Never doubt what a few committed individuals, working together, can accomplish. Isn’t that what the incisive Margaret Mead said to underscore the importance of taking action in the face of all odds against changing our circumstances for the better? She also said, “I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in the world.” To that end, residents of Rosendale and its neighboring communities have been gathering yearly to stir up some action and add some accurate information, all for the purpose of altering our course as responsible citizens of the planet.

The 2011 Rosendale Earthfest – an event that began seven years ago as an Energy Expo – will be held this Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Rosendale Recreation Center on Route 32 in Rosendale. Billed by its organizers, the Rosendale Environmental Commission and the Climate Change Task Force, as a day of fun and festivities, Earthfest aims to inform us about anything and everything that impacts our quality of living in the region – like local food sources, ways to reduce energy needs and fuel costs and local environmental and land conservation initiatives. This year’s theme is “Bridge to a Sustainable Future,” referencing both the goals of the Town of Rosendale, which signed the statewide Climate Smart Communities Pledge in 2009, and the iconic Rosendale trestle bridge, currently under restoration by the Wallkill Valley Land Trust to extend the rail trail over the Rondout Creek north to Kingston.

Organized to get the word out about environmentally sound practices and products, local farms and food production and the latest projects of local environmental and land conservation organizations, Earthfest is also about bringing the community together for a good time, with food, entertainment and activities for all ages. On the agenda are a slide show and talk on green walls by Victoria Coyne of Victoria Gardens of Rosendale; special performances by the Big Sky Ensemble, an instrumental brass-and-drums dance band; falconer Bill Robinson, with his live raptors and reptiles; plus a stream walk, craft-making with reusables, instrument-making, seed-planting and a kids’ construction project using materials found in nature called “Fairydale.” Local CSAs will have food products for sale, too, whetting everyone’s appetite for the return of the Farmers’ Market.

The Rosendale Climate Change Task Force was formed in 2010 to improve the sustainability of Rosendale by helping the town to identify and implement projects to save energy, such as the lighting upgrades of five town-owned buildings through a Central Hudson program designed to phase out inefficient lighting in commercial and municipal buildings. The Task Force also encourages residential energy conservation including, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)’s free energy audit program.

Admission is to Earthfest is free, with donations accepted to help raise funds for town solar projects. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, contact rosendaleearthfest@yahoo.com or call (845) 658-8967.