Green Garden Showcase Info, Dec. 16

5th Annual Green Garden Showcase

This week's guest at the Green Tent is the MVCC Green Committee! We'll be there to tell you all about the 5th Annual Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, scheduled for Saturday, April 20. 

Did you attend last year's Showcase or show your garden? Come share your stories and photos with others.

Are you thinking about entering your garden this year? Are you wondering "what is the Green Garden Showcase"? Would you like to get involved as a volunteer? Come learn

• What makes a garden "green"
• Things you can do to get your not-so-green garden ready for the Showcase
• How to enter your garden
• What to expect during the Showcase
• Volunteer opportunities
• HOW MUCH FUN IT IS

You'll also have an opportunity to see the Green Committee in action. Our monthly meeting starts at 9:30 at the Green Tent. We have several motions to consider.

The Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase is like a giant FREE block party. Last year nearly 100 gardens participated and there were over 2000 visitors. Many gardens had guest presenters: environment organization representatives, landscapers, solar consultants, even a Feng Shui advisor.

Solar Energy Expert, December 9

Which energy source do you want?

Home and business owners who choose solar solutions offset carbon dioxide emissions generated from traditional sources every single day. Generating safe, renewable electricity using the power of the sun helps combat global warming while reducing dependence on fossil fuels or nuclear energy.

You can make a difference! A typical solar power installation for a 3 bedroom, 4 person household will offset nearly 150,000 pounds of carbon during its first 20 years of operation. That’s the equivalent of saving over 10,000 gallons of gasoline. 

Come learn how easy it is for homes and businesses in Southern California to upgrade to solar power. Jeremy Stuart and a few friends visit the Green Tent this Sunday to answer questions and educate people on the current solar energy situation.  

Rebates. Tax Credits. Leases. Loans. There are many programs that make it easy and affordable for residential and commercial property owners to upgrade their buildings with solar electricity systems that 

• Save the owner a fortune in electric costs
• Create positive cash flow, locking down the cost of electricity without a large upfront cost
• Provide service, maintenance and peace of mind
• Positively impact the environment and the local economy

With strong local companies stepping up to assist in financing, obtaining rebates, installing, and all other aspects of the process, it's never been easier to go green. 

Jeremy Stuart is a local solar energy expert. He works directly with Solar Choice Solutions and American Solar Direct and also makes referrals to SolarCity.

Food Forward, December 2

Putting our surplus food to use

Come learn about the Food Forward Backyard Harvesting Program, Farmer's Market Recovery Program, and other ways to help make an impact in Southern California by getting fresh fruits and vegetables to those needing them most. Food Forward volunteers will teach booth visitors about harvesting equipment, such as fruit pickers, fruit harvesting gloves, and pruning/cutting tools. 


Food Forward is a volunteer powered grassroots group of Angelenos who care about reconnecting to our food system. Food Forward’s vision is to reconnect our community with the abundance of food already present in our everyday lives, while creating change around the issues of urban hunger, food waste and food justice. 

Food Forward’s mission is to reconnect people with people – through food – by bringing together volunteers and neighbors to share in the gleaning and distributing of locally grown food from private homes and public spaces which is then distributed to local food pantries and organizations serving those in need.

Food Forward volunteers convene at properties they've been invited to and harvest their excess fruits and vegetables, donating 100% to local food pantries across southern California. Combined, their numerous distribution partners provide food to over 40,000 clients a month across Southern California. 

Since forming in 2009, they've harvested hundreds of properties with 100% of what they pick going to feed the hungry. See their total harvested poundage to date counter on their home page.

Kristoff the Clown, November 24

Eco-entertainer Kristoff the Clown

Welcome to the amazing world of Kristoff the Clown!

Kristoff the Clown has been successfully entertaining children and adults alike for many many years with his exciting mixture of magic, music and all-round fun!

He is multi-talented and has for 30 years been teaching all aspects of green and sustainable education, especially in schools. He is also an entertainer and engages his audience as a clown and musician. He writes his own eco songs.

Kristoff the Clown, a.k.a. Chris Philpott, is a visitor from the Transition Towns movement in the UK. Stop by the Green Tent and meet him. Kids are welcome but optional! 

Master Gardeners, November 18th

AUTUMN GARDEN PLANTS & ADVICE

This month at the  MVGC booth MV Farmers Market, Nov. 18 the Master Gardeners will have the following seedlings to give away:

• Red Russian Kale, an heirloom variety, originally brought to the West by Russian traders.  Enjoy the young leaves in salads or cooked like other leafy greens.
• Bloomsdale spinach, an old time favorite with crinkled leaves.  Loves cool weather so now is the time to plant.
• Bok Choy, white stem have a mild, Swiss chard-like flavor, but slightly sweet, tender and delicious.  Harvest young for “baby bok choy”.
• Lettuce, an oak leaf blend, both red and green. Loves cool weather
• Calendula, also known as pot marigold, an edible flower, easy to grow and also a long lasting cut flower. Grows well in containers.
• Cilantro, usually grown in the summer, we’re hoping it will do well in our mild winter climate and not bolt so quickly.
• Shungiku Edible Chrysanthemum, came to the U.S. from Japan. Tender edible greens and flowers have a unique zesty flavor.  Flowers also make beautiful leis and garlands.
• Garlic Chives. Leaves, flower buds and flowers have a delightful mild garlic flavor.  Easy to grow, nice in containers.  Can be grown indoors!

