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Archive for January, 2010

Ethos Vegan Kitchen, located at 1235 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, has many events every month that are open to the public!  Some of their upcoming events for January and February are:

  • Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 7-8pm on the patio: Intro to Vegan Cooking.  This is a FREE cooking demonstration and Chef Kelly will cover how to make sauces and gravy. 
  • Saturday, January 30, 2010: FREE cookies for all to help celebrate Ethos Vegan Kitchen’s 2 year anniversary!  Yummy!
  • Monday, February 1, 2010: Buy Local Orlando Day.  Show your Buy Local Orlando card and receive a 15% discount!
  • Thursday, February 4, 2010: 10% day to benefit Health Care Center for the Homeless.  Get great vegan food while supporting a very worthwhile cause!

If you go to their website, you can sign up for their monthly email newsletter that will let you know of all their upcoming events.

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A community garden volunteer opportunity!

UCF Community Garden Workday

10 AM – 4 PM

UCF Arboretum

Spend some time up close and personal with an organic garden. The UCF Arboretum has a one acre community garden for students and also open to the public.

Please join in this day to help plant & pull weeds. The garden is well established with a great diversity of vegetables, herbs, & fruit trees. This garden workday is cosponsored by Simple Living Institute, Inc.

The UCF Arboretum is looking for ongoing support from the greater Orlando communicty and you may volunteer any time. Bring your tools, gloves. Carpooling is highly recommended as there is limited parking at the campus. Sign up if you would like to join in. info@simplelivinginstitute.org or call 321-228-4310

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It’s almost planting time… here’s another garden opportunity!

Organic Growers Meeting

7 PM – 9 PM

Camilla Room,
Harry P. Leu Gardens

1920 Forest Ave,
Orlando, FL 32803

The Organic Growers meeting is free and open to anyone interested in organic gardening, organic foods, or products. Arrive early (6:30ish) for socializing & food. After the meeting, the discussion continues til 10p at nearby Ethos Vegan Kitchen.

THIS MONTH

Tina Richards, Environmental Education at UCF Arboretum, will share her expertise & experience setting up the highly successful Organic Community Garden at the UCF Arboretum.

A follow up field day helping at the UCF Community Garden will be held Friday Jan 22nd from 10a to 4p.

A cooking, tasting demo is being added to the monthly meeting: Sign up to show how to prepare something from your garden.

Uncle Matt’s has shared some citrus for us to sample at the meeting.

MORE INFO

As always, bring any surplus from your garden to share, treats for the tasting table, and plants and gardening supplies for the raffle table. (Tix $1 each, 6 for $5) Every month an abundance of raffle items appear along with some tasty garden treats.

Our sales table items includes: totes & t-shirts @$10 $8 each for members worm bins & vermicompost products assorted plants & seeds burlap cloth and garden amendments Let us know if there are any plants or supplies you would like to buy. That’s also where the raffle tickets are sold. $1 each or 6 for $5.

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Here’s one for those who are spring cleaning!

E-PASS Shredding and Recycling Event

It’s time for a fresh start! Get a leg up on Spring cleaning and help prevent identity theft by shredding those documents you’ve  accumulated and recycling electronics you are no longer using. E-PASS is sponsoring a shredding event Saturday, January 16,  2010, at the Colonial Plaza (2728 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803) near the intersection of Primrose and Colonial.

The  event is scheduled from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the parking lot area in front of where Circuit City was once located. Look for  the orange E-PASS tent. E-PASS will also be giving away goodies including certificates for a free E-PASS Mini sticker tag  (limited quantities apply).

This is a free event, open to everyone. Residents can bring their documents and watch as they are shredded. In addition,
participants can bring working and non-working electronics for recycling. Data will be destroyed as appropriate and a
certificate of destruction will be available. See below for accepted items. E-PASS is not responsible for any items dropped off
during this event.

The following electronics will be accepted, working or not working: desktop, tower, laptop computers; CRT, LCD, plasma
monitors/displays; televisions; printers/plotters; fax machines; telephone systems, switches; cell phones, PDAs, radios;
stereos; VHS/DVDs; video games; projectors, cameras; any kind of storage media.

For computers and other items like cell phones and PDAs, a private company will process the item for data destruction (factory  clearing cell phones and degaussing the sim cards; three pass electronic erasure and Department of Defense level sanitization of  hard drives) and provide the appropriate certificate of destruction. All identifying marks, stickers and labels are removed. If  media cannot be securely destroyed electronically, physical destruction is carried out at their facility.

