>> Come join Women of the Green Generation  for a special Women of the Green Generation Holiday Event. Large Marge Sustainables will provide organic foods and GQ Eco Bartending will serve up organic drinks. The event takes place this Thu. Dec. 15 from 7:00- 10:00 pm at a private home in Santa Monica. The address will be disclosed to registered guests. Cost: $10; visit their website to register.

>>  Heal the Bay is coordinating its fifth annual A Day Without a Bag, which urges consumers to forego environmentally harmful single-use plastic or paper grocery bags in favor of reusable totes. Visit one of the more than 60 Giveaway Locations this Thu., Dec. 15 for a free reusable bag. Cost: free.

>> The Los Angeles Bioneers will be screening the film The Big Fix, the newest documentary from the creators of Fuel. The Big Fix will be screened this Fri., Dec. 16 at 7 pm at the G2 Gallery at 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice. Cost: free. If you want to attend, RSVP to srnichols@mac.com.

>> Cruise into the holiday spirit with C.I.C.L.E.’s 4th annual Holiday Toys and Mittens Ride, which will gather toys and warm articles of clothing for Burbank’s Salvation Army, to be given to local families and children through their Giving Tree. The relaxed-paced, 7.5 mile ride will stop at various sites in Burbank. Join the ride this Sat., Dec. 17 at 10 am at Burbank City Hall, 275 East Olive Ave., Burbank for a fun-filled and family friendly day. Cost: the ride is free, but please bring a toy or article of clothing to donate.

>> Freedom and Fashion, an organization dedicated to educating society about the global issues of modern day slavery, sex trafficking, child labor and human rights violation, is holding a fashion show featuring seven fair-trade lines. The event takes place this Sat., Dec. 17 from 6-10 pm at the Cooper Design Space Penthouse, 860 South Los Angeles Street, 11th Floor Penthouse, Los Angeles. Cost: Ticket prices range from $25-100 and are available online.

>> Join GOOD LA in creating a giant human infographic to attack L.A.’s traffic problem. Currently, 81 percent of Angelenos drive to work. On average, they spend 72 hours of that drive stuck in traffic every year. It’s time to take action. Come out this Sat, Dec. 17 at noon at the intersection of West 4th Street and South Figueroa Street in downtown LA. Cost: free. Be sure to RSVP if you would like to attend.

>> Genetically modified food is in the majority of our food items today. The FDA is allowing these foods to go untested and unlabeled. Culture Club 101 is hosting a GMO Labeling Signature Gathering Training to train people in how to gather signatures in order to put a proposition on next year’s ballot to label foods containing GMOs. The training takes place on Sun., Dec. 18 at 7 pm at Culture Club 101, 30 S. Wilson Avenue Pasadena. Cost: free. Reserve your space on their website.

1 Comments

>>  The Green Living Workshop 101 is a condensed version of the 6 week Green Living Workshop which covers the following topics: water, energy, waste, chemicals, transportation, and shopping & food. Sustainability tools will be raffled off to help participants carry out the solutions discussed during the workshop. Workshop takes place this Sat., Dec. 3 from 10 am – 1 pm at the Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: free, though please register through Eventbrite.

>>  Your banana peels, sandwich crusts, lawn clippings, and coffee grounds are precious resources that can be cycled back into the garden. Come participate in a composting lesson at the Natural History Museum by getting your hands in the mix! Workshop takes place on Sat., Dec. 3 from 1-4 pm at the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: admission to the museum is $12 for adults, $5-8 for children.

>>  Come out to see the documentary “Tipping Point – The End of Oil”, which addresses the largest industrial project in human history – the Alberta Tar Sands.  Speakers and the q&a will address what we can do to help heal the destructive impact of this project and options for an alternative energy economy.  Takes places on Sat., Dec. 6 from 7-10:30 pm at All Saints Church, 132 North Euclid Ave., Pasadena.  Cost: $15 suggested donation.  RSVP to info@burbankgreenalliance.org.

