We’re in Week 3 of the Urban Farm Project and I’m STILL working on the roses.  For the most part my roses seem to thrive on benign neglect.  I deadhead a couple times during the year, cut them back in the winter, and they reward me with beautiful blooms.

This year I started cutting the roses back on January 1st.  What should have been a simple task has mushroomed into a mini fiasco.  Thanks to an overzealous azalea, weeds, suckers, and termites it looks like I will have to dig up at least one of the roses, perform surgery, and replant.

This rose had some suckers coming up from the rootstock that I was able to tear off however it looks like half of the rose is rootstock gone wild.

And to make matters worse, a thorny prickly weed had grown around the base.  After ripping it out and digging down to look for more suckers I found a huge root system from the weed.  I may dig up this one to remove the weed roots and rose suckers and then replant.

Update:  Thank you to Rebecca who identified this weed as asparagus fern.

Does anyone know what this weed is called?  It’s asparagus fern!  It’s awful.  The thorns are really painful and it always seems to return no matter how well I think I’ve dug up it’s roots.  How am I going to get rid of this one growing up from under the brick?

This poor rose was overtaken by the azalea bush this year and, after I cut back the azalea, I realized the rose had more suckers than basal canes.

This rootstock sucker sprung up halfway between the rose and the one next to it.

Suckers weren’t my only problem.  I cut away one large, dead basal cane and found termites.  Gross.

Here’s a short video highlighting the rose pruning woes with a closer look at the asparagus fern, suckers, and termite:

Solutions

Weeds

Be sure to remove the entire root system of the weed or it will grow back.

Suckers

Tear off the sucker at the base of it’s growth.  This video demonstrates the proper way to remove sucker growth from roses:

http://youtu.be/wQVIlLgfTWg

Termites

Remove all dead canes from your roses and consult a professional if you have a termite infestation in your home.

Urban Farm Project

Join us.  Grow something to eat in 2013.

Follow EcoBuzz’s urban farming journey:

Featured Events of the Week:

Square Foot Gardening Workshop

When: Saturday, January 19, 2013 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Where:  Bamboo Room at the Los Angeles County Arboretum 301 North Baldwin Avenue Arcadia, CA 91007 Map It

Learn how to grow your own food using only 20% of the space used in a conventional garden.  No tilling required!  Uses the methods in Mel Bartholomew’s book All New Square Foot Gardening, available for purchase on Amazon.com or in the Arboretum Garden & Gift Shop.  The workshop will be held in the Bamboo Room at the Arboretum.   The cost is $25 for Arboretum members/$20 for non-members.

For more information visit arboretum.org.

Seed Library of Los Angeles Monthly Meeting – Life after Prop 37

When: Saturday, January 19, 2013 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Where:  Learning Garden at Venice High School 1300 Venice Blvd. Venice, CA 90066 Map It

Join the SLOLA for their monthly meeting to learn how you can make a difference now that Prop 37 did not pass.  Hear exciting news about SLOLA’s involvement in a new project to protect our food supply from GMOs.  The meeting is free but it’s a great opportunity to join the Seed Library with a $10 lifetime membership.  The membership allows you to borrow non-GMO seeds for your garden.  Enter at Walgrove, first gate south of Venice Blvd.

For more information visit slola.org.

TreePeople Community Tree Walk

When: Sunday, January 20, 2013 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: Inglewood, register for address

Learn more about TreePeople and how to get involved on this leisurely walk through a neighborhood park where you will also learn how to identify trees.

For more information and to register visit treepeople.org.

More green events this week:

TreePeople Events

When: throughout the week, see the TreePeople calendar

Where: throughout Los Angeles

TreePeople offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including tree planting, tree care, mountain restoration, reforestation, park maintenance, seedling nursery, photography. Minors (accompanied by an adult) are welcome. Visit their calendar to select an activity and sign-up by pre-registering. Once you register, TreePeople will contact you with event details and directions.

During the week of January 18-24, 2013, TreePeople has the following on their calendar: Santa Monica Mountains Restoration, Park Work Day, Fruit Tree Program, Community Tree Walk, and Tree Care. Check out their calendar for more information.

Sierra Club Outings

When: throughout the week, see the Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar (rain may cancel)

Where: throughout Los Angeles

Weekly Sierra Club outings include hikes, nature walks, conditioning hikes, and other events. Visit the Sierra Club – Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar for a list of activities and additional information.

