FRESH - film & discussion about transforming our food system

Thanks to Jeanne at Linden Hills Co-op for the heads-up on this super-cool film event next week!

The Twin Cities Natural Food Co-ops – together with the Birchwood Café, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Land Stewardship Project and Bryant-Lake Bowl – are honored to present two nights of Fresh, a new film by Ana Sofia Joanes. The film will be shown on Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., at the Bryant-Lake Bowl and Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m., at the Riverview Theater.

Fresh features farmers, activists and others, who are re-inventing our food system, and includes interviews with Will Allen, Joel Salatin and Michael Pollan. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

An engaging panel discussion on reforming the Twin Cities food system will take place before the second screening at the Bryant-Lake Bowl and follow the screening at the Riverview.

Get your tickets in advance ($10) online. Or you can purchase them at the Birchwood. They’ll also be available at the door ($15 each), while supplies last.

Tuesday, June 2
6:30 p.m. (screening & panel), 9:30 p.m. (Screening only)
Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 West Lake Street – Minneapolis

Panelists :
Jeremy Iggers, Twin Cities food writer and executive director of Twin Cities Media Alliance 
Kristen Tombers, owner and operator of Clancy’s Meat and Fish
Sandy and Lonny Dietz, farmers at Whitewater Gardens
Rhys Williams, Land Stewardship Project board member and organic and sustainable food distributor for Co-op Partners Warehouse.
Ana Sofia Joanes, director and producer, Fresh

Wednesday, June 3
7:00 p.m. screening; panel immediately following
Riverview Theater, 3800 42nd Avenue South, Minneapolis

Panelists:
Maggie Adamek, Homegrown Minneapolis and University of Minnesota
JoAnne Berkenkamp, Local Foods Program Director, IATP
Ana Sofia Joanes, Director and Producer, Fresh
Greg Reynolds, Riverbend Farms
Tracy Singleton, Owner, Birchwood Café

Tips from Good Housekeeping

I'm on a family vacation to NC, and I picked up a Good Housekeeping magazine to flip through on the beach, and here are a few tibbit I gleaned from GH.

• Non toxic drain cleaner:  For sluggish drains, try this remedy.  First, fish out any gunk with a bent coat hander, knitting needle, chopstick, etc...  Then, toss about 1/2 cup baking soda mixed with 1/4 cup salt into the drain, followed by a cup or two of household vinegar.  Wait about 5 minutes, put in stopper and fill with hot water.  With the water still running, pull the stopper and rinse it all down the drain.  Flush thoroughly.
  
• The 'eco-friendly' claim for bamboo fabric is not always entirely accurate.  According to GH, "while bamboo is an easy-to-grow plant, in order to turn it into a soft, weavable yarm, the raw fibers go through a chemically intense process that is not typically good for the environment.  The material created is rayon, and any characteristic specific to bamboo, like its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, are likely destroyed..."  Interesting.
  
• A new non-toxic carpet cleaner recently earned the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal (which means it WORKS).  Non-toxic Spot Shot is said to "eliminate tough carpet stains, even old ones, with an environmentally-friendly formula that safe for kids and pets."
  

Don't forget about our EcoParents meeting on Monday, June 1: Non-toxic lawn care and pest control, with "Organic Bob" at the Linden Hills Park building, 6:30-8:30 pm!

Rain Barrels from recycled wine barrels!

Have you wanted to install rain barrels, but were a bit hesititant because of the aesthetics of the typical rain barrel? Have you been uninspired to put a big plastic drum along the side of your house that might interfere with your gorgeous garden?

Well...then check out Barrel Depot! This local company makes rain barrels (and planters and ourdoor tables) from recycled solid oak wine barrels.

You can buy one already converted into a rain barrel, or buy a barrel and a do-it-yourself kit (and save $68). The barrels can be ordered online and picked up at their warehouse in Shakopee...OR pick them up yourself at the Mill City Farmer's Market. They will also deliver for $35 for up to 2 barrels.

We are planning to buy a few this summer, as soon as we get our gutters re-done...I'll keep you all posted!

Zero Waste Linden Hills Festival - HUGE SUCCESS!

THERE WAS ONLY HALF A BAG OF TRASH PRODUCED AT THE LINDEN HILLS FESTIVAL! No joke! Seriously!

There were probably 2,000-3,000 people attending the Festival on Saturday (despite being a bit cold and blustery)...all eating loads of food and having lots of fun. But - at the end of the day, all we ended up with that wasn't either recyclable or compostable is pictured here...less than one bag!

How did we do it?

• created disposal stations with separate containers for trash, compostables, and recyclables, and had the station monitored with volunteers to help folks dispose of stuff in the appropriate container
• made minor adjustments in food service so that everything would be compostable (e.g., corn-based spoons, bulk condiments instead of individual packets, paper wrapped hot dogs instead of foil, no lids for hot cups, etc...)
• covered the rented tables with recycled kraft paper from a large roll instead of plastic table coverings
• instructed (and assisted) all vendors and exhibitors about complying with our zero waste goal
• rented compost carts from the city of Minneapolis to collect organic materials
• collected misc plastic film & wrap to deposit at 'it's in the bag' collection site
  
• had the BEST VOLUNTEERS EVER!

