around for 48 hours straight without missing a beat?

Give up? It was the ReGrowth '07 festival at Martin Royd's

property on the Shoalhaven River near Windellama.

According to the wording of the official program, it was a chance

to, "soak up the atmosphere, indulge in the sites and sounds of 5

stages delivering the phatest electronic beats, funkiest live tunes,

sexiest chilled out grooves, and the tastiest squeeks, bleeps, pings

and quirps there is to offer!!".

In between all that there were 12,000 trees to plant. At last count

it looked like most of the trees were indeed going to get planted,

watered and vibrated before the weekend was out.

For those of you who are having trouble imagining the ambience,

think of it as a very loud thumping beat at the tempo usually

associated with traffic delays on the way to catch a plane.

Visually, REGEN the organisers, put on a spectacular display of

colour and form. There were many musical performances that captivated

the 400 or so participants, from ambient trance, soothing electronica

through to smokin' reggae. There were workshops to feed the mind and

delicious take-aways to feed the body.

Natural Sequence Farming guru Peter Andrews was there as well to

lend support to the principles and practice of land rehabilitation.

Throughout the weekend there was an unmistakable air of good cheer

and optimism.

Getting out and camping under the stars is good. Music, dance and

performance are all good too – but rejuvenating the Earth's

biosphere is the greatest good of all. Young people, the most

affected, are getting right into it and it sets an example for us all.