Click here for more green things to do in Los Angeles.

If you would like to receive information about green things to do in Los Angeles you can stay in touch through one of our subscription methods. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on events throughout the Los Angeles area.

Heads Up for January:

Temescal Canyon Park Garden Restoration:  January 26, 2013 9:00 am – 4 pm

Topanga State Park Restoration:  January 27, 2013 8:30 am

Featured Events of the Week:

French Drains Workshop

When: Saturday, January 12, 2013 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Mother Nature’s Backyard 1200 West 170th Street Gardena, CA 90247  Map It

Visit Mother Nature’s Backyard in the southwest corner of the Gardena Willows Wetland preserve in Arthur Johnson Park on Saturday, January 12, 2013 to learn about a powerful rain management tool, the french drain.  Learn how to install a french drain system in your yard to direct rain water away from your house to an area where it can be used for deep watering.  Kelley Dawdy, the hardscape expert at Mother Nature’s Backyard, will be on hand to answer questions.  The workshop is free (donations gratefully appreciated) and will be held rain or shine.  Park in the parking lot at Johnson Park.

For more information visit mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com

65¢ a Gallon: Biodiesel Workshop

When: Sunday, January 13, 2013 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Where: Christopher Wahl Center 12401 Slauson Avenue, Unit G Whittier, CA 90606 Map It

Learn how to make your own biodiesel fuel in this workshop taught by science teacher Samuel Wu.  In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to make biodiesel fuel, take a tour of a biodiesel car, learn about permitting, and how to approach restaurants for used cooking coil.  The cost for the workshop is $20 per person.  A light lunch will be served at noon, the workshop will begin at 1:00 pm.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit biodiesel.brownpapertickets.com.

More green events this week:

Abalone Cove Tide Pool Hike

 

When: Saturday, January 12, 2013 2:30 pm

Where: Abalone Cove Shoreline Park 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275  Map It

Join the Los Serenos docents for a hike to the tide pools at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park.  Wear sturdy shoes as part of the walk will be on cobblestones and climbing down an incline.  The walk is suitable for older children, teens, and adults.  Wear sun protection and bring water.  There is no charge for the guided hike.  Parking is free from 45 minutes prior to the hike until 30 minutes after.  Rain cancels.

For more information visit losserenos.com or call (310) 377-5370.

TreePeople Events

When: throughout the week, see the TreePeople calendar

Where: throughout Los Angeles

TreePeople offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including tree planting, tree care, mountain restoration, reforestation, park maintenance, seedling nursery, photography. Minors (accompanied by an adult) are welcome. Visit their calendar to select an activity and sign-up by pre-registering. Once you register, TreePeople will contact you with event details and directions.

During the week of January 11-17, 2013, TreePeople has the following on their calendar: Santa Monica Mountains Restoration, Park Work Day, and Tree Care. Check out their calendar for more information.

Sierra Club Outings

When: throughout the week, see the Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar (rain may cancel)

Where: throughout Los Angeles

Weekly Sierra Club outings include hikes, nature walks, conditioning hikes, and other events. Visit the Sierra Club – Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar for a list of activities and additional information.

Click here for more green things to do in Los Angeles.

If you would like to receive information about green things to do in Los Angeles you can stay in touch through one of our subscription methods. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on events throughout the Los Angeles area.

Heads Up for January:

Abalone Cove Guided Tide Pool Hike: January 12, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Beyond Organic Gardening Class at Silver Lake Farms: January 21, 2013 at 10:00 am

2013 marks the first year of the EcoBuzz Urban Farm Project.  Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, or via email updates as I try to grow as many edibles as I can squeeze into a .15 acre lot (living space included!).  We’ll talk about composting, worm bins, seed starting, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, raised beds, container gardening, community gardens, community food exchange, urban livestock, and more.

Here is the recap for Week 1:

1.  Measured the lot.

In an effort to figure out exactly what I will be able to plant I measured our lot, the non-permeable surfaces, and the permeable surfaces.  Without tearing down structures, removing concrete, or tearing out existing landscape we have about 386 sq. ft of available planting space.  If I remove a hedge and a section of lawn plus include some random small areas of plantable space that adds approximately another 100 sq. ft.  Of course this doesn’t include space for container plants so it’s difficult to calculate exactly how much we’ll be able to plant but at least I have a number to start with for the plants that need more space (e.g., watermelon, potatoes, artichokes).

