Category: Events

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit conference this weekend

The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit will be hosting their fifth annual conference this weekend. "Bioneers" as they call themselves promote practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring the Earth's ecosystems and healing our human communities. Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit helps promote collaboration and networking among southeast Michigan individuals and organizations working on sustainability and eco-justice issues.

The workshops will be held at Marygrove College with tours nearby. The tours highlight places including: WARM Training Center, urban garden tours put on by the Greening of Detroit and a Riverwalk tour given by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The one I am most interested in and will be attending is the Cass Community Social Services'Mudmats from Tires - Recycling Motown Style.' They train and employ homeless people to make mudmats out of abandoned tires that they recycle. Two subjects close to my heart.

There are also three days worth of speakers on subjects such as permaculture, sustainability, health and energy.

Saturday and Sunday are also filled with workshops from presenters speaking on local economies, food, transition, beekeeping, communities, small farms and a whole lot more!

Category: Events

'Backyardigans' unite!

Ever unroll a sleeping bag on your deck and cozy in for a night under the stars? Or pitched a tent in your yard and roasted hotdogs on a stick. I HAVE!!! And this Saturday, people across the country will be doing the same thing. Raise the national Kumbaya level and join in! 

The National Wildlife Federation, in conjunction with their "Be Out There" campaign, is sponsoring the Great American Backyard Campout, to encourage families and friends to get outdoors and enjoy each other and the company Mother Nature has to offer.

Jump on the Web site and register your backyard. Registrants will get a homepage that allows you to invite others to your campout, a spot on the online map and free newsletters with tips and planning materials. You can also see who in your area (and across the country!) is taking part in the Campout. And it's all free, free, free!

The Web site offers fun camping tips, mp3s of campfire songs and pdfs with their lyrics, games, crafts and activities for the family. They even have a packing checklist, directions on how to pitch your tent, and fun recipes. Share your favorite camping recipes with others at their flickr message board.

When it's all said and done, share your photos and experiences with others and encourage them to enjoy a night under the stars with their loved ones!

Category: Events

Seminar: Learn how to start your fall crops

The Detroit Urban Garden Education series provides gardeners of all skill levels the opportunity to attend interesting, hands-on workshops on a variety of gardening and garden-related topics. The classes, open to all residents of Wayne County, have an organic gardening emphasis and are designed for gardens that are producing food (vegetables, fruits and herbs). Classes are held twice a month at various locations in Detroit. The cost of the class is $3 for participants in the Garden Resource Program and $5 for non-participants.

WHAT: Autumn Harvest; Succession Gardening

WHEN: Saturday, June 13th, 1-3 p.m.

WHERE: Birdtown Community Garden next to Canine to Five at 3443 Cass Ave., Detroit

THE GARDEN RESOURCE PROGRAM COLLABORATIVE: The Greening of Detroit, Detroit Agriculture Network, EarthWorks Garden/Capuchin Soup Kitchen, and Michigan State University work collaboratively to support the Garden Resource Program, Urban Gardening Education Series, and Urban Roots. For more information please call Ashley Atkinson at 313-237-8736 or visit www.detroitagriculture.org

Category: Events

Corktown cleanup this Saturday

Detroit Synergy would love some volunteer help for the "Corktown Sprucing" this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will be helping the Corktown Residents Association, the Corktown Historical Society, and the Greater Corktown Development Corporation. Detroit Synergy's Flower Power Crew will be planting sunflowers and wildflowers around the neighborhood, too.

They will be preparing the area alongside the Fisher Freeway, in the area of Tiger Stadium, for the annual Corktown Tour of Detroit's oldest neighborhood, which will highlight that area (including the portion of the stadium remaining.) The Cochrane Street pedestrian overpass needs to have trash and debris removed so people can cross safely. There might be some graffiti that needs to be given a fresh coat of paint.

They are encouraging people to bring a few paper yard-waste bags to contribute. They will have a good supply of tools for volunteers to use. Dress for dirt and/or paint. Hats, sunscreen (it is midday), and gloves recommended, as are sturdy shoes.

