greenerMIAMI

Register now for Classes at the Green Urban Living Center!

Register now for Classes at the Green Urban Living Center! 
Green Urban Living Center
For more information contact (305) 237-1218 Jennifer Shyka
To register call (305) 237-1019 or go to www.mdc.edu/ce/north

GARDENING
Organic Container Gardening- $59
For gardeners with limited space, grow herbs and vegetables in containers! Learn how to mix proper soil medium, use organic fertilizers, selecting plants and proper container size, and basic plant care. 
461999 01/26 – 02/02 S 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Building 300

Butterfly Gardening with Natives and Non Natives- $45
Want to attract butterflies and birds to your yard? Need some tips on design?  An experienced landscape designer will help you choose plants that will bring more life, beauty, and balance to your yard.  Second class takes place at instructor's beautiful butterfly Garden in Coral Gables. 
462003 02/09 – 02/16 S 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Building 300

Composting - $29
Turn your food scraps into “black gold” for the garden. Learn the easy essentials of composting, and explore different indoor/outdoor options including worm bins, home-made systems, and aesthetically pleasing ceramic containers.
462006 02/02 S 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Building 300

HEALTHY COOKING
Healthy Vegetarian Cooking- $45
Spice up your vegetarian cuisine with coconut curried tofu, seasoned kale, and brown basmati rice. Chef Henry will teach you how to make a mouthwatering meal packed with nutrition.
462939 01/22 Tuesday  6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Raw Food Preparation - $45
Learn to make herb and nut pate, kale salad, and fruit pie using fresh raw ingredients. Discover how easy, delicious and nutritious raw food cuisine is!
462938 01/29 Tuesday  6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Aphrodisiac Delights- $45
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, learn to make a vegetarian main dish and dessert full of aphrodisiac power.
462010 02/05 Tuesday 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

HEALTH/FITNESS
Mid-day Meditation - $65
Once a week treat yourself to a relaxing half hour of meditation. Allow work and school related stress to melt away, and increase your energy, focus, and clarity.
462014 01/16 – 02/27 W 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Building 300

African Dance - $79
Get an excellent work out while learning traditional West African Dance. This class is fun, energizing, and inspiring!
462016 01/25 – 03/07 Friday  7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Rm 3125, Building 3

Natural Self-Care
Healing with Medicinal Herbs - $50
Learn about the most popular and readily available medicinal plants to support your overall health, as well as ones that help with relaxation, focus, energy, common ailments, and more!
462250 02/01  F 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Aromatherapy: Make your own body products - $35
Using great smelling essential oils and other natural products, learn to create your own body oils, lotions, body scrubs and cleansers. Students will make some products in class, as well as learn recipes to use at home.
462017 02/12  Tuesday  6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

Backyard Medicine Cabinet - $50
Learn about some of the most useful medicinal plants, and how to grow and care for them in your yard.
462124 02/19 Tuesday 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Building 300

KIDS' CLASSES
Nature Club for Kids - $ 66 (Ages 6-11)
Awaken the scientist, artist, and explorer in your child with Nature Club for Kids. Activities will include organic gardening, crafts, and Native American Traditions.
461994  01/26 – 03/08 Saturday  11:30 – 1:00 p.m. Building 300

Delicious treats with fruits and vegetables - $30
Your child will learn how to prepare simple, delicious snacks that are high in nutrition and low in sugars and fats.
461997 03/01 Saturday  11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Building 300

GREEN LIFESTYLE
Designing Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) Systems - $100
This course introduces the process of PV system selection, PV system site selection, types of PV systems, PV system electrical design considerations, PV system structural design considerations and PV system permitting and paperwork.
463228 01/19 S 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Rm 9105 Building 9

Installing Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) Systems - $100
This course introduces the process of PV system installation and focuses, in minute detail, on how to install a PV system that someone else has designed.
463229 01/26 S 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Rm 9105 Building 9

BioFuel Certification - $149
The demand for BioFuel Certified individuals is growing globally. The most current research indicates that biomass is the best option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade and one of the most cost-effective.
464424 02/09 - 0216 S 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Building  300

Bringing Your Own Bags Not Always Easy At Publix

You may remember that last year I brought my own bags to Publix and had a weird experience in which my Publix cashier could not comprehend for the life of her why someone would not want to waste plastic bags.

