This year's Firefly Gathering is fast approaching. The family-friendly event takes place the last weekend of June (June 29 to July 2) at a new location in Leicester this year, just outside of Asheville. Workshops and events, which range in focus from permaculture to natural parenting, are offered throughout the days and into the summer evenings. There's literally something for everyone on the dizzying schedule. Firefly is an immersive weekend with a practical goal: to teach people how to live more closely, and more in tune with, the earth. The festival's focus on sustainability, self-sufficiency, and community makes it a popular—and important—annual event that celebrates the gifts we have close to home.  We went out to Wild Abundance, the homesteading center started by Firefly's creator, Natalie Bogwalker, to check out how the values of Firefly are put into use every day. Wild Abundance, which offers classes in sustainable living throughout the year, is permanently devoted to sharing how practices of "for Earth-based self-sufficiency and interdependence" can be tools for self-empowerment, according to their website. Check out our interview with Bogwalker at Wild Abundance, and take note: pre-registration for the Firefly Gathering ends Monday. Come back next week to see our full visit to Wild Abundance, including more interviews and a broom-making demonstration! Check out the website for information on Firefly, and to register. Many thanks to Jane Kramer for providing her song, "Half Way Gone," for this video! You can check out more of Jane's music at her website.