Guerrilla Fashionista's Green Trunk Show and Benefit | green is the new crack, consumption central, craftycrafts | 03/11/07, 11-4 PM
I always have trouble with anything green that you have to buy, but I'll put aside my doubts and say that this one does look kind of cool. It's listed on a lot of crafting sites, so at least we're supporting the artist-DIY sector. It is undeniably cool that 10% of the sales go to Literacy for Environmental Justice, an awesome enviro education group. So you can buy judiciously, but guilt-free, I suppose. Crafters on display include: Alicat Clothing, ALLMA, Gypsy Baby, Hilside Bags, 19 Moons, Nicacelly, Nous Savons, TINC,Turk and Taylor, The Weekend Store, and many more!
more info here | map me!

the ever-normal granary isn't just for the birds

Food Fight: A Teach-In on the 2007 Farm Bill | green is the new crack | 03/21/07, 7 PM
It's Michael Pollan, all live all the time on activitylicious. He seems to be stepping up his public appearances of late, and I'll be there for all the deliciousness. This one is another Michael Pollan tag-team, this time with guests Dan Imhoff, the author of Food Fight: A Citizen's Guide to the Farm Bill; George Naylor, Iowa corn farmer and president of the National Family Farms Coalition; Ann Cooper, Director of Nutrition Services for the Berkeley school system, and other leaders in the effort to reform federal agricultural policies (yeah, i just took that straight from the event's website). I recently saw Dan Imhoff speak, and while he seems a little light on the policy solutions to the farm bill problem, he's a good resource for learning all about the problem (which most people probably didn't even know about). I'm hoping Naylor, Cooper or Pollan might be able to shed some light on what we can actually *do* about the food system in America.
more info here | buy tickets here | map me! | muni me!

The problem with selling organic

Organics Debate: Whole Foods CEO v. Michael Pollan | green is the new crack | 02/27/07, 7 PM
I seem to be on a green kick, but since it is the new crack, it's understandable - I need my daily fix. Michael Pollan, my environmental writing guru, is hosting the CEO of Whole Foods at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism for a little sit-down chat, mano-a-mano, about the future of food. Pollan enjoys deconstructing Whole Foods' pretty little world of organics in his newest offering, The Omnivore's Dilemma, so I'm looking forward to what is sure to be an entertaining verbal boxing match on the industrialization of organics. Pollan, like his work, is an easy-going, engaging speaker who is clearly enraptured by his topic. Plus, Pollan's May City Arts talk is already sold out, so this little $5 offering is just the ticket.
more info here | buy tickets here | map me! | muni me!

in whales is the preservation of the world

Gray Whale Viewing | green is the new crack | ongoing, january through march
They are, seriously, one of god's coolest creatures. You know that part on Blue Planet where the sperm whale is eating the sardines? I can't get enough of that. They. Are. So. Big. Undeniably grand creatures. Some people feel inconsequential at the top of mountains. For me, the definition of the sublime is a whale at sea.

Apparently, here in the bay area, from January till March, gray whales are viewable from the Point Reyes' observation deck. You could just be sitting there, eating a sandwich, and bam! a gray whale will spout. I can't wait. There are ranger-led programs, where you will learn so much about gray whales you will find yourself rattling off information to strangers at the bus stop and enraptured six-year olds. You can't miss this.
more info | map me!