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.

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.

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.

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. 

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