green drinkWhether you’re in the mood for a trunk show, book signing, or a big blowout party, November has it all.

First Thursday Happy Hour with Bethesda Green

When: November 5th, 5-7
Where: Redwood Restaurant

Join Bethesda Green for casual conversation and social networking at one of the new restaurants within Bethesda Lane.

Book Talk: Greening Your Small Business

When: November 14th, 1:00 pm
Where: Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave.

Jennifer Kaplan will discuss her new book, Greening Your Small Business. Her comprehensive guide is for companies too small to hire a consultant to help them go green. The book covers basics such as recycling, reducing waste and reducing the IT footprint, as well as considering wider concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

Goodwill Travelin’ Trunk Show

When: November 14th, 11am-2pm
Where: Greater Goods, 1626 U St. NW

Calling all fashionistas, designers, and eco-friendly shoppers! Goodwill of Greater Washington’s Travelin’ Trunk Show will be returning to Greater Goods with racks and racks of contemporary and vintage fashions along with donated fabrics and buttons. The charity will also be accepting donations of items that have outgrown your home (or closet). All proceeds from this event will support Goodwill’s mission to educate, train, employ, and place people with disabilities and disadvantages throughout the greater DC area.

Live Green’s Big Green Bash

When: November 19th, 6-8:30
Where: The Reef, 2446 18th St. NW

Join Live Green for delicious food, drink specials, and prizes at the Big Green Bash. Everyone who recruits at least three new Live Green members automatically receives a $20 gift certificate to Java Green or Sticky Fingers and is entered into a raffle to win other fab prizes like a flight anywhere in the continental US from Green Earth Travel. Get your tickets today.

This post was written by GoingGreenDC.net contributing writer Alison Drucker.

wineIf you like wine, go straight to the source and attend a tasting at a Virginia or Maryland winery. Satisfy your green conscience at the same time by paying a visit to one that’s environmentally friendly.

The local wineries here all follow organic practices to the greatest extent possible, using minimal chemical pesticides and herbicides and eradicating pests using biological controls.

Certified organic wine – wine that uses organic grapes – is impossible to produce in this area; local vintners report that due to the humidity and rainfall, vines in the region are prone to fungus and pests that are immune to non-chemical treatments.

These wineries have also constructed energy- and water-efficient facilities that incorporate salvaged materials and innovative design strategies.

Maryland

At Black Ankle Vineyards, the tasting room features straw-bale insulation and wood harvested from the site, plus a bar made from crushed grape vines. The growers use sprays and fertilizers made from herbs, compost, and minerals, rather than chemicals, and follow the principles of biodynamic farming – a step up from organic on the sustainable ladder. Plus, their tractors are powered using biodiesel. Deep Creek Cellars also uses mostly organic and biodynamic farming methods.

Virginia

Pearmund Cellarsfacilities are heated and cooled using a geothermal system that draws from the Earth’s natural thermal energy. Barrel Oak Winery’s dog-friendly facility also uses geothermal energy and a highly efficient natural ventilation system; plus, all of its wood flooring was salvaged from an 18th century farmhouse.

The famous owner of Blenheim Vineyards – Dave Matthews – hand-sketched the design for the winery building, which was constructed from reclaimed wood and is strictly naturally lit during the day due to its daylight-efficient design. Cave Ridge Vineyard reuses their barrels and uses biodegradable products whenever they can, and the tasting room was constructed using sustainable wood. Rappahannock Cellars also reuses barrels and uses environmentally sensitive cleaners instead of noxious chemicals.

By drinking at these wineries (or at any of the other roughly 175 wineries in Virginia and Maryland) you can rest assured your wine hasn’t been shipped from overseas or trucked in from California. So go get tipsy locally, and with a lower ecological footprint.

This post was written by GoingGreenDC contributing writer Alison Drucker.

photo_gallery_austinFor a couple weeks in October, your regular jog around the Mall will look a little different. That’s when the Solar Decathlon comes to town, and 20 cutting-edge solar-powered homes descend on the Mall.

An educational project from the Department of Energy and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Solar Decathlon is a competition among university teams from around the world to create the most efficient, attractive, and entirely solar-powered home. The teams spend almost two years designing and building their homes elsewhere, and transport them to the Mall to be rebuilt; the public is then invited to come tour, observe, and learn.