Image retrieved from wilderutopia.com

0 Comments

When we think of children being over worked in fields, we often imagine it happening far away from here, in less developed countries. But today in America 400,000 children are migrant workers. The film, The Harvest/La Cosecha brings to light the conditions these children work in. From executive producer Eva Longoria and the producers of the Academy Award Nominated film WAR/DANCE, The Harvest follows the lives of three children working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The film will be screening on Wednesday, November 16th at 7pm at the California Endowment Center for Healthy Communities. Additionally, author and activist Eric Schlosser, migrant farm worker advocate Jose Padilla, and The Harvest’s executive producer Eva Longoria will be in attendance discussing migrant worker issues.  This event is free and open to the public, but you must RSVP.

0 Comments

>>  The Green Business Network is holding their monthly networking event this week. Refreshments will be served and there will be a raffle and discount certificates for Pepe & Sherina Designs.  Bring any old batteries, cell phones, shopping bags and dry cleaning bags you want recycled.  The event takes place on Tue., Nov. 8 from 6-9 pm at the Working Village, 212 Marine Street, Suite 100, Santa Monica.  Cost: $15 at the door or $10 online.

>>   Come and support the LA premiere of THE BIG FIX, a documentary about the continued damage caused to the Gulf of Mexico by the BP oil spill last year.  The screening will feature a Q&A with the filmmakers and takes place on Sat., Nov. 12 at 12 and 2:30 pm and Sun., Nov. 13 at 12 and 7 pm at the AMC Loews Broadway 4, 1313 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica.  Cost: the price of a movie ticket.

>>  Come out this weekend for the BAGS FOR BNEATO event.  Donated, reusable bags will be distributed along with tip sheets (in English and Spanish) on how to organize your reusable bags so that you always have them when and where you need them.  Come out this Sat., Nov. 12 from 12-4 pm to either the Echo Park Vons (1342 N Alvarado St, 90026) or the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s (2730 Hyperion Ave, 90027).  Cost: free.

>> Update, 11/9/11: This event’s been canceled. CalRecycle invites you to the Santa Monica Pier for a day of outdoor fun and education as they kick-off CalRecycle’s “Check Your Number” campaign.  CalRecycle is offering free parking to visitors who stop to check their car manuals to learn their oil change interval this Sat., Nov. 12 from 10 am – 3 pm.  Cost: free.

>>  Come ride bikes with the mayor of Burbank! The Burbank BikeStop is a high-capacity indoor bike parking facility located at the downtown Burbank Metrolink Station. Ride with the Burbank mayor to the Metrolink Staion for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Mon., Nov. 14 at 10 am.  The meeting point is Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave, Burbank.  Cost: free.

>>  Cornerstone Theater Company continues their first annual “Creative Seeds: An Exploration of Hunger.”  This two-week event has some of LA’s most innovative artists, food activists, farmers, chefs, food critics and thought leaders address the issue of hunger through an artistic lens.  The festival ends on Nov. 20 and events take place throughout Los Angeles.  Cost: some events are free and some have suggested donations.  See website for details.

2 Comments

Looking for recipes that are rich and decadent — both in taste and nutrition? Now you can get how-tos for bringing a whole variety of potent superfoods into your diet — all in one book. Just pick up L.A. chef Julie Morris’ “Superfood Cuisine: Cooking With Nature’s Most Amazing Foods” to get started, fast.

This cookbook’s full of recipes — accompanied by mouth-watering photos — that boost both the yum and health factors with delicious superfoods. Many dishes simply show you how to add on an extra nutritional kick to the dishes you know and love. Lasagna your favorite dinner? Make a Garden Lasagna layered with eggplant and a rich lentil-hemp filling. Can’t live without risotto? Try the Kabocha-Quinoa Risotto with Sage Cream and Sun-Dried Yacon Root.

But “Superfood Cookbook” isn’t just about revamping comfort food favorites. In fact, many of Julie’s recipes cater to the raw-gans — many of whom already consider themselves superfoodies too. Even if you’ve got a bunch of rawlicious dishes under your culinary belt, this cookbook’s worth picking up. Julie’s recipes add that extra touch that turn basic raw dishes into tantalizing concoctions. Thought my raw chia pudding looked a little boring? Now that I’ve tried making the Spiced Chia Porridge (below) in “Superfood Cuisine,” I do too!

The photo doesn’t do the taste justice. This recipe’s base isn’t simple nut milk, but a sweet and creamy blend of cashews, hemp seeds, dates, and spices. Let the chia seeds plump up overnight in this rich shake along with goji and mulberries, and you get a deliciously thick pudding with a complex, nutty-sweet flavor — that’s full of superfruits, omega 3s and 6s, and lots of other vitamins and minerals.