2.  Cut back roses.

We have 14 roses – 13 are planted in the ground, 1 is in a container.  I’ve managed to cut back 6 so far.  This wasn’t exactly part of the urban farming prep but it is part of the gardening work that needs to be done.  And, since roses are edible, it looks like they will be part of the edible landscape after all.

Iceberg Rose in Spring 2012.

3.  Pulled weeds from future lettuce bed.

Half of the planter in our front yard has been used an annual flower bed.  This year it’s going to be my lettuce patch.  It’s 2′ x 11′.  We’ll see if this 22 square foot area is large enough to grow all of our salad greens.  Since the planter is in the front yard I plan to mix in some borage, chamomile, and/or echinacea to maintain the flower bed appearance it’s had in the past.

4.  Cut back jacaranda tree.

We have a beautiful, mature (read HUGE) jacaranda tree in our backyard.  We’ve never properly educated ourselves on the correct way to prune it but I don’t think we’ve harmed it.  Each year it grows back bigger and fuller and has beautiful blossoms.  Right now it’s creating too much shade for the area slated for two raised bed planters so it’s time for a trim.  We managed to get the lower branches done this week but the upper branches are going to require a tall ladder, some climbing, and a lot of care.

5.  Ordered and received seeds.

I ordered vegetable and herb seeds from SeedsNow.com on Wednesday and received them a few days later on Saturday.  I really love this company, more on them later this week.

6.  Made eggshell planters for starting seeds.

I copied an idea I saw on Facebook and made these little seed planters using empty eggshells.  This also gave me the opportunity to partially harvest some of the compost from our worm bin.  It was amazing to see and feel the dark, nutrient-rich compost created from our kitchen scraps.  More on eggshell planters and composting later too.

7.  Planted strawberries.

We picked up a six pack of strawberry plants from the garden center and planted them in containers in the front yard.  In the past our strawberries have always been gobbled up by birds and rabbits when we planted them in the backyard so we’re going to see if they are safer in the front yard.

Plan for Week 2:

Finish cutting back roses and jacaranda, plant seeds, design planting spaces, and begin building raised beds.

Join us.  Grow something to eat in 2013.

Follow EcoBuzz’s urban farming journey:

Featured Event of the Week:

Rose Pruning Workshop

When: Sunday, January 6, 2012 1:00 pm

Where: Ocean View Farms Community Garden 3300 S. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066 Map It

Master Gardener Nina Rumely will demonstrate proper rose pruning technique at her annual workshop on Sunday, January 6, 2013 in the Ocean View Farms Community Garden.  Learn about pruning tools, organic rose care, the right time of year to prune, types of roses, where to purchase roses, and more.  Bring gloves and pruning shears.  The class is free and open to the public.  Rain cancels.  Rain date: January 13th.

For more information visit www.oceanviewfarms.net/roseclass.html.

More green events this week:

TreePeople Events

When: throughout the week, see the TreePeople calendar

Where: throughout Los Angeles

TreePeople offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including tree planting, tree care, mountain restoration, reforestation, park maintenance, seedling nursery, photography. Minors (accompanied by an adult) are welcome. Visit their calendar to select an activity and sign-up by pre-registering. Once you register, TreePeople will contact you with event details and directions.

During the week of January 4-10, 2013, TreePeople has the following on their calendar: Santa Monica Mountains Restoration and Fruit Tree Program. Check out their calendar for more information.

Sierra Club Outings

When: throughout the week, see the Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar (rain may cancel)

Where: throughout Los Angeles

Weekly Sierra Club outings include hikes, nature walks, conditioning hikes, and other events.  Visit the Sierra Club – Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar for a list of activities and additional information.

Click here for more green things to do in Los Angeles.

If you would like to receive information about green things to do in Los Angeles you can stay in touch through one of our subscription methods. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on events throughout the Los Angeles area.

Heads Up for January:

Abalone Cove Guided Tide Pool Hike: January 12, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Beyond Organic Gardening Class at Silver Lake Farms:  January 21, 2013 at 10:00 am

2012 was a great year for good food and the best year yet for the non-GMO movement.  As we continue to fight for transparency in our food system one thing remains clear.  The only way to truly know what’s in your food is to grow it yourself.

For those of us living in Los Angeles  and other urban areas, growing food to feed ourselves and our families is daunting.  The notion of being self-sufficient on a fraction of an acre seems impossible.  And while it’s not impossible (The Urban Homestead® in Pasadena does it on 1/10 of an acre), it’s not feasible for everyone.

