Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Seed Library of Los Angeles, December 18

This Sunday at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market, representing the Seed Library of Los Angeles, David King will have seed samples and information on upcoming SLOLA events! SLOLA is our local organization protecting the diversity of our food supply – find out why that's important and learn about the Guatemalan Farmers of Qachoo Aloom and their amaranth growing project at The Learning Garden. Always something fun going on at the monthly Seed Library meetings – which are free!


David is Garden Master of the Learning Garden at Venice High School, a Mar Vista institution serving the community as our neighborhood botanical garden.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Master Gardeners, December 11

Photo by John S. Chao
This month, the last two Sundays fall on Christmas and New Year’s, and the Mar Vista Farmers Market will be closed both days.

But don’t despair: The UC/CE LA County Master Gardeners will still be at the market — this month only on the second Sunday, December 11. They’ll reoccupy the Green Tent on their regular date, the FOURTH Sunday of the month, in January and every month thereafter.


Meantime: they are bringing some of the same winter plants they grew for you at the November market, including winter greens, spinach, chard and a few other hardy seasonal plants, plus some surprises…


Make sure you stop by for free seedlings and free seed packets, and remember to bring your leftover plastic “pony” packs (aka six packs) that your nursery plants come in, so they can plant up the January seedlings for you.


Great advice for anyone looking for monthly garden guidance can be found at this link: http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/Garden_Tips_for_Los_Angeles_County/


And don’t forget, even though there’s been some rain (not much!), ALWAYS be waterwise!! www.bewaterwise.com is a great resource for you.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Dog Waste, December 4



No one likes to find poo on the bottom of their shoe, which is one reason to pick up that “deposit” right away and dump it in a trash can.  

But did you know that canine fecal matter left on the ground can harm your dog, your neighbors’ dogs and your dog’s neighbors? 

As poo sits on the soil, it becomes, according to the EPA, “ as dangerous a pollutant as toxic chemicals and oil.” Pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms and Salmonella!

Add in rains or over-zealous lawn-watering and fecal bacteria/parasites wash into the storm drain and end up in the Santa Monica Bay. Not just yucky, but death to our local marine life.

Even though you can now see that dog poop is a serious matter, we’ve created a little game of skill and luck that you can play at the Green Tent this Sunday. 

You'll also see an example of a Dog Waste Station like the ones the Green Committee hopes to see installed around Mar Vista.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Master Gardeners, November 27

On Sunday, Nov. 27, join the UCCE LA County Master Gardeners  at The Green Tent from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. It’s post-Thanksgiving weekend and yes, you can definitely plant now! Which is a good thing since they’re bringing a whole lot of hand-grown seedlings and seed packets to give away. 

They’ve potted up some crowd-pleasing Baby Tuscan Kale and Broccoli Raab. Plus you can choose from snap peas, spinach, chard and arugula, plus braising greens and lettuce. It’s a great winter garden starter pack!

For tips on your Fall/Winter garden click here -- you’ll find monthly garden tips and a seasonal overview.

Don’t forget, if you have plastic “pony” packs (those six packs that seedlings come in at nurseries) recycle them so the Master Gardeners can plant up more seedlings for you. 

SAVE THE DATE! Because of Christmas and New Years, there will be no Market on those Sundays. So stop by on DECEMBER 11 for the Master Gardeners’ monthly visit to The Green Tent.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Art Walk Preview, September 3


Mar Vista ArtWalk at the Green Tent.


Created as a means of improving the walkability of our neighborhood, The Mar Vista ArtWalk is a fun, FREE celebration of all the arts. It’s a win-win-win:  More walking = fewer cars + less greenhouse gas + better health! 

Designated one of Mayor Garcetti’s “Great Streets”, 
the latest Edition of the Mar Vista Art Walk along the 1 mile stretch of Venice Blvd between Inglewood Blvd and Beethoven Street is PSYCHEDELIC!  Come get your retro ‘60s groove on with a multitude of live bands, live painting, video installations, art exhibitions, street murals and a parade of art cars! Also one of a kind art prints + handmade artisan crafts.

