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Sep 26: Green Drinks at EECO Center
Sep 24: Beyond Tunnel Vision goes local
The Pittsburgh Region Goes Green: Community Benefits from Local Green Infrastructure Projects
After a summer break, the Clean Rivers Campaign's "Beyond Tunnel Vision" Speaker Series is back. This month, we are focusing on the Pittsburgh Region! Throughout the series, the Clean Rivers Campaign has brought experts from other regions to talk about their green infrastructure projects. Now, it is time to hear from our local communities! Come learn about the projects that are happening in Etna, the City of Pittsburgh, Homestead/Munhall/W. Homestead, Millvale, and more. Join us to learn how these local investments are helping to solve our water quality challenges AND bring great benefits to our community!
In the Pittsburgh Region, we often hear people saying, "We can't do green infrastructure here. The slopes are too steep. We get too much rain. We have clay soil..." and so much more! But the truth is - We CAN do green infrastructure here AND people are already doing it! We have challenges, but we also have opportunities. In regions all over the country and here in Pittsburgh, people are meeting these challenges with creative, sustainable, green solutions that provide great benefits to the community!
Municipal and Community Leaders will share information about local green projects and their benefits with a reception, presentations and Q&A - with an introduction by Councilman Bill Peduto.
We love to highlight local successes! If you have a poster you'd like to share about your successful green infrastructure project, contact us!
Reception (with food and drinks) at 6:00 pm; presentations begin at 6:30 pm at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church Social Hall, 116 North Highland Avenue
Get more details (including a map) and RSVP here:
Join us on September 24th at 6pm to learn how the Pittsburgh region is making green infrastructure a reality! RSVP today!
Sep 21-22 & 28-29: Forest Gardening workshop
Forest Gardening Intensive: Imagine a lush backyard where you grow your own fruit, nuts, flowers, greens and perennial vegetables! Learn how the plants that you grow can provide all of the soil fertility, pest control and weed control to meet your garden’s needs. Visit local examples of forest gardens for inspiration and ideas. Learn planting techniques and maintenance strategies with hands-on practice. In this four-day, intensive workshop you will learn how to garden like nature with stunning, tasty results.
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. each day at the Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park and local sites. $150 Phipps members, $165 non-members. For more information visit here, email gtilove@phipps.conservatory.org, or call 412/441-4442 x 3925.
Instructor Bio: Juliette Jones studied sustainable agriculture and permaculture design at Slippery Rock University. She has worked with Permaculture experts Dave Jacke and Darrell Frey, teaching courses on Edible Forest Gardening and Permaculture Design, and taught the Growing Sustainably Lab for Chatham University’s Food Studies program. Notable design experience includes design and installation of Pittsburgh’s first food forest in Hazelwood, demonstration gardens for Phipps Conservatory and an edible garden for the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
Sep 20-22: Mother Earth News Fair
Bringing the magazine to life: the fourth Mother Earth News Fair at Seven Springs!
MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine has been helping folks live self-reliant, sustainable, meaningful lives for more than 40 years. With an audience of more than 3 million readers worldwide, it is the largest and longest-running environmental lifestyle magazine on the planet. The MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIRS are fun-filled, family-oriented sustainable lifestyle events that feature dozens of practical, hands-on demonstrations and workshops from the leading authorities on: Renewable Energy, Small-scale Agriculture, Gardening, Green Building, Green Transportation and Natural Health.
In between sessions, you can enjoy an array of entertainment options, organic local food and beverages, as well as outdoor gardening and livestock demonstrations. Plus, save on great deals from dozens of regional and national vendors that feature sustainable lifestyle products and services, including: books, tools, seeds, crafts, organic foods, clothes, solar gadgets and more! Check out our list of speakers and workshops.
The inaugural Fair was held in September 2010 at the beautiful Seven Springs Mountain Resort southeast of Pittsburgh. More than 9,000 people participated in nearly 200 workshops, countless demonstrations on cheese making, beekeeping, building electric and wood-burning cars, seed saving, preserving and pickling, bread baking, meat processing, choosing solar power ... the list goes on and on. Click here for testimonials from our exhibitors, sponsors and fair attendees!
