Hello! I’m Az (aka Pasta Far Eye), the coordinator of the new Radio Free Hempfest project here at hempfest.org.
Radio Free Hempfest has been the seed of an idea at Hempfest for several years now, waiting for the right conditions to bring it to life. It is still very much in the formative stage, the seed has sprouted, but it has yet to shed its husk and open its first leaves. It was originally envisioned as an online radio station and in the time that I have been nurturing it, the concept has evolved dramatically.
My vision for Radio Free Hempfest is to transform hempfest.org into Hempfest’s biggest stage, open to the world every day of the year. To bring as much of the energy and enthusiasm that permeates Myrtle Edwards Park on the 3rd weekend of every August as possible here to the internet — to you and any one else who wants it, wherever you may be, whenever you want it. We will feature Hempfest created content; for example, the series of interviews I’m conducting titled “Meet Hempfest” which will provide a candid look behind the scenes at the people who make Hempfest happen. We intend to host archives of the bands and speakers who appear on the stages at Hempfest. Most importantly, we will provide a stage for all the speakers and performers who either can’t be fit into the schedule (we only have 3 days and 6 stages!) or who simply can not make the trip to Seattle to perform during the fest. It will also provide a venue for content providers whose medium is not as amenable to an outdoor stage: film and video producers, graphic artists, cartoonists, etc.
The mission of Radio Free Hempfest is to do for the internet, what Seattle Hempfest has done for Seattle: To build a community of activists, enthusiasts, entertainers, and educators; to help spread the word and educate people about the cannabis plant, the uses and value of industrial hemp, and the wondrous properties of the chemical compounds found in cannabis; to provide an open forum for discussion of cannabis policy reform; to show the world what cannabis enthusiasts can achieve and thereby shatter the myths, stereotypes, and stigmas attached to cannabis use; and above all to stand proudly as champions of freedom for all — freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom in mind, body, and soul.
I’m still working out the hosting issues, but I have begun to create content and will begin posting it as soon as the hosting issues are resolved. This should be resolved within the next couple weeks. We still need to design the front end for Radio Free Hempfest on the website, so in the meantime as a temporary solution, I will be posting links to my interviews and podcasts here in this blog. In the fullness of time, that won’t be adequate, but we have start somewhere.
If you would like to participate in this project, either by providing content or helping out behind the scenes, email me! az @ hempfest.org
The future starts now!
Nice – I skimmed and look forward to coming back for more details!
Crank it UP!