I also loved the Mango & Berry Parfait (below) — A delicious creamy raw vegan tropical delight you could enjoy for breakfast but is really sweet enough for dessert.

Don’t know your chia from your camu camu? That’s fine — “Superfood Cookbook” has got a descriptive pantry list you can refer to at the front of the book, a resources list at the back, and a smattering of FYI facts throughout — all explaining the origins, pointing out health benefits, and offering cooking (or uncooking) tips for superfoods.

Superfood Cuisine‘s available now for $29.99. Want to try making a few dishes before buying the book? Vital Juice has a recipe for raw Maca-Macaroons, and Julie Morris’ own blog has one for Quinoa with Secret Pesto & Sun-dried Tomatoes.

1 Comments

>> On Wednesday, a dilapidated Santa Monica house got transformed into eco-art with an ocean-friendly message celebrating Heal the Bay and other ocean-friendly nonprofits, just in time for Coastal Cleanup Day coming up later this month. The giant street art-inspired piece, made by artists whose work has been featured at MOCA, got bright happy coverage in both LA Weekly’s Style Council and the Santa Monica Mirror.

>> By Friday, the eco-art piece got visits from Santa Monica police and code enforcement. According to LA Weekly’s Informer, “neighbors, apparently not happy with the artwork, called, an area neighborhood resource officer paid the place a visit, and city code enforcement got involved.” Officials apparently want the piece taken down by Monday, though it’s unclear yet what the owners will decide to do.

>> For less controversial ocean-friendly art in Santa Monica, take in an exhibit of photographs from The Daily Ocean blog — written by my friend Sara Bayles, who’s racking up 365 days of cleaning up Santa Monica beach. The reception happens Sep. 17 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm at 1612 Ocean Park Blvd. Cost: Free. Earlier: An interview with Sara Bayles — How to keep cool eco-activist style: Spiff up the beach.

>> Earlier that day, prepare for a morning on the beach because it’ll be Coastal Cleanup Day, when Californians clean up their sandy shores en masse. Select a site near you and sign up for the big day, happening Sep. 17 from 9 am to noon.

Image via Heal the Bay

3 Comments

Many films and TV shows have gone green — adopting eco-friendly practices on set that get them recognized at star-studded events like the Environmental Media Awards. But smaller film industry projects like commercials often don’t take the time or initiative to clean up their practices — since shoots last just days, not weeks or months.

Enter EcoSet. This green-minded North Hollywood business specifically helps to green commercials — drastically reducing waste of all forms at the shoots. Last week, I got to visit a commercial set for Target at Universal Studios — and see EcoSet’s work first-hand.

First thing I noticed: Everyone was carrying around a stainless steel water bottle — bright red ones emblazoned with the Target logo, as you may have guessed! Filtered water stations dotted the set, letting people fill up, plastic bottle-free, with ease — a necessity under the hot SoCal summer sun.

The second thing I noticed: Meals were pretty much zero-waste — with reusable plates and real silverware offered to all diners! Kris Barberg, EcoSet’s account manager, pointed out that food-related trash makes up for the bulk of the waste at many commercial shoots — which made eco-friendlier dining services a must in reducing waste on the set.

For those who had to eat on the go, compostable containers and flatware were available. And the compostables were actually composted, thanks to EcoSet’s partnership with a waste management company that equips the set with special dumpsters. These dumpsters have a middle divider, with compostables on one side and recyclables on the other — a feature I wish was common to all dumpsters.

Of course, making a commercial usually means lots of difficult-to-recycle items left around after the shoot — from fake snow to costumes to the facade of a fake door. That’s why EcoSet has a donations director who works with nonprofits and other local groups to find good new homes for these unique once-used items. Gels and other unused supplies go to film students, props find their way into local theaters, and small knick knacks become craft supplies for local schools.

With those efforts, EcoSet’s reduced the waste at Target’s shoots by a whopping 86 percent, since the two started working together in April 2009!

Now that the waste issue’s been more or less conquered, EcoSet’s looking into other, more challenging eco-moves — like getting eco-friendlier energy to power the set and more organic, local food to feed the crew. These initiatives are tougher, since EcoSet doesn’t get to pick the vendors that Target or other companies work with.