Check out our YouTube video channel and the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR Blog. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real time updates, special contests, and promotions
Our second FAIR of the year will be held in Seven Springs, Pa., Sept. 24-25, 2011, at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Nestled in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania and located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland and Washington, D.C., Seven Springs is a full-service resort featuring a complete conference and exhibit center, a 418-room hotel and nearly 1,200 condominiums and townhomes.
Lots more information at http://www.motherearthnews.com/fairIn between sessions, you can enjoy an array of entertainment options, organic local food and beverages, as well as outdoor gardening and livestock demonstrations. Plus, save on great deals from dozens of regional and national vendors that feature sustainable lifestyle products and services, including: books, tools, seeds, crafts, organic foods, clothes, solar gadgets and more! Check out our list of speakers and workshops.
The inaugural Fair was held in September 2010 at the beautiful Seven Springs Mountain Resort southeast of Pittsburgh. More than 9,000 people participated in nearly 200 workshops, countless demonstrations on cheese making, beekeeping, building electric and wood-burning cars, seed saving, preserving and pickling, bread baking, meat processing, choosing solar power ... the list goes on and on. Click here for testimonials from our exhibitors, sponsors and fair attendees!
Check out our YouTube video channel and the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR Blog. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real time updates, special contests, and promotions
Our second FAIR of the year will be held in Seven Springs, Pa., Sept. 24-25, 2011, at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Nestled in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania and located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland and Washington, D.C., Seven Springs is a full-service resort featuring a complete conference and exhibit center, a 418-room hotel and nearly 1,200 condominiums and townhomes.
Sep 19: Moving People Forward Summit
Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place 2013: Moving People Forward Summit
You are invited to join the City of Pittsburgh and Project for Public Spaces to chart the course for a more walkable, bikeable, and active city/region by taking part in Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place 2013: Moving People Forward summit. Regional leaders and national experts will gather on Thursday, September 19 at Carnegie Mellon University to discuss how to improve regional mobility by better biking; how to improve neighborhoods and individual health by better and safer walking; and how activate Pittsburgh’s public spaces through Placemaking. We will start at 9 am; Mark Gorton, social entrepreneur and founder of Streetsblog, will keynote lunch; and afternoon breakout sessions will wrap up by 4:30 pm. You won’t want to miss the post-summit bike tour.
More info and online registration here: Pro Walk/Pro Bike: Pro Place 2013 Meeting
Sep 18: Keep Animals Off Drugs! kickoff event
Food and Water Watch’s Pittsburgh Kick-Off Meeting for Keep Animals off Drugs!
Factory farms across the country pump animals with drugs to make them grow faster, leading to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten the effectiveness of drugs we rely on to save lives.
Right now, we have a unique opportunity to stop this reckless abuse of antibiotics. The PARA bill, which was just introduced to the senate, could end factory-farm misuse of these life-saving drugs. We need Senator Casey to champion this bill and the common-sense idea it represents: the life-saving properties of antibiotics should be preserved for people, not squandered for corporate profit. Together we can show Senator Casey that Pittsburgh wants him to step up.
So please join us at our kick-off meeting on September 18th, 6:30pm. Find out more about the campaign and what you can do to help. With your support, we can stop factory farms from compromising the antibiotics we depend on!
6:30pm at the Carnegie Library's East Liberty Branch (130 S Whitfield St) RSVP HERE to let them know you can make it, and bring a friend! (MarensNote: that link isn't currently live; if that's still the case when you try, you can also contact Áine Sweetnam for more information.
Sep 16: Education talk
Important lecture on public and private education by Diane Ravitch -- all the details are on the Yinzercation blog.
Free and open to the public; 6 p.m. at Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill (5505 Forbes Ave, 15217). Doors open at 5.
Free and open to the public; 6 p.m. at Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill (5505 Forbes Ave, 15217). Doors open at 5.
Sep 15: Sustainability Salon & Sing: Community Solar
We all know that renewable energy is a vital part of the many solutions needed to avert climate catastrophe and reduce pollution. Expanding solar photovoltaic generation at many different scales will help smooth the transition to a post-fossil-fuel world.
