Can you name things you couldn’t find on Google? Your closest community garden is not one of them.

Thank Scott Lewis, who has taken the job to organize local gardens in an interactive Google map, which now boasts almost 50 gardens.

They are neatly organized by ownership: community gardens in blue, school gardens in green, and Miami-Dade College gardens in yellow. And note that school gardens are leading the count, which is great news.
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I stopped by Vizcaya last Thursday for a one of it’s kind, environmental performance as part of the villa’s ongoing educational series titled CONSeRvATION.

The featured artist was New York’s quartet So Percussion, which used objects found on the villa’s gardens such as rocks, coconuts, conch shells, sticks, leaves and all sorts of things to recreate works by American composer John Cage.

The idea behind the concert was to explore Vizcaya and its environment in a completely different way, explained Deputy Director for Learning Ann Loshaw. This was the second of the ongoing CONSeRvATION series, an educational program focused on the villa’s preservation efforts.


In fact -as I later learned- James Deering, the owner of Vizcaya, was very involved in preserving Vizcaya’s native plants and vegetation, locating the main house directly on the bay to preserve the distinctive rockland hammock that surrounds the house.

The evening’s opening song, Cage’s Child of Tree, instructed performers to pick 10 instruments by chance, all made of natural/ plant materials. Coincidentally, one of the instruments had to be a dry pod rattle from a poinciana tree, which grows all over Vizcaya, which created a beautiful sound when shook.

But “Very Vizcaya,” a song composed by the quartet specifically for this concert, was probably the peak of the evening, when guests were invited to participate in the performance using objects they found on the garden (as photographed below).

>More CONSeRvATION events are planned for the fall, but meanwhile you can check out Vizcaya’s Moonlight Garden Tours, which are going on every month. Bring your date for a romantic moonlight stroll through the gardens, live music, wine and delicious refreshments. The next tours will take place April 27 and 28, with the tours leaving at different intervals between 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets: $15 for general admission, $10 for students, seniors and members.

Earth Day-related promotions and sweepstakes are all over this year. Here are some of the sweepstakes and promotions The Ecozine compiled:

>Win a trip for two to Hawaii: Sierra Club wants to see which is the greenest State based on the number of people from each State willing to do a little more for the environment. All you have to do is agree to one of their five pledge choices such as using reusable bags for groceries, making an organic meal or biking for one trip instead of driving. Take the pledge and be automatically entered to win a trip to Hawaii for two. Looking at the interactive map, the Sunshine State doesn’t look that green at all, meaning we still need many Floridians to take the pledge. Learn more here

>Win a 9-day trip for two to Costa Rica: You might have noticed the new Whole Trade organic pineapples at Whole Foods. The grocery store recently awarded these pineapples with its own Whole Trade certification, meaning the fruits come from sustainable responsible farms and that the farmers are paid a decent wage and work in good conditions. To celebrate this, the market is sharing pineapple recipes in their site (try this fresh pineapple salsa) and is giving away a trip to Costa Rica. Sign up here.

>Win a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid dozens of energy efficient appliances: Target is giving away the Ford and more this month, including an electric scooter, a bicycle, a Clorox Greenworks home cleaning kit, a Burt’s Bees gift pack, a Kashi Klean Kanteen, a Planet Earth DVD Series and a Coca-Cola recycling bin or Coca-Cola RPET T-Shirt.Sign up here

>Win a 2011 Ford Fiesta: This month, Kellogg’s is giving away a 2011 Ford Fiesta worth $20,000. It takes a little longer to sign up because you actually have to register in their site, but it’s worth taking a efw minutes. Register here.

>Win a Ford Escape Hybrid Car: What is it with Ford and Earth Day Sweepstakes? Sprint is giving away this one. Just sign up here.

>Win $10,000 from eBay: Take eBay’s green challenge and be entered to win $10,000 worth of eBay credit. You need to open an eBay account to participate. Register here

>Win a $20,000 green home makeover: Purex, the clothes soap, is giving away this prize, along with a $1,000 daily prize. Win the home makeover by signing up here:

>Win a Ford Escape Hybrid You will need a 10-digit code from a Purina product to sign up at thePet Supplies site.

Photo courtesy of procsilas

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to watch some of the best and latest food-related documentaries, which will be screened locally as part of the Earth Month film series Let’s Re-take our Plates, organized by Whole Foods.