That said, small changes are still happening. In addition to requiring caterers to offer reusable and compostable plates and flatware, EcoSet’s working to set tougher guidelines on eco-friendly food sourcing — an effort that’s helped by the fact that Target topped Greenpeace’s list of sustainable seafood sellers. The goal now is to make sure that any caterer hired for Target’s commercial shoots now also meets that sustainable seafood guideline.

And although a wholesale switch to all green power is some time away, the set did have one super sustainable trailer — a big white vehicle powered mostly by solar power and partly by biodiesel, tricked out with the most energy-efficient appliances, with an interior with recycled materials and FSC-certified wood.

The tour made me realize that a lot of the big green changes sets can make are relatively low-hanging fruit. Reusing water bottles and plates isn’t exactly rocket science, after all. But just as even self-described environmentalists often find themselves getting their to-go lunches in disposable containers — with flatware that, if compostable, often doesn’t actually make it to a composting facility due to lack of city-wide composting programs — simple changes can sometimes be oddly difficult to institute.

And those changes can be especially tough to make when lots of people — not all green-inclined — are involved. I’m glad EcoSet’s working to help green Target’s commercials — and hope that these greening strategies soon become the norm instead of the green avant garde.

Photos from EcoSet

1 Comments

Raw-curious — but don’t know where to start? Pick up a copy of Going Raw: Everything You Need to Start Your Own Raw Food Diet & Lifestyle Revolution at Home. This book’s the best I’ve found that explains all things raw and simplifies a raw lifestyle to a doable level for a raw newbie — while also offering up delicious-looking recipes with tantalizing, full-color photos to inspire and awe the already-converted.

Written by L.A.-resident Judita Wignall, Going Raw begins by covering all the basics, starting with what raw is (and the fuzzy definitions people quibble over) and why raw food can be beneficial. Then she goes on to basic raw kitchen techniques — from picking out a high-speed blender to using a mandoline to sprouting grains.

Then it’s on to the recipes! All the raw basics like green smoothies, juices, and kale salads are covered — as well as more complicated fare — like Coconut-Curry Samosas with Plum Chutney and Spinach-Walnut Pesto and Pignolia Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms! Judita includes raw versions of many comfort food favorites — including Spaghetti Bolognese and Vegetarian Homestyle Chili.

And you won’t have to give up your favorite desserts to go raw with this book either. Just opt for dehydrator-crafted Mexican Spiced Brownies, Ice Box Chocolate chip Cookies, and White Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake instead — a la mode with raw Maple-Pecan Ice Cream!

I gave away my dehydrator and don’t have an ice cream maker — so I haven’t been able to try those desserts. I did, however, make myself a cool Asian Noodle “Stir-Fry” — rawlicious! The tamari-ginger-sesame oil sauce — with a kick of red pepper — made a perfect savory marinade for the juicy shitake mushrooms, fresh organic veggies, and soaked arame. I loved this foolproof recipe, which really included all the steps a newbie might not know to do — like soak the kelp noodles in lemon water first to soften them up and get rid of that “squeaky” texture — a tip I could have used when making Ani Phyo’s Korean Jap Chae.

I plan to try more of Judita’s recipes soon. What I really loved about this book, though, was the down-to-earth practicalness of it. Her tips to make enough salad dressing, hummus, nut milk, and a couple snacks every weekend to last the whole week makes a lot of sense. She advises making flax crackers, raw granola, and raw chocolate in big batches to last a whole month — instead of becoming a slave to the dehydrator.

Judita tells her own raw story — which basically started as an attempt to clear up her skin. Apparently, after a month of going all raw, she lost 15 pounds. After two months, her skin cleared up. Now, after four years of eating raw, she says her tastebuds crave a very simple diet — green juice and fruit before noon, a green smoothie for lunch, a small raw snack in the afternoon, then a green salad or soup for dinner.

That sounds like a rather austere diet to me, but it seems to work for her — and certainly makes eating raw sounds a lot easier. Making a Classic Veggie Pizza by sprouting kamut, mixing it with other ingredients to dehydrate into a raw pizza crust, then blending up pizza sauce, soaking nuts to blend into nut cheese, marinating mushrooms, and cutting up toppings to dehydrate the final creation for three hours before sitting down to dinner seems like a raw deal — but perhaps not if it’s only for special occasions.