The 20th Putting Down Roots Sustainability Salon & Sing next Sunday, September 15th will be on the topic of Community Solar -- how to enable more people to participate in generating and using renewable energy, even where individual homeowners or businesses lack good roof access, sun exposure, or initial funding. We'll talk about the logistical, legal, and financial aspects of different approaches, what's already happening in Pennsylvania and around the country, and how we can create a community shared solar installation here in the 'Burgh. We'll discuss the regulatory framework in PA, and several possible models from cooperative nonprofits to corporate partnerships. A small group has been meeting to learn the ropes and lay the groundwork, and at this Salon -- in addition to our usual fascinating educational presentations and conversations -- we hope to gather more interested Pittsburghers to work toward making it happen!
Speakers will include PennFuture's Evan Endres; Joel Thomas (joining us remotely) and Greg Winks (live and in person) of Community Energy; local solar installer Ian Smith of Energy Independent Solutions, and Sharon Pillar, president of SUNWPA (the Solar Unified Network of Western Pennsylvania). Alexander Dale, executive director of Engineers for a Sustainable World, and Mark Dixon of YERT fame will moderate the ensuing discussion. And we are happy to have John Hanger -- former DEP Secretary, former PennFuture president, former PUC commissioner, and former public advocate, and currently in the running to replace Tom Corbett as governor of our Commonwealth. He'll be able to speak about his environmental platform and listen to participants' concerns (as Bill Peduto did in April), and can also talk about the PA regulatory framework and how he as governor might improve it -- for renewables in general and community solar in particular. We'll figure out the timing relative to the other talks once we know his schedule.
3-10 p.m. at Maren's house in Squirrel Hill. Please don't arrive before 3pm; we usually introduce speakers beginning around 4pm after folks have had a chance to meet, mingle, and tour around an interesting and productive urban permaculture site. Please email me to RSVP (important for yesses and maybes, please do so each time -- it helps greatly in several ways. Among other things, attendance varies widely, and it helps to have a handle on numbers in advance (we may need to begin limiting attendance); also, weather and such can be unpredictable and it's good to know who to contact if there's a change -- and I'll send directions and/or a trail map if you need 'em on Friday or Saturday. Be sure to include salon in the Subject line, as I receive a ridiculous amount of email every day. Bring food and/or drink to share if you can, along with musical instruments if you play. Check back on MarensList (where you can find information on all sorts of environmental and social justice events), for updates. If you'd like to start making your own kombucha, please bring a pint jar along.
The 20th Putting Down Roots Sustainability Salon & Sing next Sunday, September 15th will be on the topic of Community Solar -- how to enable more people to participate in generating and using renewable energy, even where individual homeowners or businesses lack good roof access, sun exposure, or initial funding. We'll talk about the logistical, legal, and financial aspects of different approaches, what's already happening in Pennsylvania and around the country, and how we can create a community shared solar installation here in the 'Burgh. We'll discuss the regulatory framework in PA, and several possible models from cooperative nonprofits to corporate partnerships. A small group has been meeting to learn the ropes and lay the groundwork, and at this Salon -- in addition to our usual fascinating educational presentations and conversations -- we hope to gather more interested Pittsburghers to work toward making it happen! 
Mark your calendar: the next Sustainability Salon will take place on October 12, following a fun day of visits here and at other solar-powered homes and businesses during the regional Solar Tour. We'll hear about the activities and the influence of the Sierra Club at the state and local levels, mostly accomplished with volunteers! Check out MarensList for more information on these events and others, as well as local food resources. By the way, I'll also be hosting a house concert with Putnam Smith on October 18th.
3-10 p.m. at Maren's house in Squirrel Hill. Please don't arrive before 3pm; we usually introduce speakers beginning around 4pm after folks have had a chance to meet, mingle, and tour around an interesting and productive urban permaculture site. Please email me to RSVP (important for yesses and maybes, please do so each time -- it helps greatly in several ways. Among other things, attendance varies widely, and it helps to have a handle on numbers in advance (we may need to begin limiting attendance); also, weather and such can be unpredictable and it's good to know who to contact if there's a change -- and I'll send directions and/or a trail map if you need 'em on Friday or Saturday. Be sure to include salon in the Subject line, as I receive a ridiculous amount of email every day. Bring food and/or drink to share if you can, along with musical instruments if you play. Check back on MarensList (where you can find information on all sorts of environmental and social justice events), for updates. If you'd like to start making your own kombucha, please bring a pint jar along.