What makes this art walk unique is its emphasis on sidewalk engagement. Instead of indoor gallery hopping bound by 4 walls, visitors interact with artists everywhere -- on sidewalks, in alley parking lots and everywhere between. 

This event is made possible in part by grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with Community Partners and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Special thanks to our sponsors Michelle Pine Rappoport KW Realty and organizers Green Communications Initiative, Councilmember Mike Bonin and the Mar Vista Community Council.


Visit the Mar Vista Art Walk page on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook or go to http://www.marvistaartwalk.org for more information.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Community Nutrition, November 13

EATING FOR A HEALTHY BODY AND A HEALTHY PLANET

Come meet Community Nutrition Specialist PhiVan Ha at the Green Tent this Sunday and learn how to shrink your carbon footprint while you improve your health.

She's turning the Green Tent into an interactive information booth! Visitors are welcomed to create their own Q&A session. Catering to their specific inquiries about health and nutrition, PhiVan directs participants to helpful information using an iPad instead of wasteful paper handouts. 


My Community Nutrition is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to build a nourishing and thriving community through nutrition workshops and community collaborative events. They collaborate with many community organizations to build relationships with leaders and stakeholders to help build a healthy and thriving Los Angeles community. Their collaborative partners include the American Diabetes Association, Let's Move West LA, Downtown's Women Center, Los Angeles Community Garden Council, Emerson Avenue Community Garden Council, and many more. 

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

See the Future Through "Owls" - Visit the Green Tent Nov 6th

Santa Monica Pier’s Newest Viewfinder to Offer a Futuristic Look at Sea Level Rise

At the Green Tent Sunday Nov 6th until 1:00 PM
The City has deployed a virtual reality viewfinder on the north side of the pier (west of Bubba Gump). This device, known as Owl, will provide viewers an opportunity to experience Santa Monica’s beach under future scenarios with sea level rise and coastal flooding. The signs of global warming are all around us. Weather patterns are changing and an increase in the ocean's temperature has already begun to result in sea level rise. What does that mean to us? How would our coastal cities change? Visit the Green Tent to learn about the Owls that show us how we will be impacted and how much longer you can see the installation.


To help the public visualize the impacts of Sea Level Rise, the City of Santa Monica has placed two "Owls" on the Santa Monica Pier with augmented reality visuals of anticipated shoreline change. This is the first time this technology has been used in Southern California. Come to the Mar Vista Green Tent on Sunday November 6th to view the Owl mobile app and meet with planners working on the Venice and Santa Monica LCPs to learn what it is all about. Check out an example of the technology here.

Coastal communities like LA and Santa Monica are planning for adaptation and reliance in preparation for coastline changes that will affect critical infrastructure and increase the vulnerability of coastal homes and businesses. This policy planning is happening through updates to the cities' Local Coastal Programs. LCPs require certification by the California Coastal Commission and must comply with the State's Coastal Act. 


For more information, please visit sustainablesm.org/climate 

Monday, October 17, 2016

Master Gardeners - October 23rd

You might think that Fall is a time to rest in the garden but it’s really time to start your Spring garden! 

Plant some seeds, pick up some seedlings — all FREE! — on Sunday, October 23 as the UC/CE LA County Master Gardeners  return to the Green Tent from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your gardening questions and curiosity; you could be starting a great winter salad garden right now!

A few weeks ago they planted up a bunch of seeds, some of which are ready for market and a few others that might not yet be big enough in time:


Snow peas — they’re great in stir fry, salad, raw or steamed. Eat them, pods and all — these are slender pods.


Turnips — the holidays are coming, root veggies are you best friends! Try these instead of mashed potatoes!



Kale —  everyone’s favorite superfood/green            


 Spearmint — This is a species of mint often used for medicinal purposes, loaded with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants; does not contain as much menthol as traditional mint


Baby napa cabbage - Use this in your kimchi or stir fry or just eat it in salads!

Nasturtiums     —  they’re edible flowers and yummy with a dash of goat cheese and balsamic vinegar, or toss them atop your salads for color.  But they grow like crazy and can cover an ugly wall! 


Arugula — practically self seeding once established, the flowers have a nutty flavor while the leaves are spiky and spicy! In England it’s called “rocket” — not sure why! 

