Want a garden of your own — but don’t have a backyard to convert? Long for a spot in your local community garden — but remain stuck on a long waiting list? On Sat., Sep. 25, you’ll have a chance to get your garden on — no plot of dirt required! That day, hundreds of Dig Ins will be happening around the country for would-be gardeners and locavores that want to get their hands dirty.

These events are organized by Slow Food USA, a nonprofit pushing for a more sustainable food system that gets people more connected to — and drawing more pleasure from — the food they eat. If you’re ready to Dig In, find an event near you on Slow Food USA’s website. You’ll get to do some good old fashioned work in a local garden — before indulging in a celebratory meal to cap the day.

So far, the only L.A.-area event listed is a Slow Food Pasadena Dig In (email mzboray@la.chefs.edu for more details). But more events are getting listed every day — and I know of at least one relevant westside event Dig In!-esque that’s not yet listed. That’s the Median Makeover Merriment, featuring architect Mark Lakeman of City Repair fame. This community building and beautification project will get you prettifying a median by planting, painting, and even cob structure building. Then, all participants will get to indulge in a free lunch. Be there on Sat., Sep. 25 from 9:30 am to 4 pm at the intersection of Dudley Ave. and Main St. in Venice. For more info, email Francis Delavecchia at francis@joyfulactivist.com.

Of course, if you’ve got a garden that could use some hands-on love, organizing your own Dig In can be a great way of getting free gardening help! Sign up to start a Dig In on Slow Food USA’s website, provide the details, and prepare for the arrival of volunteers on Sep. 25.

Image via Slow Food USA

1 Comments

Walk into the Pasadena Museum of California Art, and you’ll think you’ve entered into an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure type exhibit. At the entrance, you’ll be greeted with a question on the floor — “Where does it go?” — and an invitation to “play the decision game.”

That “game” is actually just one piece featured in California Design Biennial: Action/Reaction, which brings together a curated collection of designs created in California — in industrial design, fashion, graphic, transportation and architecture. “Where Does It go?” is an installation designed by Indhira Rojas and Ellen Keith aimed to educate people about recycling and composting — and many other pieces at Action/Reaction also have green aims behind their designs.

At the opening reception last Saturday, eco-fashionistas admired Koi Suwannagate’s recycled vintage cashmere haute couture (above) and Calleen Cordero’s greener footwear and accessories, handcrafted in North Hollywood out of recycled wood, veggie-tanned leathers, and mostly locally-sourced materials. (more…)

0 Comments

>> Don’t forget it’s Bike Week L.A. means fun events on two-wheels all week for Angelenos, from the blessing of the bikes to bike to work day.

>> Bike Week Pasadena means rides, films, parties, and even a museum exhibition. There’s free nibbles and drinks at many of the events too! The fun happens all weekend, from May 20 to May 22, all over Pasadena. Glendale‘s celebrating bike week too.

>> Remember those environmentalists that kayaked down the L.A. River to prove it was navigable? Watch them on film at the preview screening of Rock The Boat — then hear from the kayakers themselves on Fri., May 21 from 7:30 pm to 10 pm at Los Angeles Eco-Village, 117 Bimini Pl., Los Angeles.

>> Santa Monica got the Bronze Award from the League of American Bicyclists a year ago, and now cyclists are planning to bike toward Platinum status with a Bronze Anniversary Ride. Meet on Sat., May 22 at 10 am at 1744 Pearl St., Santa Monica, to bike to the iCycle Event, an all day event with workshops on safety, repairs and maintenance — plus demos, entertainment, and more happening from 10 am – 4 pm at the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

>> Watch a screening of the eco-documentary Your Environmental Road Trip — about a “one-year, 50-state video documentary road trip to explore and personalize sustainability across the United States” — and hear the filmmaker Mark Dixon afterwards — then enjoy a wine and cheese reception. The presentation begins Sat., May 22 from 3 pm at Occidental College, Johnson Hall 200, 1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles, followed by the reception begins at 5 pm. Cost: $20. RSVP required online using ID (1355189) and Password (greenlagirl).

