Farm to Face

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

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.

The Week in Green: August 10-18

Posted on by Sacha Cohen
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.

Contribute to Going Green DC!

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

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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.

DC Dirt with Chef Rob Weland

Posted on by Sacha Cohen
Photograph courtesy of Michael Harlan Turkell
Photograph courtesy of Michael Harlan Turkell

Poste Brasserie, part of the Kimpton Hotel family, is well-known for its environmentally sound practices and for its equally eco-minded star chef Rob Weland who has been at the helm since 2004.

Chef Weland is committed to using fresh, sustainable, and organic ingredients, some of which come from Poste’s own organic vegetable and herb garden.

In addition to overseeing the kitchen, he hosts the hugely popular market-to-market dinners and helped create the new farm-to-table ‘Poste Roasts.’

These farm-to-table dinners take place outside at the Chef’s table and feature spit-roasted meat sourced from local farmers and summer-inspired sides, all served family-style.

In this inaugural issue of DC Dirt, a new Q&A column with DC’s green movers and shakers, we sat down with Chef Weland who dishes on his favorite local green business, must-have organic staples, and more.

Favorite vegetable that you grow in the Poste Brasserie garden:

Heirloom tomatoes……But that’s considered a fruit….so garlic then!

Your cooking philosophy, in three words:

Simple, local, sustainable

Three ingredients you can’t live without:

Eggs, sea salt, good olive oil

Guilty pleasure:

Eggplant parmesan

Favorite local green business:

FRESHFARM Markets

Biggest eco sin:

Using too many paper towels at home,……according to my wife!

Organic “musts” for the home cook:

Shopping at their local market for eggs, dairy, and produce.

Your foodie heros:

Alice Waters, Larry Forgione, Marco Pierre White and Gray Kunz

The Week in Green

Posted on by Sacha Cohen

Not everyone is on the Vineyard or in the Hamptons. For us poor basterds left to sweat it out in our soupy city, here are a few things to do this week.

Tuesday, July 28

“Going Green for Jewelry” Fashion Show

Where: Poste Brasserie (555 8th St., NW), 6-10

Looking for a new bauble that says you’re all about Mother Earth? Then Evelyn Brooks Designs might be right up your alley. Brooks recycles materials, eliminates emissions from the production process, and works with natural seeds from the Amazon. The fashion show, which takes place on 123rd Independence Day for Peru, is inspired by “Tapadas Limenas,” women from the Peruvian Virreynal Era (1560-186) who covered their faces and heads with Spanish-style veils,

Wednesday, July 29

Lotions & Potions Workshop

Where: Greater Goods (1626 U St., NW), 8-9 pm, $12 (50% goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation)

Get your organic DIY on. For the Love of owner Kristina Libby will teach you how to make your own signature scent body scrub and bath salt.

Thursday, July 30

Birthright Earth Happy Hour

Where: Garretts (3003 M St., NW), 9-close (happy hour prices from 9-10).

This non-profit funds “eye-opening” trips to the rainforests of South America. Unfortunately for us, you need to be 18-26 to participate in the trips but anyone of any age can attend the happy hour and contribute to the cause. Recommended donation at the door is $10.

Saturday, August 1

GO Urban Adventure Race

Where: All over town, 12 p.m-5 p.m.

Think the Amazing Race on a Lilliputian scale. This scavenger hunt is “loaded with physical and mental challenges,” starts at noon, and can last up to five hours (God help you). All clues and responses will be through SMS messaging, so Luddites will need to sit this one out. You can run, jog, walk, or take public transportation to reach your GOpoints but no bikes, taxis, or rollerblades.

The race centers around businesses and organizations that provide healthy and sustainable options, and that follow sustainable business models. The winning team will get $400 in cash plus a month’s worth of tea from Honest Tea. We’ll drink to that.