*Note: Individuals wishing to participate should note that the Westbound 408 exit for Crystal Lake may be closed Saturday for  construction activities. Please use the Mills exit instead.

For more information, please call 407-690-5000.

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Soap Packaging Varies Widely

Recycling and saving gasoline are currently among the most highly touted ways to save the Earth.  Oh, my bad! Don’t let me forget switching to CFL lightbulbs. This is probably the iconic, Eco-Friendly photo you’ll see anywhere, except for perhaps the recycle icon or symbol itself.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is simply to get you thinking about the packaging your purchases are wrapped in. This is one area that is less talked about, and yet can have a tremendous impact on our landfill space, as well as the toxins we deposit there.

Take a look at the photo above. These are my 3 favorite soaps that I can buy at many local healthy food stores. Can you guess which packaging is the most Earth friendly? Tricky, huh?

Let’s start at the right. The Clearly Natural glycerine soap is wrapped so that you can see the product. This is appealing to many consumers, so it often has the desired effect–a purchase. However, plastic or celophane wrappers, plastered with a large, metallic sticker, don’t even begin to make the sustainable list for packaging.

Moving on to the Tom’s soap in the middle, we see, at first glance, that the box is recycled paperboard. This stuff is compostable or recyclable, thus making it highly sustainable, even though it originally came from one of our coveted trees. Once again, though, there’s a catch. If you open the box, you’ll find that the soap inside is wrapped in clear celophane. Major blunder on Tom’s part. I wish they would drop the plastic wrap, although I understand they’re trying to give the product a longer shelf life. Soap doesn’t exactly have a problem in this area, as compared to other products. They could earn consumer ‘brownie points’ by losing the inner wrap, in my opinion.

Finally, at left, you’ll find the Sappo soap, labeled simply with a sticker. I found this quite surprising the first time I saw it. The bars were just stacked in a shipping box on the shelf. If I remember correctly, the ingredients were printed on the shipping box, as there is nothing much on the sticker–just a name, ‘flavor’ (almond, in this case), and a bar code for price scanning. Awesome! Despite the fact that you can’t recycle or compost the sticker, it still is the clear winner because of its size. And of course, there is NO other packaging.

I hope this little exercise will get you to watch your many other purchases. Every product category has its own variations, and there often is one company who has found a way to beat the system. Look for them. Support them. Drop them an email and let them know you appreciate their efforts. Vote for Earth.

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I’ve been scarce prepping beds and seedlings for planting later in late Jan and early Feb.  There’s a lot of good garden stuff going on around town.  Here’s one…

Turn your garbage into gold… Tia Meer, longtime organic gardener, will lead this hands-on workshop in how to build and harvest a compost pile. Divert organic waste from the landfill while using your yard clippings and kitchen scraps to make your own fertilizer. Participants get a bag of compost to take home.

WHEN & WHERE

January 30, 2010
from 1 – 3 PM at

Econ Farm,
16206 Hamilton Dr
Orlando, FL 32833

COST

Advanced Registration Required. Fees are

  • $15 members
  • $20 non-members

To Register email info@simplelivinginstitute.org Or call (321) 228-4310

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Disney launched a new program today that encourages volunteerism across the country.  Planning to volunteer but just haven’t gotten around to it?  Now is your chance!  The best part is that children can attend several of these local events!  The fact that you’ll receive a free Disney park ticket for up to 8 family members (who participate) is just icing on the cake.

Here are a few of the opportunities featured on the website:

Opportunity: FOR THE BIRDS – Hands On Orlando
Organization Served: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Verifying Organization: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Interest: Education & Technology, Animals & Environment
Location: Maitland, FL 32751
Distance: 1.2 miles
Minimum age: 8
Date Time Notes
January 30 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (0 volunteers still needed as of 3 hours ago)

Here’s your chance to help birds at the Audubon Center.

We’ll clean up the wetlands.

No special skills are required; just bring your smile and desire to make a difference.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. You might get your feet wet.

This rain or shine project is ideal for individuals, couples, families, groups or corporate teams.

Besides helping others, you’ll have a fun time.

This project has a capacity of 25 volunteers and is a partnership with Together Green and Audubon Center – Birds of Prey.