>> Save the whales with Greenpeace, who’ll be protesting the proposal to allow commercial whaling to resume. Join the rally on Sun., May 23 at 11 am at Palisades Park, on Ocean Avenue, by the Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica.

>> Don’t miss The Last-Hurrah Malibu Public Beaches Safaris — because they’re free, and you don’t even have to RSVP! Find out how to to find and use the the 20 miles of public beaches that are lined with private development. Pick from one of three mini tours happening Sun. May 23 — at 9 am, 11:30 am, and 2 pm, then get thee to the public beach accessway between 22140-22126 Pacific Coast Highway. Earlier: Malibu Public Beach Safaris: Why activists should chill on the beach this summer.

Image via metro.net

0 Comments

Earth Day ends at midnight — so I hope you’ll take advantage of the many Earth Day events happening in Los Angeles today — and nab some free Origins skin care products for your recycling ways too.

Then enjoy more eco-friendly Earth Week events over the weekend:

>> Pasadena’s Greening the Earth Day Festival (PDF) will feature entertainment from local bands, an interactive drum circle, dancers, children’s activities, educational info about the city’s greening efforts, eco-friendly vendors, and a guided bike tour of the city’s green facilities and projects organized by C.I.C.L.E. The free event happens Sat., April 24, from 10 am to 4 pm at Memorial Park, Armory Center for the Arts, and on Raymond Avenue between Walnut and Holly streets.

>> Sign up for the Fight For Air Climb and challenge yourself to climbing Aon Center’s 63 flights of stairs — and raising funds to benefit the American Lung Association. The climb begins Sat., April 24 at 9 am — though climbers will begin at staggered times. Cost: $25 registration — plus a pledge to raise at least $100.

>> Get your hands dirty at Treepeople’s Coldwater Canyon Park Volunteer Work Day/Earth Day and enjoy free music and food while volunteering. The cleanup happens Sat., April 24 from 9 am to noon. RSVPs are required as the cleanup might get full!

>> The FREE Whole Children Whole Planet Expo 2010 will celebrate Earth Day with free workshops about sustainable living practices, non-toxic products, organic foods, yoga and more at an all-ages event. Be there on April 24 from 9:30 am – 6 pm at Highland Hall Waldorf School in Northridge.

>> Guerilla gardners who love music and the Metro are invited to Rock ‘N Crawl, an all-afternoon event that lets you greenify the area around Metro red line stops while listening to great local bands. Grab your gardening tools to start digging on April 24 at 1 pm at the Universal City Metro Station, then get on the train to ride down to more digs all afternoon! The after party happens at 7 pm at Bar 107. Cost: $15 online or $20 on the day — which gets you a reusable water bottle filled with a thirst quencher.

>> 93.5′s Devi Dev will host the Global Coolin’ Earth Day Block Party, featuring live performances by Dom Kennedy, El Prez, Overdoz,, Kingpen Slim, Black Cobain. The day-long event, put on by Broccoli City, LAXPaperBoys, and a number of eco-groups, happens Sat., April 24 from 11 am to 8 pm at Margo Studios, 1354 Margo St, downtown Los Angeles. Cost: $5 from 11 am to 2 pm, and $10 from 3 pm to 8 pm for the indoor concert.

>> For eco-art, head over to see ReVisions/10 and EartH. Watch a billboard-sized art piece by Leeann Goya, painted on a recycled vinyl billboard, get unveiled over Eco-LA Gallery at 8 pm, then see the gallery show featuring local artists working in recycled and upcycled media. There’ll also be eco-art demos, music, libations, green accessories for sale, and EartH (Eco Art Helps) an exhibit of art on recycled billboard, created by the youth of Los Angeles. The free event begins April 24 at 7 pm at Eco-LogicalART Gallery, 4829 West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles. Earlier: Eco-LogicalArt turns old billboards into eco-art.