What if you aren’t ready, willing, or able to transform your city lot into a solar powered farm and fuel your car with home-brewed bio-diesel?  What if your lot is really tiny?  What if you rent?  What if you live in a condo?

You can still grow your own food!  Maybe it won’t be 95% of what you eat or even 25% of what you eat but every little bit counts.  And you don’t have to turn every inch of your yard into farm land to enjoy a bountiful harvest.

Backyard Urban Farming Benefits

Why should you grow your own food when there are markets on every corner and farmers markets in every neighborhood on any given day of the week?

Cost Savings – The more you grow, the less you spend at the market.  With seed starter packs that cost 99 cents and planting mix for a few bucks a square yard, it’s not long before you break even and save money growing your own food.  As of this writing, the average cost of tomatoes in Los Angeles is $3.81/kg.  That’s $1.73/lb.  Assuming you get a couple pounds of tomatoes from your tomato plant each harvest (averages are usually higher than that) you’ll break even the first time you pick ripe tomatoes even if you only have one plant.

Better Quality and Taste – Bite into a tomato from your first harvest and you’ll be amazed.  I thought I didn’t like tomatoes until we grew our own.  Growing your own food affords the freshest produce money can buy.

Good for the Environment – Growing your own food saves in transportation costs.  You’ll drive to the market less AND save energy consumed in transporting food from rural to urban areas.  Urban farming also adds much needed greenery to our neighborhoods.

Good for the Soul – Working in the soil, growing plants, and enjoying the fruits of your labor is great exercise for the mind and the body.

Great for Kids – Get everyone in your family involved in growing food.  They will learn to appreciate where their food comes from and be more inclined to try a variety of fresh produce when it is something they’ve helped to grow.  Growing a tomato from seed is also a great science lesson.

Whether you have a window sill herb pot, a balcony container garden, a single raised bed, or an entire micro-farm that encompasses all of your yard, urban farming on any scale is incredibly rewarding.

EcoBuzz Urban Farm Project

Throughout the year we’ll cover many urban farming topics here at EcoBuzz – composting, worm bins, seed starting, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, raised beds, container gardening, community gardens, community food exchange, urban livestock, and more.  Be sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter, or via email updates as I try to grow as many edibles as I can squeeze into a .15 acre lot (living space included!).  We’ve started our worm bin, ordered the seeds, and made seed starting cups out of eggshells.  Next up: planting the seeds, building raised beds, and finding other suitable planting spots in our very tiny yard.

Weekly Recaps

Week 1:  Rose pruning, weeding, tree trimming, ordering seeds, and making eggshell planters.

Week 2:  Coming soon…

Join us.  Grow something to eat in 2013.

Follow EcoBuzz’s urban farming journey:

Featured Event of the Week:

Sustainability Film Premiere at Bergamot Station – Green Living Project

When: Thursday, December 6, 2012  7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Where: Morkaba at Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Map It

Click here for free tickets!

Join the Green Living Project in Santa Monica on Thursday, December 6, 2012 from 7pm – 10 pm for their 4th annual film premiere and celebration.  The Green Living Project’s mission is to educate and inspire individuals and communities to live a more sustainable lifestyle through their unique films.  They have created films and project from countries in four continents including Rwanda and Tanzania in Africa, Costa Rica and Panama in Central America, Mexico and the United States in North America, and Brazil and Ecuador in South America.  The film premiere on December 6th will feature a collection of their best global and domestic sustainability films 0f 2012.

Featured films include Fairtrade Africa (Tanzania), Working Bikes (Chicago), Angelic Organics Learning Center (Illinois), Okapi Conservation Project (DR Congo), UNITE (Uganda), and Basecamp Foundation (Kenya).

A volunteer trip for 2 to Costa Rica to work with endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles will be raffled.  Network with like-minded people.  Enjoy organic wine from Frey Vineyards and Karl Strauss beer on tap.

Tickets cost $20 online, $25 at the door ($15 with a student ID, free for teachers with RSVP).  Or enter to win free tickets here.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to their film partner Okapi Conservation Project, who works with the Okapi Wildlife Reserve to safeguard the biodiversity and culture of the Ituri Forest from illegal activities like poaching, mining, and logging.

For more information and to purchase tickets online visit www.greenlivingproject.com.

