>> Come engage in a discussion on community land trusts and intentional housing communities. Learn about how housing can be made affordable and environmentally sustainable through community ownership of the land they live on. This is the first of this year’s Friends Peace Dialogue series by the American Friends Service Committee. Come out this Thu., Feb. 9 at 7 pm to 634 S. Spring St., 3rd Floor, Los Angeles. Cost: free.

>> Recycle old fabrics, deconstruct old clothes, turn something old into something new! Learn how to make scarves bags and other items from old t-shirts at a Valentine’s Day DIY Workshop, this Thu., Feb. 9 from 3:45-4:45 pm at the Santa Monica Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: free.

>> CicLAvia is hosting a Valentine’s party! Bring your Valentine – or meet a new Valentine there! There will be live music and djs, speed dating (open to all orientations and genders!), auction, swag and more! Come party this Fri., Feb. 10 from 7-10 pm at Atwater Crossing, 3245 Casitas Avenue, Los Angeles. Cost: free, but bring money for eats and treats.

>> Do you have a strong interested in becoming trained in home food preservation (such as canning, pressure canning, freezing, drying, pickling and fermenting)? Want to share this knowledge with the public? The University of California Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce the spring 2012 class of the LA County Master Food Preserver program. The application deadline is this Fri., Feb. 10 at 5 pm. Cost: free to apply online, $120 for the complete program (scholarships available).

>> This week’s Green Garden Academy topic is Lawn Be Gone (part I). Learn tips for safe lawn removal, choosing plants to replace lawn and plants for parkways this Sat., Feb. 11 from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room of the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: free.

>> Join Culver City’s mayor and the Culver City Bicycle Coalition each Monday morning to explore Culver City and beyond, by bike! Meet this Mon., Feb. 13 at 8 am at Sid Kronenthal Park by the covered tables, near the community room, 3459 McManus Ave., Culver City. Cost: free.

>> Join Heal the Bay and Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District at a gathering to recognize work done thus far to build sustainability into local schools by parents and others and that will focus on considering how to ensure institutionalized sustainability in local schools. Takes place on Mon., Feb. 13 from 7-9 pm at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica. Cost: free.

>> On the second Tuesday of every month, you’re invited to the only pure networking event for owners and decision-makers of LA’s green businesses, hosted by the Green Business Network (GBN). Delicious organic snacks, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. GBN events are recycling points, so bring any old batteries, phones, or newspapers you need recycled. Join the fun next Tue., Feb. 14 from 6-9 pm at DIRTT (Doing It Right This Time) 9014 Lindblade St. Culver City. Cost: $10 when you prepay online, $15 at the door (space permitting).

[Update, 9/22/11: Apparently, this program has expanded by leaps and bounds! Now, all multifamily complexes in Culver City are included in the program, and many more bins -- which happen to be those gigantic, 3-cubic-yard bins -- are available. So if you live in an apartment or condo anywhere in Culver City, get yourself a big recycling bin now!]

Back when I started this blog, Angelenos living in multifamily residences had no city recycling program. Today, the City of L.A. offers blue bins to apartment dwellers — and the state of California may even start mandating recycling services at multifamily residences.

While we wait to see that happen, Culver City residents can take advantage of a newish free recycling program. Live in a condo or apartment complex in the Fox Hills area of Culver City? Then just sign up to get a free recycling bin, free pick up service — and maybe even free promo items like mini bins and totes to help you sort recycling within your home!

The one catch: You have to get your property owner or manager to say yes, since multifamily residences aren’t required to provide recycling services (which is why California’s looking into mandating this in the future). That said, since the service is all free, your landlord or manager might be quite inclined to sign up and feel good about providing an extra service for tenants and doing good for the environment — without spending a dime.

Act now, because Culver City’s foray into multifamily residence recycling is still just a pilot program. That means only 200 recycling bins are available, and those bins are only available to those in the Fox Hills area — a neighborhood with many multifamily residences where many people already support recycling.

Ideally, all 200 bins will be snapped up before the program ends at the end of this year — because if this pilot program’s successful, it could expand to the rest of the city. Find out more by visiting Culver City’s recycling program page — then email Paula Combs at pcombs@sga-inc.net today to start recycling!

Photo by Dan McKay

>> The Green Fair L.A. promises 200+ eco-vendors, a food court, live music and entertainment, a speaker stage, and eco-fashion show. The day-long event happens Sat., July 30 from 9:30 am to 6 pm at 300 W. 22nd St., Los Angeles. Cost: $5.50 online, $7 at the door.

