Vegan Organic Fest 2022
Vegan Organic Network’s second annual Vegan Organic Fest was held Aug 18-22 at Chyan Community in west Cornwall.
VON’s Dan Graham organised the event with a great line-up of speakers, workshop leaders and live music. For those who don’t know him, Dan’s style of leadership is to provide an excellent basic framework and to let the event unfold organically, giving everyone the opportunity to contribute. This pure form of anarchy, once again delivered the goods – with the 100 odd attendees featuring a veritable United Nations of people having a wonderful time.
First a word about the venue. Chyan is a 13-acre veganic apple farm which runs permaculture and circus skills courses in a beautiful landscape, tucked in a valley with spring water, a brook, interesting eco-buildings and plenty of fresh food. During the event, a message from the local council shockingly came through trying to evict members of the community. These are the very people who maintain the site to such a high standard allowing VON and others groups to be there. Their website is ww.chyan.org if you would like to send them a letter of support.
Now to the event itself. Like last year, Dan had put together an awesome events programme with activities starting on the Friday morning, Thursday being a day to pitch the tent, park the camper van and settle in to meet old friends and make new ones. As seems to be the vibe with VON, everyone was super-friendly and it was lovely to chat to people – united in our common cause – the quest for a vegan organic lifestyle, and to spread out the message to the world.
There was so much for participants to do! Sometimes there were three activities going on at one time, which meant you had a choice between things like Chakra Dancing, Foraging, Tai Chi, Circus Skills, Singing, Willow Weaving, Forest Gardening, Raw Food Demos, Vegan Organic Talks, Nutrition, Animal Welfare, Yoga, Gong Baths & Sound Healing (sorry if I forgot to mention them all.) Iain Tolhurst, the esteemed veganic grower visited the event on the Saturday and had a big smile talking to people.
With so much to do, there was also plenty of opportunity to chill out, chat and there was always the on-site eco-spa to enjoy with spring-fed swimming pool, sauna and hot-tub. You could treat yourself to a holistic therapy or browse the few stalls on show. And the food was fantastic. Veganic of course, and you could tell it was really made with love by the awesome kitchen staff.
On a personal note, it brought me great joy to see my 5-year old walking about the site with bare feet, knowing he was safe and free to explore. And having a few days in a tent away from wi-fi and screens was restful and healing.
The live music was absolutely fantastic (even though the PA system was held together with tape and featured an assortment of random amps and speakers). Dave & Clive from Inner Voice took listeners on a trip with their flute and guitar. BFriendly with Ian & Cathy Haywood brought a vegan reggae vibe to a sunny evening. 432 amazed the crowd with sing-a-long covers and originals (all played in the healing 432htz tuning). Marc Barnwell wowed the crowd with his Spanish and electric guitar wizardry. Dark Station led the festival in a set of uplifting covers. Vegan Queen V gave a live performance of her new Freedom Warrior album. And I had the joy of headlining Friday with The Perpetual Choirs, Saturday with Peace On Your Plate and Sunday with an acoustic set with many of the musicians joining me. We got the crowd in a ceremonial circle singing for peace and freedom. It was quite something!
A lasting highlight of the event was the circle led by Dan Graham to ask people what they’d got out of the event, and the projects they are involved with. Tears filled people’s eyes as stories were told of personal transformation and joy that seemingly everyone had experienced to some degree.
The Vegan Organic Network really came out of this with its stock high (though with no stock animals used or needed). It was certainly an event about quality over quantity of people, and I’m sure everyone who attended will now be singing the praises of the vegan organic movement, and will want to attend more events under the VON banner.
Giles Bryant.
VON has been nominated for a Vegfest Award: Best Vegan Festival 2022. If you came to our Vegan Organic Festival or like the report, please vote for us!