Green June Events Part Deux

Mark your calendar for another crop of green events this month, including a special film screening from The Environmental Film Festival, a garden fiesta to support City Blossoms, and more.

Film Screening: Climate of Change
June 16
When: 6:30
Where: Letelier Theater, 3251 Prospect St., NW (enter through courtyard next to Café Milano)
What: “Climate of Change” is about ordinary people around the globe, from London to Indonesia, who are taking action to save their local environments. The screening is hosted by The DC Environmental Film Festival, Cost is $20 per person and seating is limited. RSVP required to chris@envirofilmfest.org. A wine reception catered by Sweetgreen follows the screening.

Biking, Walking, Public Transport: Smart Mobility for the 21st Century
June 23
When: 6:30 pm
Where: Goethe-Institut Washington, 812 7th St., NW (Gallery Place Metro)
What: Part of the Institut’s 2010 event series Green Living, this panel discussion will look at what can be learned from cities across the world to improve the safety, convenience, and feasibility of non-motorized modes of transportation. There will also be a hands-on demonstration of how to change a bike tire by Daniel Hoagland, DC Bike Ambassador, Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

City Blossoms’ Garden Fiesta
June 24
When: 6-8
Where: The playground on the corner of 11th and Harvard St., NW (Columbia Heights Metro)
What: Enjoy music and delicious treats in a lovely garden setting. A $15 suggested donation will go toward City Blossoms. Please RSVP to Rebecca@CityBlossoms.org

Film Screening and Solutions Fair
June 30th
When: 6:00 reception followed by the film screening at 7:30
Where: Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (Archives/Navy Memorial Metro)
What: A wine tasting, green solutions fair, and film screening. “Local Warming” follows the fictional adventures of a stubborn suburbanite who sets off on an odyssey of proving that a few people can make a difference about global warming by gathering a group of locals to collectively reduce their carbon emissions by the same amount that the Harbor Energy Plant in Bridgeport, Conn., puts out each year. Film director Tom Reilly will be in attendance. A $10 donation is requested at the door, which includes a glass of wine. All proceeds go the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Register and more information.

Deals for Deeds: Q&A with Harrison Miller and Josh Hoffman

Get discounts on cool local products and services and give back at the same time. That’s the premise behind Deals for Deeds–a sort of Groupon for the socially conscious set.

Their latest initiative is Plant a Tree DC. For every 250 people that sign up for Deals for Deeds, they plant a tree in DC.

We sat down with founders Harrison Miller and Josh Hoffman to talk about the Deals for Deeds concept, the local angle, and what they’re doing to be green.

Why did you start Deals for Deeds?

Around the time that we graduated from Wharton, Josh and I saw social media popping up in so many different ways–Twitter was really booming. And the group-buying concept also started to become quite popular and would again find its way into so many of our conversations.

Deals For Deeds grew out of a small thought of how we can use some of this power to make a difference, fused with our love of DC and our feeling that there is so much to explore in this city, even if you’ve lived here your whole life!  For us, the company isn’t just about being environmentally conscious, or socially conscious, or being a part of the community, or promoting local businesses, or helping local charitable organizations, its about ALL those things, working together!

Have you featured any environmentally friendly businesses?

Yes, we’ve featured Freshii, Herban Lifestyle, Arganica Farm Club, and others.

What types of charities/non-profits benefit from Deals for Deeds? Any environmental/green ones?

We’re pretty open about the types of charities we feature.  Our main criteria at this point is that they use the money we donate locally in some fashion.  So, if the organization isn’t purely local, we want to ensure it’s going to the local chapter or for use on a local project.

How are you green in your day-to-day lives?

As individuals, we do the basics — recycling, carpooling, walking, etc. — whenever possible.  As a company, we’re committed to being sustainable as well.  Our office uses 100% wind power via Clean Currents, we print our advertising material on 100% recycled paper w/vegetable based inks, and our t-shirts are made from 69% recycled material.

Eco-Chic Fashion at the Corcoran

Who says fashion can’t be earth friendly? On Wednesday April 21 (the day before Earth Day, in case you forgot!), The Fashion Group International and the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Corcoran College of Art + Design will host “Eco Chic: Night of Stars and Rising Stars.”

The evening will recognize pioneers of the Eco Chic movement for their ecological and ethical design in fashion, art, beauty, architecture, and interior design.

Local rising star nominees include Nusta Spa, TranquiliT, Perfect Organics, and Skincando.

The cocktail reception will feature a fashion presentation that includes London Fashion Week “Eco Designer of the Year” winner, Jeff Garner of Prophetik , acclaimed designer Monique Péan, as well as rising star nominees Calamarie, Alberto Parada, and TranquiliT.

After the reception, guests will enjoy the Eco Chic awards ceremony emceed by NBC4 news anchor Wendy Rieger.

And what’s a swanky event without an equally swanky goody bag? The one at this event will be filled with eco-themed products supplied by the sponsors and members of The Fashion Group

Tickets: FGI and Corcoran Members $120. Non-members $150.

