Grey Water from Your Washing Machine, November 5

GREY WATER FROM LAUNDRY WASTE

What is greywater? It's the "waste" water from your washing machine reused to water your fruit trees or perennial plants instead of being sent to the reclamation plant and then out to the ocean. 

With a greywater system, every time you do a load of laundry your plants get a good drink and you save money as well.


As everyone knows, California has experienced an extreme drought for many years and it will most likely continue. Water is probably the most important resource for every living species on our planet. Learn how to double the usage of your water!

Green Tent guest Art Lee holds workshops that cover all the information you need to install a grey water system at your house. He's bringing a mini greywater demo system so visitors can see how it works and will answer your questions. He'll also have a signup sheet for those interested in attending a future workshop.

A bicycle built for solar power!  And yeah, it works.

Art can explain how to install your own personal solar panel for small projects or emergency power for your cell phone, laptop, or ham radio.

Art is also a solar energy expert!  When it comes to versatility and sustainability, he has all the info you need to painlessly shrink your carbon footprint.  Come by the Green Tent this Sunday and benefit from his free advice.

DIG - October 31, 2017

DIG Childhood Center is a unique, non-profit, toddler-to-preschool program that provides caring, respectful, and enriching support to children and their families in the cooperative spirit.

Sustainable practices are important to our community. Our families pack healthy, no-waste lunches. We compost. We make choices based on reducing packaging and consumption. We reduce, reuse, and recycle (in that order!) We intentionally use cast off or recyclable materials in our curriculum plans daily. We use products and materials that are not harmful to our children or our environment. 

At DIG, we believe in spending time outside, rain or shine, and connecting with natural materials – plants and trees, dirt and water, stones and wood. Our child-directed program focuses on each individual’s social and emotional well-being. We provide this support via our wonderful Outdoor Classroom, our free-flowing space, and our low teacher-to-student ratio.

Through our program, we strive to create a world of self-reliant, empathetic, mindful, and compassionate community builders: young people instilled with non-violent conflict resolution skills and resilience, living free from shame. We see the whole child and, rather than judging good and bad behavior, we model tools to navigate the waves of life. 

We are excited to be opening our doors at our new location in Mar Vista in the West LA Imago Dei Church on the corner of Pacific Ave. and Grand View Blvd. 

Stop by our table on October 29th at the Green Tent and introduce yourself! As part of our science curriculum, we will be explore magnets and metals with repurposed metal bits and pieces we find at home or at work — jar lids, Altoid tins, old locks, keys and chains, etc. 

We are looking forward to connecting with our neighbors!

DIG Childhood Center

DIGcenter.org

info@DIGcenter.org

3480 Grand View Blvd.

Mar Vista, CA 90066 

424.272.8988

Master Gardeners, October 22, 2017

It’s KITTY GRASS day on October 22 as the UC/CE LA County Master Gardeners  occupy the Green Tent, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The MGs are bringing seeds and plants to give away FREE, and they have lots of cat grass seed. Come grab your bonus seed pack and if you’re lucky, you can pick up one of the plants that have already sprouted.

Here's what else they're bringing, (in addition to the kitty grass):

Italian parsley — easy to chop flat green leaves 

Kale — everyone’s favorite

Leaf lettuce - who says you can't eat salads in the Fall?
Snap peas  —  MG Sarah’s favorite, the chunky, crispy pods with sweet peas inside, eat ‘em whole, raw or cook ‘em  

Spinach — where would Popeye be without it?

Sweet William — flowers that are pretty AND edible!

Fava Beans — they might not turn into food until spring but they are also considered a cover crop, locking nitrogen in your garden’s soil.

For what to do this (and every) month in the LA County garden, visit http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/Garden_Tips_for_Los_Angeles_County/

And please remember to recycle your “pony packs” — those little plastic 6- or 8-pack plant holders you get from the nursery — with the Master Gardeners so they can continue to plant seedlings for the Mar Vista community! 

Seed Library of Los Angeles, October 15, 2017

Saving Seeds

David King, SLOLA Chair, is waiting
to teach you about seed saving!

This Sunday at the Green Tent, representing the Seed Library of Los Angeles, David King, founding chair, will have seed samples and information on upcoming SLOLA events!

SLOLA is our local organization protecting the diversity of our food supply – come and talk to David about saving some of the remaining seeds from summer or to gear up for the coming winter harvest. You can see the seed inventory awaiting checkout at SLOLA.

SLOLA always features a speaker at the monthly Seed Library meetings that helps you learn more about your food, seeds and gardening.. This month. on October 21, Azita Banu will talk about seed saving basics and will get you set up to start your seed saving journey.

Amaranth --- Sacred Ancient Grain

SELVA International, October 8, 2017

CONSERVATION DONE RIGHT

...after.

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

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

before...

Selva EcoGardens is pleased to announce that they have recently been awarded another Community Partnership grant from LADWP, and will be offering five FREE Hands On Workshops, which will teach residents how to remove turf and install California Friendly Landscapes in their yards.  Learn by Doing!  If interested in attending a free workshop, sign up at their table!

At the Green Tent, SELVA International will display before and after pictures of sustainable, "Ocean Friendly Gardens." They'll have informational handouts on SELVA's EcoGardens program and Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens program. They'll have some CA native plants local to our area. They will also be distributing free LADWP water-saving devices (low-flow shower heads, sink aerators, and more!) Get your questions answered and free advice on ecological landscaping!