I’m particularly excited about No Impact Man, the documentary based on the Brooklyn family that decided to reduce their waste to the minimum for a whole year (I couldn’t drop the book). Other films include Fast Food Nation, Food. Inc, What’s on Your Plate? and The Garden, all very politically-charged films making strong arguments against the state of the food industry.

Here is the schedule:

Fast Food Nation
4:45 p.m, April 17
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

King Corn/ Big River
2:30 p.m. April 17
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

Food Inc.
2 p.m., April 18
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

The Garden
12 p.m., April 18
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

Food Inc.
5 p.m., April 19
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

No Impact Man
7 p.m., April 19
Coral Gables Congregational Church
3010 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables
$5

What’s on Your Plate?
5 p.m. April 20
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

Fast Food Nation
5 p.m., April 21
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

The Garden
8 p.m., April 21
Miami Beach Cinematheque
512 Espanola Way, Miami Beach
$10

End of the Line
5 p.m. April 22,
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

Food Inc.
7:30 p.m., April 23
Temple Bet Shira
7500 SW 120th Street, Miami
$5

Visit the Let’s Re-take our Plates site for more information

The number of Earth Day events in South Florida grows every year, but that’s no excuse to miss any of them. Here’s a list of South Florida Earth Day 2010 events.

If you don’t see an event, please e-mail me at editor@theecozine.com

LET’S RE-TAKE OUR PLATES FILM SERIES
WHEN: April 10-23
WHERE: Locations across South Florida
WHY: This is your best chance to watch some of the best and newest documentaries showcasing what really goes into your food and how much damage we’re doing to our planet. Documentaries include No Impact Man, The Garden, Food Inc,
ADMISSION: $5-$7
MORE INFO: Click here to read more on the film series

EARTH DAY EVERYDAY
WHEN: Saturday April 17
TIME: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale.
WHY: Speakers all day and booths with great, local environmentalists and conservationists.
ADMISSION: regular park admission, $6/ car, $2/ pedestrian
MORE INFO: click here

EARTH MIAMI ON JUNGLE ISLAND
WHEN: April 17-18
WHERE:1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami.
WHY: Two-day festival commemorates Earth Day with eco-tours a local horticulturist, recycle animal sculpture display by South Florida schools, interactive eco-conscious activities and stations
ADMISSION: $20 when you bring a can or bottle to recycle
MORE INFO: Call (305) 400-7000‎ or visit www.JungleIsland.com

THE FALLS’ “GO GREEN” EXPO
WHEN: Saturday, April 17
TIME: 1-5 p.m. The Little Planet Helper’s Club from 2-4 p.m.
WHERE: The Falls’ Center Court, U.S. 1 and SW 136th Street.
WHY: Expo will showcase various businesses that will educate families about the importance of keeping the environment clean.
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO:Call 305-255-4571

EARTHFEST 2010
WHEN: Sunday, April 18th,
TIME: 12 to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Crandon Park Visitors & Biscayne Nature Center, 6767 Crandon Blvd. Key Biscayne.
WHY: Celebrates 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Includes performances by Expand the Love and hands-on nature workshops on organic gardening, every child outdoors, raw food preparation, yoga and deep ecology. Must bring concert blanket or portable chair.
ADMISSION: regular park entrance, $6/ person
MORE INFO: Call 305-323-8858 or click here

GREEN DRINKS SOUTH FLORIDA
WHEN: Thursday, April 22
TIME: 6:30 to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Boca Raton Resort and Country Club
WHY: This is a black-tie event with a green-tie flair. Network with green business owners, enjoy an ECO fashion show, watch the ECO lifestyle awards, and have a delicious organic buffet dinner.
ADMISSION: $125
MORE INFO: www.southfloridagreendrinks.org

MIAMI GOING GREEN
WHEN: Saturday, April 24
TIME: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami
WHY: The team onboard the Bahamas to U.S. Solar-Powered Crossing expedition will arrive to Bayfront Park. Also, dozens of local vendors and green organizations will be there.
ADMISSION: free
MORE INFO: Click here

Image courtesy of flyingsinger

The South Florida Living Green Fair in Dania Beach is coming up Nov. 14-15, and we are giving away 10 family passes to 10 readers.

Each ticket is valid for up to five people, so you can have a fun and green family day for free! The first 10 people to comment below will get a free pass. (You don’t need to use your real name, but I do need a real e-mail so I can send you the code you’ll need to download and print the free pass. I never share e-mails with anyone).