Thanks to all the marvelous volunteers who served as 'disposal monitors' and especially to my awesome crew at the end of the day! We couldn't have done it without you! Thanks also to all the vendors and exhibitors who complied with the rules so that we ended up with nearly ZERO WASTE.

So - how's that for a example of a 'green party?' If we can do it for an open, free, community event like the Linden Hills Festival, then surely you can do it for just about any event!

Litin Paper - great local party resource!

I was at Litin Paper yesterday picking up supplies for the Linden Hills Festival (TOMORROW!), and was reminded just how many good party supplies they have! And now, they carry eco-friendly party ware as well. They have biodegradable cutlery and tableware, plus lots of paper-based (i.e., recyclable or compostable) products for parties - especially for big parties b/c you can buy in bulk there. Oh - and the prices are very very reasonable! (Of course, they have lots of non-ecofriendly stuff as well though...)

Looking for a Green Handyman for your "Honey-do" spring projects?

Check out LettUs Service - a full-service, licensed and insured general contractor. They say that no job is too big or too small. They are a full-service design build contractor, with a partnership with a local construction firm for those BIG remodel jobs, but they also do small handyman jobs, like painting, gutters, small repairs, deck cleaning & sealing, vent cleanings, insulation, weather stripping, etc...

There are several good 'eco-friendly' design-build outfits out there for your major home rennovation project, but this is the first 'handyman' service I've come across that says that they have a commitment to doing things in an eco-conscious manner.

So, what do they do that makes them green?

• Low VOC caulks, adhensives, and paints
• Recycle building waste
• Focus on repair, reuse & recyling before replacing
• Eco-friendly materials such as tiles, counter-tops, sinks, etc...

Click here for a coupon for $50 off a job totaling $300 or more (expires June 1, 2009).

If you are more of a DIY kind of person - head to Natural Built Home at 4020 Minnehaha Ave, 612.605.7999, the go-to local resource for eco-friendly building materials. They are AWESOME (and one of our features local links)!!

Living Green Expo - lots of ideas & resources

We went to the Living Green Expo this past weekend at the State Fairgrounds and discovered a ton of new resources and ideas. Stay tuned as these ideas and resources are posted over the coming weeks and months.

Click here to see a list of exhibitors, sorted by topic.

Disposal Monitors Needed for Linden Hills Fesitval - Pls Volunteer!!

The Linden Hills Festival (Sat, May 16) needs your help! We especially need volunteers to be 'disposal monitors' to help the Festival be ZERO WASTE again this year. All volunteers receive a food voucher!

As a disposal monitor, all you'll have to do if to help direct folks to dispose of their waste into the appropriate container (e.g., recycling, compost, trash, etc...) Training will be provided! Disposal Monitors will receive a stainless steel water bottle as well (when the bottles arrive...)

A girl or boy scout troop would be great monitors, or any other group! Please consider signing up for a 2-hour shift...with friends!!

To sign up, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Laurie Foster, via email at fosterfamilymn@comcast.net or complete the online volunteer form at http://www.lindenhills.org/whatwedo/festival_volunteer_form.php

For general information on the Festival, visit the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council website at www.lindenhills.org

Thanks!

Organic Bob CONFIRMED for June 1 EcoParents Mtg

Mark your calendars!

We have confirmed Bob Dahm, aka "Organic Bob," as our speaker for the next EcoParents meeting! Bob recently conducted an organic lawns workshop at the Living Green Expo - and we are lucky to have him coming for EcoParents.

EcoParents: Non-toxic lawn care with Organic Bob!
Monday, June 1
6:30-8:30 pm
Linden Hills Park

Bob will talk about some of the health and environmental dangers associated with chemical-based lawn care, then present us with non-toxic alternatives for both lawn care and pest control, including do-it-yourself organic options. (He also provides organic lawn services.)

Hope to see you there!

Diaper Round-Up

There's a pretty good article in today's Star-Tribune discussing cloth diapers and the increasing use of cloth diapers instead of disposables. Check out the full article here.

Some local resources for cloth diapers:

• Do Good Diapers the only local diaper delivery service
• Sweet Pickles
• Peapod
• Twin Cities Green
• Linden Hills Natural Home

Not certain you're ready to take the plunge? Teeny Greenies offers a loan program to 'test drive' different styles of cloth diapers.

Still not quite ready for cloth? You can still make a greener choice by using gdiapers (biodegradable inside with washable cover) or Seventh Generation diapers (less chemicals utilized in the manufacture), both available at Whole Foods and various other retail outlets.

Intimidated? Check out one of these upcoming Cloth Diaper Classes!

• Blooma, 3919 W. 44th St., Edina, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. June 2, 952-848-1111 or www.blooma.com. $18
• Southdale Library (sponsored by Sweet Pickles), 7-9 pm, Thu, May 21 and Wed, June 10. Email Sweet Pickles for a reservation. FREE!

I'd LOVE to hear your stories about diapering! Please share via the comments!