More green events this week:

Full Moon Hike

When: Friday, November 30, 2012

Where: George F Canyon Nature Center 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 Map It

Join Nature Center docents on a two hour, 300 ft rise walk to the top of the canyon for a fantastic view of the full moon and city lights.  Bring a flashlight.  Children must be 8 or older.  $10 per person, limited to 20 participants, reservations required.

Contact the Nature Center for reservations and to check time and rain cancellation:  310-547-0862

Organic Fruit and Vegetable Gardening Class at the Arboretum

When: Saturday, December 1, 2012 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden – Bamboo Room, 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007  Map It

Learn how to grow fruits and vegetables organically in your home garden.  Save money at the grocery store and contribute to the healthy lifestyle of your family.  Vegetable gardens enhance the appearance of any yard and provide a fun activity for all ages.  Topics will include the National Organic Program, winter crops, companion planting, winter weeds, insects, irrigation, soil building, composting, worm bins, pruning fruit trees, gopher-proofing, plus answers to your questions.

Cost is $25 for Arboretum members, $30 for non-members.  There is no entrance fee when you register for a class.  Call 626-821-4623 to register or pay at the door.

For more information visit: www.arboretum.org/index.php/events-and-classes/details/organic_fruit_and_vegetable_gardening/?start_time=1354392000&end_time=1354406400

First Saturday Hike

When: Saturday, December 1, 2012 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Where: George F Canyon Nature Center 27305 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 Map It

Join Nature Center docents on a two hour hike through the canyon to explore geology, wildlife, folklore, and more.  $5 per person.

Contact the Nature Center for more information and reservations and to check for rain cancellation:  310-547-0862

TreePeople Events

When: throughout the week, see the TreePeople calendar

Where: throughout Los Angeles

TreePeople offers a variety of volunteer opportunities including tree planting, tree care, mountain restoration, reforestation, park maintenance, seedling nursery, photography. Minors (accompanied by an adult) are welcome. Visit their calendar to select an activity and sign-up by pre-registering. Once you register, TreePeople will contact you with event details and directions.

During the week of November 30-December 6, 2012, TreePeople has the following on their calendar: Santa Monica Mountains Restoration and Park Work Day. Check out their calendar for more information.

Sierra Club Outings

When: throughout the week, see the Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar (rain may cancel)

Where: throughout Los Angeles

A few of the Sierra Club outings for this week include a Pacific Palisades Hike (Friday), Long Beach El Dorado Park Nature Walk (Saturday morning), Pacific Palisades hike from Bienveneda to Will Rogers (Saturday), Farmers Market/Museum Row/La Brea Tar Pits Historical Walk (Sunday), and various conditioning hikes in Peters Canyon Regional Park, Palos Verdes Estates, Long Beach, La Jolla Peak, San Pedro, Irvine, Puente Hills, and Griffith Park.  Visit the Sierra Club – Angeles Chapter Activities Calendar for more activities and additional information.

Click here for more green things to do in Los Angeles.

If you would like to receive information about green things to do in Los Angeles you can stay in touch through one of our subscription methods. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on events throughout the Los Angeles area.

Heads Up for December:

Abalone Cove Guided Tide Pool Hike:  December 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm

See below for a chance to win free tickets to GLP Films 4th Annual Los Angeles Film Premiere!

Embark on an amazing journey to the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and other locations through a collection of short sustainability films set to debut at Green Living Project’s 4th Annual Los Angeles Film Premiere in Santa Monica on Thursday, December 6, 2012.  The featured films will include Fairtrade Africa (Tanzania), Working Bikes (Chicago), Angelic Organics Learning Center (Illinois), Okapi Conservation Project (Democratic Republic of Congo), UNITE (Uganda), and Basecamp Foundation (Kenya).

The short films address global and domestic issues like fair trade coffee; promotion of cycling as a healthy, affordable, and sustainable mode of transport; urban farming as means for building local food systems; conservation of the wild okapi; conservation curriculum in the classroom; and the development of sustainable tourism and conservation in Kenya.  The cinematography is stunning and the messages are powerful.

For more information and to purchase tickets online visit www.greenlivingproject.com.  See below to win free tickets!

Event Details

Green Living Project 4th Annual Los Angeles Film Premiere

Watch the latest short sustainability films, enjoy organic wine from Frey Vineyards and Karl Strauss beer on tap, receive swag bags with great gear, and get a chance to win a once in a lifetime 5-day volunteer trip to Costa Rica to work with endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles.  The Student Film Project winners will also be announced.

