>> Come out for Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Panel, Gardening on the Farm and in the City. The panel features a master gardener, chef and urban homesteader who will discuss how their gardens grow this Thu., Feb. 9 in the MLK Auditorium of the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: free.

>> 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).

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>> Los Angeles Bioneers is hosting Shannon Biggs who will talk about her work on passing a “Sustainability Bill of Rights” ordinance in Santa Monica, which would strip personhood rights from corporations and give rights to ecosystems instead. Takes place Tue., Jan 31 at 7 pm at G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice. Cost: free with RSVP to srnichols@mac.com.

>> The LA Bicycle Coalition needs volunteers to help count cars parked in the new Spring St. bike lane to provide LAPD with accurate data during the morning and afternoon commutes this Tue., Jan. 31 to Thu., Feb 2 along Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles. Exact times are flexible. Cost: free. Email martin@la-bike.org to volunteer.

>> Do you home-make, home-grow, and/or forage your own food creations? If so, come trade them at the LA Food Swap, next Thu., Feb 9 from 7-9 pm at ReForm School, 3902 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: free with pre-registration. Register now as space is limited.

>> Arcona is hosting a free facial experience with their new mandarin orange brightening peel. Free champagne and brownies from Sweets for the Soul will be served. Enjoy the fun this Sat., Feb. 4 from 12-4 pm at Evolue, 357 1/2 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills. Cost: free with rsvp to info@evoluebeauty.com.

>> The LA County Bicycle Coalition is organizing 3 three different rides for various cycling abilities to the Watts Towers! All rides will reach the Watts Towers, where you’ll get the chance to take a tour if you choose. All rides take place this Sun., Feb. 5. The 49 and 37-mile rides meet at 8 am and ride at 8:30 am, leaving from Dock 52, 13555 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey. The 10-mile ride meets at 10 am and rides at 10:30 am and meets at Jesse Owens Park, 9651 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles. Cost: free.

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- Clyde Butcher photograph via Florida Arts

>> This year, learn how to save money, conserve our natural resources, make your home more energy efficient and save water with Sustainable Works  6-week Green Living Workshop. First day in the workshop series starts on Wed., Jan 18 from 7-8:30 pm at the Santa Monica Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. Cost: free for Santa Monica residents, though there is a $25 suggested donation for the 6 weeks, and $50 for non-residents. Register online.

>> “Exploring Solutions for Sharps” explores sustainable solutions to waste management of household generated sharps (needles and syringes). The workshop brings academics, NGOs, governments, retailers, manufacturers, recyclers and waste management companies together to explore the problem and solutions. Takes place Wed., Jan 18 from 9am – 4pm at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Bob and Delores Hope Conference Rooms A & B, 501 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank. Cost: free with online registration.

>> Celebrate the new year and set your eco-resolutions for 2012 at the 2012 Eco-Resolutions Party hosted by LA Green Drinks, Sustainable Works this Thu., Jan 19 from 7-10 pm at Essentia, 2430 Main St., Santa Monica. Cost: $5 suggested donation.

>> Tree People is hosting a community sustainability workshop on how to plant and prune trees, capture and save water, and attract beneficial pollinators like bees and birds this Sat., Jan 21 from 9 am – 1 pm at their headquarters in Coldwater Canyon. Cost: free. Register online by Wed., Jan 18 to attend.

>> Join the opening reception and artist talk for photographer Clyde Butcher, whose work showcases spectacular images of the Florida everglades and other American wilderness areas. Reception takes place this Sat., Jan 20 from 6:30 – 9 pm and the artist talk takes place this Sun., Jan 21 at 7:30 pm at G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice. Cost: $5.

>> The City of South Gate is preparing a Bicycle Transportation Plan! As the first step, a public forum is being held to hear what the community needs are; for programs, for bike paths, for bike facilities and parking and problems currently faced by those who ride in South Gate and how to make the community safer and more bicycle friendly. Everyone is welcome, and childcare will be available. Takes place this Sat., Jan. 21 at 10 am at the South Gate Senior Center, 4855 Tweedy Blvd, South Gate.