Fave fun while learning about how to be more environmentally-responsible at this fair that will feature pavilions on subjects such as The Great Outdoors, Natural Beauty, Travel the Earth and Sprouts. Other highlights will include food and wine samples, test drives of electric, hybrid and CNG vehicles, education on solar, wind and water technologies, and tips on how to create an organic garden.

If you go:
What: South Florida Living Green Fair
When: Nov. 14-15
Where: John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, 6503 N. Ocean Drive
More info: http://www.livinggreenfair.com

Thinking about starting a vegetable garden?

Then Fairchild’s Edible Garden Festival is your best first stop: get seeds, seedlings and advice from experts. Today is the festival’s last day, so don’t think too much about it.

I stopped by yesterday and got tons of advice on how to fight the insects that are colonizing my pepper plant, and I also picked up four ounces of composting worms that I can’t wait to start feeding.

Here are the five reasons why you should go today:

1-Seedlings: Although I didn’t get any -I’ve learned to quiet my beginner’s enthusiasm and be realistic about the space I actually have-there were dozens of seedlings to pick from: mint, parsley, chives, basil, pepper, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber, arugula, romaine lettuce, jalapeno, celery, collard, carrots and more.

2-Worms: What I did end up getting was four ounces of worms after hearing Lanette Sobel from the Fertile Earth Foundation give a basic intro to composting with worms.

I’ve been collecting all my kitchen waste in pots and mixing it with soil that I later use for planting, but this takes a lot of space. Worms sounded like a faster and more space efficient idea. I’ll be keeping you up-to-date on my worm composting experience.

3-Lectures: This is the best part of the festival. Learn everything from growing tomatoes to growing edibles South Beach style. You’ll hardly find so many experts on edible plant matters at the same place elsewhere. Check out today’s schedule.

I was particularly interested in yesterday’s “Organic Pest and Disease Management” lecture by Andres Mejides: about a week ago, I found some yellow and white insects on my pepper plant.

With a lot of humor, Mejides went from the gentler pest solutions -like ladybugs- to the stronger ones -like sulpher. What I have apparently are aphids, so following his advice, I’ll use chili pepper and garlic to fight them.

4-Involvement: Learn about local organizations promoting edible green spaces and get involved.

GROW, a non-profit urban farm educating the community on land reclamation and urban farming, was there to talk about its farm by the airport and giving away free herbs grown there.

The Urban Oasis Project, which recently completed its 10/10 by 10/10 campaign (10 families, 10 gardens by October 10) was there getting the word out and selling seeds and sprouting kits. (Ok, here’s my disclaimer: I volunteer for this wonderful organization).

5-Local vendors:I ran across some interesting local vendors producing delicious products:

Delightful Bites was selling all kinds of rich homemade jams, jellies, preserves and chutneys.

Bees N the Keys had a variety of honey flavors and I was told you can actually visit their bee farm in Key Largo, something I plan to do next time I’m in the area.

Crackerman Crackers, based out of Bay Harbor Islands, is also worth checking out. They use unbleached flour and only a handful of ingredients for their crackers and breads- the old-fashioned way bread should be.

They specialize in two products: crackers made of golden and brown organic flaxseed and sesame seed, and German-style whole wheat bread made with organic pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Vegan Miamians rejoice. The animal-free food movement has been picking up so much in Miami that there will actually be two politically-charged vegan potlucks this weekend at almost the same time.

The topic of each vegan meetup is different, so whether you are in it for the animals of for the health benefits, you’re covered. Traffic is not that bad on Sundays, so wishfully thinking, you might be able to attend both events:

Progressive Vegan Potluck Social at The Wallflower Gallery
Sun., Oct. 18, 4 p.m.
Discussion of local and global animal rights issues. Meet people from various activist groups and learn about community issues, all while checking out an assortment of creative visual art pieces and listening to a selection of local music CDs.
Where: Wallflower Gallery, 10 N.E. 3rd Street, Downtown Miami. 305-579-0069
Cost: Free, bring a dish to share.

Vegan Potluck Dinner at the Save the Earth Eco Center
Sun., Oct. 18, 5:30 p.m.
Topic : Living Healthy in a Toxic World: How arsenic, mercury and plastics become part of our biology. How can we stay younger longer? How can we avoid disease and improve our chances for a healthy life? Dr. David Newman, who has an extensive background in alternative and progressive healthcare, will lecture on environmental issues that affect your health.
Where: Save the Earth Eco Center, 12399 W. Dixie Hwy. 305-228-1116
Cost: Free to members and children under 12; non-members pay $5. You must also bring a vegan dish for at least eight people, and your own utensils and plate.

