>> Want a CSA box delivered to your door? Now we’ve got an option that’s more local than Farm Fresh to You. CSA California’s just started a delivery service to Westchester, Culver City, Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Downtown, Burbank and the Valley. Prices range from $30 to $50, depending on the size of the box. Earlier: CSA California: Local farm in a bag.

>> Love slow food — but still haven’t signed up as a member of Slow Food USA because Whole Foods took your whole paycheck? Scrounge up the change in your couch because Slow Food USA’s offering pay-what-you-can memberships this month. Just join during September and a donation of any amount will give you a one-year membership — with all its yummy benefits and privileges.

>> Fancy yourself a pie maker? Enter KCRW’s 3rd Annual Good Food Pie Contest by today, Sep. 12, at 5 pm — then get baking! The contest happens Sep. 18 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the L.A. County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. If you’re among the first 100 contestants to drop off their pies on the big day, you’ll get a free Emile Henry pie dish. Not much of a baker? Just attend the big event — It’s free and tasty.

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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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>> New bag ban in Santa Monica. Since the beginning of this month, plastic bags are banned in big Santa Monica stores — and recycled paper bags cost 10 cents each. Earlier: Got extra reusable bags? Drop them off at Santa Monica’s Share A Bag spots.

>> New bicyclist anti-harassment ordinance. The city of L.A.’s ordinance went into effect yesterday, which means “physical assault or attempted physical assault, threats of physical injury, intentional distraction and forceful removal from street” of cyclists are now officially prohibited.

>> New CicLAvia grants. Got an idea how to take CicLAvia to the next level as a gigantic urban street fair? Win a $500 grant to help turn that idea into reality. The next CicLAvia happens Oct. 9. Earlier: What is CicLAvia?

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>> LAUSD’s getting rid of it, but the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School district voted to keep flavored milk in school cafeterias.

>> Say bye bye to shark fin soup. LA Times reports that a shark fin ban’s cleared a key California Senate committee.

>> Trees or wine? A couple California wineries want to chop Redwoods to make room for pinot noir vineyards. Environmentalists say no to pinot. I vote for the trees — LA Times’ article reports on California wines’ “glut of inventory.”

Photo of a typical school lunch by Ben W.

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>> Get a reusable bag already. Burbank and Laguna Beach are the next cities expected to ban the disposable plastic bag. Earlier: Styrofoam and the City: The fate of plastic bags and polystyrene in LA.

>> Ditch the blowdry. The girls at No More Dirty Looks are throwing down The Summer Hair Challenge: “Some time in the next week, when you get up in the morning, shower, shampoo and condition your hair using nontoxic natural products, comb it when you get out of the shower, and that’s it. No leave-ins, no heat. Once it’s dry, send us a pic.” That’s pretty much how I “do” my hair every day, so I’ll just need to snap a pic and send it in by Aug. 21. Yes, there’s a prize involved. Earlier: Book review: No More Dirty Looks — Get pretty by ditching ugly chemicals.

>> Milk the raw food debate. In case you haven’t heard, Rawesome — the Venice food club that hooks locals up with raw milk and other raw goodies — is in big trouble with the government. In Grist, David Gumpert writes “last week’s multi-agency assault on Rawesome Food Club in Venice, Calif., marked the first time individuals associated with a food club or a small farm had actually been thrown into jail, in this case charged with 13 felonies and misdemeanors, and held on high bail (requested between $60,000 and $130,000).” Read the whole article to see how the foodies are fighting back. Earlier: Farmageddon: Raw cheese (and other eco-foodie) debates hit the big screen.

Photo by Kate Ter Harr

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