Morkaba at Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Map It

When:  Thursday, December 6th, 2012 from 7pm – 10pm

Tickets:  $20 if you buy online ($25 at the door, $15 for students with ID, free for teachers with RSVP)
Buy tickets online:  www.greenlivingproject.com/losangeles2012/

Or win free tickets!  See below for details.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to film partner Okapi Conservation Project.

Ticket Giveaway

We have 5 tickets to giveaway!

How to enter:

1.  “Like” Green Living Project on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/greenlivingproject

2.  “Like” EcoBuzz Los Angeles on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/EcoBuzzLA

3.  Post a comment below to let us know that you entered!

That’s it!  Follow those three simple steps and you will automatically be entered to win one or more tickets to the film premiere next Thursday (December 6th).

Be sure to include a valid email address when you submit your comment below so that we can contact you if you win.  Your email address will not be published and will only be used to contact you if you win.

Winner selection:

Entries will close at 9:00 pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.  The winners will be selected from the comments below and will be contacted on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.  We just ask that the winners follow all three steps to enter in order to be eligible.  Good luck!  Hope to see you there!

Here are some clips from the 2011 event: 2011 Los Angeles Film Premiere

What is Green Living Project?

Green Living Project is a media production company focused on educating and inspiring people on sustainability initiatives through award-winning short films and photography.  To date, GLP has created over 60 films in 17 countries.  Previous projects include films documenting the work of The Leatherback Trust in Costa Rica, poverty relief in Mozambique, cheetah conservation in Africa, a compost school in Maine, gorilla conservation in Rwanda, overfishing and coastal pollution in Ecuador, and sustainable tourism worldwide.

GLP also inspires teachers and students by bringing sustainability education to the classroom.  They provide curriculum, school presentations, film projects, and speaking engagements.

Watch GLP’s short (7 minute) film about The Leatherback Trust, an organization dedicated to the conservation and study of the Leatherback Sea Turtle.  These amazing creatures have been here for over 65 million years, witnessing the fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of humanity.  Oil spills, fishing, climate change, tourism density, and coastal manufacturing are quickly shrinking the habitats of the turtles.  Sadly, if action is not taken soon to project leatherbacks, they will disappear in our lifetime.

‘Tis the season to decorate for the holidays and for those who celebrate Christmas, a Christmas tree is an all-important holiday tradition.  But which tree options are the most eco-friendly?  Let’s take a look…

Artificial tree

There’s really no beating around the Christmas bush.  Artificial trees are an eco-disaster.  Most contain lead and are made from PVC that disperses toxic dioxins during the manufacturing process.  Most fake trees are manufactured in China where migrant workers earn a poor wage.  While they are stored, they attract dust and mold which can be a problem for allergy sufferers when the tree is brought back out the following year.  And they don’t last forever.  Once artificial trees outlive (for lack of a better term) their usefulness they end up in a landfill where they will sit for eons leaching toxic chemicals into the ground water.

If you do choose an artificial tree, exercise caution around children and pets.  The toxic materials can be especially dangerous for small children who may touch the tree and put their hands in their mouths or pets who may chew on the branches.

Cut tree

A comparative life cycle assessment of artificial vs natural Christmas trees conducted by Ellipsos, a Life Cycle Management consulting firm, found that the natural tree is a better option than the artificial tree, in particular with respect to impacts on climate change and resource depletion.  Natural tree production has a positive impact on the environment because the trees sequester CO2 during the growth.  The assessment also found that watering the trees only has marginal impacts.  And many Christmas tree lots make use of land that would otherwise be vacant (e.g., under power lines) to grow their trees.

Photo Credit: Santa & Sons

When selecting a cut tree, look for tree lots that buy from family farms using certified sustainable farming methods to grow Christmas trees.  Santa & Sons, in Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys area) does just that.  They are a small Oregon family farm AND the owners of the tree lot that sells their trees in the San Fernando Valley.  They are also members of the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers, an organization formed for the purpose of certifying the environmental practices of Christmas tree farms through a rigorous auditing process to ensure that growers are conscious of the environment.  You can look for the certified tag on Christmas trees at your local tree lot.

After the holidays, make sure your tree is recycled into mulch.  Most city waste pickup services offer free tree pick-up after the holidays.  They transport the trees to a recycling center where the trees are turned into mulch that is used for ground cover in parks or other city areas.  If your waste management company doesn’t offer tree pick-up services, there are may local organizations where trees can be dropped off for recycling.