Are you a vegan Miamian? How easy or difficult is it to find fellow vegans here? Would you like to see more vegan events?

Photo by striatic

Since I began growing veggies in my apartment last month, thoughts about seeds, soil, seedlings and worms (yes, worms) have occupied my mind more than they should (e.g.: I had to forbid myself from making more trips to Home Depot).

So when I heard that Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden was having its annual Edible Garden Festival Oct. 24-25, I rushed to their site to make sure it was not sold out (it’s not) and was even more thrilled after reading the list of lectures scheduled through the weekend, including one by Melissa Contreras, co-founder of the Urban Oasis Project (I was inspired to start growing veggies after attending a potluck at her home and seeing the dozens of tropical fruit trees, spices and veggies she grows).

So what can you learn at the festival? See it for yourself; here is the complete schedule: (I’m still trying to get a schedule broken down by day so I can decide which day I’ll go):

Lectures

Saturday, October 24

* 10:00 a.m. The Sustainable Edible Garden, Ginny Stibolt
* 11:00 a.m. Creative Container Gardening, Carolyne Coppolo
* 12:00 p.m. Growing Organic Heirloom Tomatoes, Margie Pikarsky
* 1:00 p.m. Edible Landscaping in Paradise, Gabriele Marewski
* 2:00 p.m. Organic Pest and Disease Management, Andres Mejides
* 3:00 p.m. Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening, Adrian Hunsberger
* 4:00 p.m. Growing the Chocolate Pudding Fruit in South Florida, Noris Ledesma

Sunday, October 25

* 10:00 a.m. Get Your Veggie Garden Growing!, Angela Garrison
* 11:00 a.m. Creative Container Gardening, Carolyne Coppolo
* 12:00 p.m. Sustainable Gardening: Rain Gardens, Ginny Stibolt
* 1:00 p.m. South Florida Gardening with Fruits and Vegetables, Dr. Richard J. Campbell
* 2:00 p.m. Counter Top Gardening with Sprouts, Keith Seidler
* 3:00 p.m. Easy as Takeout: Asian Edibles in the Landscape!,Ron Mossman
* 4:00 p.m. Extreme Edible Landscaping: Urban Homesteading!, Melissa Contreras

Gardening Demonstrations:

Saturday, October 24

* 11:30 a.m. The Fall Veggie Garden: South Beach Style, Danny Ackell
* 1:30 p.m. Composting and Worms, Lanette Sobel

Sunday, October 25

* 10:00 a.m. Slow Food School Gardens, Hunter Reno
* 1:30 p.m. Square Foot Gardening with Kids, Hunter Reno

Cooking Demos

Saturday, October 24

* 11:30 a.m. Johnson & Wales
* 12:30 p.m. Chef Sean Bernal of Oceanaire Seafood Room
* 1:30 p.m. Herb Pesto, Chef Kira Volz of Creek 28
* 2:30 p.m. Avocado Tartar, Chef Elizabeth Barlow of Canyon Ranch

Sunday, October 25

* 11:30 a.m. Chef Adri Garcia of Green Rocks Foods and Mise en Place
* 1:30 p.m. Chef Giancarla Bodoni from Escopazzo
* 2:30 p.m. Chef Lori Moldovan, Certified Holistic Health Counselor

A scarecrow contest will be going on too. Although it’s too late to participate, it should be interesting to watch, specially since the materials have to be environmentally-friendly.

Click here for a printable coupon worth $5 off admission. Check back for a schedule broken down by day, I’m hoping to get a copy soon.

What lectures are you looking forward? Which one is a can’t miss? I’d love to read your comments and thoughts!

IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Fairchild’s Edible Garden Festival and Scarecrow Contest
WHEN: Oct. 24-25 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables
MORE INFO: Visit Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden’s website

First you start recycling, then you start saving water and electricity, and so the search for greener home techniques begins. With the web saturated with information and tips, it’s hard to know what’s good for your home and what’s not (heard FTC’s recent warning against fabric makers passing toxic rayon as hip organic bamboo?)

Well, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden is making it easier to green your home with a series of free monthly lectures and workshops on subjects such as rain water collection, composting, and sand and wind tolerant plantings. It’s a great way to learn and get all your questions answered… for free!

