The Crestone Energy Fair has changed my life and is giving me some of my biggest life lessons on dedication, perseverance and forgiveness. Our crew is growing and I am humbled to be a part of a team of such extraordinary people. This project represents the basics of permaculture to me…earth care, people care and resource share, so I absolutely love devoting my time and energy to this cause. Living off-grid in the tiny house I built since 2012, aligns with our path of supporting non-traditional, homeowner built and affordable housing for our community as well as utilizing our resources in a more responsible and equitable way. My passion lies in community organizing and networking and more recently I’m integrating restorative practices and social permaculture into our nonprofit. I strive to be a bridge between our youth, my peers and the elders so that we can all live an abundant and healthy life together in Crestone.

The Fair’s Producer, Nick Nevares, has been a Crestone Resident since 2018, and become ingrained in the community through various non-profit groups, including the Crestone Energy Fair, Crestone Energy Exchange, and involvement in feeding the community through monthly meals and the community annual Thanksgiving feast. Prior to living in Crestone, Nick had a prolific 12 year career producing corporate events and music festivals in New Orleans, which he left to find a more rewarding life in the Colorado mountains. Sustainability and regenerative practices are the driving forces behind why he serves the community through the Fair and other events, and as a Realtor he helps guide buyers through the complicated process of navigating off grid living. In his off time he spends time on home improvements, Gardening, rockhounding and hiking the bountiful trails throughout Colorado.

Lydia Sprouts is a passionate, multidisciplinary musician and life artist who runs the local music based nonprofit Crestone Performances, directs the Crestone Music Festival and is developing her 42-acre off grid flower farm & gathering place, Coyote Mountain, with her partner, young babe, and blended family. She is dedicated to creating a wholesome vibrant life for herself, her family and her community and loves working with the Energy Fair to share that passion with others. She previously organized for grassroots projects such as Tribal Vision, Sister Winds, Rainbow Lightning, Arise and many other events. She plays mandolin & guitar, sings and song writes for her band, Pioneer Mother. She is a yoga teacher, creativity mentor, and intentional living guide. She moved off grid in spring of 2020, and as a steward of Coyote Mountain she hosts wwoofers, ongoing education classes for the Fair, and several yearly community events.

The Energy Fair was my first exposure to the wonderful community of Crestone in 2017 and since then I have had the opportunity to become more involved. I have been a part of the Home tours for the past 4 years and now I am the lead organizer of the tours. I am passionate about local building policy and also earth friendly building methods, especially Earthships. I love sharing the home tours and being able to offer the physical experience standing in a home that is built with recycled materials or uses passive solar or other earth friendly practices. Crestone is home to some of the most amazing houses on the planet and I believe that the more people that see them, the more inspired building everywhere will be.

Donovan is just an average guy making his way through life the best he can. Like most, a divine series of events led Donovan to his passion for Passive Solar Design and Regenerative Living concepts. A Tool and Die Designer by schooling and a business coach by experience, Donovan spends his days building a hybrid tire and papercrete home. He considers himself just another dreamer, dreaming a dream. The dream of resilient collective abundance.

Leighton is a valley local from Alamosa. Having grown up in his family’s outdoor recreation shop, he spent his youth falling in love with nature and the outdoors throughout Colorado. His professional career began after high school graduation, working as a student researcher developing drone sensor apparatuses for live analysis and data collection of Colorado wildfires the the NOAA Lab in Boulder. After moving to Montana to attend University, Leighton dropped out to pursue a less institutionalized lifestyle, spending three years making a living in culinary arts and digital design. Since moving back to the SLV, Leighton attended the 2021 Energy Fair and fell in love with the community, quickly finding his new home in Crestone. He became a versatile part of the team serving as a social media coordinator for the 2022 Fair, taking on responsibility as our web and graphic designer for the 2023 event.

Anya Kaats is a writer, dancer, archetypal astrologer, and former podcast host. In 2017, she had a vision of communal, avant-garde world-building during the total solar eclipse. In 2018, she visited the San Luis Valley and knew this was the place. In her previous life, Anya spent over a decade working in creative marketing and branding for natural products brands including Suja Juice, CORE Hydration, Mamma Chia, Paleonola, and Brad s Raw Foods. Anya is thrilled to be able to use these skills to benefit her community, helping local organizations with branding and website design. Anya recently redesigned the Energy Fair website, and is assisting with the creation of official brand guidelines. Anya also writes for The Crestone Eagle, teaches Contact Improvisation, and spends her summers volunteering in some of Crestone’s most beautiful gardens. In 2020, Anya and her partner Chris founded “The Crestone Conglomerate” with the goal of re-creating reciprocal and egalitarian ways of living on the land and with community.

