11th Annual Ashland Indepent Film Festival - Tickets on Sale Now

The 11th annual Ashland Independent Film Festival has 94 documentary, feature and short films scheduled for the five day event this year. The Ashland Independent Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the diversity of human experience through the art of independent film, inspiring and educating audiences of all ages. Tickets are already on sale for this years showings and can be purchased at their online box office for shows from April 12th-16th.

Ethel   

This years films include "Ethel," a documentary about Ethel Kennedy by her daughter, Rory, "Your Sister's Sister," a delicate and funny rom-com by Lynn Shelton, and "Chasing Ice," a beautiful documentary about the warming of the polar ice caps.  There will be a conversation with documentarian Ondi Timoner and a celebration of the career of Director Julie Taymor, along with screenings of her films "Across the Universe" and "The Tempest."

Shakespeare High Documentary Trailer

Three screenings were added to the line up by popular request. The first was "Shakespeare High," a documentary following highly motivated students from very diverse backgrounds as they prepare for the 90th Annual Shakespeare Competition sponsored by the Drama Teachers Association of Southern California (DTASC).

The second added was "Detropia." This gorgeous verité documentary follows a blogger, a club owner, an auto union rep, an operatic impresario, and a band of illegal salvage scrappers. The inevitable question is whether this storied metropolis has the courage, creativity and grit to reinvent itself in the face of new realities.

 

The third added was "Kyle Kinser: Made in Makanda." In an isolated Illinois forest, Kyle Kinser, one of the last master woodworkers, wanders in search of fallen trees out of which he makes beautifully conceived minimalist furniture pieces. This tactile film celebrates the humanistic pleasures to be found in one-of-a-kind goods in a world of mass production. 
 
Stay informed on the happenings of the festival by visiting their blog and facebook page! We hope you get a chance to check out some of the films.

Until next time,

Lauren of Team Yala

Community Compost Pick Up Program Here in the Rogue Valley!

Have you ever wanted to compost, but don't have an appropriate backyard or composting system to break down your food scraps? We were delighted to learn about a service offered by a new business called Community Compost in our valley. They will pick up your compost on a weekly basis!

While some big cities have started offering this service along with their trash & recycling pick up, city wide programs are less common for smaller communities.

 (Photo provided by Community Composting)

We were delighted to find out about the service offered by Community Compost, not only does it help the environment but your trash bill as well! See the benefits of composting below...

Benefits of Composting:

• Compost enriches soils
• Compost helps cleanup (remediate) contaminated soil
• Compost helps prevent pollution
• Using compost offers economic benefits
• Composting reduce waste in the local landfill

Learn a little more about Community Compost's business:

Community Compost is a new, local small business, providing affordable pick-up of compostable food scraps from residential homes in the Rogue Valley.

(First Pick up! Photo provided by Community Composting)

Instead of unused food scraps accumulating in our land-fills, we collect them, and bring them to a local farm, where the materials are cultivated into re-usable compost, and eventually re-introduced to the soil.

By providing this service, Community Compost reduces your footprint on our local environment, and harnesses the energy of your food scraps for the nourishment of the soil on our local farms.  This energy helps grow the delicious foods produced and consumed here in the Rogue Valley.

Green house at Blue Fox Farm

Community Compost connects you to your local food source, so you can be an important part of the sustainable agricultural practices in our region.

- Community Compost

If you live in Ashland, Talent, Pheonix, Medford or Central Point, Oregon make sure to visit their website http://www.roguevalleycompost.com/ or give them a call: 541-301-3426

We look up to cities like San Francisco. Since 2009, San Francisco has had a mandatory compost separation and city wide compost pick up program. Guaranteed to reduce landfills in cost and quantity, reduce green house gas emissions, as well as all of the above mentioned benefits- everyone should compost!

Until next time,

Lauren of Team Yala

Win a $100 Yala Gift Card at the Conservation Celebration Hosted by Southern Oregon Land Conservancy!

 

Yala knows how important it is to give back, especially when we are lucky to live in such a diverse ecosystem as beautiful Southern Oregon. We are fortunate enough to pay it forward to a variety of organizations and causes, see "We Support" on our website for a list, locally and abroad.

Pilot Rock in Southern Oregon

The Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is especially close to our hearts, working to protect many unique and irreplaceable land marks found between the beautiful Rogue River, Crater Lake, an awe-inspiring coastline and massive caves, right in our backyard!