Butterflies & Caterpillars at Walgrove School!

Stop by the Green Tent on November 11^th to learn about the exciting greening transformations at Walgrove School!

See how their Walgrove Green Garden includes a Monarch Initiative that introduces the kids to the joys of observing insects and plant life cycles and learn about their Growing Great’s health program and upcoming Green Space!

Why Do We Need To Know What Is In Our Food?

Note - there is no guest at the Green Tent on October 28th so that we can focus on the MVCC elections. 

Please vote! 

Stop by the Green Tent on November 4th to learn why labeling GMO's is important!

 

Does your salmon contain eel genes? You wouldn't know unless it’s labeled. Genetically engineered foods are labeled in 60 other countries, all of Europe, even China. It’s time all Americans had the same basic right. 

Stop by the Green Tent and talk to Andy Shrader - learn why the MVCC passed a motion urging that foods be labeled if they contain GMO's and why our City Council is addressing the issue.

This is about being  empowered  to make the right choice for our families, by providing a simple label to tell us if our food has been genetically engineered or not. Learn why Farmers, food industry, science and health experts advise that we need to label any food product containing genetically-engineered ingredients so that consumers can make an informed choice in the food they eat and the food they feed their kids.

In 2004, Congress instituted the Food Allergen Labeling Act, which required labeling of potential allergens like peanuts, soybeans and dairy. This is no different.

Manufacturers have an on going practice of special labeling for specific customers. Special labels for the state of California will be no more challenging.

Master Gardeners, Oct. 21

Autumn garden plants & advice

This month and next, the UC Cooperative Extension/LA County Master Gardeners are at the Green Tent earlier: the third Sunday of the month instead of the fourth. 

This week they'll have some seasonal seed packets, information on what to do in garden in the autumn, and the following plants to give away:

• A lettuce/mesclun mix called Valentine.  These are heirloom varieties of lettuce in rich shades of red, burgundy, magenta and cranberry touched with green.  They're easy to grow in garden beds and containers.  

• Red Russian kale. It's an heirloom variety that will mature into full sized plants, but the Master Gardeners think they are best harvested young like lettuces. Scissor-cut the leaves when about 4" tall.

• A few spinach, rainbow chard and cabbage plants.

Catch the Master Gardeners as well as the Master Food Preservers at the Mar Vista Fall Family Festival on Saturday, October 20. Hae Jung Cho will show you how to make kimchi and Angela Choi will share her knowledge about preserving tomatoes. Here's what the Master Gardeners are growing for you:

• Sugar snap peas -- delicious, eat them, pods and all.

• Cilantro/Coriander plants. "Santo" is a slow bolting variety and grows well in good containers. Use the fresh leaves for their intense tangy flavor.  Allow some plants to mature and save the Coriander seed.  Can be grown inside in a bright sunny window.

Our TIme Bank, October 14

Our Time Bank

Our Time Bank (OTB) is a community of people living in the Culver City, Palms and Mar Vista area who support each other.  For every hour you help another member, you earn a TimeBank Hour. Then you can use that TimeBank Hour to have a neighbor help you. There's no minimum or maximum time commitment. It's like bartering time, but you don't have to trade directly with the person who helps you. Members use a simple internet-based system to list the services they want to give and receive and to keep track of hours exchanged.

Our Time Bank coordinator Melissa Minkin started the group in 2009 with many hours of support from other founding Time Bank members. OTB is open to all people who live and work in Culver City, Palms, Mar Vista. Membership has grown fast but it still small and working on building community. 

Come by the Green Tent to learn more about Our Time Bank from several OTB members.  See how you can become part of this growing community. 

Transition Mar Vista/Venice, Oct. 7

Transition Mar Vista returns to Green Tent

Learn about Good Karma Gardens--an opportunity to get help starting an edible garden. The mission is to enable people to grow and eat nutritious, delicious and sustainable food, starting small and paying it forward. Whether you live in an apartment or home, rent or own, have a yard or patio or balcony, Transition Mar Vista/Venice welcomes all comers, providing free guidance and help to participants who are willing to show up for each other and learn. 

See a Little Free Library--and sign up for help building your own.  What is a Little Free Library? It's a weather-proof box you can install outside and fill with books to share. People in your community then leave a book or take a book. Little Free Library's goal is to promote literacy and reading as well as build a sense of community.

Talk to Kevin Rudy about his DIY Solar Panels Workshop. It teaches how to put together a personal solar panel and provides resources for finding materials. Explore your own creativity, save money and having fun doing it! Perhaps you can power a light for your Little Free Library. 

Transition Mar Vista/Venice is a local grassroots group with a vision of guiding our community from oil dependency to local resilience. They raise awareness about the issues of peak oil, climate change and economic contraction, and seek to address these challenges through community-building and other projects.