« October 2007 |
Main
| December 2007 »
So I'm totally sympathetic to the eco-holiday spirit that, say, drives people to give CFL bulbs as presents. That said, I don't actually think CFLs make such hot holiday gifts, in the same sense that I don't think tube socks make very good gifts. I mean they're useful, and they last a while, but they're not -- you know -- exciting.
Not that all gifts have to be exciting -- or that we have to always give each other material gifts at all. I do, however, sometimes struggle against the feeling that environmentalists can seem Grinch-like: Dirt cheap, with a predilection for the grungy or dowdy. Prone to impromptu doom-and-gloom lecture-giving at parties. Against holiday fun.
It's hard, of course, to know where to draw the line. Sure, lots of people are starting to question whether children really need all those shiny new toys -- especially as so many seem to come coated with lead these days. And I can't wait to see "What Would Jesus Buy?," a film that pokes fun at our consumer culture and promises a "Shopocalypse."
It gets murkier, though, when you get to stuff like holiday decorations. One person might be all psyched for the annual tree-decorating fun, only to be deflated by a "Do you really NEED a tree?" by a well-meaning but off-putting environmentalist.
And once that starts, the enviro-grinching of the holidays can begin to take over. After all, can we say we really "need" most things we expect around the holidays? Do you really NEED lights? That's a question that came from one of my readers. I mean, those things sap energy from the grid! Do you really NEED gifts, even if they're "eco-friendly" gifts? Aren't you just contributing to our rampant consumer culture with every gift you give or receive? In fact, do you really NEED to burn all those fossil fuels to fly to see your family? Do you really NEED holidays at all? Should you really be celebrating anything when the earth's warming over and polar bears are dying and hurricanes are killing people?
Take eco-preaching to its extreme and all the joy suddenly gets sucked out of life. What's the point in living, really, if there's nothing to celebrate? How do you draw the line?
Aside from the few who really are quite grinch-like, most environmentalists seem to tread a murky line of their own invention. They may hold back on Buy Nothing Day but go crazy during the remaining shopping days. They may shop like everyone else, but take their own bags. They may opt for more eco-friendly decorations, like a locally-grown holiday tree with LED lights. They may forgo a tree but decorate with poinsettias. They may carefully select gifts that are earth-friendly and fairly-made. They may only give out "stuff-free" gifts. Or, of course, they may give out CFL bulbs.
How are you greening your holiday season? How is it different from last year? Will there be a CFL bulb in your stocking?
Photo by Siel
 Can't make it to the farmers market because of work? Then bring the farmers market to you. The new Santa Monica Market Basket Program does just that, assembling a wide variety of fruits and veggies into a basket and delivering it to your workplace for you to pick up during a break or at the end of the day.
Sure, we have organic produce delivery companies in L.A., but why not get both organic AND local, enjoying farm fresh produce AND helping out your neighbors who've grown them?
That's where the Santa Monica Market Basket Program comes in. The first deliveries started earlier this month, and so far, takes about 70 baskets to Santa Monica City Hall employees each Wednesday. And according to Katie Ricketts, Market Basket Coordinator, the program's actively seeking new businesses to take advantage of this basket program.
To get signed up, all you need is about 50 people (Katie says she'd try to work with smaller groups too) at your workplace interested in getting weekly farm-fresh produce. Then, Katie will work with your workplace to hash out some basic logistics, and in a week or two, you and your co-workers will be able to pick up yummies from the Wednesday Santa Monica Farmers Market without ever leaving the office.
Participants can pick from 3 tiers of baskets. The $20 classic bag will give you about 10 farm fresh staples -- all the basic items needed for a person for a week, based on the USDA requirement of 31.5 cups of fruits and veggies -- as well as newsletter with recipes, market news, farmer bios, and other tidbits. You can get double that by opting for the $38 double person bag, which Katie says is really enough to feed a small family for a week. Then there's the $30 specialty basket, which has all the items in the classic bag plus some extra goodies -- perhaps eggs, honey, or special fruits with a higher price point.
Interested in signing up? Contact Katie Ricketts at katie@sfma.net or 310.740.7544. And if you're stressing about the "best" way to eat, fret not -- Here's my simplified guide to eating like an environmentalist.
Photo by Siel
Bad news is funnier read all in a row --
>> The EPA tries to exempt more companies from disclosing their toxic chemical use and emissions. In response, Cali and 11 other states sue the EPA.