The challenge for participants is to create an efficient solar home that could actually serve the needs of a typical family, with all the modern conveniences, while being aesthetically striking. There are certain restrictions in place, such as a specified temperature range the homes have to maintain and types of equipment they have to power. Experts from DOE and NREL judge entrants in 10 categories, from architecture to market viability to home entertainment.

The homes generate energy with building-integrated (incorporated during construction) photovoltaic systems to produce electricity, and with solar thermal systems for space heating/cooling and water heating. The goal is a net-zero energy home that produces as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes. Teams come from as far as Germany and Spain, and as near as Virginia Tech and Penn State, to compete.

photo_gallery_montrealThe competition equips the student participants – future engineers, architects, builders, business owners, policy-makers – with the skills to make renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green building technologies part of their careers. It also teaches the rest of us about one of the world’s greatest challenges – our constantly increasing demand for energy and the need for sustainable solutions.

It’s well worth fighting the crowds to take a peek at the houses, with participating teams on hand to give insightful tours and explanations. The homes are open to visitors October 9-13 and October 15-18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. You can also attend presentations in the temporary educational village (whose technology is powered by solar electric systems, naturally).

solar decathlonOctober may be the month known for pumpkins, costumes, and trick or treaters, but it’s also brimming with green events that you won’t want to miss.

Wednesday October 7th

Green Building Policy and Design: Best Practices from Switzerland

A panel of experts will discuss the practical aspects of constructing green buildings in the U.S. and Switzerland.

Cost: Free, but RSVPs are essential (email: was.scienceevents@eda.admin.ch)
Location: The Embassy of Switzerland, 2900 Cathedral Ave.
Time: 6 pm

Friday October 9th

Extreme Green Gala

The event, which benefits CarbonFree DC, will feature high-profile environmentalists, organic food, a $5 cash bar (beer, wine, whiskey), two live bands, and an environmental art show benefiting WVSA youth art program.

Cost: $25
Location: Mott House, 122 Maryland Ave NE
Time: 6:30-11:30 pm

October 9-13 and October 15-18

The Solar Decathlon

University teams from around the world compete to design and build homes that run entirely on solar energy. The teams ship their partially constructed homes to the National Mall, assemble them, and then compete in 10 contests.

Location: The National Mall

Saturday October 10th and Sunday October 11

The Green Festival

The granddaddy of green events returns to DC with more than 125 speakers and 350 green businesses, as well as how-to workshops, green films, a Fair Trade pavilion, yoga classes, organic beer, organic cuisine, and live music.

Cost: $15
Location: Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Time: Saturday 10-7, Sunday 11-6

Thursday October 15th

Planting Empowerment Fundraiser

A happy hour to spread the word about Planting Empowerment, an organization that works with rainforest peoples in Panama to make conservation profitable.

Cost: $5 donation (includes free drink) or $10 (free drink plus an chance to win a $50 forest savings bond)
Location: Chi-Cha Lounge, 1624 U Street
Time: 5 to 8 pm

Saturday October 17th

Urban Composting

Put those worms to work and learn how to recycle your yard and kitchen waste, even if you don’t have a yard.

Location: Greater Goods, 1626 U Street NW
Time: 11 am

Friday October 23rd to Sunday October 25th

Introduction to Urban and Community Food Gardens

Spend a weekend learning the basics of urban gardening, garden design, and starting a community garden.

Location: Common Good City Farm, 2025 Elm Street NW
Cost:$200
Time: Friday, 6-9pm, Saturday, 9am – 5pm,  Sunday, October 25th 9-4

This post was written by Going Green DC contributing writer Alison Drucker.

The rewards of yard sharing. Fresh basil!

The rewards of yard sharing. Fresh basil!

What’s a city apartment dweller with a green thumb to do? Find a neighbor willing to share some yard space.

Sharing Backyards is a national project that connects people with unused yards with others in their communities looking for a place to cultivate something. It encourages urban gardeners to make the most of limited green space, gives people a connection to the land, and expands access to fresh, local food – while uniting neighbors and beautifying urban space.

The D.C. area is full of yard-sharing success stories. One of those is the partnership between Patricia, a Rockville resident with a double lot, and Rebecca, a first-time gardener inspired by Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle to reevaluate her food sources.