>> RakSa’s Youthful Living 1st Community Health Fair will feature workshops on youth, diet, and beauty — all with an eco-friendly bent. Hear from speakers like eco-boutique Evolue owner Jean Seo and holistic healers from Raksa. There will also be mini facials, Ayurveda, reflexology, acupuncture, and hypnotherapy treatments — plus complimentary organic and vegan sweet treats. It all happens July 30 from 11 am to 4 pm. Cost: Free with RSVP to info@RaksaSala.com or 310.559.7200. Earlier: Raksa: Explore everything from Tai Chi to tarot in an eco-friendly space.

>> Unique LA’s 1st Annual Summer Show will let you shop for all sorts of handmade products, many made with upcycled, reclaimed, or otherwise sustainable materials and ingredients. The two-day event happens July 30 and 31 from 11 am to 6 pm both days at The Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. Cost: $10.

>> Want streetcars to return to downtown Los Angeles? Metro’s community update meeting for the Restoration of Historic Streetcar Service in Downtown Los Angeles Project will let you know the latest info on potential routes. That happens Tue., Aug. 2, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm at Caltrans, 1st Floor Conference Room 100 S Main St, Los Angeles.

Love organic coconut oil as much as I do? You can get a full massage with the delicious stuff at Advanced Bodywork and Massage. There, holistic health and fitness practitioner Paula McGinness uses only pure, organic coconut oil for her intense, hands-on work — making for a rich, sweet-scented, and soothing experience.

Lately, I’ve been having some extra back pain — thanks to too much time in front of the computer and not enough yoga. So when I read Paula’s extensive and impressive bio, I jumped at the chance to try a postural assessment and eco-friendly massage for review. Paula’s no regular masseuse. Yes, she’s certified in shiatsu from the Tao Healing Arts Center and Swedish massage therapy from the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing — but she’s also certified in the more woo-woo sounding neurostructural bodywork from the Kali Institute for Massage and Somatic Therapies, where she also picked up Rolfing and Hellerwork to integrate into her massages.

That means that a massage with Paula is no regular massage. Yes, there’s the usual relaxing kneading, but Paula’s bodywork’s a lot more intense. She bent, stretched, and twisted my body to relieve tensions, instructed me to breathe into her deep, Rolfing-esque prodding, pinched skin and muscles into relaxation — and even cracked some bones! The deep, interactive session ended with a luxurious scalp massage — which had the extra bonus of moisturizing my hair with coconut oil.

Before the massage though, I got a postural assessment — which basically let me see the small habits that are causing my back pain. Paula snapped photos of my posture (above’s one), and even took a little video of me walking — then explained what I’m doing wrong. Apparently, my right hip is really tight, which is contributing the pain in my back — and perhaps even my left knee. Paula made suggestions to stop practices that could be contributing to the pain — and since she knew I did yoga, encouraged me to spend more time in pigeon and warrior poses. I left with instructions to visit her friend and fitness coach Kurt Elder’s website, which has at-home stretches and exercises for pain relief. I’ve since been doing these seven stretches for desk workers every day!

Paula works with many of her clients long-term, who seek her out to relieve pain sans drugs — so they can again enjoy doing sports and other activities that they thought (or were told by doctors) were no longer possible. I plan to become a long-term client. In the meantime, I’m taking very seriously Paula’s advice to learn to relieve my own pain at home — I’m already sitting up straighter, being more careful about my posture — and feeling extra motivated to kick my yoga practice into high gear again, since the seven stretches I’m doing are basically all included in any good yoga class.

Want Advanced Bodywork and Massage to massage away your pain? Neuro-Structural Bodywork starts at $50 per half hour ($40 for a basic massage).

Advanced Bodywork and Massage. Culver City. 310.403.1608. paulam09@msn.com. Call or email for appointment and address.

>> Didn’t know we had companies drilling for gas and oil right here in L.A.? Yes, yes we do. Watch Oil of L.A. to see what lies beneath The Grove and the Beverly Center.

>> One of those companies is Texas-based Inglewood Oil Field . That oil company promises to clean up its act in Culver City — after getting sued by local groups. I’m guessing this was a hard-won fight, but the deal doesn’t sound so great to me. We’re talking 500 new oil wells — plus fracking, potentially. According to the L.A. Times: “Although the oil company has yet to engage in hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking,’ the agreement requires the company to determine the effects that the extraction technique could have on the surrounding area.”

