Aug 21: Green Drinks on Local Foods

Green Drinks! Join the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, the East End Food Co-op, and Three Rivers Bioneers in celebrating local and regional food at Six Penn Kitchen for this month's Green Drinks. Lots more details can be found here.

5-9 p.m. at Six Penn Kitchen, 146 6th Street, 15222.

Aug 12: Sierra Club on Wind Energy

The Allegheny Group Sierra Club's monthly public meeting will feature a point-counterpoint on energy from wind.

Supply and demand... the economists are right; we can increase the supply of alternatives, or we can decrease demand. Amory Lovins used to say (and probably still does!): “Conservation is the answer. What was the question?” The question this night is on the supply end: what is the role of wind power in PA? We’ll have a representative of GAMESA, the huge Spanish firm building wind turbines within the Allegheny Group's boundaries in Ebensburg, explain their point of view. Their presentation will be followed by Patty DeMarco, PhD, formerly Executive Director of the Power Facilities Evaluation Council of Connecticut dealing with such issues as nuclear power plant safety, energy conservation, and clean fuels technology, also a Commissioner of the Alaska Regulatory Commission, with jurisdiction over all electric, gas, water, refuse utilities and oil and gas pipelines. She is presently head of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, and she will present a wide-ranging look at the relative impacts of wind and other energy sources.

7:30-9 p.m. at the Phipps Garden Center (5th & Shady Avenues in Squirrel Hill). Conversation and refreshments to follow the presentations. For more information, email Donald L. Gibbon.

Aug 1: Schwartz Market Extavaganza

Schwartz Market at 1317 East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's historic district of South Side will be hosting an extravaganza rejuvenation event on Saturday, August 1, 2009, from 10:00AM -1:00PM. Schwartz's is introducing local and natural foods into our local market and we are all very excited!

Sweetwater Cooking School will be doing a cooking demonstration using foods that will now be available at the market and Building New Hope, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization, will be giving away samples of their organically certified (OCIA), shade grown coffee from worker owned farming cooperatives in Latin America. Schwartz's will be carrying the coffee too! Eat, drink, and support this local market that has been serving South Side since the 1920's!

Special thanks to the South Side Local Development Company, Sweetwater Cooking School, Building New Hope, Pennsylvania Resources Council and Mark Perry.

Please spread the word, and be sure to join us at 1317 East Carson Street on August 1 between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM! Come brainstorm with us. We are looking for ideas to make the market better and better!

Whether or not you can make it to the event, please consider taking this very short online survey.

For more information, contact Elisa at ElisaBeck@aol.com .

Jul 27: Edible Flower Workshop

Edible Flower Workshop -- Learn how to make a beautiful edible flower salad with citrus dressing and use flowers to garnish your summer desserts! This workshop, to benefit the Green Millenium Children's Garden, will include a presentation on edible flowers, a short Q&A session, information on where to obtain edible flowers in Pgh, and a resource list for those interested in learning more about edible flowers.

The event will also include a light summer buffet:

Edible flower salad

Nasturtium & chive cream cheese sandwiches

Edible flower decorated no bake chocolate cake
Various herbal ice teas

7-8 pm at the Hoi Polloi Vegetarian Cafe and Coffeehouse, 1100 Galveston Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Workshop fee of $15 includes food, and is a fundraiser for Green Millennium Childrens' Garden.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Laura Winter (alias the Garden Lady) at lauradwinter@gmail.com or 412.779.6151. Please RSVP by Sunday, July 26, so that we can have enough seating and flower edibles available.

Jul 27: Bioneers Mondays with STARTUP!

Supporting a local living economy... Join the 3 Rivers Bioneers and STARTUP! for a Monday of Local Economy. STARTUP! is a newly forming social enterprise school that is embracing the concept of a sustainable local economy. 6 pm at GTECH's office, 214 N Lexington Street, North Point Breeze (next to Construction Junction). The event is free, and refreshments will be served, thanks to support from The Sprout Fund. Spread the word, bring a friend, and see you on Bioneer Monday!

Jul 24: Deadline for GASP photography exhibition

Green Eye on Western Pennsylvania: a juried photography exhibition to benefit GASP. The deadline for entries is July 24, 2009 -- digital photos can be submitted by email. The exhibition opens on September 11, at the Coca Café in Lawrenceville. Full information is on the web, here.

Jul 18: Summer Farm Tour

It's time for the Buy Fresh Buy Local Summer Farm Tour, a behind-the-barn look at local food.