Turns out, my experience was nothing compared to what local resident Alex recently experienced:

Hi Rebecca, I normally do most of my produce shopping at the farmer's market but I recently saw a segment on TV about the Publix in Dadeland having the largest organic section, so I headed over there today and got some great things.

Everything was wonderful until my mom and I were at the register and I told the bag boy that I would be using my own bags and he politely said okay and went onto another line. Then a guy who was next to us goes to the cashier, "Why do you let these kind of people steal the jobs from the bags boys, that's what they're here for!!!!" And the cashier agreed and said, "I know right, you offer them help but they think they're too good."

Well, my mom pretty much exploded with anger and explained why we do what we do and the cashier rudely replied, "Psst, yeah whatever." Everyone in the line could see what was going on and I am sure they were completely discouraged from ever bringing their own bags in fear of being humiliated by the Publix employees and customers.

How does one react to being treated like a smaller person when you're actually making a difference? I'm scared to even go back into that Publix.

Best Regards, Alex

I have to admit that I have some days that I am commended for bringing my own bags to Publix by my cashier & bagger. Most of the time, however, it is an extremely stressful experience. What's missing is a system for bringing your own bags - a way to let the cashier & bagger know that you don't want to use disposable bags. And some training on the employee side to understand that this is an important issue to some customers.

The fact is, however, that Publix and other grocery stores will have no reason to do any of this until a decent percentage of their customers actually bring their own bags. Right now, I'm told by a cashier at my local Publix, it is me and one other lady. In order to affect the change, we need more people to bring their own bags! (Visit reusablebags.com for a wide variety of bags for this purpose.)

We contacted Publix regarding this matter. Here's what they said:

"Publix customers are encouraged to discuss any opportunities with their store manager or by contacting the Publix Consumer Relations Department. For Consumer Relations, the phone number is 1-800-242-1227." You can also contact them online. Make sure to have your store name or number available when you do so.

Alex recently wrote us back after another trip to the same Publix.

I actually went to the same Publix yesterday and they now have a ton of grocery canvas bags where you check out. (I didn't see those last time.) The bag boy was totally nice when I said I'd be using my own bag. Whatever didn't fit in one bag he put in a paper bag for me. I had a much more delightful experience this time.

Have you brought your own bags to the grocery? How did it go?

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

In preparation for Election Day, November 7, I just want to put up a reminder to VOTE. This is one of the easiest and greenest things you can do to make a difference.

I'm a pollworker and will be doing my part to make these elections fair and true. Do your part and get out to vote.

ps: For all of you Borat fans out there, check out this original Borat cartoon over at ecorazzi - even he wants you to vote!!

Plastic #3 = PVC

We've talked about PVC (aka vinyl) here before by recommending the DVD, Blue Vinyl. 

Now an organization has created a short video on PVC, it's cute and fast. Watch Sam Suds and the Case of PVC.

Something I didn't realize until today, for some reason, is that PVC containers can be recognized by the number 3 in the "recycle triangle" at the bottom of the product.

It is dangerous to make, to use, and to dispose of. Join me in trying to cut out PVC from my life. And tell Target you want them to do the same.

Thanks for the tip on the video, Worsted Witch!

PS: I'll be at the Simple Solar Solutions event tonight, will you?

Green Tips for Your Home

Update: The piece just aired. The transcript is online.

Readers, it seems that yours truly will be on WSVN (FOX) Channel 7 News tonight on the 5:30pm edition (More Bang For Your Buck segment). We'll try to get the video up here as soon as possible.

If you are a first time visitor to the site, welcome! GreenerMIAMI is a local environmental blog; we try to be a central resource for environmental information in Miami. Please take a look around and feel free to write comments or contact us directly. Please feel free to subscribe to receive daily updates via email when there is new content on the site.

I'd like to provide some references and further details on some of the topics that were (potentially) discussed in this segment:

Eco-clothing

Cotton is the most insecticide intensive crop in the US. One third of a pound of chemicals is used to grow enough cotton to make one T-shirt. This is why alternative products are so necessary. Organic cotton is one good option.

Another great choice for clothing is hemp, which is not legal to grow in the US at this point (currently under review in California). Help is durable, fast growing, drought resistant, and doesn't require lots of chemicals to grow.