>> California delays its carbon-trading program until 2013. “The cap-and-trade program, championed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a centerpiece of the state’s landmark effort to cut planet-warming gases to 1990 levels by 2020. It accounts for a fifth of the planned cuts under the state’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act.”

What do Rachelle Carson Begley of “Living With Ed” , eco-fashion designer Karen Brown of Stewart+Brown, and raw food chef Ani Phyo have in common? They all spoke at the Women of the Green Generation conference this weekend. In fact, all three notable green women were on the same panel!

Green women in L.A. and beyond collected at the Marrakesh House in Culver City last Saturday for this second annual conference, which brought together established businesswomen, green actresses, and eco-curious newbies alike. In contrast to the many other green conferences out there, Women of the Green Generation’s schedule was filled entirely with women speakers — who hosted panels ranging from marketing your green business (I was a speaker on that one) to mothering green.

Plus, inspiring speakers — like Zhena Muzyka of Zhena’s Gypsy Tea — took the stage, and side “Ask the Experts Form” workshops allowed conference-goers to ask specific questions to experts in various aspects of green business in intimate groups.

Some of the panel topics were a tad vague and felt a bit like preaching to the choir. But for the most part, the conference was an inspiring event. And of course, if a panel or speaker didn’t interest you, you could go sample snacks at the many eco-friendly booths of foods and products, try on eco-fashions, and even get free mini facials and massages.

Most of all, the conference allowed for a lots of great socializing and networking — which got me feeling re-energized and re-invigorated by the good green vibes from other women. My favorite part of the event? Re-connecting with Karen Stewart, who outfitted me in one of her deep purple hemp jersey Nile Tank Dress for the event.

The next Women of the Green Generation conference won’t come around for another year, but the networking group holds monthly salons with speakers, eats, and treats. Get on the email list to find out more about those as they come up.

Earlier: Women of the Green Generation: Eco-business networking for L.A. women

But first, about the event. The Women of the Green Generation conference is an all-day affair, featuring not only the usual speakers and panels, but also eco-spa treatments, an “ask the experts” forum, a mini eco-expo of sorts featuring green goods, short eco-films, and more. Plus, attendees organic food and drinks all day — including a light breakfast, a lunch catered by Large Marge Sustainables, and a closing reception.

This is one green event where women take the center stage. Speakers include raw food chef Ani Phyo, author of “Gorgeously Green” Sophie Uliano, Rachelle Carson Begley of “Living With Ed” fame, Zhena Muzyka of Zhena’s Gypsy Tea, and many others — like myself!

When: Sat., May 14 from 10 am to 7 pm
Where: Marrakesh House, 6310 Tompkins Way, Culver City
Cost: $35 in advance, $50 at the door.

I’ll be on the 11 am panel titled “Marketing 911 – What you don’t know could hurt you,” which will tackle marketing techniques for green businesses, with an emphasis on social media strategies. Other panelists are Venice’s Whole Foods Market marketing director Kelly Layne, Tracy DiNunzio of Recycled Bride, and Susan Neisloss of Working for Green. Susan Emmer of Farmacy Agency will moderate.

Hope to see you there!

Earlier: Women of the Green Generation: Eco-business networking for L.A. women

Photo by CarbonNYC

That was back in 2005. Cut to 2010 — Last Saturday, Dave ponied up $4,500 to be first in line watch the sequel, The Revenge of the Electric Car!

Dave was the winning bidder for a private advance screening of The Revenge of the Electric Car, the big live auction item featured at the pro electric-car nonprofit Plug-In America‘s fundraiser party on Saturday — held at the home of Chris Paine, director of both Revenge of and Who Killed?, no less! Amidst a few hundred EV fans, some of whom were featured battling GM in Who Killed the Electric Car?, Dave (below, with mic) took the podium after his winning bid to talk about General Motor’s second chance — both as an EV-maker, and as a company.

Luckily, Dave was in a forgiving crowd. The name of the Chris’ forthcoming sequel aside, the talk among the fundraiser attendees was about redemption, not revenge — and the cars featured on the party lot included the Chevrolet Volt — as well as the Nissan Leaf, E-Tracer, Ford Focus BEV, Coda, and Tesla.

I know not all green transportation advocates, many of whom advocate for thinking outside the car altogether, are in love with EVs — especially really fancy EVs like the Tesla that are unaffordable and impractical for most and create “The Story of Stuff” type, excess of consumer culture worries. This is why many EV fans embrace the entry of the more affordable options that make electric vehicles a viable option for the general public. The idea is that if you can’t get rid of your car altogether yet, at least seriously consider an all-electric one. And in fact, one Plug In America member got recognized for reuse, picking up a “High Mile Award” for driving his electric Toyota Rav4 for more than 200,000 miles!