Patricia posted her spare space on the D.C. Sharing Backyards Web site and swiftly – within 15 minutes – received an email connecting her to Rebecca.

eHarmony couldn’t have done a better job matching the two. Rebecca found a gardening mentor in Patricia, and each found a good friend. A few patches of squash and tomatoes later, Rebecca had a new source of produce, which she happily shared with Patricia all summer. They didn’t have a formal arrangement for sharing the veggies, though some yard-sharing duos choose to lay down specific terms for who gets what and who supplies the tools, seeds, and soil.

Interested in yard-sharing? Use this online map to find a potential partner. If you’re in search of land, try to find a place close by, since tending a garden may become part of your daily routine – when it isn’t your own yard, you can’t just wander outside in your bathrobe to pull some weeds.

This post was written by Going Green DC contributing writer Alison Drucker.

Sometimes city life can leave you aching for fresh air – and fresh dirt. Not that grimy, stuck-to-the-bottom-of-your-shoe city dirt, but clean-smelling, produce-cultivating countryside dirt.

Get your hands dirty at Clagett Farm, a sustainable vegetable farm in Upper Marlboro, MD, owned and operated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Any able-bodied person can sign up to volunteer picking produce on the farm on Tuesdays through Saturdays. At least four hours of labor will get you the same full weekly share of fresh, local vegetables that a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) member receives.

The workshare is perfect for anyone who isn’t ready to commit to an entire season’s worth of harvest through a CSA membership, or who just wants to go learn about sustainable farming on a beautiful fall morning. Clagett Farm isn’t certified organic, but follows organic standards and doesn’t use genetically modified seeds.

In addition to doing good for the planet, the farm does good for the community. Almost half of Clagett Farm’s produce is distributed free or at a reduced cost to low-income DC communities in cooperation with the Capital Area Food Bank, expanding access to the fresh, healthy foods we all need in our diets.

Visit the Clagett Farm Web site to learn about participating in a workshare. Saturday workshares require calling ahead to sign up. Call 301.537.3038 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. a couple of days before the Saturday you want to work.

There’s still time to volunteer this season – September, October, and November bring broccoli, kale, cabbage, butternut squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, salad greens, carrots, turnips, collards, chard, spinach, and more.

If you’re adventurous in the kitchen and willing to explore new recipes as different fruits and vegetables are in season, purchase a 2010 CSA membership. Email clagettfarm@cbf.org to be notified when shares are available, and join the farm to get weekly batches of the season’s harvest.

IMG_0264This post was written by contributing writer Andrea Northup.

Imagine the following scenario:

Jenny is one of many schoolchildren in DC who receives free or subsidized meals at school every day.  One day, she finds a fresh, juicy slice of watermelon grown on a farm in Maryland on her cafeteria tray.  She meets the farmer who grew the fruit and learns about how the watermelon started as a seed, grew, and made it to her tray.  Jenny and her classmates participate in a cooking demonstration with a local chef using fresh, seasonal ingredients.

This scenario will be a reality during Local Flavor Week (September 21-25), when schools in DC will serve locally grown produce and offer educational opportunities for students, including produce tastings, cooking demonstrations, and farmer visits.

The event kicks off efforts to bring Farm to School programs to DC. The goal is to link schools with local farms in order to serve healthy meals in school cafeterias, improve student nutrition, provide health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and support local small farmers.

With the start of the school year, school lunch is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Farm to School programs are popping up across the country. It’s time for DC — with the White House Garden in our midst, and farms in the surrounding region looking for stable markets – to become a leader in the Farm to School movement.

IMG_0421Local Flavor Week is organized by the DC Farm to School Network in partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank, the National Farm to School Network, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Whole Foods, and other community partners.

wineLearn how a grape goes from the vineyard to your glass at an organic wine tasting sponsored by The DC Green Connection on Friday September 18th at 6pm at Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar.

Join sommelier Brian Cook on a virtual tour of organic wine production starting on the vineyard and ending with a tasting of several varieties of reds and whites. And what would a wine tasting be without a cheese pairing? Your ticket also entitles you to delicious canapés and an artisanal cheese board prepared by the restaurant’s chefs.

Space is limited so reserve your spot by emailing organizer Monika Thiele at dcgreenconnection@gmail.com or 206.790-1789. Tickets are $25 (members), $30 (non-members) at the door.

english gardenCurious about solar energy for your home? Want to learn about carbon offset programs? Interested in yard sharing? Then stop by the Green Your Home Expo on Saturday, September 12,  from 10 am – 2 pm at UDC’s outdoor plaza (4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW in front of building 38 and 39; Van Ness Metro stop).

