with “green wash” – they are not part of true environmental change at all, but are just getting on the band wagon and patting other companies on the back that are doing the exact same thing.  I do not agree with this. Instead, I want to bring change back to the community and grassroots level where everyone can get involved from the ground up and create Brisbane’s own Green Earth Festival that is true to its name.

Green Earth Festival is about educating others to alternatives to the mainstream idea of not really caring about the environment, our carbon footprint and the planet we leave for generations to come. I started the not-for-profit environmental awareness Green Earth Group Inc to herald the dawn of a new era in which people can start to respect and admire our planet again.

2. The Green Earth Festival is about creating awareness that our environment and nature is not a playground, and should be admired and nurtured, not stomped through. Is that what inspired you to start the festival?

Yes, definitely.

I see and hear from a lot of people who want to do something to help, who want to be involved but really have no idea where to start. That’s where I come in. I have a vision about how our planet needs to get back to the basics, the way it was revered in the past and we’re surrounding ourselves with people who also crave this and see that the way of doing things at present obviously isn’t working. People don’t seem to be looking to the Government or other larger organisations for help anymore as most people can see through their words.

3. A lot of festivals aren’t actually allowed to be held in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens anymore, but you are fortunate enough to be permitted. Why is this so?

I’ve met with council as well as the manager and staff of the gardens, they know we’re in it for the right reasons; I think most people can see this, and want Brisbane to be able to have a grassroots event for the people and by the people.

4. Compared to other environmental events, what unique activities and morals do you explore during the Green Earth Festival?

Well we’re definitely not a “green wash” event; we have a lot of passionate people who have all donated their time, skills, energy and more to this. No one involved with Green Earth Festival is getting paid. We have some great musicians all giving up their time to be a part of the first year of Green Earth Festival with hopefully many more to come. Other than that the biggest thing that sets apart Green Earth Festival is that we are obviously a cruelty-free event, just as much as we respect the planet, we respect all others on the planet including our animal friends. Therefore, everything sold and promoted at Green Earth Festival is cruelty-free and therefore vegan.  We don’t want any blood on our hands.

5. We think it’s a great collaboration; family entertainment and embracing our earth, helping to save it. What is the most important message of the whole event?

The most important message is that anyone can do something to help the environment and that by joining together with like-minded people you will not only be appreciative that there are others who understand you in our not-so-understanding world, as well as knowing that true change happens from the ground up when people create change together.

6. How do you see the future of Brisbane, with all of these changes including climate change? Is the level of significant changes to Brisbane and our rapid growth in population taking hold of our environment?

There are a lot of huge changes in Brisbane from many more people residing here to the additional infrastructure that brings. We’ve had a lot of water and road issues lately that hopefully will be sorted in the next few years. It’s hard to make the city more user-friendly when the town planning in the beginning didn’t allow for such growth in our city. As with anything, if something is all about the money, then other aspects, such as the environment, are overlooked. Obviously all avenues and considerations need to be considered before making any significant changes.

7. What environmentally friendly procedures or facts should we keep in mind to minimise the risk of damaging places such as the beautiful Botanical Gardens suffering from these major environmental changes?

From our perspective, we’re not allowing any driving on grass at Green Earth Festival when cars are bumping in and out. All palms and specific areas that are of great value to the gardens will be fenced off on the day of Green Earth Festival. We have waste management measures in place along with encouraging attendees to participate in the recycling aspects of the event. All vendors must have biodegradable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery, we are also encouraging vendors to use crockery and cutlery that can be returned, washed and reused.

8. How would you like to see your venture grow over the next few years?

We would love to see Green Earth Festival as an annual event in Brisbane. Green Earth Group Inc will also be continuing with educating the public to be more ethical, environmentally aware and inspiring others to help us with our aims. We started in 2009 so we’re only a new not-for-profit environmental awareness group, but we hope to meet with many like-minded people and groups to create an alliance with others who share our objectives.

9. Where are your favourite places in Australia to eat, drink, visit and enjoy?

I love eating anywhere that serves great vegan food.  In Brisbane my favourite place is Loving Hut at Mt Gravatt. I also love the markets at West End and Northey Street, in Brisbane. In Sydney I frequent Newtown and surrounds and love Iku, Green Gourmet and Green Palace Thai. In Melbourne I really like Brunswick and those similar areas and enjoy Vege Bar, Lentil as Anything and a little bakery in Preston.  I was just in Melbourne in January and came across a great (new to me) whole foods store, Habib on Flinders Street – I love their muffins, hot food and salads.

The Green Earth Festival is being held at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens on March 13th from 10am-8pm and entry is free. To find our more about the Green Earth Festival visit http://greenearthfestival.net.