Lightning In A Bottle Festival: A Capsule of Sustainability

Last weekend, the greatest sustainability festival of our time unfolded at Lake Skinner, in the secluded outskirts of Temecula, California. To describe Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) as another annual music and arts celebration would ignore its wider truth.  The LIB mission promotes a passion driven purpose for the conservation of all of our Earthly resources by creating awareness of the finite resources provided by our environment through their “reduce, reuse, recycle” mentality and strict conservation practices.

Through dynamic music, live acrobatic performance, art, sustainability workshops, camping and yoga, the sold out festival revealed its eco-friendly beauty to thousands of revelers. Recycling practices were at the forefront with three immaculate stages made out of bamboo and rattan. The sprawling festival was a diverse collection of artistic performances. Statues, giant teepees and dream like structures stood tall in the rolling hills, hugging the shores of Lake Skinner.  The ambience was that of a holistic retreat capturing vibes of Coachella, Burning Man, Symbiosis, and Cirque de Soleil.

Driving through the meandering regional park, one was greeted with, “Pack it in, Pack it out” and “No Camp Trash” signs, a stark reminder to the gathering crowds that this wasn’t the typical international event. Strategically placed about the festival grounds, were large bins labeled as “Compost, Recycling, & Landfill”. The convenient bins did their job in promoting the consolidation and sorting of waste. People were also encouraged to bring their own food and utensils to camp.

LIB’s Free Water Initiative Act was the impetus for complimentary water filters on the grounds, available to all festival attendees. The use of reusable canteens as opposed to plastic water bottles was strongly encouraged. Food vendors employed eco-friendly preservation practices by using compostable kitchen items and preparing locally organic cuisine.

Lightning in a Bottle is a prime example of sustainability in action, driving a grass roots movement for the health of our world. This extraordinary occurrence happens once a year, if you haven’t been there go for the experience, and if you have then spread the word that sustainability is vital for our survival. People must raise their voices in the obligatory and viable mission of conservation for the environment. Have you fed your compost lately?