Find out how to  ‘green’ your home and neighborhood, enjoy live music, a farmers’ market, and bicycle eco-tours. There will also be two hour-long panel discussions–”Act Locally” and “Think Globally”–with experts on sustainability, climate change, and residential greening. The panels begin at noon in the Windows Lounge on the 3rd floor of Building 38.

Exhibitors include CarbonFreeDC, Clean Currents, DC Greenworks, District Department of the Environment, Eco-Green Living, Green Living Consulting, Sharing Backyards, Standard Solar, Switch Renewable Energy, Zipcar, and more.

leaves from freefoto.com

leaves from freefoto.com

Yes, we’re all lamenting the end of summer. But cooler temperatures bring lots of events from workshops to street festivals to networking happy hours. Let the social season begin.

Tuesday September 8th

Green Drinks

6:30-9:30 at Current (1215 Connecticut Avenue, 202-955-5525). The usual suspects, a green signature cocktail, and a presentation by the authors of a new book on green jobs.

Thursday September 10th

Making Solar Energy Competitive: Swiss and American Perspectives

6 pm lecture followed by reception at the Embassy of Switzerland (2900 Cathedral Ave., NW).  Experts from two leading Swiss solar companies and from America’s premier solar research institution will discuss how technical innovation and manufacturing improvements have the potential to trigger the rapid growth of this renewable energy source. Cohosted by DC Green Connection. RSVP to was.events@eda.admin.ch

Saturday September 12th

Wash Your Hands of Triclosan Drop-Off

10-2 at the Whole Foods on P Street NW. Food & Water Watch will collect unwanted consumer products containing triclosan in hazardous waste bins and will haul them to the Fort Totten Trash Transfer Station for proper disposal. Simultaneously, all Whole Foods Markets in the Washington D.C area will offer an in-store promotion, buy one get one free, on triclosan-free antibacterial products through September 15th.

Sunday September 13th

The Green Pavilion at Adams Morgan Day

12-7 in Adams Morgan (18th Street between Columbia Rd. and Florida Ave.). Food, music, and a new Green Pavilion featuring local green vendors including Clean Currents, Treincarnation, Greater Goods, Skincando, Tranquil Space, the Sierra Club DC, Natural Body Spa & Shoppe, and more.

courtesy freefoto.com

courtesy freefoto.com

Have a green thumb or want to cultivate one? On Saturday, August, 29, 2009 from 9:00am to 12:00pm, the National Zoo’s Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability will be offering a workshop on organic gardening for anyone interested in growing plants, fruits, and vegetables in an environmentally sustainable way.

The workshop will be taught in the auditorium of the Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, VA by Tanya Amrheim Paull, the vegetable garden manager of the sustainable, chemical-free Belle Meade School and Farm.

Topics will include

–composting
–natural methods of pest control
–water conservation
–indoor gardening
–native plants, vegetables, and herbs for the autumn growing season.

Participants will leave prepared to turn their own gardens into sustainable havens.  The cost of attendance for FONZ members is $55; for non-members, the cost is $70.  Interested participants may register online by August 26 at Conservation Training.

Can’t make the workshop? Here are some organic gardening tips, courtesy of the Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability.

  • Choose native plants. They are already suited to the biological and climatic conditions of your garden and do not require additional water or chemical additives.
  • Put your vegetable scraps to work! Create a compost pile. You will both reduce waste and add nutrients to your garden.
  • If rainwater is not enough to keep your plants healthy, try to water in the early morning or late evening to avoid waste through evaporation.
  • Consider running a soil test. You can then determine the plants that will thrive in your garden without the application of fertilizers.
  • Before turning to chemical pesticides, do some research. You may be able to find plants that you can add to your garden to serve as all-natural pest deterrents.

This post was written by Going Green DC contributing writer Alison Drucker

7029648The The Extreme Green Neighborhood Makeover, an environmentally friendly home improvement project, will show DC residents in all neighborhoods and income brackets that energy-efficient, healthy homes can have economic as well as environmental benefits.

Thanks to a $20,000 National Geographic grant awarded to local grassroots organization CarbonfreeDC, 20 low-income families in the Deanwood and Shaw neighborhoods will receive green home improvements to trim their energy and water bills. Improvements could include compact fluorescent lights, programmable thermostats, weather-stripping, low-flow showerheads and faucets, power strips, and Energy Star appliances.