View from ridge at Buckhorn Springs Retreat Center

Working exclusively in Southern Oregon since 1978, they have conserved 44 extraordinary properties - over 8,300 acres in total. "We’re working with our partners to help secure a bright future for all residents of Southern Oregon. Our conservation work is done on a completely voluntary basis by helping landowners permanently protect signature lands. Of course, not every piece of land needs safeguarding by a land trust like us, but many beautiful places will be lost forever without our leadership," says the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy.

2011 marks their 33rd year as Southern Oregon's regional land trust, now that is call for celebration! Join them at Paschal Winery on Saturday evening, September 10th from 7-10pm for a fun filled evening.

• Hors D’oeuvres by Helena Darling featuring local favorites (check out her Dry-Cured Rosemary Turkey  recipe featured in Sunset Magazine)

• Complimentary Paschal Wine
• Live Jazz performed by Ed Dunsavage and Joe Cohoon
• A silent auction featuring over 100 donated items from local and regional businesses
• A live auction to benefit our beautiful local landscape (Conserve land for only $150/acre!)

Some of the auction items include: complete Lasik Surgery at the Medical Eye Center, weekend at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, Zipline Course for Two at Out-n-About Treehouse Resort, $100 Gift Certificate at the Peerless Restaurant, and a $100 dollar Gift Certificate to our very own Yala (among many more)!

BambooDreams® Kai Top, BambooDreams® Cropped Leggings and Organic Cotton Aspire Skirt

Need something to wear for the event? We have you covered: our Kai Top now comes in classy chic slate/black stripes that go perfect paired with our Cropped Leggings and Organic Cotton Aspire Skirt. Add a wide belt, white kitten heals and a green clutch for some color and you are ready to start bidding!

Until Next Time,

Team Yala

Kai boat neck top
yaladesigns.com

Bamboo legging
yaladesigns.com

Organic Cotton Aspire Skirt - Yala Designs
yaladesigns.com

Kaliko clutch bag
£45 - debenhams.com

Halston Heritage star belt
$107 - couturecandy.com

Yala in Our Hometown, Ashland OR

 Here at Yala we feel so lucky to live in such a vibrant community as Ashland, OR! We are excited to introduce you to six stores in our little town that carry Yala® through this short video... we hope you like it and next time you are in town, make sure to stop in! 



Alchemy Botanicals offers only the finest in organic clothing, health and beauty products, including Yala! Owner Tricia, says their best seller is the Yala Bamboo Dreams® Short Robe. Her personal favorite is Yala's Bamboo Dreams® Cleo Pajama Set. “It’s so cute on, sexy but comfy, and it's easy to wear around. Love that it’s fitted in the all the right places!” Find Alchemy on Facebook!

                        Alchemy Botanicals                                              Yala's Bamboo Dreams® Cleo Pajama Set


Bug a Boo is a unique children's boutique filled with a wide variety of Yala's Bamboo Dreams® baby and toddler products. You will also find toys and gifts made locally or around the world by small family companies using environmentally conscious practices like low impact dyes and coatings, unbleached fabrics or organic cotton.



                                      Bug a Boo                                                 Yala's Bamboo Dreams® Two Knot Hat

Papaya is a new retailer of Yala's Bamboo Dreams® Pashbus and scarves. Owner, Gina, explains, “Our  best seller right now is the striped scarf in Navy and Pink – they are sellin’ well for sure…They are perfect for summer!" They also carry an exciting spectrum of fine lifestyle, stationery, and gift items where urban boho chic meets artistic inspiration. Find Papaya on Facebook!


                                   Papaya                                                            Yala's Bamboo Dreams® Wide Scarf

Patina Soul stocks Yala's women's wear paired with other unique pieces, hand selected by owner, Catherine. Her personal favorite Yala product is the Bamboo Dreams® Short Gathered Skirt, although their best seller is the Bamboo Dreams® Leggings. Find Patina on Facebook!


                            Patina Soul                                                        Bamboo Dreams® Short Gathered Skirt

Phoenix Organics carries everything to build an organic home, including a beautiful showroom filled with Yala's Bamboo Dreams® bedding line. Elycia, their store manager, loves our Bamboo Dreams Comforters, but reported that our Bamboo Dreams® Sheet Sets sell the best. Find Phoenix Organics on Facebook!




                          Phoenix Organics                                                         Bamboo Dreams® Sheets

Travel Essentials is a family-owned retailer specializing in top-quality luggage and travel accessories, like Yala’s Dreamsack®, their best selling product. The owners, Bob and Nancy, have been in business since 1994. Bob's favorite product is Yala's Silk DreamSack® while Nancy likes Yala's journey wear, “it's prefect for travel and lounging around.” Find Travel Essentials on Facebook!

                        Travel Essentials                                                                 Yala's Silk DreamSack®

 Have a great weekend!

Team Yala