Note that I'll be sending out directions and such, and any late-breaking info, to all the RSVP'd folks by the morning of the salon if not before. One of these days I'll streamline this process a bit (assistance would be welcome -- thanks to Beth for all her help so far with the transition to MailChimp and EventBrite), but for now it takes a while to to dot all my i's and cross all my t's.
----------------------------
For the uninitiated, a Sustainability Salon is an educational forum, a venue for discussion and debate about important environmental issues, a house party with an environmental theme. We usually have featured speakers on a particular topic, interspersed with stimulating conversation, lively debate, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included Marcellus shale development and community rights, green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees & park stewardship, alternative energy & climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings & discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.
For the uninitiated, a Sustainability Salon is an educational forum, a venue for discussion and debate about important environmental issues, a house party with an environmental theme. We usually have featured speakers on a particular topic, interspersed with stimulating conversation, lively debate, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included Marcellus shale development and community rights, green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees & park stewardship, alternative energy & climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings & discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.
Quite a few people have asked me what sorts of food to bring -- and my answer, as always, is whatever inspires you; I believe in the "luck" part of potlucks. Tasty noshings for the afternoon, hearty main dishes or scrumptious salads and sides for dinner, baked goods from biscuits and breads to brownies or baklava -- and/or beverages of any kind: wine, beer, hard or sweet cider (the latter we can mull if you like), juice, tea, whatever (I've got the kombucha covered, though it's always fun to compare). The more the merrier! Local fare is always particularly welcome, whether homegrown or boughten. Dishes containing meat are fine, though if it isn't really obvious please make a note of it.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all. Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations will continue through the evening, as well.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all. Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations will continue through the evening, as well.
Sep 13-15: Allegheny Defense Project Fall Gathering
The Allegheny Defense Project (ADP) is holding its 20th Annual Fall Gathering on a private landholding near the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The theme this year is "Celebrating 20 Years!" We ask that you please RSVP to this event, so that we can be sure we're able to feed you!
Lots more information is online here.
Lots more information is online here.
Aug 10: Sustainability Salon & Sing
And if you haven't been here before, you may enjoy checking out our roof garden as well as the many other interesting things around our place.
3-10 p.m. at Maren's house in Squirrel Hill. Please don't arrive before 3pm; we usually introduce speakers beginning around 4pm after folks have had a chance to meet, mingle, and tour around an interesting and productive urban permaculture site. Please email me to RSVP (important for yesses and maybes, please do so each time -- it helps greatly in several ways. Among other things, attendance varies widely, and it helps to have a handle on numbers in advance (we may need to begin limiting attendance); also, weather and such can be unpredictable and it's good to know who to contact if there's a change -- and I'll send directions and/or a trail map if you need 'em on Friday or Saturday. Be sure to include salon in the Subject line, as I receive a ridiculous amount of email every day. Bring food and/or drink to share if you can, along with musical instruments if you play. Check back on MarensList (where you can find information on all sorts of environmental and social justice events), for updates. If you'd like to start making your own kombucha, please bring a pint jar along.
Note that I'll be sending out directions and such, and any late-breaking info, to all the RSVP'd folks by the morning of the salon if not before. One of these days I'll streamline this process a bit (assistance would be welcome), but for now it takes a while to to dot all my i's and cross all my t's.
----------------------------
For the uninitiated, a Sustainability Salon is an educational forum, a venue for discussion and debate about important environmental issues, a house party with an environmental theme. We usually have featured speakers on a particular topic, interspersed with stimulating conversation, lively debate, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included Marcellus shale development and community rights, green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees & park stewardship, alternative energy & climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings & discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.
For the uninitiated, a Sustainability Salon is an educational forum, a venue for discussion and debate about important environmental issues, a house party with an environmental theme. We usually have featured speakers on a particular topic, interspersed with stimulating conversation, lively debate, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included Marcellus shale development and community rights, green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees & park stewardship, alternative energy & climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings & discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.