>> Join local homeowners, community leaders and solar experts for complimentary refreshments and an exciting announcement about new funding to put solar panels on up to 3,000 residential rooftops in key markets including Los Angeles County this Sat., Jan 21 from 2-4 pm at the PermaCity Solar Showroom, 5570 West Washington Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: free with online registration.

>> Please join the CicLAvia South LA Host Committee for an exploration ride for extending CicLAvia through South LA. Free bike maintenance will be available from the Bikerowave as will a training on how to use one’s phone during a bike ride to promote public cycling efforts. Roll out this Sun., Jan 22 from 10 am – 2 pm. Meet at Augustus Hawkins Natural Park, 5790 Compton Ave., Los Angeles. The ride ends at Watts Towers. Email Tafarai@trustsouthla.org for any questions. Cost: free.

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>> 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.

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>> Santa Monica Bike Center opens this Friday! Pedal over to Colorado Ave. and 2nd St. to check out the full service spot with bike valet, bike rentals and repairs, and even showers and lockers for members.

>> The Downtown Burbank Metrolink Station got a Bike Stop. According to Metro’s The Source, “the new unattended facility features 40 bike parking stalls, a bike repair stand and small classroom area.”

>> Metrolink’s added bike cars! These are “passenger railcars outfitted with space for at least 18 bicycles.”

>> L.A.’s got a new bike sharing program — as part of Occupy LA. Local biketivist Roadblock, who set up the program, says “If Occupy LA is to achieve some of the most important goals of the movement, people are going to have to learn to reduce their oil dependency – the very addiction that keeps our country involved in endless foreign wars.”

>> Two new studies link bikes and money. One study published in Environmental Health Perspectives says bicycling in cities can save billions, while another study by an urban planning student shows better bike infrastructure can mean increased sales for local businesses.

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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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>>  If you’re starting a business related to the “green” marketplace, including urban farming, or if you have a business idea that addresses other environmental or social justice issues, come out for a green and social business entrepreneur orientation today, Tue., Nov. 1 from 3-5:30 pm at the USC Credit Union Community Room, 3720 S. Flower Street, 1st Floor, Los Angeles.  Cost: Free. Space is limited, RSVP to info@lending4change.com.

>>  Join the Sierra Club, along with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy to hear about a program through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that aims to create jobs, reduce LA’s dependence on coal and save residents and businesses money on their utility bills.  This happens Thu., Nov. 3 from 6 – 8 pm at the Iman Center, 3376 Motor Ave, Los Angeles.  Cost: free.

>>  Siptea, Living by Lynne Leventen & Unatti Foundation are hosting a hot tea and tea cocktail sampling party and clothing drive to benefit the local Planet Aid, so bring clothes to donate!  This is an LA Green Drinks event. There will be a gift basket raffle, with proceeds going to the Unatti Foundation.  Come out on Thu., Nov. 3 from 7-10 pm to 1627 Montana Ave, Santa Monica.  Cost: free.

>>  Folk Art Bike Rides is riding through Historic South Central LA to celebrate CicLAvia’s extension into South LA.  The ride will conclude by feeding into the Free the Streets fundraiser party.  Come ride on Sat., Nov. 5 at 10:45 am at Mercado La Paloma, 3655 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.  Cost: the ride is free and the fundraiser is $10.  RSVP for the ride to rsvp@cafam.org.

>>  Hold Up Art presents TRASH, a group exhibition featuring the work of nine emerging artists.  With an emphasis on art that’s been created on repurposed and found materials, TRASH is as much about the environment as it is about the free-to-own vibe of contemporary street art.  The opening reception takes place on Sat., Nov. 5 from 7 – 11 pm at Hold Up Art, 358 E. 2nd Street, Los Angeles.  Cost: free.

>>  Cornerstone Theater Company presents the 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 first day of events is on Nov. 7.  Cost: some events are free and some have suggested donations.  See website for details.

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>> Los Angeles could get parklets! Happy Park[ing] Day, everyone! Good news — those mini parks popping up at a parking space near you could become permanent, sort of. LA Daily News reports: “Los Angeles officials announced an effort today to create mini public park spaces downtown and in Highland Park.” (via LAist) Earlier: Los Angeles is park poor compared to most large cities.