>> Meanwhile, fear of toxic chemicals grows and people call for more disclosure. Salon's Machinist notes Nintendo's use of PVCs and BFRs, "which cause health and environmental damage and which numerous tech firms have vowed to phase out," and notes the company offers neither a takeback nor recycling program.
>> And a new report finds the cancer risk for people exposed to tritium could be twice as high as previously assumed. Tritium's commonly discharged in large amounts by nuclear plants around the world.
Image courtesy of Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics (PDF)
Get your locally-made holiday wreath at the farmers' market! I found Santa Monica-based company Designing Endeavors' colorful wreaths at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market on Arizona yesterday.
A small undecorated wreath costs $15. I seriously considered getting one -- especially once I found out the greenery is locally grown in California, according to the woman at the booth -- but I'd already bought too much stuff and couldn't fit a huge wreath (even the smalls are pretty big) on my bike.
Maybe next week. I'm considering a poinsettia plant too -- Those were also all over the market. Many booths were offering gift basket type goodies. I might get the bulk of my holiday shopping there --
In addition to the Wednesday Santa Monica market, you can find
Designing Endeavors at the Pasadena Farmers' Market on Saturdays and
the Pacific Palisades Farmers' Market on Sundays. Or you can call to
put in an order: 310.395.7944.
Photos by Siel
Weekends at Emerald City start on Thursday! Enjoy it, greenly. Like to plan ahead? Check out the Emerald City calendar to find out about all the green events around town.
Thursday, Nov. 29
Parkland meeting: LA Citywide Community Needs Assessment (free) - Ramona Hall Community Center, 4580 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. 6:30 p.m. Put in your two cents on the future protection and expansion of Los Angeles' 15,000 acres of existing parkland. This LA Department of Recreation and Parks meeting will include a presentation and an interactive work session. Refreshments will be provided.
Net Impact hosts Rick Fedrizzi, CEO of the US Green Building Council (free; RSVP requested) - LaKretz Hall Auditorium, UCLA, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Rick of the US Green Building Council, whose LEED building certification program is transforming the green real estate marketplace, will be interviewed by Green Real Estate Authority Charles Lockwood in UCLA's first LEED Certified building, LaKretz Hall.
Friday, Nov. 30
6th Annual USGBC-LA/LACCD Sustainability Conference ($5 students, $30 regular) - Biltmore Bowl, Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. This educational conference will continue the dialogue about the importance of finding solutions to challenges affecting green building and sustainability in today's world. Speakers include Mike Massey, Executive Director of the Piping Industry Progress and Education Fund, who will offer his perspective on the important role that organized labor plays in promoting green building strategies.
First ever Venice Critical Mass (free) - Meet at Windward Circle, Venice. 6:30pm. Organizers promise "a relaxed ride through the chill ass streets of West LA - get ready for AWEZUM."
Saturday, Dec. 1
Parkland meeting: LA Citywide Community Needs Assessment (free) - Lincoln Park Recreation Center, 353501 Valley Blvd., Los Angeles. 10 a.m. Put in your two cents on the future protection and expansion of Los Angeles' 15,000 acres of existing parkland. This LA Department of Recreation and Parks meeting will include a presentation and an interactive work session. Refreshments will be provided.
How to Have an Eco-Friendly Holiday Season ($15) - All Shades of Green, 3038 Rowena Ave., Los Angeles. 10:30 a.m. A workshop in Silverlake with Sustainability Coach Deborah Tull. Pre-registration required by calling 323-665-7454.
Holiday Toys and Mittens Ride (free; toy donations encouraged) - REI Arcadia parking lot, 214 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. 10:30 a.m. Bicycle through charming Arcadia and Monrovia neighborhoods to gather toys and warm articles of clothing from local businesses that currently are collecting winter items for Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, San Gabriel Valley's child welfare organization. There'll be holiday music, cheer, and free yummy baked goods from Scratch Cookies and Bakery, and post-ride pizza and lasagna from Zelo Cornmeal Crust Pizza.
3rd Annual Fair Trade and Conscious Gifts Holiday Bazaar (free) - Geneva Room, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Shop from a large selection of affordable, sweatshop-free arts and crafts made by artisans internationally and locally, including wallets and purses from Afghanistan, locally made jewelry and tote-bags, and fair trade coffee and honey. Confirmed vendors include Garment Worker Center, Pacifica Radio Archives, Afghan Women's Mission, Frank Dorrell, and local artists Azadeh Ghafari and Sonali Kolhatkar. Extras: Complimentary refreshments while you shop.
