Archive for June, 2011
Transition Berkeley Potluck and Movie: “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil” 6/29/11
Join Transition Berkeley tonight for a potluck and movie: “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil”. The movie offers a fascinating look at Cuba’s transition from a highly industrial society to a sustainable one. Cuba became, for them, a living example of how a country can successfully traverse what we all will have [...]
Understanding Farmers’ Market Prices: How to spend wisely and get the most out of your dollar while shopping the market
Affordability has always been an important aspect of farmers’ market shopping. One of the basic ideas behind direct marketing is that by cutting out middlemen like wholesalers and retailers, customers can get a better deal on fresh, high quality produce, and farmers can set fair prices because they are able to retain every dollar they [...]
Recycling Update: Strategies for Closing Berkeley’s Budget Gap
This past spring, the Ecology Center’s Curbside Recycling Program found itself in peril: the City of Berkeley’s Solid Waste Division was facing a budget shortfall, and a consultant hired by Public Works staff recommended termination of the Ecology Center’s recycling contract, among other strategies to cut costs. The consultant’s report threw the Ecology Center into [...]
Hands-on Fruit Tree Grafting workshop
Join us on Sunday, June 26 to learn to do your own fruit tree grafting with expert California Rare Fruit Grower John Valenzuela. We’ll graft a new variety onto the EcoHouse’s plum tree which was damaged by last winter’s storms. Learn how to graft apple, cherry, pear, and more and create your favorite fruit trees. [...]
California Olive Growing and Pressing at Yolo Bulb
Katie H. Michel, our Farmers’ Market Operations Manager, visited Yolo Bulb to interview Madison, our newest olive oil vendor at the Tuesday South Berkeley Farmers’ Market. When Mike Madison decided to plant an orchard on his 22-acre property near Winters, he set forth three requirements for his tree crops: that they have minimal pest problems, [...]
Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All with Oran Hesterman 6/26
On Sunday, June 26, Books, Inc. and the Ecology Center host author Oran Hesterman as he introduces his new book, Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All. Fair Food is a guide to changing not only what we eat, but how food is grown, packaged, delivered, and sold. So how is Fair [...]
Movement Builders and Shakers Forum: The Clean Air Act and Global Warming
Join us this Wednesday, June 22 for the launch of a quarterly forum on political action, campaigns worth knowing about, and how you can plug in. We begin with a lively discussion with the Center for Biological Diversity on the Clean Air Act, our best hope against climate change. Signed into law by Richard Nixon [...]
Do you have what it takes to win Battle for the Bay?
Save The Bay, in conjunction with Free Range Studios, launched Battle for the Bay in celebration of their 50-year Anniversary. Save The Bay members George A. Miller and Janet McKinley will donate $1 to Save The Bay for every person who plays the game, up to $10,000. Further, each player that completes the game will [...]
Urban Adamah Grand Opening and Farm Festival 6/19/11
Please join us on Sunday, June 19, for the grand opening of Berkeley’s new Jewish urban farm! Urban Adamah is a new community farm and environmental educational center at the corner of San Pablo and Berkeley in West Berkeley. The Grand Opening, from 10:00 – 1:30, will feature diverse programs for kids and adults of [...]
REUSE! Shop the Bear-ly Used Bazaar this Saturday
Every fall, a tide of UC students flow in to Berkeley, and every spring, the tide flows out, leaving lots of lightly used furniture. In years past, a lot of furniture was piled up on curbs and went to waste, but this year promises to be different. We are very excited to announce the Bear-ly [...]
EcoHouse Tour plus Clinic: Solar Energy for All Incomes 6/12/11
Come get inspired and learn new skills at the EcoHouse with a tour of the site and gardens. Begin at 10am with a tour of the Ecology Center’s EcoHouse demonstration site and learn about simple improvements that can be made to green an urban home. The tour includes: Berkeley’s first city-permitted wetland / greywater system, [...]
Help support the bill to cut styrofoam waste
Last week the California state Senate passed a bipartisan bill to cut Styrofoam waste — potentially saving the lives of thousands of marine birds and mammals. Now the pressure’s on to get the bill through the Assembly, where the fight will be even tougher. Tell your Assembly member to vote in support of bill SB [...]
Join us for Family Fun Festival 6/4/11
Stop by the Family Fun Festival this Saturday, June 4. A whole day of free fun for the whole family! Featuring hands-on activities, games, contests, performances, and informational booths, including a bouncy house; farm animal encounter area with goats, chickens, and pigs; carnival games, face painting; craft booth; and the Bear-ly Used Bazaar, a sale with [...]