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture wants you to connect with local farmers offering the best in healthy, sustainably raised foods. FARM TOUR will help you to appreciate the important role played by growers in your community, while offering fun, tasty and memorable experiences along the way! Take the tour: FARM TOUR costs only $10 PER CARLOAD for a day pass to visit any of the participating farms! Select a route from our online, interactive map of participating farms - FARM TOUR MAP - Print maps with directions will also be available at each farm that you visit. Load up your family and friends! Simply pay $10 at the first farm you visit for your day pass and visit as many participating farms as you'd like! The Farm Tour is suitable for visitors of all ages! All farms open, rain or shine! Suggested Routes: Jefferson County Sampler - Head out to Paradise Farms & Gardens and learn about goat milking and sample goat cheese. Next, visit Quiet Creek Herb Farm's shiitake mushroom farm, take a self-guided nature tour and don't miss the salves and tinctures in the gift shop. Southwestern PA Loop - Start at Triple B Farms for berries, south of Pittsburgh and then swing by Morris Organic Farm for pick-your-own and wheat flour grinding demonstrations with antique farm equipment, finally heading over to Jamison Farm in Latrobe to visit their world famous lambs! Airport Loop - Head out past the PGH Airport to Wild Rose Farm where they'll be demonstrating indigo dyeing and spinning and skirting fleeces. Then, don't miss Janoski Farms Country Market, chock full of locally canned and preserved goodies, finally swinging by Bocktown Beer & Grille for a wonderful and local meal in Robinson Township; you can even try to win a Bocktown gift certificate at Wild Rose Farm! Zelienople Breeze - Visit Kretschmann Organic Farm and Alpacas at the Little Brick Barn and Lewis Family Beef Farm all on the same road; plus don't miss nearby Brenckle's Farm & Greenhouse! Slippery Rock Area - Visit Ron Gargasz Organic, Grass-fed Beef Farm, renewable energy systems at Slippery Rock University's Macoskey Center and don't miss nearby Three Sisters Farm and Pasture Maid Creamery quesos! Route 910 Special - Start at Soergels & Shenot, head east to Dillner & Harvest Valley Farms; make a quick detour South to check out Mish Farms Meat Market and end at Pounds' Poultry Farm for tasty samples and discounts on local meat products. TOUR TIPS: Bring your cooler! Eggs, meats, cheeses, milk, fruit and veggies will be available for purchase! Come with questions?? A farmer is the best person to ask about how to cook a kohlrabi! Start with the understanding that due to the time needed for travel and visits, you may only be able to visit 3 or 4 farms. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat to keep off the sun, and clothes that can get a little dirty! Wash your hands after you touch any animals! Make sure kids wash their hands too! Remember that you are a guest on the farms, which are also residences. Please be courteous! Participating Farms: Jamison Farm 171 Jamison Lane Latrobe, PA 15650 Triple B Farms 823 Berry Ln Monongahela, PA 15063-9526 Morris Farm 110 Slebodnik Road Irwin, PA 15642 Dillner Family Farm 9 Spring House Lane Gibsonia, PA 15044 Harvest Valley Farms 125 Ida Lane Valencia, Pa 16059 Mish Farm 80 Oak Road Gibsonia, PA 15044 Pounds Turkey Farm 4200 Melwood Rd Leechburg, PA 15656 Shenot Farm 3754 Wexford Run Road Wexford, PA 15090 Soergel Orchards 2573 Brandt School Road Wexford, PA 15090 Paradise Farm & Gardens 2771 Paradise Road Reynoldsville, PA 15851 Quiet Creek Herb Farm 93 Quiet Creek Lane Brookville, PA 15825 Janoski Farm 714 Route 30 Clinton, PA 15026 Wild Rose Farm 2412 US Route 30 Hookstown, PA 15050 Macoskey Center 247 Harmony Road · Slippery Rock, PA · 16057 Pasture Maid Creamery 571 Cow Path Lane New Castle, PA 16101 Ron Gargasz 129 Old Ash Road Volant, PA 16156 Three Sisters Farm 134 Obitz Road Sandy Lake, PA 16145 Lewis Family Farms 258 Zeigler Road Rochester, PA 15074 Brenckle's Farm and Greenhouses 768 Glen Eden Road Zelienople, Pa 16063 Kretschmann Farm 257 Zeigler Road Rochester, PA 15074 Alpacas at the Little Brick Barn 327 Zeigler Road Rochester, PA 15074 The 2009 Buy Fresh Buy Local FARM TOUR is sponsored by Turner Dairy Farms, the East End Food Coop and Kretschmann Organic Farm. All proceeds benefit PASA. For more information about PASA's Western Regional Buy Fresh Buy Local Summer Farm Tour, please visit www.BuyLocalPa.org.