SCHEDULE:

Composting
Sept. 12, 9 to 10 a.m.
Learn the fundamentals of composting and how to set up a home composting system from Lanette Sobel, co-founder of the Fertile Earth Foundation.

Rain barrel workshop
Sept. 12 / 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A rain barrel can save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Learn about water conservation and make your own rain barrel at a workshop presented by the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Service. Lecture is free, $45 for a rain barrel. Registration required. Call 305-248-3311 or email: bmcadam@ufl.edu.

Salt and wind tolerant plantings
Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A workshop on coastal horticulture explores plants that are wind tolerant, salt tolerant and recommended for seaside balconies and South Florida’s coastal landscapes. By Steve Woodmansee, biologist.

Teas, tonics and tinctures
Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Dr. Sandra Breiterman lectures on the many herbs that enliven our diets, are “natural” cures with medicinal properties, and key ingredients in health and beauty treatments.

Cactus and succulents
Jan. 9, 10 to 12 p.m.
Peter Multach of the South Florida Cactus and Succulents Society discusses the culture and propagation of cacti and succulents.

All lectures and classes will take place at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach. Lectures are free unless noted. Call 305-673-7256 for more information.

Photo by dnorman

Not that us Floridians pay much attention to the seasons, but you can’t ignore that Labor Day brings the summer to an end. Before you know it, time light savings will make days shorter, nights longer, and in few weeks you’ll find yourself undusting your jackets and making plans for the winter holidays.

The end of the summer also means something else: cooler days make many of the state parks more endurable, specially the ones with no river or beach to dip in. And just around this time many state parks re-open their free tours and bird watching programs, which are not to be missed.

So it’s no surprise that in September, the State Parks Service celebrates Literacy Month, the time of the year when the state’s 160 parks proudly open their doors with all kinds of educational programs, guest appearances, lectures, workshops, book exchanges and more to bring two joys together: reading and being outdoors

This weekend, the Florida Park Service is offering free entrance to any of the 160 state parks for visitors who bring a library card, library book, or who donate a new or gently used family book.

If you go:
WHAT: State Park Literacy Month
WHEN: Sept. 11-13
MORE INFO: Visit www.floridastateparks.org

Photo by stig nygaard

Ever wonder what the future will be like if we continue sabotaging earth like this? Not that great, according to ‘The Age of Stupid’ director Franny Armstrong.

That’s what she explores in her sci-fi-documentary-drama which will be released simultaneously in more than 500 theaters across the US on Sept. 21 ( on the eve of the UN General Assembly’s climate session) in an event that will include live appearances from Kofi Annan, Thom Yorke and other activists.

The film is set in 2055, and revolves around a fictional “last man on Earth” (Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite) who watches “archive” footage from 2008 and asks “why didn’t we stop climate change while we had the chance?”

We get to see interviews with a Hurricane Katrina victim, a British wind farm developer, an aspiring Nigerian doctor, an elderly French mountain guide, a wealthy Indian entrepreneur and an 8-year-old Iraq war refugee – whose lives have all been affected by some aspect of the global warming phenomenon.

Although the film has a futuristic dystopian tone, it will hopefully send enough chills down our spines to inspire us to do more.

The nationwide release and live appearances will screen at a handful of theaters across South Florida, so get your tickets early.

If you go:
What: The Age of Stupid screening and live Q&A
When: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 21, 2009.
Where: Screenings throughout the tri-county area, including at Sunset Place 24, Cypress Creek Station 16, Movies at the Falls 12, Dolphin 19 Cinemas, and South Beach Stadium 18.
For locations and tickets visit: http://www.ageofstupid.net/screenings/country/united_states and click on Florida.

Ever wonder what the future will be like if we continue sabotaging earth like this? Not that great, according to ‘The Age of Stupid’ director Franny Armstrong.

That’s what she explores in her sci-fi-documentary-drama which will be released simultaneously in more than 500 theaters across the US on Sept. 21 ( on the eve of the UN General Assembly’s climate session) in an event that will include live appearances from Kofi Annan, Thom Yorke and other activists.

The film is set in 2055, and revolves around a fictional “last man on Earth” (Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite) who watches “archive” footage from 2008 and asks “why didn’t we stop climate change while we had the chance?”

