2nd Annual Shoe Drive for Soles4Souls - 2nd Chance!

This is why we are doing this....

2^nd Annual Shoe Drive

SAVE YOUR SHOES. Last year our generous community donated over 800 pairs of shoes to the charity Soles4Souls. That’s a lot of shoes! Melissa Stoller, drive organizer, is collecting shoes again on November 6th at the Mar Vista Farmers’ Market MVCC Green Committee booth. 

Soles4Souls offers a simple way to help reduce the strain on our environment: donating gently worn footwear. Soles4Souls saves these shoes from early death in a landfill by distributing them to needy people around the world. Recipients treasure this gift for years to come; for some, it’s their first pair of shoes. Since its inception following the Asian tsunami, Soles4Souls has distributed nearly 15 million pairs to people in 127 countries, including the United States.

Start cleaning your closet now. Soles4Souls wants all types of shoes, from your kid’s outgrown tennis shoes to those rarely worn heels. Look in your closet and ask yourself, “Am I really going to wear these shoes again?” Every pair can make a difference.

Remember, this is about RECYCLING as well as helping others. Please bring you donation in a reusable bag—or stuff them in an old pillowcase. You can dump your shoes in the collection box and keep your bag for another use.

Want to help? Employees at the Radisson LAX are collecting shoes again this year. Perhaps your school, sports program or business can collect shoes for the drive. Melissa also needs help sorting and packing the shoes, as well as boxes to pack them in. Contact Melissa Stoller at melissa@stollerdesign.com. 

Good works deserve perks!

Good works deserve perks!  Donate your new or gently-used reusable bags to the bag exchange program at the Mar Vista Farmers Market and receive raffle tickets (3 bags gets you 1 ticket) for a chance to win our eco-centric prizes.  Winner need not be present. Just drop by the MVCC Green Tent any Sunday. See our first give away  above - the Veggie Bed!

FREE Sustainable Works Business Greening Program!

 FREE Sustainable Works Business Greening Program funded by a LADWP grant awarded by Councilmember Bill Rosendahl

The program provides up to 10 hours of free green business consulting over a 3 month period – including onsite visits and guidance on implementing new measures.

The ideal business for the program is one that:

-          Has been in operation for at least 1 year

-          has 10+ employees

-          pays for their own utilities

-          Has a commercial location in District 11 (home-based businesses do not qualify)

Check out the attached flyer describing the Business Greening Program grant.

Here is the 3 month program breakdown: 

Initial consultation/ registration by phone/ email        

Environmental assessment - onsite meeting  

Recommendation checklist - onsite meeting

Implementation Guidance (research/ email) - phone/ email        

Follow up/ Employee Education/ Completion - onsite meeting  

*Additional email consult *if needed - phone/ email        

10 HOURS  TOTAL

The focus of the program is to help businesses

REDUCE UTILITY BILLS and CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES:

·         SAVE on WATER bills

·         SAVE on ENERGY bills

·         Reduce WASTE and WASTE HAULING fees

Additionally help:

·         Replace toxic CHEMICAL cleaners

·         Reduce TRANSPORTATION costs

·         PURCHASE eco-friendly supplies

Contact Edward Pakdaman as soon as possible to avoid being put on a wait list!

Edward Pakdaman

Business Greening Program

Account Executive

Sustainable Works

Pakdaman_Edward@smc.edu

310 458 8716 x6 | office

310  434 3668 | fax

www.sustainableworks.org

The Master Gardeners Return!

Photo by Master Gardener  Ade Onaolapo

The UCCE LA County Master Gardeners are back with seeds, seedlings and advice to give away at the Market on Sunday 10/23.


In addition to their usual giveaways of plants and seeds, this month, the UCCE/LA County Master Gardeners will be joined by Lynn Sanderson, Communications Specialist for the Citrus Research Board, who will bring materials to help you identify a deadly pest and disease that could wipe out our citrus trees, the Citrus Psyllid. While the plant nursery world is aware of and taking preventive actions, it's the backyard gardener who will be the vanguard in preventing its spread from one tree to the next. So come, get educated, and let's keep our area safe for citrus.


While you're there, ask them about the award winning Seed Library of Los Angeles - see this article in the LA Times!


Since 1978, UC Cooperative Extension's Common Ground Program has made gardening possible for many Los Angeles County residents, particularly low-income and traditionally underrepresented families. The program goals are to improve nutrition; increase access to fresh, low-cost produce; offer gardening education; build bridges between neighbors and communities; help create employment opportunities; and encourage a cleaner, greener Los Angeles. We are thrilled to have them as our guest at the booth on the 4th Sunday of every month! Families learn how to garden, grow their own food and prepare it in a healthful manner. In addition, the program trains community volunteers and Master Gardeners, who in turn, volunteer their time to community and school gardens. This is a wonderful program - you may even want to explore signing up for the Master Gardener volunteer training program!

Meet Food & Water Watch!

Stop by the MVCC Green Tent at the Mar Vista Farmers Market on Sunday October 16th to learn what Food and Water Watch is doing to promote local food!

Since 2006, the consumer advocacy non-profitFood and Water Watch has promoted equitable access to safe drinking water, and the return to local and sustainable food systems. Currently, the national organization is advocating for a Fair Farm Bill, which will protect small farmers ability to compete, as well as consumers’ choice in regards to healthy food. Food and Water Watch works closely with local community organizations to empower individuals to take command of their food options. Although active at the local level, the organization ultimately works toward changing the national dialogue on food issues, and the power relations within the system. Food and Water Watch is always looking to partner with local members of the community, and local community groups—join the movement and find out how Food and Water Watch benefits you!