ReVisions Live Billboard Art Painting (free) - Eco-LogicalART, 4829 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Artists will start painting 20 original art pieces on huge recycled billboards. By Jan 12, 2008, the billboards will go on display across Los Angeles. Come watch it happen-- Early.
Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007
International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition ($550 - $950) - Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim. Mingle and hear from business, policy, industry, and academic leaders from around the world who are interested in exploring and understanding the technical, policy and market challenges of electric transportation technologies. The event continues until Dec. 5, 2007.
ReVisions Live Billboard Art Painting (free) - Eco-LogicalART, 4829 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Artists will start painting 20 original art pieces on huge recycled billboards. By Jan 12, 2008, the billboards will go on display across Los Angeles. Come watch it happen-- Early.
Image courtesy of C.I.C.L.E.
 Some baby stuff's so cute it makes me wish I had ... a baby-sized doll to dress up and stuff. Here's how to find the cutest green giftables for the little people in your life:
Stay local and drop by The Little Seed, a newish eco-boutique for kids at 219 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles. The shop's organic clothes, non-toxic toys, and eco-friendly bedding recently got a longish profile in the LA Weekly. It sounds like the place to go for your one-stop eco-baby shopping.
Beyond The Little Seed, many L.A. stores carry Oeuf, an all eco-friendly line of super-cute clothes for kids. My fave's this Oeuf Hug-me sweater (right, $88) -- an alpaca wool sweater with mitten-shaped pockets -- designed by a French-American husband-and-wife team based in Brooklyn, N.Y., and sustainably and fairly made in Bolivia.
 Or support recycled, handmade products, easier than ever with the Etsy Trashion Street Team, a group of 110 Etsy artists "who specialize in turning trash into treasure." And on Dec. 2, participating shops will celebrate "Save the World Sunday" by offering 20% off or free shipping.
One of these stores -- Sweet Pepita in Baltimore, Md. -- offers some very stylin' baby clothes. The cutest, IMHO: "Boyish Charm" (left, $40), a size 6-12 months shirt that's hand-sewn from 100% organic cotton and recycled fabric; and Pixie Hat ($14), hand-sewn from 100% organic cotton.
 Or go the DIY route and start knitting (or sewing)! Back when I was knitting more I made a buncha baby booties; to the right's the "flower power" pair, which went to my old friend Maureen's baby. Opt for organic or recycled yarn -- I recommend a visit to Goodwill for an old sweater to take apart.
If you're shopping for toys, the Green Guide's put together a wallet-sized toy guide (PDF) that tells you what to look for and what to avoid. A few cute suggestions:
- Double Duckies ($22), a pull toy made with sustainably harvested wood, vegetable dyes and non-toxic coating.
 Knit Octopus ($78), a soft and happy-looking toy made with natural wool yarn and veggie-based dyes by a collective of knitters working in fair trade conditions in rural Kenya. - Fair trade sports balls ($29.99 for a soccer ball), which are pretty self-explanatory.
Photos top to bottom courtesy of: Oeuf, Sweet Pepita, Siel, Taraluna
Bad news is funnier read all in a row:
>> Killer jellyfish. A swarm of jellyfish covering 10 sq. miles wiped out Northern Ireland's only salmon farm. Cause of the unexpected jellyfish attack? "Unusual environmental factors including higher-than-normal water temperatures" had something to do with it. (via grist)
>> Deadly levee repair. Near Rio Vista, Calif., "Thousands of dead fish float belly up atop the water, victims of a federal levee repair project gone wrong."
>> In non fishy news, poor will suffer the worst of global warming, says a new U.N. report. (via grist)
 Got your holiday tree yet? I hope not, because then this post's coming too late for you. Some tips for an eco-friendly holiday tree:
First, get a real tree, as Umbra of Grist recommends. Those artificial ones are mostly vinyl Chinese imports.
Then, try to find a local and /or organic tree. Now, the organic option, I found, isn't easy to locate. The closest organic holiday tree farm I found is in Los Gatos, which is a bit far; if you know of other organic farms, please share the info.