Quite a few people have asked me what sorts of food to bring -- and my answer, as always, is whatever inspires you; I believe in the "luck" part of potlucks. Tasty noshings for the afternoon, hearty main dishes or scrumptious salads and sides for dinner, baked goods from biscuits and breads to brownies or baklava -- and/or beverages of any kind: wine, beer, hard or sweet cider (the latter we can mull if you like), juice, tea, whatever (I've got the kombucha covered, though it's always fun to compare). The more the merrier! Local fare is always particularly welcome, whether homegrown or boughten. Dishes containing meat are fine, though if it isn't really obvious please make a note of it.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all. Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations will continue through the evening, as well.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all. Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations will continue through the evening, as well.
Aug 10: GTECH/Grow Pittsburgh Farm Tour
Lots of Green - a bus and bike tour and after party
Grow Pittsburgh and GTECH are holding a community farm and garden tour highlighting both organization's work to help transform their vacant lots into green spaces. Last year's bike tour attracted 75 riders, and this year they're adding a bus component as well.
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. To participate in the tour is $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds) and the after party at the Grow Pittsburgh parking lot is free (food and drinks will cost $).
Aug 6: Sustainable monroeville and ACHD on clean air
Join Sustainable Monroeville at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library to hear Alaina Conner of the Allegheny County Health Department speak on Clean Air! Go towww.sustainablemonroeville.com for details.
Aug 3: Meeting to protect parks from fracking (and calling info)
Meeting to build the campaign to prevent the leasing of Allegheny County Parks for Fracking.
Public Parks are OUR Parks. County plans to start fracking at Deer Lake Park!
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and some members of Allegheny County Council are hoping to lease Allegheny County Park land for fracking. Several groups, including Marcellus Protest and South Hills Area Against Dangerous Drilling (SHAADD) believe that we as residents need to draw a line at the County Parks - there should be no fracking *on or under* the areas where the public goes for recreation, exercise, and takes their children to play.
For now, Mr. Fitzgerald has called for bids to frack only Deer Lakes Park - but he is quoted as saying that he's wants to look at leasing any County land, so now is the time to become involved and say "No Fracking On OUR Public Lands."
The issue is not on a County Council meeting agenda yet, so we are optimistic that our voices can have an effect on the process. (The vote to allow fracking at the Airports did pass by 9-4, after all. Only a few votes would have to switch, and at least that many who voted yes had serious misgivings.)
The issue is not on a County Council meeting agenda yet, so we are optimistic that our voices can have an effect on the process. (The vote to allow fracking at the Airports did pass by 9-4, after all. Only a few votes would have to switch, and at least that many who voted yes had serious misgivings.)
10:00 a.m. at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church - Room 234 (116 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206).
`SHAAD is also asking that you
Here's what we are asking you to do.
1. Call your County Council Member, and the two at-large members, DeFazio and Heidelbaugh. (Contact information is here) *Your phone message doesn't have to be long* - keep it simple, for example: "My name is______, I'm your constituent, and I'm asking you to vote NO on leasing any County Park land for fracking."
NOTE: We have heard that many Council members never read their email, so we're asking you to please CALL.
2. *Forward this message* to your friends, and ask them to do the same.
3. If you use social media, Facebook, Twitter, create a post asking the Allegheny County residents you know to join you in making their voices heard.
Let's get out in front of this issue, and maybe prevent it from even coming up for a vote, if we can make our voices heard loudly enough. SHAAD will be working with other groups to find other ways to do this; stay tuned!
1. Call your County Council Member, and the two at-large members, DeFazio and Heidelbaugh. (Contact information is here) *Your phone message doesn't have to be long* - keep it simple, for example: "My name is______, I'm your constituent, and I'm asking you to vote NO on leasing any County Park land for fracking."
NOTE: We have heard that many Council members never read their email, so we're asking you to please CALL.
2. *Forward this message* to your friends, and ask them to do the same.
3. If you use social media, Facebook, Twitter, create a post asking the Allegheny County residents you know to join you in making their voices heard.
Let's get out in front of this issue, and maybe prevent it from even coming up for a vote, if we can make our voices heard loudly enough. SHAAD will be working with other groups to find other ways to do this; stay tuned!