>> Take the 100 Gardens Challenge and pledge to plant your own edible garden during the weekend of April 24 and 25! I took this challenge last year — and I’m proud to say that my year-old chard plants are still going strong (though the basil died really fast and the lettuce barely grew). Help transform L.A. into an edible oasis over just one weekend by planting that garden.

>> Want a unique green gift for Mother’s Day? Stop by the 2nd Annual UNIQUE LA Spring Show to pick from the wares of over 300 hand-selected designers and artists. There’ll be an eco-lounge, free workshops, and lots of shopping. The shoe goes on Sat., April 24 and Sun., April 25 from 11 am – 6 pm on both days at the California Market Center’s Penthouse, 110 East 9th St., Los Angeles. Cost: $10, which includes a free drink and a tote bag.

>> Head over to the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase and take a self-guided tour on foot or by bike to see 79 pretty, eco-friendly gardens that save water — and money on utility bills. The free event happens on Sun., April 25 and is open to all; a map will be posted closer to date.

>> Celebrate Earth Day with Eco Maya (PDF) by enjoying folkloric dances, music, art, and Oaxacan and Mayan regional food. The event happens Sun., April 25 from noon to 7 pm at the Los Angeles Eco-Village, 117 Bimini Pl., Los Angeles. (via Garcetti’s blog)

>> For kid-friendly green fun, go to STAR ECO Station’s Children’s Earth Day. The FREE event will feature celebrity guests, live performances, rescued exotic wildlife, environmental , eco-friendly giveaways, games with prizes, vegetarian food, and more — with optional $5 STAR ECO Station tours running throughout the day. on Sun., April 25 from 10 am – 4 pm at STAR ECO Station, 10101 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City.

>> Catch 2 free eco-foodie documentary film screenings, thanks to the Whole Foods’ Earth Months film series and challenge, “Let’s Retake Our Plates!” On Sun., April 25, watch No Impact Man at 12:30 pm and Food, Inc. at 2:30pm. Both screenings will take place at Beverly Hills Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive; Beverly Hills.

Image via City of Pasadena and LA Guerrila Gardening

0 Comments

Nearly 10% of L.A. County residents need food assistance — yet perfectly good food gets thrown in dumpsters around our city every day — which has environmentalists and freebie seekers alike dumpster diving for free food.

Freeganism’s not new news anymore — but a film about freeganism is! It’s called Dive!. Watch the preview’s below (via MNN):

Dive! is screening in L.A.-area venues this month:

>> Thurs., March 11 at 7 pm Conscientious Projector screening at Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. FREE.

>> Sat., March 13, 6:15 pm at the 15th Annual International Family Film Festival, Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets cost $10 each.

>> Mon., March 15 at 7:30 pm as part of 7 Dudley Cinema at The Talking Stick, 1411 Lincoln Blvd., Venice. FREE.

More screenings will happen in April and May, if you can’t make these. I like the idea of freeganing, but I tend to be very afraid of food-borne illnesses, since recalls even on food still on supermarket shelves seem to happen every month. The L.A. Times recently reported that food-borne illnesses really cost you:

A new consumer research report released Wednesday has found that the health-related costs of food-borne illnesses total $152 billion a year, including the costs of medical bills, lost wages and lost productivity.

Get ill and you could end up spending a lot more than you saved on your freegan food. So to freegan more safely, read Leah Koenig’s dos and don’ts of dumpster diving.

Freeganing not adventurous enough for you? Try being a frugan — a frugal vegan, according to one Katherine Fairfax Wright, who dumpster dives for her animal-product-free eats and resells salvaged trashed goods at a profit. She blogs at Frugal Living.

Earlier:
>> Dumpsters get popular: Freegans and junk yard tours
>> Book Review: The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved

2 Comments