Living tree

Buy a living tree.

A rosemary bush is a common potted tree sold around Christmas time – they smell great and you can cook with it after the holidays!  Or select a larger, more traditional tree from your local nursery and keep it outside during the rest of the year, re-potting as necessary or planting it in your yard when it grows too large to bring inside for Christmas.

Rent a living tree.

If you are looking for a traditional tree but like the idea of a living tree, consider renting a tree.  The Living Christmas Company, based in Southern California, allows customers to rent a living potted tree for the holidays.  There is something incredibly uplifting about having a fresh-smelling live tree in your home rather than one that is dying and turning into a crispy mess.

Keep in mind that a potted tree can only stay indoors for about three weeks before it’s health begins to deteriorate so you’ll want to plan your rental time accordingly.  During the rest of the year the trees are cared for in various lots around Southern California.  Once a tree is too big to be rented any longer it is planted in the community as part of an Urban Reforestation Project.  With delivery and pickup (using Bio Diesel trucks!), renting a tree is one of the most convenient and eco-friendly Christmas tree options.

For more information about renting a live tree read our review of The Living Christmas Company here or visit their website www.livingchristmas.com.

Alternative tree

Be creative!  Re-purpose a cardboard box and cut out a tree.  Or purchase a Christmas tree made from recycled cardboard.  These options have punch-out ornaments that the kids can decorate.  Build your own temporary tree with blocks or books…

Photo Credit: Posted on Facebook from an unknown source

Regardless of what type of Christmas tree you select, the conclusion of the Christmas Tree life cycle assessment reminds us that the impacts on the environment of any type of Christmas tree are negligible compared to other activities, such as car use.

Happy Holidays!

If you are an early riser (on the west coast), make sure you step outside around 6:00 am PST on Wednesday morning to see the final lunar eclipse of 2012.  On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, beginning at 12:14:58 UT and ending at 16:51:02 UT, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse visible in Europe, eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and the Pacific.  The greatest eclipse, with the most visible darkening, will occur at 14:33:00 UT (6:33 am PST). Once moonset occurs at 6:40 am PST, the moon will be under the horizon in Los Angeles and the eclipse will no longer be visible.

What is a lunar eclipse?

An eclipse of the moon occurs at full moon if the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.  The Earth’s shadow includes two components – the outer (penumbral) shadow where the Earth blocks part of the Sun’s rays from reaching the moon and the inner (umbral) shadow where the Earth blocks all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the moon.

There are three types of lunar eclipses:

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

• Moon passes through Earth’s penumbral shadow (see diagram below).
• Subtle and difficult to observe since there is only a slight darkening of the moon.
• This is the type of lunar eclipse that will occur on Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

Partial Lunar Eclipse

• A portion of the moon passes through Earth’s umbral shadow.
• Easy to observe with the naked eye.

Total Lunar Eclipse

• The entire moon passes through Earth’s umbral shadow.
• Easy to observe with the naked eye.
• Moon has a vibrant red color during the total phase.

How can I watch the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse?

With your eyes!  Lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.  Binoculars will help magnify the view.  With a telescope you can make note of the time when each crater enters the penumbral shadow.  But the overall darkening will be visible with your own two eyes.

Since the Moon will be passing through the Earth’s outer (penumbral) shadow which only blocks part of the Sun’s rays, the start and end of the November 28, 2012 lunar eclipse will not be visible to the naked eye.  You may be able to notice a slight darkening using binoculars or a telescope during the beginning and end.  During the eclipse’s maximum, a dusky shading in the northern half of the Moon will be visible to the naked eye and even more distinct if you are viewing the eclipse with binoculars or a telescope.  According to NASA, viewers in Western Canada and the USA will have the best views with moonset occurring sometime after mid-eclipse.

At approximately 14:00 UT (6:00 am PST) when 2/3 of the Moon  is in the penumbra, you should be able to notice the darkening with the naked eye.  The maximum effect, when the Moon is completely in the penumbra, should be visible at about 14:33 UT (6:33 am PST).  The exact time will depend on atmospheric conditions that morning.  Shortly after the maximum eclipse, the moon will set (6:40 am in Los Angeles, 7:06 am in San Francisco and so on).  Since the moon will be so close to the horizon during the eclipse, viewing from a high point is recommended.

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: ©2002 F. Espenak, www.MrEclipse.com