Jul 27: Tree Tender course
Become a Tree Tender! Join over 1,200 Pittsburghers greening the City one tree at a time! Tree Tenders take an eight-hour course and learn about urban forestry practices, tree biology and health, proper planting, pruning and maintenance and lead their communities in organizing tree plantings and tree care.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood Library (3501 Brownsville Road, Brentwood), To register for this event, click here.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brentwood Library (3501 Brownsville Road, Brentwood), To register for this event, click here.
Jul 27: Fossil-free Energy Fair in Butler
Energizing for a Sustainable Future: Marcellus Outreach Butler is hosting a fossil-free Energy Fair where you can learn more about renewable energy through speakers, vendors, music, and entertainment. Featured speakers include Patricia DeMarco (former director of the Rachel Carson Institute), Stephen Cleghorn (organic dairyman), Marcia Lehman (Essential Electric), Paul Scanlon (Slippery Rock University), and John Golden (also of SRU).
Noon to 5pm at Alameda Park's Carousel Shelter. For more information, contact awlarsen98@yahoo.com or diarnald@consolidated.net.
Noon to 5pm at Alameda Park's Carousel Shelter. For more information, contact awlarsen98@yahoo.com or diarnald@consolidated.net.
Jul 21: Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Energy Blitz
ReEnergize Pgh and the Black and Gold City Goes Green are blitzing Squirrel Hill! With help from Duquesne Light's Watt Choices Program, Squirrel Hill neighbors and volunteers are hitting the streets, going door-to-door to give out tools that save money and energy.
1-5pm; meet and pick up materials at the Squirrel Hill Library. To volunteer, email Ellie Gordon at reenergize.squirrelhill@gmail.com or at 412-969-4692. Note that some early publicity indicated the 20th; the date has indeed shifted to the 21st.
Jul 13: 4th River Free Skool Teach-in
4th River Free Skool Teach In
2-9 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in East Liberty
- This is a fundraising event! We are currently raising funds for the reconstruction of the Free Skoolhouse in Soho.
We will have the customary community potluck at this event, please bring a dish to share :) Veg, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Meat all appreciated! Please label!
For fundraising purposes, desserts will be donation-based, BAKERS WANTED!
Please consider volunteering at this event! An hour here or there is greatly appreciated! Please let us know how and what time you can help out:
- Kitchen
- Greeter
- Escorts
- Set Up/Clean Up
- Photo/Video
- Bake Sale
- Free Skool Table
- Kids Activities/Education
CLASSES and SCHEDULE:
2PM
~ Meet and greet :)
3PM
~ Herbalism with Michelle
~ Basic Bike Maintenance/Repair with D'aubin
~ The Consumer/Survivor/Ex-patient Movement in Mental Health - Past and Present with Jen P
A critical look at the consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement of the past century. What is it? How has it shaped our experiences today? What is meant by ʺrecoveryʺ in mental health? Is this a useful concept? Hybrid talk and discussion at the end. * The talk aims to promote self determination and a sense of community, not patronizing attitudes about others' choices!
~ Hula Hooping with Faith Hersey
Hula hooping as meditation, exercise, and dance. For kids of all ages!
4PM
~ Co-ops 101 with Caroline Savery
What are co-ops? How do they work? This workshop explores everything you might wonder about cooperatives including history, philosophy, defining principles, structural breakdown, and points on finances, law, taxes, plus steps to starting a co-op, and much more!
~ Political Engagement with Aerion Abney
Understanding the impacts and influences of politics. The purpose of this class is to expose students to a stronger understanding of the role politics/government plays in day-today life activities. Students will learn the importance of government in relation to community development and how to engage public officials offices for services.
~ Yoga with Derek Martin
Yoga is the language of breath and movement. In a basic power vinyasa class, students learn the Ujjayi breathing technique and how to use it in the varying parts of a yoga practice. A power practice can be challenging and taking rest when your body calls for it is of utmost importance. In breath, movement, and rest we all participate in the process of self-discovery; getting to know our limits and furthering them at our own comfort level with full awareness of mind, body and breath.
~ Urban Foraging with Liz Lynch
You can eat that?! Discover how to go about finding the tasty treats that grow all around us. We will cover urban foraging basics (rules and considerations), sample a few common 'wildables', and take a walk outside to see what we can find.
