Master Gardeners, August 28

This week the Green Tent will be occupied by plants, seeds and the UC Master Gardeners of Los Angeles County from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Bring on the crazy climate: This month they've decided to try for a second summer season! They’ll bring lemon cucumbers, basil, bush beans, bush yellow scallop squash, zucchini, Swiss Chard and Bell peppers. 

Why not make a summer squash salad with your harvest? 

If you’ve been planting from “six packs” (those plastic containers that seedlings come in at nurseries), please bring yours to the Green Tent to recycle for next month’s planting session — after all, what they plant is for you! And they give away the seeds and plants they bring for free!

Don’t forget: be water wise. Click here for great ideas.

And if you’ve been wondering what to do and when to do it in your garden, check this great Garden Tips resource for monthly tips.

Mar Vista Art Walk Preview, August 21

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

Designated one of Mayor Garcetti’s “Great Streets”, this much-anticipated Music Edition of the Mar Vista Art Walk along the 1 mile stretch of Venice Blvd between Inglewood Blvd and Beethoven Street will feature a multitude of live indie bands, jazz, acoustic, Latin, blue grass and more + 6 new street murals!

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. 

Food (including vegan options), indie bands, live street painting, film, art installations, emerging and established artists, dance and experimental video.

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, the enthusiastic support of Councilmember Mike Bonin and the Mar Vista Community Council.

Turning Trash into Art, August 14

Do you know the story of Rumplestilskin? A beautiful maiden is tasked with spinning straw into gold. We won’t spoil the ending by telling you what happens, but Mar Vista has it’s own magical tale. 

Federico “Fred” Ceballos finds discarded wood that is either headed for the landfill or, worse yet, sits in our alleys and becomes a home for black widow spiders. His love of art and desire to serve the community inspires him to turn these old desks, chunks of lumber, etc, into wooden “canvases” to be filled with creative paintings. Fred has donated the canvases to local artists, as well as students at our local Mark Twain Middle School and Venice High.

Stop by the Green Tent this Sunday and express yourself through painting on one of Fred’s beautifully sanded wooden canvases. And learn more about how you can contribute to the re-purposing revolution.

Community Nutrition, August 7

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.