We get to see interviews with a Hurricane Katrina victim, a British wind farm developer, an aspiring Nigerian doctor, an elderly French mountain guide, a wealthy Indian entrepreneur and an 8-year-old Iraq war refugee – whose lives have all been affected by some aspect of the global warming phenomenon.

Although the film has a futuristic dystopian tone, it will hopefully send enough chills down our spines to inspire us to do more.

The nationwide release and live appearances will screen at a handful of theaters across South Florida, so get your tickets early.

If you go:
What: The Age of Stupid screening and live Q&A
When: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 21, 2009.
Where: Screenings throughout the tri-county area, including at Sunset Place 24, Cypress Creek Station 16, Movies at the Falls 12, Dolphin 19 Cinemas, and South Beach Stadium 18.
For locations and tickets visit: http://www.ageofstupid.net/screenings/country/united_states and click on Florida.

Cities across the globe will celebrate Coastal Cleanup Day Sept. 19, and South Florida is not staying behind.

Why it’s important to cleanup the shore? The list of reasons could be endless.

Think of all the plastic bags, bottles and other garbage that end up in the ocean every year (read this if you haven’t heard about the Pacific Garbage Patch), or the chemicals that our garbage releases into the water (which by the way come back to us in the fish we eat) or the harm we cause to the ecosystem when animals confuse trash for food and end up intoxicating if not choking on it.

Oceans already receive enough mercury from the coal and other industries, which has become a worldwide concern, and the leftovers from someone’s day at the beach shouldn’t add to it.

Remember how Florida advertises having the longest shoreline in the nation? Let’s keep it clean. On Sept. 19, do your (future) children and grandchildren a favor and come out to help cleanup our beautiful shore.

Here are some of the organizations that will be doing cleanups that day. I’ll update the list as I hear from more organizations. Do you know of other organizations planning a cleanup? I’d love to read your comments.

MIAMI:

Miami-Dade Coastal Cleanup:It will have volunteers in more than 30 locations across the County. Registration is required. Check here for a location close to you. As if helping save the marine life weren’t enough, there will be an after party for volunteers at the Miami Seaquarium.
Visit www.miamidadecoastalcleanup.org for more information.

Environmental Coalition of Miami Beach: In addition to their monthly Monument Island cleanups, on Sept. 19, ECOMB is also having a cleanup of Teacher’s Island. Kayaks will be available at no cost for the Monument Island cleanup, which will add to the fun. You need to register no later than 48 hours before the event.Visit www.ecomb.org for more information.

Friends of Virginia Key: Friends of Virginia Key can help clean up the Key at three locations: Hobie Beach, Windsurfer Beach and Marine Stadium. After the cleanup, join Friends of Virginia Key and other groups in an alternate BYOS (bring your own sandwich) mixer at the Virginia Key Beach Park picnic area. Visit: www.virginiakeybeachpark.net for more information.

BROWARD:

Broward County Biological Resources Division: Volunteers will help cleanup coastal areas throughout the county. Pre-registration necessary. For more information visit www.broward.org/bio/coastalcleanup_announcement.htm.

PALM BEACH:

Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful Inc.: Volunteers will clean sites from Boca Raton to Tequesta and will receive free t-shirts (while supplies last) to commemorate the event and their efforts. For more info visit www.keeppbcbeautiful.org/fcc2009.htm.

Photo by Rene Ehrhardt

Everyone loves fairs, and the South Florida Living Green Fair in Dania Beach this fall won’t disappoint.

Organizers are expecting at least 10,000 attendees over the weekend fair Nov. 14-15 at John U. Lloyd Beach Park.

With pavilions on themes such as The Great Outdoors, Natural Beauty, The Harvest, Travel the Earth and Sprouts, the fair will surely have something for everyone, no matter what shade of green they are (not many details have been revealed yet, but I can’t wait to enter that sprouts pavilion).

The food and wine sampling seems promising too, as well as the cooking demos. Other highlights include test drives of electric, hybrid and CNG vehicles, education on solar, wind and water technologies, tips on how to create an organic garden.

If you go:
What: South Florida Living Green Fair
When: Nov. 14-15
Where: John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, 6503 N. Ocean Drive
More info: http://www.livinggreenfair.com

10/15/09 update:
WANT A FREE FAMILY PASS? We’re giving away 10 family passes (valid for up to 5 people each) to the first 10 people to comment below. You need to use a real email address so I can send you the information you need (I won’t use your e-mail address to send any spam or share it with anyone).

Photo by Busymommy