There are many options in the realm of eco-clothing. A local company even makes T-shirts out of recycled plastic bottles! Don't forget - thrift store shopping is also great for the environment...reuse!

Cleaning Green

Typical cleaning products are potentially toxic to both humans and the environment. They flush down the drain into our rivers and oceans.

For the most simple 'green' cleaning products...make them in your own home! Mix equal parts of vinegar & water in a spray bottle and Voila! You have an all-purpose cleanser. Sprinkle baking soda directly on surfaces to use as an abrasive cleanser.

There are some non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products that you can buy, such as Seventh Generation and Method (both available at Target and other stores).

Change Your Bulbs!

Switch to Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

Change Your Showerhead!

Get a free low-flow showerhead from Miami-Dade County.

BYOB

In this case, the last "B" stands for two things: Bag and Bottle. By bringing your own, you can start to make a dent in the huge consumption of plastic in the US.

The USA uses 100 billion plastic shopping bags a year, along with 4 billion pounds of plastic bottles. These plastics do not biodegrade. They photodegrade - basically, they break down into smaller and smaller toxic pieces. Plus, it takes a ton of energy just to create and transport these items.

So, Bring Your Own Bag and Bottle. We recommend checking out all of the cool products on ReusableBags.com, if you feel the urge to shop!

For more greening tips, visit greenerMIAMI's QuickTips.

Sign the Petition to Save Trees, Not Billboards

Transit Miami gives us the link to the petition to conserve & protect Florida's scenic beauty - Florida's Billboard Amendment.

ScenicBeauty.org

Yesterday's Trip to Publix

Yesterday I went for a walk in the evening. On my way out the door, I decided to walk to the Publix and back, so that I could pick up some bananas. So, I headed back into the house, grabbed some money and a used grocery bag, and then hit the street.

The walk was easier than I thought, and the temperature at that hour was pretty pleasant. While at the store, I also picked up a loaf of bread & cream cheese. (Details not completely necessary for the story, but maybe you are interested!)

The store was packed, and the express line looked nightmarish, so I waited in a regular line. While waiting, I saw the cashier toss out a new plastic grocery bag, and I assumed it was broken. She also changed the roll of the register tape when, in my opinion, it still had quite a bit of paper left in it. Her trash can was filled to the max with what seemed to be all plastic bags.

Given my observations, the following should not have been a surprise:

Me (to bagger): "I brought my own bag, thanks, just use this one."

Bagger: Gives me a strange look, but comprehends. Puts bananas, cream cheese in my bag.

Cashier: Bagging my bread in a new bag.

Me: "I brought my own bag."

Cashier: Gives me really strange & confused look.

Me: "I only want to use the bag I brought." Take bread out of new bag.

Cashier: Throws new bag that bread was in for 2 seconds directly into trash.

Me: "Don't throw it out!"

Cashier: Confused. "Why?"

Me: "The point is to not use more bags."

Cashier: Happily. "Oh! Don't worry about it!"

Me: "But I do worry about it."

All: Weird looks all around.

Cashier: Hands me my change. "Sorry about the bags."

Is it her fault? Publix's fault? The American culture's fault? Am I completely nuts? Maybe, all of the above. I want to make it easier to Bring Your Own. Yet another project on my long list of greenerMIAMI initiatives!

FYI, I've talked about plastic bags before.

Greener Hurricane Tips

As hurricane season approaches, greenerMIAMI would like to suggest some ways to get through the hurricane in a more environmentally-friendly way.

Tax-free days in Florida end on Thursday, June 1, 2006.

Preparation for Hurricane Season

Flashlights: Purchase wind-up LED flashlights and you'll never have to replace batteries or bulbs. One-minute of winding can provide up to one-hour of light. Currently seen in Miami in Kmart & Costco.

Grills: Use propane gas grills as opposed to charcoal. Carbon emissions are much lower with propane. Do's & Don'ts.

Batteries: Invest in rechargeable batteries. Use these batteries to operate your radio and other emergency needs.

Trim Those Trees: Trim back weak or dead branches. But do it the right way.

Protect Your Home in Any Way Possible: Treehugger made a point last year that I think is an important one. The amount of debris from a storm is far greater than any trash we create on a day-to-day basis.