2022 was my first year delving into the Energy Fair and learning to play a key role in a variety of fashions besides being Lisa’s right hand man (actually left hand). By trade I am a home builder and my company Crescent Moon Construction is based in Crestone & the SLV where I focus on custom homes ranging from Netzero designs to traditional rough sawn framed homes. I have been exposed to plenty of construction methods but the mountains are where I wanted to reside as well as being closer to the natural world. I am an owner builder with my partner Lisa Bodey and we’re striving to build using natural methods and using local resources and natural building techniques are being incorporated into our tiny house. Our county is unique as there are no building codes and therefore building with creativity is endless and many opportunities are at our hands grasp. I enjoy working with my hands and am constantly looking for challenges as well as a new way to build using local resources and long forgotten techniques. I am inspired by the local artisans and craftsmen from earth ships, passive solar design, cob techniques, earthen floors, straw bales, emf solutions, solar, in floor heating systems and other techniques that align ourselves with our planet, embracing our outdoor conditions and the energy that is all around us. I have been in the construction industry for over 20 years and am constantly looking for ways to give back to our community through volunteerism and am thrilled to be apart of the energy fair team. When I’m not working, I’m working. There is never a dull moment and there’s plenty to work on, additions, securing materials, firewood, honey do lists, furniture, rebuilding, gardening, and of course creek dips, soaking in hot springs and fishing.

The Crestone Energy Fair has provided a wonderful outlet for me to combine health and wellbeing with community building and organization. I feel truly honored to work in a crew of passionate individuals deeply dedicated to the planet, sustainability and community. The Wellness Village of the Energy Fair is relatively new to CEF and I’m excited to be part of its growth and fulfillment. I moved to Crestone in 2008 as a teen and have benefited greatly from the general healthy lifestyle of the locals. I’ve eaten amazing local food, attended the Crestone Healing Arts school, found a practice in Ashtanga yoga and so much more. I’m hoping with the CEF I’ll be able to give back, share some of the magic of this place and continue to discover what it means to be a part of this village.

Born and raised in Colorado, Chelsea Braden is a mountain gal and plant enthusiast; having studied botany and herbalism avidly over the last Born and raised in Colorado, Chelsea Braden is a mountain gal and plant enthusiast; having studied botany and herbalism avidly over the last 10 years. She has always been a crafter and a maker, bringing things to life with her hands, heart, and endless passions. Mix mobile elixir bar is her way of connecting people with the plants through the joyous settings of festivals, community events and farmers markets in the heart of the San Luis Valley, Crestone Colorado. The medicinals used in all her handmade drinks are made by either herself or local herbalists using garden grown,  wildcrafted and/or organic ingredients, all sustainably and ethically sourced. She believes in supporting the rich array of medicine people and makers in the community and values the connection with the lands, plants and wild places that they bring through their work and into your cup. She is also our Vendor Coordinator for the Crestone Energy Fair as well as our social media manager.

After graduating with my BFA from SFAI in 2018 I worked for the International Center of Photography until 2019. I completed my MFA in Studio Art from San Francisco Art Institute in 2021, where I was nominated as SFAI’s 150th anniversary graduate commencement speaker, outstanding MFA student, MFA exhibition best in show, and recipient of the John Collier grant and awards. Besides continuing to engage my community through the arts and education, I’m an environmental activist and a father. The Art and Education communities have inspired and shaped me as an artist. Consequently, they’ve shaped the way I see the world and without it, I wouldn’t be who I am today. As an artist and educator, my work and research is committed to the study of anthropological discourse, in relationship to environmental sustainability and institutional reformation. To me, learning is a collaborative effort and the beauty in our desire to connect with the world and each other is realized when we begin to reflect upon and respond to a range of complex human conditions by sharing our personal experiences to inspire one another. The purpose of making art, after all, is to remind ourselves that life is more important than art!

Allison Wonderland engages in the curious blessings and burdens of being human and being an intrinsic part of Nature. Tending soulfulness through death midwifery, immersive installations, collaborative movement, ritual theatre and poetic saturations. She is committed to dismantling systems of oppression, co-cultivating systems of mutual empowerment, and exchanging nourishment with Creative Mysteries.

Hi there! I am a builder, community organizer, a lover of nature and punk music, and an advocate for snack time when things start to feel complicated. Crestone has become my family's home after years of living on the road and we are full blown in love with our community. The opportunities to get involved and dive deep that are presented here are truly unique. As someone who is really passionate about getting involved it is exciting for me to be Volunteer Wrangler and help others satisfy that itch for themselves. Can’t wait to see you along the way!