Judita’s quick to point out that a 100 percent diet is not right for everyone. In fact, some of her recipes aren’t all raw. The stir fry I made, for example, makes liberal use of toasted sesame seed oil. She emphasizes small raw goals — and setting just one goal at a time to ensure long-term success.

So if you’ve wanted to incorporate more raw food into your life, grab a copy of Going Raw to get started. The softcover book costs $24.99 — and comes with a bonus DVD demo-ing simple raw techniques like spiralizing veggies and blending up nut milk. Want to try a couple recipes before parting with your cash? Judita’s shared her recipe for Mexican Spiced Brownies on her own blog, and Vital Juice has Judita’s recipe for Orange-Chocolate Mousse Parfait.

6 Comments

Have a strong belief in karmic destiny? Then a new book may convince you to go vegetarian. Called “The Compassionate Diet,” this slim volume urges people to consider vegetarian diet — lest they accrue “heavy karmic penalties.”

I picked up “The Compassionate Diet” because it’s written by Arran Stephens, co-founder of Nature’s Path Organic Foods — a company I adore. As a former vegetarian turned ethical omnivore who eats about 95 percent vegan, I thought perhaps this book might convince me to return to vegetarianism or even try total veganism, and opened it with an open mind.

Alas, “The Compassionate Diet” is heavily inspired by Arran’s spiritual beliefs — that are highly unconvincing to an atheist like me. Arran kicks off the book by pushing for lacto-vegetarianism — which he clearly believes to be the best diet. Eating dairy’s just fine, but in his opinion, ovo-vegetarianism is a contradiction in terms. How so? Well, Arran’s best argument is a quote from a “poet-saint” called Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, who argues that even infertile eggs “represent a form of life which cannot fulfill itself” and eating them “stupefies the mind and enflames the passions.” That sounds — scientific!

To attract readers to his version of vegetarianism, Arran spends a big chunk of his book naming famous people who happened to be vegetarians — as proof that the choice didn’t hold them back in their field. As you may have guessed, Hitler does not nab a mention in his roster of star vegetarians. He also devotes a big chunk of the book to linking various religions to vegetarianism — including making a case for why Jesus was really a vegetarian — which also didn’t do much to convince a nonbeliever like me.

When I read Arran’s argument that if people gets sick on a vegetarian diet, they shouldn’t blame the diet but know the illness was caused by other reasons like “karmic destiny,” I actually laughed out loud. His suggestion for avoiding B12 deficiencies on a vegetarian or vegan diet? Eat processed foods manufactured by companies with B12 artificially added in!

Of course, I still agreed with Arran on a lot of issues — from the evils of factory farming to the health problems associated with meat-heavy diets. Those are facts backed up by many studies by environmentalists and health professionals. But as with many pro-veg books, Arran extrapolates from the fact that a diet of mostly plants makes for better health and environment to argue that a diet with no meat (and eggs) is the best choice. He big ups organic farming, but stays mum on how on organic livestock often take a central role in keeping farms sustainable.

As you can tell by now, I wasn’t moved by “The Compassionate Diet.” Still, the book managed to nab jacket quotes from eco-luminaries like Jane Goodall, Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey, and “Diet For a New America” author John Robbins. Want to give “The Compassionate Diet” a read yourself? The book is available now for $17.99.

3 Comments

About this time tomorrow, I’ll be in Detroit — getting off the plane before heading to Dearborn, Michigan, where I’ll learn about Ford’s new green initiatives at the “Forward with Ford” conference put together by the company. So it seemed only fitting that today I found about other green initiatives happening in Michigan — showcased in a new film called “Urban Roots.”

Produced by Leila Conners and Mathew Schmid, “Urban Roots” shows the growing urban farming movement in Detroit — where people are finding ways to feed themselves locally and sustainably during economically turbulent times. Watch the trailer for an inspiring preview.

A few screenings are in the works, but none are in L.A. You can, however, buy the 90-minute DVD for $19.95. Or if you think watching the film will inspire you to finally plant your own urban garden, spring for the $30 “Root Level” package that’ll get you the DVD, three packs of heirloom seeds, plus the happy knowledge your money went to fund farms in schools.

0 Comments