>>  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

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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.

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>>  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.

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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.

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>> 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

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