Jul 17: Green Drinks with Gardenalia

This month at Green Drinks, Gardenalia gardeners and designers will talk about their experiences designing and implementing garden plans, teaching, consulting, and being dedicated to supporting the sustainability of the natural systems in our soil and the plants grown for beauty and food. Come and ask the Gardenalians about vegetable gardening, edible landscaping, native landscaping, and green roof maintenance.

5-9 p.m. (presentation at 6pm) at Arsenal Bowling Lanes, 212 44th & Butler, in Lawrenceville (412-683-5992). For bus routes, check out http://www.portauthority.org .

For more information, email pittsburghgreendrinks@gmail.com .

Jun 29: Bioneers Monday on Biomimicry

Bioneers Monday with a talk by the author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature

Join us for the latest Bioneers Monday - as we look at nature to see how we can be more sustainable.

We'll be watching a speech by Janine Benyus, the author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Those who put her words into action at a local level will be leading the evening: Barton Kirk of SEEDS (www.ecoseeds.org), Nathan Wildfire of East Liberty Development, Inc, and hosted at Conservation Consultants, Inc's facility. The hosts have promised fun, hands-on activities and discussion! All are welcome, and as usual, there will be lively discussion and light refreshments!

6 p.m. at CCI Center - 64 South 14th Street (on the Southside). RSVPs are appreciated - email Maureen at mocopeland@gmail.com or call 412-334-2072

Jun 21: Happy Solstice!

Happy Solstice to all!

Jun 19: Green Drinks on green condos

This month's Green Drinks will be hosted by Ben & Amy Bonham, developers of eLane, a "Green Condo Community at the Edge of Urban Living."

Green development represents the fastest growing segment of the residential real estate market today.

Bonham Asset Mgt. LLC, founded in 2002, began making plans in 2007 to pursue a green solution to develop a strategically located infill lot acquired in 2005. The site, four blocks from Carnegie's Main Street, five blocks to I279, one block from mass transit and five miles from downtown Pittsburgh, thoroughly met the criteria for green urban renewal.

Identifying affordability, extreme energy efficiencies, environmental sensitivities and universal design as four key elements, Ben & Amy Bonham designed a single floor living environment that showcases a forwarding thinking green condominium community at the edge of urban living.

Relying on cost control strategies learned in their residential property rental business, the E Lane @ Carnegie project pairs common sense with available energy and resource saving technologies/products to deliver a "smart-home" that features incredible energy savings (Energy Star certified) combined with low ownership costs while being supportive of a lifestyle compatible with all life phases. As leaders in the affordable green residential market, Bonham Asset Mgt. LLC continues to refine their product in the interests of sustainability while staying far ahead of inevitable energy and resource cost increases. Bonham Asset Mgt. foresaw the future of green urban renewal and the future could be E Lane www.elane.biz.

Please come for some green conversation and a tour of Pittsburgh's newest affordable green condo community.

5-9 p.m. at the Cefalo night club www.clubcefalo.com at 428 Washington Avenue, with a 4-block excursion to the condos at 826 Washington for a tour by Eco-associates Coral Stengel and Jim Dix. Appetizers compliments of Howard Hanna. Port Authority Bus Routes: http://www.portauthority.org For more info, pittsburghgreendrinks@gmail.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is Green Drinks?
Every month, people who work in the environmental field or have in interest in a greener planet meet up for drinks at places all around the world at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there's always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network.

These events are simple and unstructured. Make friends, develop new ideas, do deals and forge a new organic future. It's a force for the good and we'd like to help its spreading to other cities. Green Drinks meets on the 3rd Friday of each month from 5:00 - 9:00 PM...or later!! Put it in your calendar and count on it: Green Drinks is happening every month.

Save the Dates: July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18 http://www.greendrinks.org/

May 24: Rachel's Sustainable Feast

May 24:  Third Annual Rachel’s Sustainable Feast, sampling the best of western Pennsylvania.  An annual street fair outside the birthplace and home of scientist and author Rachel Carson in Springdale, promoting local, sustainable foods, products, services and organizations that help make our region one  of the “greenest” in the country.  The Rachel Carson Homestead Association (RCHA) started the event in honor Carson's centenary in 2007, to help more of the public to find out about the many sustainable, 'green' resources right in their own back yard. Rachel Carson spent the first half of her life in the Allegheny valley before going on to set in motion the modern environmental movement.  With all these

terrific farmers, chefs, advocacy groups and green vendors, there's a lot to celebrate, and to show the rest of the country.  The greater Pittsburgh region demonstrates clearly how a post-industrial area can turn into one of the hottest green regions in the U.S.