Opportunity: BARK PARK – Hands On Orlando
Organization Served: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Verifying Organization: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Interest: Community, Animals & Environment
Location: Casselberry, FL 32707
Distance: 4.7 miles
Minimum age: 12
Date Time Notes
February 13 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (16 volunteers still needed as of 0 seconds ago)

You are needed to help spruce up Pawmosa Park in Casselberry.

We’ll spread mulch, clear vines and make the dog park look great.

This rain or shine project is open to individuals, couples, families, clubs and corporate groups.

Opportunity: HELP THE KIDS – Hands On Orlando
Organization Served: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Verifying Organization: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Interest: Children & Youth, Education & Technology, Animals & Environment
Location: Orlando, FL 32801
Distance: 5.0 miles
Minimum age: 12
Date Time Notes
February 7 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (19 volunteers still needed as of 0 seconds ago)

Let’s roll up our sleeves and help the 150 girls and boys who depend upon the Orlando Day Nursery.

We want to create a safer, cleaner and really fun place for the kids to play and learn.

We will transplant shrubs and create a butterfly garden, clean toys and playground equipment.

Please dress appropriately as you may get dirty. Wear closed-toe shoes.

This project has a capacity of 20 volunteers and is a partnership with Orlando Day Nursery.

Opportunity: GREEN THUMB – Hands On Orlando
Organization Served: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Verifying Organization: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Interest: Children & Youth, Community, Animals & Environment, Seniors & Elder Care
Location: Orlando, FL 32805
Distance: 6.4 miles
Minimum age: 14
Date Time Notes
January 18 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (20 volunteers still needed as of 0 seconds ago)

You are needed to help trim bushes and shrubs at the Universal Garden, at Westminster Care nursing home. The inter-generational garden includes a playground.

The plants grow fast so we need to keep them under control so seniors and children with disabilities can enjoy their garden year round. Other plants around the campus also need to be cut trimmed. Hands On Orlando will provide tools and supplies. Volunteers who participate in this project will receive a free t-shirt. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that you won’t mind getting a little dirty. This rain or shine project is ideal for individuals, couples, families, groups and corporate teams. Bring your smile and be prepared to have fun!

Opportunity: Air Potato Raid
Organization Served: Seminole Community Volunteer Program, Inc
Verifying Organization: Seminole Community Volunteer Program, Inc
Interest: Animals & Environment
Location: Longwood, FL 32750
Distance: 6.5 miles
Minimum age: 6
Date Time Notes
January 23 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (362 volunteers still needed as of 0 seconds ago)

Assist with the removal of exotic air potatoes at the Spring Hammock Preserve at the environmental studies center in Seminole County, Longwood, Florida. Bring gloves. Have fun and help the environment.

Opportunity: UCF Arvoretum’s Community Garden
Organization Served: UCF Arboretum
Verifying Organization: UCF Arboretum
Interest: Animals & Environment
Location: Orlando, FL 32816
Distance: 9.8 miles
Minimum age: 6
Date: Scheduling to be arranged

This predominantly student-run garden welcomes all of the UCF and Orlando community to come and dig in the dirt and learn about plants and food. Activities include a variety of outdoor activities, such as weeding, mulching, fertilizing plants with compost, and sowing and sprouting seeds. The garden deepens the sense of community on campus, creating opportunities and connecting people with their food protection. Please contact the Arboretum to schedule a time to volunteer between 8am-4pm on Monday-Friday, or for a special event.

Opportunity: PAINTING PARTY – Hands On Orlando
Organization Served: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Verifying Organization: Hands On Orlando – Volunteer Central Florida
Interest: Children & Youth, Community, Animals & Environment, Hunger & Homelessness, Seniors & Elder Care
Location: Sanford, FL 32771
Distance: 13.9 miles
Minimum age: 6
Date Time Notes
February 20 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (82 volunteers still needed as of 0 seconds ago)

Come and join in the fun as we paint the exterior of several homes in the Midway (Sanford) community.

The entire neighborhood will look nice and new because of you.

The homeowners need our help because they don’t have money to hire painters.

So, we decided to paint all of the homes with volunteers…in four hours!

Please dress appropriately because you will be dealing with paint! Wear closed-toe shoes.

Girls and boys under the age of 12 will assemble and paint wooden models that will be given to the homeowners.

This project has a capacity of 100 volunteers and is a partnership with Seminole Habitat for Humanity.

This is just a sampling of the opportunities available!

(You might want to wait a few days to register since the website hasn’t been able to handle the high volume.)

Related Link:

Hands On Orlando

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