Archive for December, 2010
Headway on banning plastic bags
While the plastic bag ban was defeated at the state level, there’s encouraging news: cities and counties across California are taking matters into their own hands and displaying initiative on local plastic bag ban ordinances; San Jose, Los Angeles, and Long Beach have already passed such ordinances or else have them underway. And the movement is also [...]
Goodbye, incandescents!
The state of California has begun a phase-out of incandescent light bulbs that will result in an eventual ban by 2012. Incandescent bulbs will be replaced by compact fluorescent bulbs and halogens. Read more here. And don’t forget to bring your expired CFLs to your nearest hazardous material drop-off site! StopWaste provides a thorough list [...]
The Legal Gray Area of the New Green Economy
This past November, the Ecology Center hosted the Green Gathering, in conjunction with the City of Berkeley. Every year, we feature a variety of interesting new projects that are gaining steam locally, projects that are moving us toward a better future. At the Green Gathering, Janelle Orsi gave a lively presentation on a new sector [...]
Spreading Happiness with Farm Fresh Choice
Join us this Thursday, December 23 as Farm Fresh Choice and the I am Happy Project host guest speaker Edwin Edebiri (CHO of the I am Happy Project) at the Ecology Center. Come hear his 10 easy steps to happiness. We’ll serve light refreshments. Donations happily accepted, no one turned away for lack of funds. Thursday, December 23, [...]
Keeping it Fresh: Tips on Making Your Food Last
We are all looking forward to the feasting that comes with the winter holidays. Please note that the last two Berkeley Farmers’ Markets of the year are this Tuesday 12/21 and Thursday 12/23. Stock up on squash, greens, and apples! As usual, Mr. Davis of Ludwig Avenue Farm will be selling pecan and sweet potato [...]
Buy handmade, buy local at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market Holiday Crafts Fair
With just a week left before Christmas, what better opportunity to buy handmade gifts for your loved ones than at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market Holiday Crafts Fair? You’ll find vendors selling jewelry, body products, toys, clothes, tote bags, cards, fine art, and ceramics. Looking for something unique to inspire your friend into the DIY lifestyle? [...]
Inexpensive holiday gift ideas, brought to you by the Ecology Center
Dear EcoTeam, The economy has taken a toll on my finances and I expect a real hard time this year coming up with holiday gifts. I’m underemployed and struggling, but I still want to get people good gifts that are green. Do you have some inexpensive ideas for me because I’m a little despairing. —Flat [...]
Donate today to maximize a matching grant to Farm Fresh Choice!
Dear Friend of the Ecology Center, In November, the midterm elections swept 47 new lawmakers into Congress who are skeptical of man-made climate change. Many of them believe global warming is a hoax, while others view it as a non-threat. More recently, the cascade of Wikileaks revealed this nugget: Saudi Arabia’s minister of petroleum “was [...]
Join us for a beekeeping clinic 12/12/10
Join us on Sunday, December 12 for a tour of the EcoHouse site and gardens. Featuring Berkeley’s first city-permitted wetland/greywater system, rainwater cistern and water catchment strategies, a living roof garden, organic permaculture gardening, solar panels, on-demand and solar water heater, natural and recycled building materials, native drought tolerant plants, mushroom cultivation, earthworks raingarden, drip [...]
Ecology Center urges passage of Food Safety Bill
Please read this update on the SB 510, the Food Safety Bill that was recently passed in the US Senate. The Ecology Center’s views are in alignment with that of Community Alliance with Family Farmers: “SB 510, the FDA Food Safety bill, passed the US Senate yesterday by a vote of 73-25. It contains virtually [...]
Member Appreciation Sale & Holiday Crafts Fair
This Sunday, December 5th, stop by the Ecology Center store for our annual Member Appreciation Sale. Stop in for free gifts, hot cider, and a 20% members-only discount on all regularly priced store merchandise. Click here for the Ecology Center Store’s December hours. The Berkeley Farmers’ Market will be hosting its annual Holiday Crafts Fair [...]
Join us for an evening with Joel Salatin
Joel Salatin, a third-generation alternative farmer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, will be in Berkeley on January 21 to give a talk about symbiotic farming, local food, and the ethical and spiritual thread that “connects the field to the plate.” Joel’s family farm, Polyface Farm, is an innovative model of community-supported agriculture that seeks to develop [...]
