Dreameco Crafts, June 5

PROMOTING WAYS TO A BETTER PLANET, AND COMMUNITY....

DREAMECO CRAFTS is an eco friendly company born out of artistic sensibilities and household discards. They are artists and educators who are teaching the public how to use what they have in their homes to create household items and extend the life of their items to produce less waste. Classes include crafts, sewing and visual arts. Through classes, workshops and free events they turn strangers into neighbors.

DREAMECO CRAFTS will be at The Green Tent this Sunday, June 5th, from 9am-2pm.  Stop by and learn about upcoming events including...

ARTIST TRADING CARDS with Amy Bauer 

Join the increasingly popular global Artist Trading Cards movement, and explore your creative side in a cheap and fun way. Think of them as baseball cards for artists—you can trade them, use them as greeting cards, or just keep them to commemorate a special memory. Make some cards and become part of this exciting worldwide community, and trade with your classmates at the end of class. Click here for more information and to register for the class.

Learn About the Mar Vista Art Walk at the Green Tent on May 29th

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”, the latest  Venice Boulevard Mar Vista Art Walk will take the meaning of “street art” to a new level, hosting the kickoff event for a new attraction - the Mar Vista Walls – activating an entire block of street art with a series of new murals simultaneously painted by recognized street artists.

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 (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 Martian Ranch & Vineyard, Michelle Pine Rappoport KW Realty, Pamela Day Enterprises and organizers Green Communications Initiative, the enthusiastic support of Councilmember Mike Bonin and the Mar Vista Community Council.

Master Gardeners, May 22

The UCCE LA County Master Gardeners return to the Green Tent on May 22 from 9 am to 1 pm bringing a bounty of greens, beans and more, along with seeds to make your backyard bloom.

This month they’ve planted:

Heirloom Kale — everyone’s favorite, “Dinosaur” Kale aka Lacinato. The classic. And its baby brother/sister: Heirloom Tuscan Baby Leaf Kale

French Gold Pole Filet Beans (You’ll need to trellis or stake these) — long thin beauties

And to keep them company, Garden Beans—called Tendergreen; these grow like a bush

Use these for your pickles: Container Cucumbers, “Bush Slicer”  

and lots of SUNFLOWERS!!! Come early, these are going to be very popular — we’ll have container and backyard varieties  

Pumpkins! It’s never too soon to consider Halloween, these are BABY pumpkins called “Mini Jack”  

Slow Bolt Cilantro — with the heat coming it’s great to have a variety that won’t immediately go to seed (but if it does, you’ve got Coriander!)

Cherry Tomatoes — -who doesn’t love Sweet Gold — like popping candy in your mouth
And of course, for your salad delectation, lots of lettuce—the Sweet Greens and Reds to keep it colorful

Plus True Italian Arugula to add a little spice

Please don’t forget to bring your empty plastic six packs so the MGs can plant more good food and flowers for you next month.

Hook, Line & Sinker Project, May 15

Drop by the Green Tent to see the “Hook, Line, & Sinker” project. It’s a compelling photographic journey through the magical, surprising, and increasingly devastated Ballona Wetlands.   It will change everything you thought you knew about the Ballona Wetlands.

Photographer Bev-Sue Powers will share her discoveries, why it matters, and what we can do to restore this slice of the ecosystem, rebuild the at-risk seabird populations, and prevent further harm to the wildlife. 

Seeds to Plate, May 8

The Seeds to Plate school garden program is our Green Tent this Sunday. Children will be able to make Mother's Day bouquets with flowers from the Mark Twain garden. They'll also be giving away seedlings of veggies and ornamentals. 

Come learn learn about the Seeds to Plate Program -- including how they connect the Garden to the academic curriculum during school time every week. You'll have an opportunity to sign up for upcoming events in the garden as well as find out how to become a volunteer with the Program.

Created in 2010 by six Volunteer Garden Educators, most with Master Gardener training through University of California Cooperative Extension, Seeds to Plate developed an instructional school garden program, using the Mark Twain garden as an ideal place for inquiry-based learning grounded in the outdoors.  

In 2013, the Seeds to Plate program became the first school to sell its produce at their local farmers' market, providing additional learning opportunities to students in entrepreneurship.


The Seeds to Plate Program aims to create and maintain a school garden that is integrated into the academic environment, promote a healthy food culture, nurture physical and mental well-being and provide hands-on gardening and eating experiences for students, families and staff to foster mutual respect, appreciation of diversity, community spirit and sustainability of the earth.

Recycle by City, May 1

DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOES IN YOUR BLUE BIN?

According to LA's Zero Waste Report, 30% of what we put in the blue bin (by weight) is stuff that shouldn't be there! And as a nation, we toss over $7 billion worth of recyclable materials away each year.

Better recycling saves natural resources, saves landfill space and provides much needed revenue to our cities. The City of LA made $3.8 M from the sale of recyclables in the 2013-14 fiscal year!

Stop by the Green Tent this Sunday and boost your Blue Bin IQ. Play a hands on recycling sorting game using real everyday items, with different levels of difficulty for kids and parents alike. You'll likely have some of your recycling myths shattered. Learn some recycling tips from a pro and where/how to dispose of Household Hazardous Waste. Get your recycling questions answered. 