Register Your Pet: Have a pet? Miami-Dade only has one pet-friendly shelter, and the pets must be pre-registered. Call 3-1-1 for more info, or click here. The Humane Society of Greater Miami has tips to keep your pet safe.

Prepare Your Boat: No one wants a sunken boat! Prepare your boat before a storm approaches.

Get Properly Insured: Check and update your insurance coverage.

More Resources: Miami Dade County Hurricane Preparedness, City of Miami Hurricane Preparation, Florida SERT, National Hurricane Center

When a Hurricane is Coming Your Way

Batteries: Fully charge your rechargeables to assure they are ready.

Water: Buying bottled water is not necessary. Fill pitchers and other containers with tap water.

Ice: Make as much ice as possible and store in your freezer. This will also keep the freezer colder longer if the power goes out.

Shutters: When in doubt, put up those shutters. A little work before-hand will be worth any potential damage or injury that may come if the shutters are not used.

Bring everything inside: Patio chairs, tables, potted plants, toys, bikes...don't take the risk that the wind won't be that strong. Bring them inside. You won't risk losing them, having them fly across the street into your neighbor's window, or having a tree fall on top of them.

Remove loose roof tiles: Remove any loose roof tiles and encourage your neighbors to do the same. If left as they are, they will become projectiles during the storm.

After the Hurricane

Don't Drive Around: If you can't stop the desire to go around and check out the damage, please take a walk. Let the emergency crews get to where they need to go and save your gas.

Be Flexible with Your Routine: This is another "Don't Drive Around" suggestion. In the days following the hurricane, if there is no gas, no power, and in general life is a little crazy, change your daily routine. If you need to go to work, try to take the bus, instead of driving. Walk to where you need to go if possible. Don't wait in line hours for gas with your car running.

Help Your Neighbors: I think last year's hurricanes brought out the best and the worst in people. For the first time, I met my neighbors. I haven't seen them since, but it was nice. Form a team of families that will help each other get their yards and homes back in order. If it is absolutely necessary to go somewhere, consider carpooling or offering to pick up something for another family.

Generators: This is a safety tip. If you have decided to use a generator, please learn how to use it properly. Be aware of the risks to your family and your neighbors. Buy a CO detector. Be safe.

Even Greener Ideas & Planning for Next Year

Solar Power It: Treehugger considers solar power for those of us in 'the zone'. Groovy Green reviews a solar powered cell phone charger.

Install Shutters: Protect your home with shutters. The easier to use, the better (the more likely you'll put them up).

Plant Native: Native plants are much less susceptible to falling over than non-native. All of those beautiful, giant ficus trees that bit the dust last year: not native.

Be as green as possible, but most of all, please be safe.

Help Plant Trees Tomorrow

Looking for something to do on Saturday morning? Need to fill some community service hours? Help TREEmendous Miami plant some trees!

This information is provided directly from the TREEmendous website:

When: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Where: Area east of South Miami (zip code 33143)

Time: 8:30 a.m. till about Noon

Meet: Jean Willis Park 7220 SW 61 Court, South Miami, FL (the park is just west of South Miami City Hall and Library) Look for the white vans.

TREEmendous Miami, an Adopt-a-Tree partner, is looking for volunteers to help plant trees for our elderly and disabled residents. This is a great opportunity to restore the canopy in our community and educate residents about the multiple benefits of trees.

Don't worry, you will be taught how to properly plant and care for the trees! Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation session. We then divide into teams, each lead by an experienced TREEmendous Miami volunteer tree planter.

Our tasks are usually finished about noon and we gather back at the same pre-determined location to turn in paperwork and tools, issue Community Service Certificates, and share a few laughs about our morning labors. Bring sun screen, lots of water and a shovel/rake/gloves (if you don't have any of these tools, we can provide them).

Recommended attire: closed-toe shoes, light weight long pants, long sleeved shirt, and a shade hat.

For more details and/or questions: call or e-mail Amy, Program Coordinator at 305-378-1863 or treemendousmiami [at] mail. [dot] com.

We need your help. Come on out and have a TREEmendous day in every way!

GreenerMiami QuickTips

Another project we're working on, in addition to the A-Z Disposal & Donation guide. Currently in progress and not complete. Both guides are now available from the sidebar.

greenerMIAMI QuickTips

Quick and easy things that each Miamian can do to help create a Greener Miami.