Western Pennsylvania has one of the biggest concentrations of sustainable agriculture in the country, and this one-time secret is beginning to gain recognition.  There are thousands of farmers who value the soil and future generations through practicing organic and sustainable agriculture, countless chefs who support these farmers by purchasing and serving fresh, local produce and a dedicated group of environmental and conservation groups who work to protect our land, air and water.  Another exciting development is the growing number of small start-up businesses that are producing “earth-friendly” products and services. The Feast is designed to celebrate these assets and bring them together with the people who live here.

To further emphasize the sustainable message of the Feast, the RCHA is working with AgRecycle this year to compost the entire event.  In addition, event-goers can save $2 off the ticket price by bringing their own water containers.  There will be water dispensers and compostable cups on site, but plastic bottles will not be provided.  More than 60 million plastic bottles are thrown away each day in this country. The Earth Policy Institute, an independent, nonprofit environmental research organization, estimates that making bottles to meet the U.S. demand for bottled water requires more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel one million cars for a year. There are also potentially harmful substances in some of the plastics.  One of them is called Bisphenol A (BPA) which is an endocrine disruptor that has been shown to leach into bottled water even at room temperature.  Because of the special composting exercise with AgRecycle, people will be asked to take any bottles, cans or non-Feast generated garbage with them.  The RCHA is also challenging visitors to travel to the Feast in as sustainable a manner as possible.

Rachel Carson’s environmental ethic embodies living in harmony with nature, preserving and learning from natural environments, minimizing the impact of man-made chemicals on natural systems of the world and considering the
implications of human actions on the global web of life.  These guiding principles are applied when inviting chefs and exhibitors to Rachel’s Sustainable Feast. 

Included this year are more than 13 local chefs who source their ingredients from local farmers and artisans.  They'll include Eric Wallace of Lidia’s Italy, Keith Fuller of Six Penn Kitchen (who’ll be joined by Steve Salvi of Fede Pasta), Kevin Sousa of Salt of the Earth, Trevett Hooper of Legume Bistro, James Gray of Dozen Bake Shop, Michael Barnhouse from Brillobox, James Lynch from Phipps Café, Jordan Kay of Enrico Biscotti, Kevin Hunninen of Point Brugge Café, Paul Bates of Cura Hospitality, Terry Geracia and Rick Carrillo from Parkhurst Dining Services, as well as food served by Whole Foods Market and East End Food Coop.

Other activities at this year’s Feast include:
·     Venture Outdoors will have its climbing wall onsite.
·     Dr. Nancy Gift of Chatham University will be signing her new book A Weed By Any Other Name, (Beacon Press 2009), which discusses landscape naturalization.
·     Pennsylvania Resources Council will hold a composting class during the afternoon. Pre-registration and pre-payment through PRC is required.
·     Children’s activities will be organized by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
·     Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy will hold an 8-mile mini-hike along the Rachel Carson Trail ending at the Feast.  Pre-registration through RCTC is required.  Rachel Carson Mini-Trail hikers will be able to attend the Feast for free.

Pre-registration for Rachel's Sustainable Feast is required, and can be done online.  Ticket prices are $10 general admission ($2 off for bringing your own water container); children under 6 get in free.  In honor of Memorial Day Weekend and our military families, Veterans also get in free.

The event will run from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.  

Rachel’s Sustainable Feast organizing partners are Eat ‘N Park Hospitality Group, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Slow Food Pittsburgh and Whole Foods Market.  Major sponsorship is provided by the Dominion Foundation.  Media sponsorship is provided by WDUQ 90.5 FM, WYEP 91.3 FM and Allegheny
Front Radio.  Rachel’s Sustainable Feast is a signature event of the Pittsburgh Great
Outdoors Week.  Visit www.wallsarebad.com for more information.

May 20: Rain Barrel/Watershed Awareness workshop

May 20:  Rain Barrel/Watershed Awareness workshop.  Learn how to harvest rainwater from your roof and divert it for on-site usage in the landscape.  Attend a rain barrel workshop and return home equipped (with everything except the 55-gal. drum) to assemble and install a retrofitted rain barrel. It’s easier than you might think.