~ Kid-friendly Martial Arts with Self Cyphadeen
5PM
~ Sovereign Travels with Byngi
How to build your own vehicle so that you do not have to rely on the system for transportation, and you can avoid the high price of insurance, registration, licensing and inspection.
~ Rewiring Flinch Reflexes with Taia Xeper
Essential preparation for the unfortunate event of unexpectedly being attacked -- Learn to 'break the wave' and flinch into strategically advantageous positions.
~ Living With Essential Oils Workshop with Lisa Lerose
Learn how essential oils heal, and how to use essential oils in your life and your work. Discover essential oil properties that will soothe the senses, invigorate the body, and promote physical well-being.
~ Veganism with Judah KMT
9-year-old Judah will talk about living a vegan lifestyle.
6PM
~ Entrepreneurship - Intro to Creating Small Businesses with Justin Thakar
Capitalism doesn't have to be lazy and destructive: it can, in fact, be more profitable by pursuing social and environmental issues, through materials efficiency, industrial redesign, green chemistry, bio-mimicry, urban redesign, and more (permaculture!). Using specific case studies from Pitt Business and Marketing curriculum, we'll discuss how beginner entrepreneurs, with or without technical skill, can participate in this, and then go into an introduction of the tools for the job. Facilitated by an undergraduate Pitt Business Junior, not an entrepreneurship expert nor a university rep.
~ Freedom Theory with Bird
Historical and current theories and expressions of freedom.
~ Basic Bike Maintenance/Repair Clinic with Alicia
Basic bicycle repair clinice. Instruction and tools provided to understand and perform basic repairs: brake adjustment, change flat tires and tubes, clean and lube chain. Bring your own bike. You do the work!
~ Spanish Pronunciation with Adam Frankel
Introduction to the Spanish alphabet and vocabulary for kids!
7PM
~ Food Forests - What, Why, and How? with Isaac Hill
A discussion on the reasons for food forests and how to design them.
~ Intro to Astrology and Jungian Psychology with Alex Baker
Getting to know astrological time-telling; we will begin to discuss and understand the four elements, three modes, twelve signs and their correspondences to the human psyche.
~ What Is Policing? with Tom Talks
This workshop will be centered around a conceptual discussion of the material dynamics of policing and its fundamental connection to the concept of governance.
~ Basic Bike Maintenance/Repair Clinic with Alicia (con't)
Basic bicycle repair clinice. Instruction and tools provided to understand and perform basic repairs: brake adjustment, change flat tires and tubes, clean and lube chain. Bring your own bike. You do the work!
8-9PM
~ Music and Minglin!
Jul 9: Repair America Roundtable
The BlueGreen Alliance, a collaboration between labor unions and environmental organizations, is hosting a roundtable discussion on how to create quality jobs, safeguard our communities; and make America stronger, safer and healthier by responding to the threat of climate change and making much-needed investments in our infrastructure. Panelists will include:
Leo W. Gerard, International President, United SteelworkersDavid Foster, Executive Director, BlueGreen AllianceThe Honorable Rich Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Allegheny CountyJames Kunz, Business Manager, IUOE Local 66Jan Lauer, Director, 3 Rivers Clean EnergyJack Shea, President, Allegheny County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIOSylvia Wilson, Treasurer, Allegheny County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
2 p.m. at United Steelworkers Headquarters, Five Gateway Center (60 Boulevard of the Allies), Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Register online here.
Jul 6: Sustainability Salon on Marcellus
The 18th Putting Down Roots Sustainability Salon (see below if that's new to you) will take place on Saturday, July 6th. The topic will be Marcellus Shale drilling -- how it's being done, the Community Rights movement and other grassroots organizing efforts that hope to prevent a lot of it, and a collaborative which you may have heard or read about lately, the "Center for Sustainable Shale Development," which seeks to create standards for best practices in the industry, so that the drilling that does take place will be less harmful than it might otherwise be.