There may be a few more surprises so stop by. Meantime, study up your Fall and Winter gardening basics by reading this verycomprehensive article.

And please don’t forget — if you have empty plastic six packs, bring them with you so the Master Gardeners can plant up more seeds for next month’s booth.




Friday, October 14, 2016

Garden School Foundation, October 16

This Sunday at The Green Tent, the Garden School Foundation will be making seed bombs — the perfect way to spread the love this fall! Bring the kiddos by to cultivate a new generation of guerrilla gardeners and teach the little ones that you can garden anywhere!

The Garden School Foundation stands as the premier model of garden-based education in Los Angeles. After 7 years at the 24th Street Elementary School in West Adams, they’ve developed not only a thriving, organized, beautiful, and sustainable garden classroom but a comprehensive curriculum that speaks to the particular needs of schools in under-served communities. Since 2003, they’ve been turning asphalt into ecosystems, working to create a healthy, educated and aware future generation that care for their bodies and for the earth. GSF’s Seed To Table (S2T) program, which is comprised of K-5 year-round curriculum, operates in six Title I elementary schools and their new Greenhouse Program teaches vocation-based curriculum to students with developmental disabilities at Widney Career and Transition Center. 

GSF holds Community Garden Days every month at their various sites, providing a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and volunteer in one of their school gardens. We have two upcoming Community Garden Days.The last one for October will be located at 24th Street Elementary School Saturday, October 29th from 10 am - 1 pm. Please visit their website if you are interested in participating on either day or at any future Community Garden Day. You will also find details for our upcoming V
irtual Harvest Moon Annual Giving Campaign, Greenhouse Seedling CSA Program, and news on their amazing expansion into 10 new schools providing teacher training workshops! Check out their website for more exciting things happening at The Garden School Foundation. 

Friday, October 7, 2016

Selva International, October 9

CONSERVATION DONE RIGHT

SELVA International, a Mar Vista based environmental non-profit, has partnered with conservation biologist and sustainable landscape professional Steven Williams to offer EcoGardens, a landscape service to help you convert your water thirsty lawn to an ecological garden.

4536 Irvine Ave., Studio City 91364 - BEFORE
4536 Irvine Ave - AFTER (9/13/14 - Charlene Mathers)


Learn how your garden can:

• Conserve water
• Save money
• Grow native plants to attract birds and butterflies
• Reduce polluted runoff to our beaches
• Collect and use rainwater
• Support our local community - SELVA International hires and trains students at Venice Youth Build, an at-risk youth skills-building program, which also allows them to lower your cost.

At the Green TentSELVA International will display before and after pictures of sustainable, "Ocean Friendly Gardens." They'll have information handouts on SELVA's EcoGardens program, LADWP funded Hands On Workshops (HOWs), and Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens program. They'll have some CA native plants local to our area. Get your questions answered and free advice on ecological landscaping!


2006 S. Crescent Heights Blvd., LA, 90034 - BEFORE   
2006 S. Crescent Heights Blvd., LA, 90034 - AFTER (10/11/14 - David Beeler    )

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Dreameco Crafts, October 2

DREAMECO CRAFTS is an eco friendly company born out of artistic sensibilities and household discards. They are artists and educators who are teaching the public how to use what they have in their homes to create art and household products and extend the life of their items to produce less waste. Classes include crafts, sewing and visual arts. Through classes, workshops and free events they turn strangers into neighbors.

DREAMECO CRAFTS will be at The Green Tent on Sunday, October 2nd, from 9am-2pm.  Stop by and learn about upcoming events including...


The first ever Fun-A-Day LA! Dreameco Crafts is putting together #FunADayLA for 2017! If you're interested in creating an art piece every day of January and then participating in a group show in February at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean then share your idea at dreamecocrafts@gmail.com! This is a FREE UNJURIED ART SHOW! There will be classes in January to keep you on track!


Art by Amy. Stop by reDiscover Center to enjoy the mixed media work of Amy Bauer including creative ways to display your family and friend's art. From collages to mobiles and paintings to barrettes made from wall paper and old buttons! Plus an all ages workshop where you will create your own art to take home!