Summer Garden 2008!

If you are a gardener, in any shape or form, and listened to the Kojo Nnamdi show yesterday on WAMU, you are already in a panic. MARCH IS CRITICAL!! (Yes, I'm yelling). I'd never heard of Adrian Higgins but just the way he said "de rigour" when describing fig tree prep got me all in a tizzy. Higgins also talked about a new book by Jeff Gillman that separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to organic gardening. It is on my "to-read" list. Holly Shimizu of the U.S. Botanic Gardens brought some wonderful things for listeners to smell - wish I could found out what they were without purchasing a transcript. They were all lovely plants with names I can't remember as I was too busy making a right hand turn from the far left hand lane.

**update**

Carrie has posted an update on SaltandChocolate.

Green Musings

'Ello luvs.

Lots of chit chat to share with you this evening.

First, as I mentioned, lots of linking to green giveaways to ensue...My Two Boys is featuring a lovely tool set from Natural Pod and an adorable doll from HappyGreenBee.

Perusing through the Post this morning...back to back items of interest. One piece about bloggers and 10 tips to see and be seen in the blogosphere, and another about green, green, and more green by Michelle Thomas. Setchi is a new boutique on Wisconsin Avenue in the Georgetown section of D.C. According to its owner, Jessica del Pilar, all of the store's items "lay claim to at least one of four green concepts. Every item is made of organic fabrics or reclaimed materials, or it is produced locally or according to fair-trade standards." Worth a look-see even if if the Again Clutch is entirely beyond my budget.

Speaking of fabulous things but within budget, I must make a shameless plug for Because I'm Me...'s Etsy shop, now almost fully stocked. I purchased one of her quilts some time ago now - the fabrics are just luscious.

Non-sequitor - Big Binder has drawn my attention to a clever little program in Michigan...Paper Gator Recycling...as a fundraiser. So long Sally Foster!

While I have decided that I am no longer entirely uncrafty, I sure am not crafty enough to make one of these fabulous eco-friendly lunch bags. See 'em and swoon over at Sew, Mama, Sew.

DC Green Festival - Too Much of a Good Thing?

Today the Wanna Greenies headed over to the Green Festival downtown at the new convention center. We drove. We considered Metro, but we were sure that although the ride to the festival would have been all wonder and interesting and light, the ride home from the festival would have been all overtired children and cranky parents and a painfully long transfer on a Sunday Metro schedule. So we drove. So much for reducing our carbon footprint.

First, I was amazed, just amazed at the "new and improved" Chinatown. It had been at least five or six years since I'd been to the area around the gate, and it was almost unrecognizable. Personally, I thought the designers (whoever they are) did a nice job with scale and keeping the street scape interesting, but yes, gone is the neighborhood feel.

We entered the Convention Center and the first thing that hit me was the smell. Yes, my nose is uber-sensitive but I know it was not my imagination because my son asked, "Mommy, what that I smelling? Smells like popcorn." I only wish. To me it smelled like off-gassing but I think I was being just a tad bit eco-sensitive seeing as we were there to get our eco-on.

Now let me just caveat before I get to the bottom line...yes, I was there with two children who wanted to be on the go; no, we did not attend a single session; no, we did not go there with a specific goal or purpose in mind (although Green Husband did want to find out more about solar energy options for our upcoming renovation), but oddly enough the Green Festival left me feeling...nothing. Not really inspired, not really armed with information (although brochures and leaflets abounded), not even really glad we went. There was a lot of stuff to buy, the children's area was slightly lackluster, and it just seemed entirely overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time.

I dunno. Mindful Momma seemed to have a great time at a similar event in her area. Anyone else attend? What did you think and, more importantly, what suggestions might you have for people who would like to get the most out of the conference next year?

Green Jokes

I am still feeling a bit harried by my trip up North. Leave it to a vacation to make you feel like you need a vacation as you try to play catch-up at work and at home. I am juggling (like all of you are) several presentations for work, a poster session for an upcoming conference, checking in with my blogging buddies, and tentatively beginning a new journey down a new path: freelance writing. I enjoy doing all of these things but do ya think that locking my keys in my car is my brain trying to tell me something? Fortunately Sprout and Pip were not in the car with my keys and at least I don't have to worry about canning peaches like Daring Young Mom. Read her post - it's a keeper. And, to top it all off I'm still on laundry load number three, dudes.

Here are some posts that are in the hopper:

More DC Greenery, including the winners of Michelle Singletary's eco-friendly contest and the upcoming Green Festival.

Miss Kitty et al.: Gather yee supply list...this weekend will be The Great Freezer Paper Tutorial. Remember, I'm no expert but if I can do it, you can do it. Trust me. Halloween images are perfect for freezer paper projects: lots of spooky silhouettes.

Some magazine round-ups: Yes, my addiction to the glossies is serving me very well. Allow me to crunch the numbers for you. It really is a DUTY to go through all of these magazines looking for green tid-bits. It's a tough job, but somebody, SOMEBODY, has got to do it. Let it be me.

And, my goodness, I almost forgot to write about the title of my post. Good thing I read it to remind myself! Wouldn't you think by now there would be a dearth (is that a word?) of Green Jokes? I mean you'd think any joke that relies heavily on the number of people needed to screw in a lightbulb would just be ripe for so good old-fashioned CFL humor. Any one?

Tomorrow is Computer Free Friday! See you on the flip side!

DC Greenery

The DC Metro area may not be the first place you think of when you're looking to go green, but amid all the traffic and hot air there is plenty of greenery to be found. I will be bringing your attention to more eco-conscious events and news items to help you get your green on while you're fighting that beltway madness.

Wendy Reiger, an anchor from the NBC's channel four has been blogging for some in The Green Room. Her posts are thoughtful, genuine, and surprisingly candid (who knew she eats hamburgers to combat hangovers?)

Green Festival 2007 is coming to Washington, DC on October 7 & 8 and I couldn't be more excited! The program still looks to be under development and, is it me, or does the list of presenters seem a bit academic? I can't put my finger on what exactly who I'd like to hear from, but I get the feeling that much of these presentations will be way over my little dull-witted head.

I missed it. I missed The Green House at the National Building Museum. Luckily their companion website gives me a glimpse of the good stuff, but I'd love to hear from any of your local-yokels who actually, as my son says, got your fanny over there .

Ain't public libraries grand? Arlington County has, what we call in the librarian-trade, a pathfinder on all those wanna-greenie resources. These resources were evaluated by librarians, who are probably one of the most annoyingly thorough people on the face of the planet (I can say that - I am one). Have you ever tried to ditch a reference librarian? It's almost impossible. But I digress.

Oh, and I think I'll be taking Sprout and Pip to visit Fairfax County's green fire station. I'm assuming the trucks will still be red.