You can get a sustainably-raised tree delivered to you. The miniature Christmas tree from Organic Bouquet is a Veriflora certified hearty blue fir. However, this tree isn't local; it "hails from the Southern reaches of the Rocky Mountains."
So local, even if not organic, might be the most practical way to go. Many of the pre-cut trees sold in lots come from out of state, but you can visit one of many nearby choose & cut lots to get your tree. Whole Foods is another option if a mini tree will work for you; those trees aren't organic, but are grown in California.
There are benefits of getting a mini tree too: Most come live, and after the holidays, you can plant the tree and let it live on. Here are instructions for planting a live, post-holiday tree.
 If you want a tree that keeps on giving, get a non-traditional fruit tree for your holiday decorations. My friend Summer got a lemon tree last year; this year, she has lots of lemons! Local poinsettias are a pretty option too -- and available at the Wednesday Santa Monica Farmers' Market on Arizona this holiday season.
Like the idea of a holiday tree, but don't want one dropping needles in your house? TreePeople's Gift of Life Tree Dedication Program can help you out. A $25 donation lets you dedicate one tree to a recipient of your choice, who'll get a nice card about your green and generous gift.
But I'm actually holding off on getting a tree for now, partly because I'm a general holiday procrastinator, and partly because I'm a hopeful optimist -- about this tree raffle happening next week. That's right, on Monday, Dec. 3, from 5 - 8 p.m., eco-home store Livingreen in Culver City is having a holiday open house -- with a raffle for a green holiday tree.
The tree's an eco-procrastinator's dream: Pre-decorated with ornaments made by local architects, interior designers and design students, and trimmed with LED energy-saving lights. Raffle tickets cost $2 each; proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.
The open house will also have cookies and cider and holiday music -- as well as green nighttime shopping. Livingreen stores in Montecito and Santa Barbara are having similar events, in case some readers live out there.
Wish me luck on the raffle. In the meantime, read up on why LEDs are the best holiday lighting option, even if it means throwing out -- or turning into ornaments -- your old conventional bulbs.
More about holiday trees in late December, when it's time to think about recycling them.
Top photo by Brady via Flickr; bottom photo by Summer Bowen
Your eco-questions answered:
 Question: I am curious if you might know if it's a greener decision to keep the old Christmas lights that I already have until they die, or dispose of them (or donate them) and purchase new LED lights. Is the power saving difference enough of an advantage to justify the waste? I have thought about this and I'm not sure what the better choice is ecologically. Thanks, Adriana
Answer: The short answer: Get the new, energy-efficient LED lights.
As Umbra of Grist puts it, "would you rather have a full landfill, or have the Arctic devoid of ice? Climate solutions take precedence over garbage-production concerns, particularly when the garbage is relatively harmless."
Conventional lights are rather difficult to recycle -- but creative ways for reusing them abound! You might in fact consider decorating the old lights and turning them into holiday decorations. That way, you get to keep the old lights -- unlit but still pretty -- on the tree, refrain from adding to the landfill, and get new decorations for your tree or house out of the deal.
Got a question? Ask me: greenlagirl@gmail.com.
Photo of LED lights by Derek K. Miller via Flickr
 >> Ban cars from the DWP Holiday Light Festival. Walking the length of the festival during the car-ban period is "a 100% more pleasurable experience than driving it, or even walking the route while cars are driving through." Last year, one DWP reason for not walking was that people might trip while walking.
>> Create a downtown fare zone. The idea: "Trips to or from any station inside the fare zone do not require the rider to purchase a transfer. Trips entirely inside the Fare Zone would still require a valid fare."
>> Make Pico and Olympic move faster. The one-way proposal looks like it's toast, but Villaraigosa's got a new plan: immediately eliminate parking on both streets during rush hour, then, re-time traffic lights so that those traveling west on Olympic and east on Pico get longer green lights.
>> Build the subway to the sea already. Elected leaders meet at an automotive museum to talk about funding the subway. Suggestions: a parcel tax on L.A. County residents, or a public-private partnership that would allow a private firm to build and run the subway, with government oversight.
Photo courtesy of Franklin Avenue
|
|
So I'm totally sympathetic to the eco-holiday spirit that, say, drives people to give CFL bulbs as presents. That said, I don't actually think CFLs make such hot holiday gifts, in the same sense that I don't think tube socks make very good gifts. I mean they're useful, and they last a while, but they're not -- you know -- exciting.
Emerald City calendar