Ten homes will be randomly selected from qualifying applications in each neighborhood, and after an introductory orientation session for the families, they’ll receive environmental audits to identify how to get the biggest bang for the $1,000-per-home buck.

Deanwood, at the furthest-east end of Washington, is home to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and is the former home of Marvin Gaye and civil rights activist Nannie Helen Burroughs. Right now the neighborhood is being invigorated by several developments around the Minnesota Avenue metro station, as well as by green initiatives like Groundwork Anacostia River DC, which brings environmental education and restoration projects to the communities along the river.

Part of the U street corridor, Shaw was the center of African-American culture in DC through the 1960s. The 1968 riots destroyed much of Shaw and it was neglected for decades afterwards. Since the mid-1990s Shaw has been experiencing a renewal thanks to vibrant community organizations and a new influx of businesses and residents.

CarbonfreeDC hopes that the Extreme Green Neighborhood Makeover will have a lasting impact on these neighborhoods, and on the rest of the city. Workshops and community events will educate residents about smart energy and water conservation strategies and 30 more homes in each neighborhood will receive free environmental assessments.

Want to help? The Extreme Green Gala on Friday, October 9, will feature speakers, organic food, drinks, music, and an art sale. If you’d rather roll up your sleeves and get involved in the makeovers, CarbonfreeDC is looking for consultants, electricians, plumbers, and assistance with marketing and outreach. Email Rhys Gerholdt for more information at rhys006 [at] gmail.com.

herb garden at The StilpointFresh yogurt from Blue Ridge Dairy, organic strawberries from D&S Farm, local honey. Sounds like a delicious breakfast, but those are actually ingredients that esthetician and organic beauty specialist Sara Damelio uses in her customized facials at The Still Point day spa in Takoma Park.

The seasonal treatments are made in-house with organic ingredients from local farms sold at the Takoma Park Farmer’s Market and other farmers markets in the area. The Stillpoint also harvests a few ingredients from its own miniature herb and flower garden.

“The skin is the largest organ and immediately absorbs products that are put on it into the body.  It [the skin] is alive and responds best when fed active vitamins and nutrients from fresh organic whole foods,” says Damelio.

Damelio is currently offering a honey and heirloom basil treatment mask made with unprocessed honey from Patterson Farms in Sabinsville, PA.

lemonandhoney“Unprocessed honey is extremely nourishing for the skin especially during the winter months – it is wonderfully purifying, toning and hydrating and the effects of the treatment are long lasting,” according to Damelio.

Experience your very own farm to face treatment at the Stillpoint. Going Green DC readers get 15% off a facial with Sara if you mention the blog when you book your appointment.

Thanks to FreeFoto.com

Thanks to FreeFoto.com

August is the cruelest month. At least in DC, where 95% humidity is the norm. Fret not. We’ve pulled together a few activities that are either indoors or close to H2O so you can avoid turning into human jerky this week.

Tuesday August 11

Green Drinks at Gazuza (1629 Connecticut Ave.), 6:30-9:30. We recommend arriving early so you can hunker down at the indoor bar. In addition to the usual eco-minded mingling, Live Green will be selling their last round of raffle tickets and Dan Morrison, Executive Director of 1Well — an organization that partners socially and environmentally conscious individuals with small but critical projects for a community in need — is the guest speaker.

Thursday August 13

After 5 at the Phillips Collection. This week, enjoy jazz, art, and a “tasting of summer” courtesy of FRESHFARM markets.

All week

No swimming pool in the back yard? Then head to one of the District’s public pools for a free dip. Since this week is expected to be extra toasty, the DPR is extending hours at 13 outdoor swimming pools from 11 am to 9 pm, Mon-Wed. Visit the DC Department of Parks and Recreation for hours and locations.

LogoColorTextBelow

Going Green DC, Washington’s leading green blog, is looking for contributing writers. What we cover: sustainable living in DC, local green events, innovative small green businesses, sustainable local cuisine & restaurants, and green community projects.

Please send a short email to sachacohen [at] comcast.net with information about why you’d like to write for us. If possible, include links to writings samples or put a short writing sample in the body of the email (no attachments, please).

We are also looking for a PT web designer who has experience building on WordPress. Please note that these are unpaid positions at the current time.

Next Page »