This past weekend Mendocino County hosted a different kind of festival, The Gaia Festival, a three-day music festival and sustainable-living fair, featuring world-class artists, and sustainable living talks and programs. The festival is held each year just north of the heart of Mendocino County on the Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville.  More than a music festival, the Gaia Festival serves a growing community of people who are coming together to create sustainable and resilient lifestyles, in our neighborhoods and around the world. It is a celebration of our interconnection to each other and to Mother Earth.

The Gaia Festival this year included Aaron Neville, The Wailers, Idan Raichel, and Galactic among 35 bands, and workshops on water containment systems, Yoga, Qi Gong, puppet making, drumming for beginners, biodynamic farming, and healing workshops.

The Gaia Festival is an interactive forum for people and organizations to share ideas, information and inspiration. Through workshops and presentations discussions are hosted on topics such as: permaculture, renewable energy, green building, communal living, environmental stewardship, human rights, healing arts, indigenous cultures, shamanism and spirituality.

Celebrating the bounty of Northern California, the Gaia Festival offers great food and crafts, provided by local non-profits and artisans, featuring local, organic and sustainable products.

Like every year, this year individuals, friends, and families stayed in tents and RVs to experience as the organizers say - five stages, four directions, three days, too much fun, one love.