Global Fayre and the Missouri Prairie Foundation

One of the core elements that we sign up to as Fair Traders is  to cultivate environmental stewardship.  “Fair Trade seeks to offer current generations the ability to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Members actively consider the implications of their decisions on the environment and promote the responsible stewardship of resources. Members reduce, reuse, reclaim, and recycle materials wherever possible. They encourage environmentally sustainable practices throughout the entire trading chain.” (Fair Trade Federation)

Environmental stewardship is just as important to us at home, and we are always keen to support the many local groups that work so hard to protect what we have and/or restore what we have lost.

So we are excited this month to be working with the Missouri Prairie Foundation.

The mission of the Missouri Prairie Foundation is to protect and restore prairie and other native grassland communities through acquisition, management, education, and research. For 44 years, this nonprofit organization has advocated for prairie conservation. Its advocacy has played a significant role in the purchase of prairie by the Missouri Department of Conservation from the 1970s to the present, as well as the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ purchase of Prairie State Parks.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation currently owns 2,400 acres of high quality native grassland throughout the state and manages an additional 1,500 acres in cooperation with public partners and private landowners. It also participates in conservation decision-making with other state leaders. At least 15 million acres of Missouri, covering more than a third of the state, were prairie at the time of European settlement. Fewer than 90,000 acres remain. Tallgrass prairie is one of the Earth’s most biologically diverse and now rare ecosystems, and we have it right here in Missouri. It is ours to conserve for the benefit of future generations.

So here’s what we have planned with the Missouri Prairie Foundation for August:

August 6 to 31: An exhibition featuring the photographs of Glenn Chambers (more about Glenn in a future post).

August 6th: First Friday Art Walk – showcasing Glenn’s photography and raising funds for the MPF at the same time. 10% of all sales on the night will go to the MPF!

August 1 to 31: Fund raising with MPF members – all members purchasing in the store during August (or in our online store) will do so knowing that 10% of their purchases will go directly back to the Foundation.

First Friday at Global Fayre….the morning after

We had a great time last night.

There was a good crowd, everyone was in a great mood – and we got a lot of people talking about Kiva too. We donated $1 for every purchase towards our next Kiva loan, and that raised $78. So we’ll sit down tomorrow to figure out which loans to make.

Fair Trade Fayre at Christ Episcopal is postponed

Given the onslaught of rain we’re enduring already, and are likely to be facing all weekend, the Church has decided to postpone Sunday’s Fair Trade Fayre.

We’re looking at trying again sometime in June, date to be confirmed – watch this space!

BUT – the First Friday Art Walk is very much ON – and so is Art Fest, due to run Saturday and Sunday.

First Friday and more with Global Fayre

We’re getting excited; tomorrow is the First Friday Art Walk and also the start of a CRAZY weekend.

For First Friday we have the company again of the Bluetones Jazz Sextet. The guys made their debut performance in Springfield here at Global Fayre a few months ago, and got a great reception, so we’re really pleased to have them back again. The members of Bluetones are: Nick Rawlings on upright bass, Kurtis Foster on alto saxophone, Ian Roslawski on trumpet, Dugan Corsolini on trombone, Keith Haynes on guitar, and Austin Veteto on drums.Last time they played for a solid 4 hours and they are due to start right at 6pm this time around.

Then on Saturday and Sunday we have Art Fest on Walnut Street. The First Friday group has a booth at Art Fest this year, and we have a fantastic basket to raffle, stuffed with goodies from all the members of the group. When I last saw it, our estimate of its total value was way over $1,000! Proceeds from the raffle will go to Arts in Action, the 10 weeks festival currently underway in Springfield. Arts in Action is raising funds to benefit the Arts in Education Fund and the Care to Learn Fund. You can find out more at www.The10Weeks.com.

Finally on Sunday, Global Fayre will be teaming with Anna Sophia’s to hold our third Fair Trade Fayre at Christ Episcopal Church on East Walnut. The Fayre starts at 9 and finishes at 2pm. 10% of all proceeds will go to the Church’s outreach fund.

Fair Trade Fayre at Christ Episcopal

We’re excited to be returning to Christ Episcopal Church on Walnut this weekend for another Fair Trade Fayre. We’ll be joined again by Karen from Anna Sophias, and will have a great range of Fair Trade products on offer. 10% of all sales revenues go to the Church’s Outreach Fund.

The Fayre starts on Sunday morning (Sept 21st) from 8am.