We'll start out with "Shale Gas 101" to fill us in on the basics; fractivist and artist Briget Shields will talk about the local activist response and future screening opportunities for GASLAND II; former Pittsburgh City Council member Doug Shields will discuss the Community Rights movement and the local drilling ban that paved the way for many other such bans around the country; and GASP Legal Director (and enviro rep in the collaborative) Joe Osborne will give us an insider's view of the CSSD. In between these presentations we'll have lots of lively discussion, as always. Please don't forget to rsvp, if you might be coming!And if you haven't been here before, you may enjoy checking out our roof garden as well as the many other interesting things around our place, from the shiitake logs to the seedling nursery. That'll mainly be happening between 3 & 4 p.m.3-10 p.m. at Maren's house in Squirrel Hill. Please don't arrive before 3pm; we plan on introducing speakers beginning around 4pm after folks have had a chance to meet, mingle, and tour around an interesting and productive urban permaculture site. Please email me to RSVP (important for yesses and maybes, please do so each time -- it helps greatly in several ways. Among other things, attendance varies widely, and it helps to have a handle on numbers in advance (we may need to begin limiting attendance); also, weather and such can be unpredictable and it's good to know who to contact if there's a change -- and I'll send directions and/or a trail map if you need 'em on Friday or Saturday. Be sure to include salon in the Subject line, as I receive a ridiculous amount of email every day. Bring food and/or drink to share if you can, along with musical instruments if you play. Check back on MarensList (where you can find information on all sorts of environmental and social justice events), for updates. If you'd like to start making your own kombucha, please bring a pint jar along. For your calendar, the next salon will be on August 10, a relaxed summertime gathering, and after that the 20th Sustainability Salon will be on September 14th, with all the latest developments in Community Solar.
Note that I'll be sending out directions and such, and any late-breaking info, to all the RSVP'd folks by Sunday morning if not before. One of these days I'll streamline this process a bit (assistance would be welcome), but for now it takes a while to to dot all my i's and cross all my t's.
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For the uninitiated, A Sustainability Salon is basically a house party with an environmental theme -- usually with featured speakers on a particular topic -- accompanied by stimulating conversation, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees & park stewardship, alternative energy & climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings & discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.
For the uninitiated, A Sustainability Salon is basically a house party with an environmental theme -- usually with featured speakers on a particular topic -- accompanied by stimulating conversation, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees & park stewardship, alternative energy & climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings & discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.
Quite a few people have asked me what sorts of food to bring -- and my answer, as always, is whatever inspires you; I believe in the "luck" part of potlucks. Tasty noshings for the afternoon, hearty main dishes or scrumptious salads and sides for dinner, baked goods from biscuits and breads to brownies or baklava -- and/or beverages of any kind: wine, beer, hard or sweet cider (the latter we can mull if you like), juice, tea, whatever (I've got the kombucha covered, though it's always fun to compare). The more the merrier! Local fare is always particularly welcome, whether homegrown or boughten. Dishes containing meat are fine, though if it isn't really obvious please make a note of it.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all. Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations will continue through the evening, as well.
And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all. Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours. Conversations will continue through the evening, as well.
Jul 2: CeaseFirePA discussion
CeaseFirePA, the NorthShore Community Alliance (NCA), the Thomas Merton Center, the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP)/Coalition Against Violence (CAV), Alliance for Police Accountability, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the NorthSide Initiative to Preserve Community Excellence (N.I.P.C.E.) present:
KILLING GUN VIOLENCE:
TAKING BACK OUR COMMUNITIES ONE ACTION AT A TIME
Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 6:30pm - 8:00pm at
Northshore Community Alliance Limbach Community Center
816 Tripoli St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
Please join CeaseFirePA as we present, discuss and act upon community-based legislative strategies to end gun violence, as well as discuss what we can do to fight threats to our community from our state and national legislatures.KILLING GUN VIOLENCE:
TAKING BACK OUR COMMUNITIES ONE ACTION AT A TIME
Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 6:30pm - 8:00pm at
Northshore Community Alliance Limbach Community Center
816 Tripoli St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
Rob Conroy and Shanon Williams of CeaseFirePA will lead a solution-based discussion designed to tangibly promote the passage of common-sense gun legislation.
WE SEEK an end to gun violence and an end to the trafficking of illegal firearms-
-a plague that is ravaging our communities, including the North Side.
WE INVITE all area residents, community leaders (both faith and secular), activists and students to actively participate in the meeting and work together as a community to forge a safer environment for all generations.
ALL ARE WELCOME.
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