The meeting place is at Harrison and Pine streets (across the Fisher Freeway from the old Tiger Stadium). Harrison is between Trumbull and Rosa Parks. Pine is parallel to, and one street north of, the Fisher/I-75 service drive. If coming from the southbound Lodge Freeway, exit southbound I-75, stay to the right and take the Trumbull exit onto the service drive. Turn right on Harrison (just past Trumbull). If coming from southbound I75, exit at Rosa Parks Blvd, turn right at the light, then right again at the first street (Pine).

Look for Mike Mogill when you get there, as he is the Detroit Synergy Project Clean Coordinator and he will help get you started on a project.

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Category: Events

VegFest this Sunday in Ferndale

VegFest (formerly the Great American Meatout) is happening this weekend so you can stretch out your Earth Day events (because remember: Earth Day is everyday)!

At the Ferndale High School from 12-5 p.m. this Sunday, you can see presentations and hear speakers such as John Salley. Salley, a longtime vegan and former Detroit Piston, will speak about how going veg improved his basketball game and his life. Local restaurants, such as Inn Season Cafe , will have vegetarian cuisine to sample. There will be food demonstrations from eight local cooks, ranging from smoothies to salad and sauces and even dessert.

The exhibitors make an impressive list of who's who in Detroit (and beyond) for living a green, veg life! Maple Creek Farm is a family-owned farm in Yale, Mich. The farm participates in Community Supported Agriculture, in that it is a farmer-consumer direct relationship. This approach to farming allows for the farmer to work on growing rather than selling and allows you (the consumer) better value for your hard-earned money. Consider it as "farming with a face," where you buy "shares" in the farm and reap the benefits with many drop-off locations in the tri-county area to pick up your organically-grown food.

VegFest promises to be bigger and better than before as it educates visitors about the benefits of a plant-based diet and doing so in an environmentally-friendly way. The event is sponsored in part by VegMichigan.

Category: Events

Recycle Royal Oak

The City of Royal Oak will be hosting Recycle Royal Oak on Sunday from 12-4 p.m. on Fourth Street, between Main and Center streets. There is no charge for admission. The event is co-sponsored by the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority and the City of Royal Oak's Environmental Advisory Board in belated celebration of Earth Day.

Be one of the first 1,000 families to the event and receive a free recyclable Royal Oak bag. There will be tons of activities for the kids, including crafting with Arts&Scraps, seed planting and "Save the Earth Story Time" with English Gardens and face painting at Douglas J.

Adults will have plenty to do as well. Take note of the new recycling receptacles downtown as you head to Douglas J for your free 5-minute chair or hand massage. Noir Leather will be hosting a T-Shirt Surgery Station. Bring an old T-shirt and turn it into a purse! English Gardens will have products to help you with your composting and local expert Mr. Rain Barrel will demonstrate how to store and recycle rainwater. SOCRRA, The Sierra Club and The Environmental Advisory Board will hold informational sessions as well.

There will also be plenty of sales to help keep the green in your wallet! Incognito will offer $10 toward the purchase of a new pair of shoes if you bring in a pair to donate to the Detroit Rescue Mission. Stop by and see their men's shoes made of recycled materials! Feeling shaggy? Take advantage of $10 haircuts or $5 brow waxes at Cut-A-Thon! Call Douglas J Salon for an appointment at (248) 336-5500. All proceeds will go to the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Give your garden a jolt with free coffee grounds from Caribou Coffee. Make sure to bring your own container and lid. And if the smell of coffee perks up your tastebuds, head over to Coldstone Creamery where they will foot 15 percent of your bill!

And, in an effort to help you with your spring cleaning, round up your old electronics and send them to their final resting place by donating them to Recycling for Charities. They will be collecting PDAs, iPods, cell phones and digital cameras.

Much more awaits you in downtown Royal Oak on Sunday. Take advantage of some promising weather and head over in celebration of Mother Earth. You could go home with a fancy haircut, new sneaks and certainly a greener state of mind!