Earth Day-Inspired Fashion

Guest post by Heidi Strom Moon of the Closet Coach.

Armour sans Anguish

Every Earth Day, articles are written about “green” and sustainable fashion, from Bono’s Edun line to those totes that proclaim (perhaps a bit too loudly?) I Am Not a Plastic Bag”.

Many make a single green fashion purchase and consider it their contribution for the year; they’ve done their “duty.”

But truly eco-friendly dressing goes a deeper than that — and is almost as easy as tossing your recyclables in the ubiquitous big blue bin. In fact, if you’re already trying to live green, you can take a cue from the well-known 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reduce

Listed first, in spite — or because — of being the most difficult to achieve, “Reduce” calls on us to use less stuff in the first place for multiple reasons.

So, the fashionista says with a tremble, does this mean you want me to … shop and buy less? It seems daunting, but think of it another way: all of the top stylists will tell you to transform your wardrobe by first editing (reducing) your clothing inventory, and then carefully supplementing the remaining pieces with a few, well-chosen, high-quality, classic items.

So this idea of reducing isn’t so new after all. The hardest part is focusing on key foundational items and ignoring the constant allure of the cheap, the trendy, and the on sale right now.

Reuse

Reusing takes a little more ingenuity. As you take stock of the contents of your closet, and remove the items you rarely wear, are there any that could be brought back to life? Are they in need of mending? Could your trusted tailor transform the silhouette into something more current? Could you rescue a boring or worn-out sweater with the artful application of buttons or beads?

Recycle

Recycle is a close cousin to Reuse when it comes to clothing. After all, you can’t place last season’s trendy top in the big blue bin.

But if you can’t reuse an item and make it wearable, can the fabric and materials serve another purpose?

Stockings with holes are often recycled by transforming them into practical applications. And Dad used to tear his old T-shirts into strips to use for waxing the car.

Going a step further, garments can be recombined and redesigned entirely. In addition to recycling your own garments, you can shop for new items that are made from reclaimed materials–such as the tops and dresses from Armour Sans Anguish and numerous other Etsy stores that embody the reuse and recycle ethos.

Finally, consider these principles not so much a new way to live, but a proud return to yesteryear. Ask any grandmother who lived through the Depression or World War II how they made do when materials or money was scarce. To them, the 3 Rs weren’t a slogan; they were a way of life.

Winter Farmer’s Market Finds

Guest post by Carrie Madren

Some of the DC-area farmer’s markets stay open year-round, giving locals an opportunity to sample fresh winter vegetables. In season are apples (stored in cool temps), beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash.

Among the best ways to prepare a cold-weather bounty is roasting it with savory dried herbs and spices, and with a flexible recipe such as the one below, you can throw together whatever vegetables you have on hand for a scrumptious side dish.

Roasted Winter Vegetables

6-8 cups winter vegetables: beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash (peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces or slices 1/2-inch thick)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp dried or 3 Tbsp fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano

Directions: Toss ingredients together (keep onions separate, as they will roast faster; add them to the pan 10 minutes into the baking time). Spread in a single layer on greased baking pans. Roast in a preheated oven at 425 degrees until tender, about 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with roasted garlic sauce (see below).

Roasted garlic sauce: Remove loose papery layers from outside of a whole garlic bulb but do not peel. Slice off top of the bulb, exposing the tip of each clove. Place on a square of aluminum foil and drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil or just season with salt and pepper. Wrap tightly and bake alongside the vegetables until tender. Squeeze soft roasted cloves into a small bowl, mash with fork, and stir in 3/4 cup plain yogurt.

Serves 8
(Recipe courtesy “Simply in Season” by Mary Beth Lind)

Arlington Farmers Market
North Courthouse Road and 14th Street (courthouse parking lot)
703-228-6400 (George Parish)
Saturdays, year-round: 9 a.m.-noon, January-April

Bethesda Central Farm Market
Elm Street between Woodmont Ave. and Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD
Sundays, year-round, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Clarendon Farmers Market
Wilson Boulevard and N. Highland Street, Arlington (Clarendon Metro Station)
703-812-8881
2-7 p.m. Wednesdays, year-round

Columbia Pike Farmers Market
South Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike (Pike Park in front of the Rite Aid)
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, winter season

Del Ray Farmers Market
East Oxford and Mount Vernon avenues
703-683-2570 (Pat Miller)
9 a.m.-noon Saturdays, winter season
pmiller1806@comcast.net

Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market
20th and Q streets NW
202-362-8889
Sundays, year-round: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 3-March 28

Eastern Market Outdoor Farmers Market
225 Seventh St. SE
202-698-5253 (Barry Margeson)
7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, year-round

Kensington Farmers Market
Howard Avenue (Kensington train station parking lot)
301-949-2424 (Shirley Watson)
8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, year-round

Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market
7155 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda
7 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, year-round

Takoma Park Farmers Market
Laurel Avenue between Eastern and Carroll avenues
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, year-round