6:30-8 p.m. at CCI Center on the South Side;  $30/person or $40/couple.  Call 412-488-7490 ext. 247 to register.  More information and other events at  http://www.prc.org/community_watershed.html.

May 20: Town Hall Meeting - Transitioning to a Green Economy

May 20: Town Hall Meeting - Transitioning to a Green Economy. Repower America will be hosting an informational town hall meeting on the transition to a Green Economy. Panelists will include representatives from labor, local business, the environmental movement and more. 

7:00 PM at the Bloomfield Garfield Community Activity Center, 113 N Pacific Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa 15224

 Please call Paolo at (347) 263-5967 or email paolo.cozzi@climateprotect.org for more information.

 

May 18: Bioneers Monday -- Legacy Arts Project

May 18: Bioneers Monday with host the Legacy Arts Project.  Expect to see some amazing performances: a video screening of Bioneers' Sarah Crowell and Destiny Arts, and some phenomenal local artists live - Amir Rashidd (The Legacy Arts Project Resident Storyteller), and a crew of African drummers! 

6 p.m. at the Bedford Hope Center, in the Hill District (here's a map).  

For questions or to RSVP, please contact Maureen at mocopeland@gmail.com or 412-334-2072

May 16: Hard to Recycle collection event

May 16:  Hard to Recycle collection event in Lawrenceville.  This event will offer residents the opportunity to recycle items like electronics, tires, CFLs, batteries, cell phones, and ink and toner cartridges.  With CCI's new partner Global Links, they'll also be taking medical supplies such as crutches, canes, and walkers!

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Allegheny County Health Department offices in Lawrenceville (39th and Penn Avenue).  Fees apply for some items.  More information on this and other events at http://www.prc.org/community_collections.html .

May 11: Air, Heart, and Lungs

May 11:  Air, Heart, and Lungs:  Making the Connection.  Did you know that while the Pittsburgh region has the same rate of asthma as the nation, use of emergency services by local children with ashtma is 300-400% above the national average...  and that diesel exhaust can increase the risk of heart disease?

Join GASP, Dr. Fernando Holguin (nationally renowned asthma researcher at the Pediatric Environmental Medicine Center) and Dr. Donald Grandis (cardiologist at the Jefferson Regional Medical Center) as they examine how air pollution in the Pittsburgh area affects respiratory and cardiovascular health.  

7-9 p.m. at the Imagine Environmental Charter School at 829 Milton Street in Regent Square (15218);  Free and open to the public.

May 2: Trip to the Strip!

May 2:  Trip to the Strip!  Please Join the Southwestern Air Quality Partnership at an event featuring featuring alternative transportation options to demonstrate how you can save money and help preserve your health and the environment.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.;  23rd Street & Penn Avenue in the Strip District.  Free food and entertainment.

More info is on this flyer.

May 2: Roll Beyond Coal Event

May 2:  Roll Beyond Coal Event.  Roll from Washington’s Landing to Point State Park to show your support for a clean energy future that will stimulate economic growth and move us beyond Dirty Coal’s harmful legacy.  Join the Sierra Club for a fun event to launch the local Beyond Coal campaign!  They'll be gathering on Washington’s Landing near the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Offices and “Rolling” down the river trail to Point State Park for a press Conference with Mary Anne Hitt, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal” Campaign as well as representatives from the Center for Coalfield Justice, the Environmental Integrity Project, and some special surprise guests. Bring your roller skates, skateboard, bicycle or anything that rolls on human power to be part of the action and tell Pennsylvania’s Governor to stop new coal facilities. 

Meet by 10 a.m. at the upper parking lot on Washington’s Landing;  the press conference will be in Point State Park.
You can RSVP via Facebook (and join the local Sierra Club group if you haven't already) at 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=80841440665
Questions: randy.francisco@Sierraclub.org

May 2: "Making Whiteness Visible" film showing

May 2:  Film showing:  “Mirrors of Privilege:  Making Whiteness Visible” followed by a  discussion led by Dr. Avis Ellis. 
 
The film shows by testimony and example how situations pertaining to employment, housing, social interaction, education, finance, etc. develop with different results depending on the color of the skin of those involved.
 
9:30 a.m. to noon at the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church at 11110 Resaca Place, at the corner of North Ave. and Resaca Place on the Northside;  free and open to the public (donations suggested).  For information, call  412-661-7149.  Sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church.