Local, environmentally-friendly grocery store Nuts ‘n Berries hosted its first Earth Fest in preparation for Earth Day. The Festival highlighted booths with craft projects, plants and foods to introduce the community to promote sustainability.

One of the store’s main focuses is informed production and consumption. Nuts ‘n Berries want every customer to understand where their food comes from and how it’s produced, as well as provide them food that is good for the planet and good for them. These key values were reflected at the festival on April 13.

“We’re a 100% non-GMO and dye-free grocery store,” Nuts ‘n Berries owner Mari Geier said.  “This is our first Earth Fest, and our goal today is to show people all the different things that you can do with natural items, from dyeing Easter eggs to making crafts, from plant materials to all the different types of foods that we sell in our store.”

Geier said the store often hosts events in April to celebrate Earth Day. She believes people have become increasingly aware of their health, as well as the health of the planet, generating more excitement for the festival.

Susan Jones attended Earth Fest and said she felt the sense of community that came along with the festival. She believes getting the message of healthier foods and lifestyles out is important.

“The community here and what they do with these events is kids-centric, which is fabulous,” Jones said. “Bringing young kids into the fold of natural and sustainable is important. Our early influences are our strongest, and so bringing them in at a young age and the events that they do for any age is educational and helps us navigate a landscape that’s filled with unhealthy preservatives.”

Aviva Vuvuzela, a festival vendor, is an environmental activist and hoped to spread the benefits of one plant in particular: hemp.

“[I came] to teach about the amazing hemp plant, which has incredible benefits for us,” Vuvuzela said. “Unfortunately, it was banned in the 30s, but before that, we were making fuel, rope, paper and all kinds of incredible things for our environment. I call this period of prohibition the hemp-demic because we could’ve been having hemp plastic and all these other things. Now [that hemp is no longer banned], it’s a hemp revival.” 

Tamara Botkin hosted a booth at the festival focusing on farming. She works with the organization Ancient Nutrition, which produces organic, sustainable produce in collaboration with Nuts ‘n Berries.

“I work with a beautiful brand called Ancient Nutrition, and our whole mission in life is to save the world with superfoods,” Botkin said. “So, as a representative, I always try to support Mari’s store. She’s very grassroots in the community, trying to promote healthy living and healthy lifestyle.”

As part of its efforts, Ancient Nutrition uses regenerative organic practices. Their farm works to ensure not just that the food is produced without synthetic chemicals, but that the welfare of the planet, the animals and the people are all prioritized.

“[For example], back in the day, there was two feet of topsoil,” Botkin said. “It’s down to less than six inches now because of big agricultural production. So, we do a seed and feed program at our farm to regenerate topsoil. We also come to places like Nuts ‘n Berries or area grocery stores, collect their food waste and then bring it out to our farms and feed it to the animals. We’re reusing the food, creating great fertilizer and regenerating topsoil. It is my passion to support organic and regenerative agriculture.”

Jada Nixon works with Lithia Springs Water, a company that sells lithium water locally and is naturally sourced in Georgia. The lithium in their water comes with benefits for cognitive function, and is naturally occurring, which Nixon believes is superior to added lithium in vitamin waters.

“I think everybody should have access to this water,” Nixon said. “We are in a real sticky situation when it comes to clean drinking water. People are not aware of it, and I feel like people should be more aware that there is clean drinking water out there that’s healthy for you. [From Earth Fest], I hope they take away that everybody’s welcome and that we do have foods and things that are not toxic for us. This is a community market, and I think the community is the biggest thing that we need right now in these days and times.”

Geier agrees with Nixon and is looking toward the future for Nuts ‘n Berries to host more events and continue advocacy for consumption that is healthier for people and the Earth.

“We’re going to be celebrating 45 years in August; so we’ll have a big event in August,” Geier said. “And then, in the fall, we do a pickle fest where we teach everyone about fermentation, which is a great way to preserve food if you grow your own food, and also to get beneficial bacteria into your body in a natural way.”

While Nixon is happy with this community and believes Earth Fest is an important step to introducing people to healthier foods, drinks and lifestyles, she posits that there is still work to be done to bring their healthier items to the greater public.

“I want [water] to be more available,” Nixon said. “I wish we had more quantity of it because if we had more quantity of it, then we could do way more things that wouldn’t require the bags [of water sold by Lithia Springs Water] for everyone. That would be less harmful to the planet, but these are the best ones we can do for the planet, so we are doing our part. If everybody had access to it, that would be great.”