Greeneroo

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. There is alot to celebrate, and there is always room for improvement.
Now you have thousands of great green sites to choose from, and we appreciate your coming to us for all the interesting tidbits, events, hints, and issues that are part of our Northern California experience. We do select a few amazing things to report on from farther away, but this is focused on what we can really experience and enjoy… so we can bring you the Best of the Best! – Thanks for reading! ~ Jackie

Everyone can get involved in Earth Day celebrations. SFGATE does a great job of listing what is available. We have amazing organizations that can keep you busy for days, months and years to come. Here are a few favorite places for events/ classes / hikes etc. Here are my favorites:

• Take a look at all the LINKS in the Blog roll on the right side, this can be a reference guide to great green!!
• Earth Day 2010
• Great food at Golden Era in San Francisco
• Freecycle — they understand the reduce, reuse, recycle message!
• Rentalic - collaborative sharing of what you want… but don’t have! A marketplace.
• Meetup – a great place to search for hikes and fun, you can sign up for notices. I’d suggest the looking for hiking groups in your area.
• Filoli Gardens in Woodside - an amazing place, with acres of flowers, formal gardens, a mansion AND classes and special events.

Maybe you think that you don’t know enough to get involved, or have no “green training” but what it really takes is HEART and COMMITTMENT.

I’d like to say thanks to Vera who is an amazing Salsa Dance instructor in the Bay Area and at Canada College. Vera has a strong GREEN Commitment. You are amazing Vera, keep up the green encouragement.  Here is an excerpt from her Newsletter!

 Vera Quijano’s EARTH DAY News  –April 20, 2010

Greetings!

JOIN the more than one billion people who are making a commitment to do their part on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010.

Did you know that trees and plants provide you with the oxygen you need to breathe and live? Did you know that most cleaning staff are women and people of color, being exposed to harsh cancer-causing agents on a regular basis? Did you know that you could take part in an Earth Day activity in your neighborhood and start to make a positive environmental impact now?

Don’t just sit there… DO SOMETHING!

1. Plant a tree. (Click to find out how.)

2. Get GREEN house cleaning products. Why? COMMIT to Switch to Get Clean, Go Green Kit!

3. DO YOUR PART. Go to Earth Day Web Site and read articles. Learn more! Join a local Earth Day Activity.

4. Encourage your school or business to become a Get Clean, Go Green School. Read why they should.

5. Invite your friends and family to do the same.

Mother Earth can barely breathe. The condition is rapidly worsening. Become part of the solution.

GO GREEN!

Thank you,

Vera Quijano

Part of “being green” is building a community and supporting small green changes. It means sharing information, thinking with purpose, making improvements and for me…. BLOGGING. There is always room for improvement, here is a list of 11 ways to get the green word out in a better way.  Here is the info:

11 Characteristics of Highly Influential Blog(ger)s

I think the best gift of all this year is … getting together with friends. Rather than gift things, how about an occasion. A group of us met for Holiday Cheer – Pizza, Wine and a movie shown at home. It was wonderful to discuss recipes, places to go, holiday plans, kids, and catch up. It was a great celebration! This is my number 1 choice. Here are a few more:
#2) Stick to useful gifts – maybe you have never given mittens, CFLs, mulled cider mix and draft catching door guards… but times they are a changing! These thoughtful gifts keep the recipient warm and happy and energy smart!
#3) Share your favorite book, from your collection and put a note in it on WHY you think the recipient will enjoy it – this is a great conversation starter!
4) Potlucks are my favorite gift from the heart, but you can do something simpler… how about homemade cookies, flavored vinegar (add garlic, or rosemary) in a fancy stop topped bottle, make a huge batch of granola and share bags of it or simply write down a favorite family recipe on a recipe card and give it to a friend (you can offer to make it with them as well).
5) Start a tradition: Caroling, Ugly Christmas Sweater cocktail party, White elephant exchange, Puzzle night, or decorate the tree gathering. There are dozens of happy occasions to celebrate.

One day you’ll see your kids repeating these traditions and you’ll feel great all over again. It doesn’t take a pile of money to give from the heart.

What else can you do? Here is some encouragement…

• Try a carpet sweeper… uses “human power” and it is quiet, quick and economical. Check www.realgoods.com
• Calculate your carbon footprint!
• Too hot?Rather than crank up the air conditioning, make the most of what you’ve got – add a ceiling fan. It will make you feel cooler and stir up the air. Of course look at the energy star models, and while you are at it replace those “HOT” bulbs with Compact Fluorescents. It is cooler and saves money.
• Use what you have!! Re-purpose old dish clothes a socks without mates  into rags, old bottles can be used again, and dig out Granny’s cast iron skillet. You’d be surprised at the food you can cook up and without worrying about toxins / non stick coatings. Check out http://www.lodgemfg.com for hints about care of your cast iron cookery.
• Have a Veggie dinner night ( or several) raising animals for food requires more food, land, water, transport, grain, energy than vegetarian meals. And reducing cow farts is a very eco friendly thing as well! Reduce your “energy” footprint, and try a raw meal while you are discovering this big diverse Veggie World!
• Mow the lawn with a regular mower and/or remove some of the lawn and try your hand at growing a few favorite fruits and vegeta bles. For newbies, try tomatoes in pots, swiss chard, herbs, or a lemon tree. Look at what your neighbors grow to get an idea of what works.
• My favorite so far…. go shopping in your sister’s closet! lol Seriouly, trade clothes with friends. Have everyone bring a bag of stuff they don’t use/ doesn’t fit and a food item to share. Have a pot luck, then go shopping! Donate all the unclamined items to a charity, church, or Goodwill – it will have a second life!

What are your GREEN thoughts? There is so much we can do to have our voices be heard. Get Busy. Get Active. Think Green. We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Send me the best green sites that you find, I’ll make a top 10, or better yet a top 100.

Here is my favorite green site, Treehugger – it has so much, design, beauty, guides, and take action steps.  There is something for everyone.