Guest Tracy Bugh is on a mission is to increase awareness about proper recycling. To this end, her company, Recycle by City, built a digital recycling platform with simple, in-depth info on local recycling programs. The site also has a myth busting quiz and a page full of recycling tips and tricks - which is local to the bone. And they provide the marketing to get people interested in recycling. 

Master Gardeners, April 24

The days are growing longer and warmer. Join the Los Angeles County Master Gardeners at the Green Tent and get ready to plant your garden. Free seeds and free plants will start you off — Sunday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Green Tent.

Here’s what they’re bringing:

Heirloom Tatsoi Asian Greens — round flat rosettes, rich green teardrop shaped and at maturity can grow to 1 foot in diameter!  

Astia Container Zucchini — French bush variety bred for container growing.

French Gold Pole Filet Beans — Tender green Garden Green Beans  Grows like a bush, so no need to stake or trellis.

Heirloom Pimento Peppers from Seed Savers Exchange — yummy, sweet, red apple shaped peppers.

Stupice Heirloom Tomatoes — A tomato from Czechia, (the new name for Czechoslovakia). Early Variety, globe shaped fruit, deep red, can weigh 3-4 ox, tangy tomato flavor. 

Sweet Gold yellow cherry tomatoes


Garden Candy cherry tomatoes

Italian Gigante Parsley — large flat leaf.
   
Heirloom Cutting mix lettuce — let ‘em grow, cut em back, watch ‘em grow again. OR separate them at the roots for a complete lettuce garden.

Sea of Red lettuce — Lovely to look at, even lovelier to eat.

Please remember to save water, the drought’s not over, and there’s a La Nina predicted which means warmer, dryer weather ahead. Visit bewaterwise.com for inspiration.

And please also bring your empty plastic six packs so the MGs can grow more seedlings for you at next month’s booth.

Happy gardening!

Walgrove Green Team, April 17

Come and join the Walgrove Green Team at the Green Tent THIS Sunday, April 17, to learn about how the  Edible Garden Program at Walgrove Elementary School is creating healthy children while it turns them into farmers and gourmet chefs. On hand will be Master Gardner Daniela Roveda and Green Committee Co-Chair Jeanne Kuntz, and hopefully YOU!

In the garden classes at Walgrove students grow and cook organic vegetables right from their own gardens.  They also learn elementary level botany and horticulture. 

Which plants like hot weather and which ones like cold weather?

Why does it makes sense for us to eat food that is in season where we live?  

What are the 5 basics stages in the life cycle of a plant?

What is the best way to avoid getting stung by a bee?  (HINT: Don't act like a bear!)

Learn the answers to these questions and more as you play the Mystery Box Game.  Then take the "Veggie Pledge".

Volunteering in the garden brings bountiful rewards to those who venture out! Come and enrich your life and see what's "growing on" right in your neighborhood

Eco Car Expo, April 10

Are you EV curious? Have you wanted an electric vehicle, but been too swamped to do the research? Come to our expanded Green Tent on April 10, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and ask EV & plug-in hybrid drivers all your burning questions. 

We’ll have the following plug-in vehicles and their real live drivers: BMW i3, Chevy Volt, Fiat EV, Ford C-Max Energi, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, Toyota Rav4 EV and Zero S Electric motorcycle.

NEW! You'll also be able to see the Toyota Mirai, one of the first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to be sold commercially.

 “Car-free living” representatives on hand offering alternative transportation options including Santa Monica’s bike share program, an electric scooter, a bamboo bicycle, demonstrations of several car-free ridesharing apps, and a hover board.

Join us for the fun right in the middle of the Mar Vista Farmers' Market, at the Grand View / Pacific intersection. Look for the Green Tent, the MVCC tent and a bunch of really happy EV drivers and their vehicles. 

Westside Pacific Village, April 3

Do you have surplus towels and linens? Please bring them to the Green Tent on Sunday, April 3^rd! Our guest, Westside Pacific Village, will take them to a local homeless shelter and put them to good use. 

Aging is usually accompanied by a need for less stuff.  As a healthy, strong individual, you could choose to de-clutter and downsize now, rather than waiting until you are infirm.  Unfortunately, a more common scenario is a sudden, incapacitating illness that forces an elderly individual to leave their home and all their possessions behind. Too often, loved ones have to remove our “stuff” during a time of stress and much of it ends up in a landfill.  

You can also learn how you can become a part of the growing village movement of neighbors helping neighbors. Meet the team from Westside Pacific Village (WPV) and learn how they can make a difference to our seniors in Mar Vista as we age in place!

The Village Movement was born out of the desire to create a local support system for seniors, and their families, who want to “age in place” without facing expensive home care support or being placed into an alternate living facility. For a nominal annual fee, WPV members gain access to pre-screened volunteers who help with a wide array of tasks that older adults need assistance with, including:

-  grocery shopping and running errands
-  transportation to and from medical appointments, social outings, hair salons
-  taking trash bins out/in on a weekly basis
-  help with household chores and minor handy work
-  teaching computer skills and how to use other electronic devices
-  yard work and gardening
-  friendly visits, walking buddies, and pet care
-  referrals to pre-screened service providers
-  opportunities to meet other members and volunteers through special events and informational programs