Attendees also got to see the preview for Revenge of the Electric Car, coming to theaters in Spring 2011. The preview won’t be released online until closer to the debut of the film, but curious fans can get updates from the film at the Revenge of the Electric Car blog.

Do you think you’ll be getting an electric car?

Top photo via Plug In America; bottom photo by Siel

>> Rose Bowl Green Expo will feature speakers, green exhibitors, and workshops on environmental topics. Be there Fri., July 23 from 10 am to 6 pm at The Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena. Register online.

>> Join me to Walk and Ride for a Safer 4th Street! Organized by the L.A. Bicycle Coalition, this event highlights efforts to turn 4th Street into a bike boulevard. The bike ride starts at 10 am from Pan Pacific Park, the walk starts at 10:30 am from 4th and Normandie and ends at Shatto Park, 3191 W. 4th St., Los Angeles — where free refreshments will await all participants.

>> Find handmade gifts and items at the FREE 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair. You’ll get to shop from more than 250 indie crafters, take advantage free workshops, and enjoy entertainment. The fair happens Sat., July 24 and Sun., July 25 from 11 am to 7 pm both days in Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N Spring St., Los Angeles. Earlier: On Spring: Organic cafe with locally-grown eats in L.A. State Historic Park.

>> After a 2-month break, EcoTuesday is back! Go meet fellow green businesspeople on Tues., July 27 starting at 7 pm at M Cafe de Chaya, 9343 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Earlier: EcoTuesday: Green business networking with a structure.

Like green LA girl’s Facebook page to learn about more fun green parties, sales, and events happening in the L.A. area!

Image via bravenewvoices.org

Last week, I finally got to practice Qigong — at Raksa in Culver City. In fact, thanks to Raksa, I’ve also gotten to try TaiChi and Feldenkrais Movement in the last month. That’s because Raksa offers a full schedule of movement classes — all in a roomy, peaceful studio featuring bamboo floors and low VOC paints.

A variety of yoga classes make up most of that schedule, but Tai chi, Qigong, and Feldenkrais movement classes are also offered, letting anyone easily try out these techniques without signing up at a school dedicated to the specific practices.

In many ways, Raksa’s like a one-stop-shop for all alternative wellness practices. In addition to the movement classes, the Culver City spot also has a macrobiotic cafe and offers eco-friendly salon services. Plus, Raksa also offers a long list of “energy” and “mind” services, ranging from the I-want-to-try-it acupuncture sessions to the I’ll-keep-an-open-mind-about-it reiki and hypnosis sessions to I-think-it’s-bullshit astrology readings and “past life regression” sessions. The services are offered by 30 different practitioners in the upstairs rooms — painted in corresponding chakra colors.

“All these things helped me at different times in my life, ” says Apinya Pokachaiyapat, Raksa’s founder, “and you want different things at different times.” Apinya — who has degrees in math, civil engineering, documentary filmmaking, and creative writing in addition to a yoga teacher certification — says Raksa seeks to offer people an alternative to western medicine that addresses all areas of wellness in a non-threatening, try-what-you-want sort of environment.

Many visitors come in for a simple yoga class or a therapeutic massage, but for those seeking a total package, Raksa offers a private evaluation and health consultation. For $100, you get a 2-hour consultation with Apinya and Lucien Demaris, a Feldenkrais practitioner and nationally certified bodyworker — to tackle anything from addiction and trauma to a simple desire for improved wellness. Together, the three of you will create a wellness package that “will encompass how you eat, what you do, kind of give a holistic approach in supporting you to get to your goal,” according to Apinya. That could combine everything from an ayurvedic diet plan to taichi classes to therapeutic massages to cranial sacral unwinding.

Don’t need or can’t afford a personalized plan? Then take advantage of the individual movement classes at $10 – $15 each — and the many different workshops offered at Raksa, which really run the gamut — from an “E&P Relation Workshop taught by a hypnotherapist to “The Psychotherapy of Yoga” taught by a clinical psychologist with a PhD. Those workshops usually cost $35 each, but free intro to yoga and Tai Chi workshops will be taught on Sat., July 11. Call to RSVP!

Raksa. 10846 Washington Blvd., Culver City. 310.559.7200.