== Spring in Portland Oregon ==
The '''Spring Equinox Festival''' on March 18th, 2012, was one of our biggest events yet, with about 50 attendees. It started at 9:30 AM with four activity stations scattered around the [[Seed Village]], then continued with a concert by [http://www.reverbnation.com/lorihenriques Lori Henriques], and concluding with brunch provided mainly by [[Shelley]] and [[Brandon]] (with a few dishes brought in by guests).
:: See also: [[Spring Equinox 2012 - March 19, 2012 Story Tell and Sushi Feast|Story Tell and Sushi Feast in Ottawa Ontario]]
== Activity stations ==
=== Mural painting ===
The mural was originally intended to illustrate a nutrient cycle, but ended up more free-form (as with prior mural painting activities at [[Earth Day 2010]] and [[Earth Day 2011]]). A small, simplified diagram of the nitrogen cycle was included on the upper-right corner.
[[Image:Mural at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|700px]]
[[Image:Finished-2012-Spring-Equinox-Mural.jpg|700px]]
=== Planting and watering ===
Kids were invited to plant marigold seeds in cups of dirt, water them, and take them home.
[[Image:Outdoor activities at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|500px]]
[[Image:Planting at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|700px]]
=== Earth seasons demonstration ===
[[Ben]] used a globe and a "sun" lamp to demonstrate how the seasons change based on how much sunlight hits various parts of the Earth during the course of a year.
[[Image:Seasons demo at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|700px]]
=== Making ribbon streamers ===
This was an arts-and-crafts activity that also served as preparation for the Gathering Dance (see below).
[[Image:Ribbons at 2012 Spring Festival 1.JPG|500px]]
[[Image:Ribbons at 2012 Spring Festival 2.JPG|700px]]
== Music ==
=== Gathering dance ===
To attract everyone from the activity stations to the living room for the concert, Lori played a Jewish dance tune, and we got people to form a circle and dance to it while waving the ribbon streamers.
[[Image:Dancing at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|700px]]
=== Concert ===
Lori played several of her nature-focused songs, such as "I Like the Ficus Tree" and "Thank You Bees," as well as a song from ''Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' and one from the recent movie ''The Muppets.'' She finished up with the song "[[Something You Learn]]" (for which [[Ben]] is working on a music video).
[[Image:Lori performing at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|400px]]
[[Image:Lori's concert at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|900px]]
== Brunch ==
The lovely food included baked French toast, John Wayne potatoes, homemade bran muffins, plenty of fruit, and pancakes that were made at the last minute.
[[Image:Kids eating brunch at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|700px]]
[[Image:Brunch at 2012 Spring Festival.JPG|700px]]