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Category: Events

Everybody loves Green Drinks on Earth Day!

Green Drinks International is holding a kick-off party today for its latest member -- Detroit!

Green Drinks is an international meet-up organization that holds informal yet lively discussions once a month at an area bar/restaurant for anyone interested in environmental issues. The atmosphere provides the perfect platform for networking and socializing with professionals, students, business owners and activists. The first meeting of the Earth-friendly minds of Green Drinks Detroit will be held at The Majestic Cafe, 2140 Woodward Ave., Detroit, on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Green Drinks is active in 488 cities around the world. Other recent additions to the Green Drinks ranks include Frederick, Md.; Charleston W. Va.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Johnson City, Tenn., Silver Spring, Md.; Esbjerg, Denmark; and Brixton, UK. Check out the logos of the different cities involved; a true testament to the personality of each group!

Green Drinks Detroit will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month, with the next two meet-ups planned for May 27 and June 24. Locations are to be determined, but check in with their Web site for details. While you're out and about surfing the Web, check out this article about Green Drinks in The New York Times. And, if you are a member of Facebook, make sure to join their group by searching for Green Drinks.

What a fitting way to celebrate Earth Day! Happy Green Drinking!

Category: Events

Check out an urban garden and a garden alley Saturday

Eager urban farmers will break ground Saturday morning on the North Cass Community Garden and afterward can head over to Motor City Brewing Works and hear about the Green Alley project unfolding behind the watering hole and eatery.

The North Cass Community Garden project will transform a lot at Second and Willis in Detroit into individual plots for gardeners. Volunteers are requested to help clean and prepare the site starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The nearby brewery, located 470 W. Canfield, also will be getting into the spirit, with a ceremonial groundbreaking on the Green Alley project from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The pub, in partnership with Green Garage, the city, DTE and others is planning to remake the cracked, weedy, garbage-ridden alley out back into a beautiful, walkable, green gathering space. The project partners will share their plans with anyone who'd like to listen Saturday. The Green Alley is a crucible in which to test methods that can be used throughout the city; this groundbreaking is just the first step in a long-term project.

So, come on down, enjoy the warmth, the sunshine, the neighbors and the hope, and take part in turning this little corner of the world into a better, greener place!

Category: Events

Detroit Permaculture group: Everyone's welcome!

Wanna learn about permaculture? I know I do. Detroit Permaculture might be the place for you! It is a study group that meets every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. in Corktown.

As I am beginning to understand it, the idea of permaculture is for indivduals to learn how to design environments on local plots or yards to be more self-reliant and self-sufficient in how they feed themselves. This reduces reliance on having to purchase food from industrial sources.

The purpose of Detroit Permaculture is to explore the principles of permaculture and the application of those principles in Detroit. Kathleen Devlin believes, "We can create the world we envision. And we can create a sustainable local economy." The group will also explore green jobs, the green economy and green culture through discussions, readings and hands-on experience.

After numerous trips from Detroit to New Orleans to help out after Hurricane Katrina, Devlin decided to settle into Detroit and make a difference. She runs the Spirit Farm in North Corktown, built on three city lots, based on the principles of permaculture, next to the Spirit of Hope Church at 1519 Martin Luther King Blvd.

All are welcome to attend the meetings and members do not have to attend every meeting or even read the books they discuss to become involved. You only have to a desire to learn more on permaculture and share your skills.

Category: Events

Find unique holiday gifts at Earthworks open house

Earthworks Urban Farm is hosting a holiday open house Dec. 1-19.

Stop by Earthworks' work space at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen (1264 Meldrum, Detroit, 48207) any weekday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to take a garden tour and to find out more about the urban farm's mission and how to volunteer. You can also purchase Earthworks products including notecards, local honey and jams, handbalm made with the local beeswax and more.

What a special way to wish someone happy holidays!

UPDATE: I just did some Christmas shopping at the holiday open house where I picked up some black raspberry currant jam, honey, hand balm and beautiful cards made by the kids of the Rosa Parks Art Studio at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Everything cost $10 or less!