Santa Monica Festival 2013
Don’t miss the 22nd annual Santa Monica Festival! Experience an eclectic mix of live music and dance, DIY art workshops with recycled and repurposed materials, guilt-free shopping featuring earth-friendly artistic wares and local services offered by City, environmental and local non-profit organizations. The Festival is a celebration with a purpose, highlighting the dynamic connection between the City’s communities, businesses, art, culture and the environment while offering ideas and options for a greener, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
For more info: Santa Monica Festival
Green Mother’s Day Gifts
What are some ways to be Green on Mother’s Day? Start by giving handmade, local, organic, Fair Trade, and eco-friendly gifts. Choose organic local flowers. Most flowers are mainly grown in other countries that use harmful chemicals and pesticides. Who wants to bring that into their home?
Green Mother’s Day Gift Ideas:
• Make your gifts. Be creative and have fun. Your mom will feel special to receive a custom made gift.
• Make a terrarium for your mom.
• Shop at local craft fairs for unique handmade goods.
• Shop vintage, antique stores, and flea markets
• Instead of giving a material object, try giving her an experience such as a class, event tickets, a membership, make a donation, spa or massage.
• Cook a special meal for her at home.
• Use recycled cards or plantable seed paper cards. Although, the best form of holiday cards are always e-cards.
Have a Green Mother’s Day!
Happy Arbor Day!
Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, it’s celebrated on the last Friday in April. So, go plant a tree! http://www.arborday.org/arborday/
Earth Day Events in Los Angeles 2013
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation
for the Earth’s natural environment.
To find events in your area, go to:http://www.earthday.org/2013/
Aquarium of the PacificSaturday & Sunday, April 13-14 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, CA 90802 www.aquariumofpacific.org Learn what you can do to help our ocean planet at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s thirteenth annual Earth Day Celebration. Join the Aquarium for a weekend of family fun celebrating Earth Day while learning simple, everyday tips to protect our environment. Visit booths from various Earth-friendly organizations, and participate in hands-on learning demonstrations for people of all ages. Help save the environment. Bring your unwanted electronic items to Earth Day weekend at the Aquarium and receive $10 off adult admission. Just drop off the items at the eWaste booth in front of the Aquarium to receive your coupon. Coupon valid for April 13 and 14, 2013 only, limit one per person. May not be combined with any other offer. When: Saturday, Apr 13, 2013 from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Sunday, Apr 14, 2013 from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Cost of the event is free with paid admission to the aquarium. |
LA Green Drinks 6th Annual EartH Night
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Eco-Station Children’s Earth Day
http://www.childrensearthday.org |
Newport Bay Conservancy CenterSaturday, April 20 Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center 2301 University Drive Newport Beach , CA 92660 Free family event for Earth Day. Scavenger hunt for the kids, live music and gourmet food trucks. Saturday, April 20th from 11am-3pm. |
Picnic for the PlanetOn and around Earth Day 2013 (April 22) The Nature Conservancy and partners are hosting Picnic for the Planet events all across the world! Picnic for Earth is a celebration of the planet we live on, the food it provides and the people we share it with. In short, the planet does a lot for us, and we should take it out for lunch. On and around Earth Day 2013 (April 22), people all around the world will be stepping outside and heading to their favorite outdoor spot to enjoy good food in the company of great people. |
TrashARTist Earth Day ExpoSaturday, April 20, 2012 12:00 am – 3:00 pm |
California Poppy FestivalApril 20th & 21st, 2013. Rain or shine! 10:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Los Angeles County Museum of ArtSunday, April 21, 2012 at 11am |
Earth Day Celebration at Polliwog ParkSaturday, April 27, 2012 11:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Redondo Beach Earth Day CelebrationSaturday, April 20, 2013 10:00 am – 2:00 pm |
Beach Cleanup – Earth DaySaturday, April 20, 2013 10:00 am – 12:00 pm |
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Earth WeekendSaturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, 2012, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Topanga Earth DayApril 20 & 21 |
World Fest
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Spring has sprung!
Spring is here and it’s time to start gardening! I’ve been very motivated the past few weeks to plant herbs, make terrariums, and I finally have my own vegetable garden! I was volunteering with Enrich LA a couple months ago and one of the volunteers offered the use of their backyard. On Saturday, I pulled weeds and planted: 2 varieties of kale, butter lettuce, romaine lettuce. spring lettuce mix, carrots, scallions, and spinach. The area is shady, and gets at least 4-5 hours of full sun a day.
I knew a little bit of about gardening growing up, but I’ve really learned a lot from volunteering with Enrich LA. My mom is a gardener and she grew up on a farm. I was never interested in gardening growing up, because it always felt like a chore. As an adult, I’m trying to learn more about gardening and see how it goes. I hope all goes well, and I will definitely share the progress of my garden. I’m very excited to grow my own food!
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Before (weeds) |
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Earth Hour is 03/23/13 at 8:30pm
Earth Hour is about collective impact, beyond the hour. Earth Hour has now become much more than a symbolic action. It has evolved into a continuous movement driving real actions, big and small, that are changing the world we live in. Uniting people to protect the planet.
Earth Hour 2013: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 8:30pm
Turn post-consumer jars into useful, non-toxic drinking containers.
I got these EcoJarz drink tops for my mason jars and I love them. My stainless steel straws fit in them perfectly, although my glass straws don’t fit. They are great for when you’re on the go and great for kids, too. Check them out!
Snippet from the EcoJarz site: “The EcoJarz drink top is a new product that turns any standard mouth canning jar into a to-go mug, allowing you to up-cycle your glass jar into a completely customizable cup. There are hundreds of possibilities, which means that you can use the same lid for a child’s drink cup, a travel mug that fits your cup holder, or an extra-large jar for serious hydration. This affordable lid, which costs less than most water bottles, fits any standard mouth jar – including canning, salsa, spaghetti sauce, and mayonnaise jars.”
West Hollywood Bans Plastic Bags
Starting February 20, 2013, the City of West Hollywood has approved an ordinance to ban single-use plastic bags from all pharmacy, grocery, and retail stores.
PURPOSE
- Encourage sustainability by substituting plastic bags with durable and long-lasting reusable bags, and paper bags made from recycled materials.
- Reduce costs to businesses, consumers, taxpayers, and the environment.
- Eliminate waste, litter and marine debris, and create local green jobs.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
- The ban applies to all retail establishments.
- Phased Implementation
- Supermarkets and large retail establishments over 10,000 square feet will not be able to supply plastic bags after February 20, 2013, six months of the effective date of the ordinance.
- Retail stores under 10,000 square feet will have until August 20, 2013 to comply with the plastic bag ban, 12 months from the effective date of the ordinance.
- Stores are required to charge customers 10 cents for each paper bag; the stores will collect and retain the money to help cover the additional costs of stocking the paper bags. This is also an incentive to encourage shoppers to use reusable bags.
- Paper bags will be required to contain 40% post-consumer recycled content.
- Stores are encouraged to make reusable shopping bags available for purchase.
- Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags.
The City of West Hollywood is eager to work with businesses to facilitate the transition to greater sustainability.
For more information, go to: http://www.weho.org/index.aspx?page=1123
Plastic Bag Ban Map
Many cities have banned single use plastic bags or are planning to in the future. This plastic bag ban map shows where bags have been banned, are still in use, and where a ban has failed. It is very interesting. What are your thoughts?