>> Finally, Los Angeles may ban plastic bags — and paper bags too! “Under the L.A. proposal, stores would be permitted to give away or sell only reusable tote bags, or risk a fine,” reports the L.A. Times. An exemption would be made for small plastic bags meant to keep raw vegetables and meats separated from other groceries to prevent cross-contamination.” A plastic bag ban is already in effect in unincorporated areas of L.A. County and a handful of nearby cities like Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach. Earlier: Styrofoam and the City: The fate of plastic bags and polystyrene in LA.

>> L.A.’s got a new 2.2-mile bike path down 7th Street, running from Catalina to Figueroa. Happy riding! Earlier: 7th Street to get a bicycle-friendly makeover.

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In case you haven’t heard yet: L.A. cyclists raced against a JetBlue plane from Burbank to  Long Beach over the weekend — and the two-wheelers won by over an hour. Even more interestingly, public transit taker (and also a cycling advocate) Gary Kavanagh beat the plane too. So did a tweeting woman on rollerblades!

Clearly, fighting traffic to the airport, making it through security, and relying on a cab driver to know the way is not as efficient as traveling across town in more eco-friendly ways. Slate has the unofficial finish times, calculated by @bcgp:

Bike: 1:34
Metro/Walk: 1:44
Rollerblades: 2:40
Plane/Lost Cabdriver: 2:54

For those new to the story, Slate’s Tom Vanderbilt provides a nice comprehensive article on what went down — and waxes lyrical about the possibilities of cycling and public transit in the city:

In the face of this fanciful idea (a traffic-busting flight!) it became possible to demonstrate that cycling, often taken as a non-serious or marginal or even annoying (to some drivers) form of transportation in the United States, could seem eminently reasonable: not only the cheapest form of transportation, not merely the one with the smallest carbon footprint, not only the one most beneficial to the health of its user, but the fastest….

But the race today wasn’t only about the cyclists. Gary Kavanagh*, who had reacted enthusiastically to my initial daydreaming about a “Tour de Carmageddon,” was the day’s dark horse, revealing the secret efficacy—and perhaps, for some remote Twitter spectators, the existence—of Los Angeles’ oft-derided subway system. (When I thought of a cyclist racing a jet, I admittedly wasn’t even aware one could take mass transit between BUR and LGB).

Many Angelenos who weren’t even aware of this race talked about how the freeway closure actually made for quite the pleasant weekend. KPCC’s Molly Peterson picked up on this tweet from L.A. County’s public transit agency Metro:

That’s one big idea — and GOOD asked for more this morning by kicking off a new project: “Imagine Your Los Angeles Street Beyond Cars.” Submit your best car-free vision by Sunday, July 31 for a chance to get it seen at the A+D Museum on Thursday, August 11 during the Moving Beyond Cars party. One winner will get GOOD goodies and other prizes. RSVP for the party now to find out who the winner is then.

Earlier:  Without a Car in the World: See 100 Car-free Angelenos

Photo by Michael Dorausch

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>> Cyclists to race JetBlue plane from BUR to LGB. That’s right: A bicycle racing team called Wolfpack Hustle will be racing a man taking a plane (Joe Anthony, who happens to be an avid cyclist himself). Both sides will go from Burbank to Long Beach, the route for which JetBlue offered $4 rides during Carmageddon. How the race came into being via Twitter‘s a pretty interesting read — and the race itself should be interesting to follow on Twitter.

>> Cyclist Will Campbell‘s organizing The Autocalypse Now Ride, “a 47-mile route that will begin and end at the Happy Foot/Sad Foot sign at Sunset Boulevard and Benton Way in Silver Lake.” The ride begins Saturday, July 16, at 9 am.

>> Ride your bike and eat real food too. Join L.A. County Bicycle Coalition’s free guided group ride to the sustainable foodie event Eat Real Festival! Meet at the corner of Wilshire and Western at 10:30 am on both Saturday and Sunday to ride along.

>> No, you can’t ride your bike on the 405 this weekend. As LAist puts it: “There’s no sex in the champagne room, and the LAPD would like you to know that there will also be no bike rides allowed on the 405 during Carmageddon.”

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