Suzanne Rouge has been an advocate educator of hemp since 1976. She participated in Colorado Capital committee meetings, knocked on doors for 64, attended the Denver launch meetings for hemp and participated in the first five years of Hemp Expos and Hemp History Week. She has been a presenter for the Crestone Energy fair and hempcrete demonstration site. She was certified as a hempcrete builder by Ireland’s Steve Allin, helped build the first permitted owner occupied hempcrete home in 2016, a tiny house, geodesic hemp dome, garage and insulation on the roof of the Crestone Hobbitat. Her next project is a hempcrete Earthship. She is passionate about educating and creating a hempcrete economy in the San Luis Valley. Closing the permaculture loop, workshop students become the paid teachers for the next project. She is honored to take on a leadership role for the Energy Fair Building Demonstration and Ongoing Education series.

Dr. Kim’s experience with Medicine and the Healing Arts spans over 30 years. In addition to her Naturopathic Medical Practice she is an International Lecturer, Teacher and Master Herbalist. She has been spotlighted on Shift Network, Healing Our Earth, and the International Qi Gong Association as well as Healing and Chakra Science teachings in the US, Bali and abroad. She was faculty at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine for 10 years and has taught and been an honorary member of the Environmental Medicine Board as well as her online teachings for doctors and the public. In addition to her medical practice, she consults with Holistic clients worldwide about Integrative and Natural Healing Modalities. She is committed to the Healing Arts and treating the whole person; body mind and spirit. She believes the key to healing starts with treating cause to dis-ease and integrates many healing and spiritual traditions in her practice and teachings. More information can be found on her website DrKimEngard.com.

Hi, my name is Amory, and I am blessed and honored to hold space for others in Union and Sacred journeys through aromatherapy, priestess work and Beyond Quantum Healing. I love holding space for alchemizing deep wounds through Spirit Craeft workshops in and around the Valley. I am super grateful to be part of the OLT/Valley View family as well. I am absolutely delighted to be returning for my 3rd year running the Freebox Fashion Show as part of the Crestone Energy Fair. Stop by our booth during some Crestone Saturday Markets, as well as during the Energy Fair to get your fashion ready for the show. Please go to our signup.com to volunteer to help during the Energy Fair and beyond. Thank you Crestone and the San Luis Valley for being such a loving and supportive community!

Taylor earned a Bachelors Degree in humanities [health and wellness] from the State University of New York. During her time in school, Taylor taught herself how to sew. She began to design clothing and spread her passion for self expression through wearable art, by teaching sewing lessons! Wherever she found herself working, Taylor continually had profound encounters with children. Moving to Colorado in 2011, Taylor dove deep into the world of early childhood everything! Before having two sweet children of her own, Rainbow Lightning was her baby; a 501c3 organization dedicated to empowering self-expression through music, art and nature! 2023 will be Taylor’s 4th year coordinating the children’s offerings at the Crestone Energy Fair, and she CAN NOT WAIT!

Eden Elderberry fell in love with Crestone after attending her first Homes Tour during the 2021 Energy Fair. She can be found working at the Northern Saguache County Library District, hanging out with her three kids, or volunteering for various community outreach projects. This will be Eden’s second year working for the volunteer kitchen and she hopes to initiate low energy storage and food preparation methods to the kitchen this year. Read more about Eden here.

From creating beats at 13 to curating soundscapes in studios at 14, I’ve breathed life into music. In 2016, Golden Turtle Sound was born, becoming the heartbeat of events – from intimate soirées to electrifying festivals. With years of hands-on expertise, my team and I orchestrate a sonic space that resonates deeply, turning gatherings into unforgettable symphonies of sound. Let’s craft sonic wonders together! Rob Treaphort, the mastermind behind Golden Turtle Sound and has been the lead Sound Engineer for the Energy Fair for 4 years.

Melanie Redmond, from the front range plains of Colorado, traversing the San Luis Valley down to Taos from 2010. She has gained experience in community organizing, managing, and networking. Her knowledge and passion for sustainable systems drives her pursuits in developing tangible results within communities. Melanie has a passion for being outdoors, riding motorcycles and creating art. Her obsession is for masquerades, themed parties, and outdoor rock concerts, which has created many friends and partnerships, with a goal of combining interactive experiences that inspires others to participate. Melanie Redmond is an experienced community organizer, manager, and networker with knowledge of and passion for sustainable systems