Organic Wine Tasting

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

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.

Green Your Home Expo

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

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.

The Week in Green: September 7-14th

Posted on by Sacha Cohen
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.

Organic Gardening Workshop

Posted on by Sacha Cohen
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.

Green Neighborhood Makeover

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

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.