April 11-13 Garrison Institute's Initiative on Transformational Ecology kicks off its Satyagraha Project, an exploration of Mahatma Gandhi's concept of nonviolent struggle, satyagraha or "truth force," part of lineage of thought which also includes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr., in the new context of climate change and the deep social and environmental changes we must make in our time.

Garrison Institute Satyagraha Project events include a retreat and a free, public event April 13 at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City. The Cathedral event features Rajmohan Gandhi, Gandhi's biographer and grandson, Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest, performances by Philip Glass, Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, founder of Sri Lanka's Sarvodaya movement; Sulak Sivaraksa, founder of the Thailand Spirit in Education Movement, and other distinguished participants.

For information on these satyagraha programs, log onto satya-graha.org

EATING CALIFORNIA' CLASS SCHEDULE

3 hour classes , Saturdays Only , 10am to 1pm , 7 Weeks

$175 / Attendee , $150 / CNGF Member , $185 / Membership & Class

Dates: April 19th , May 10th , May 31st , June 14th , June 28th , July 12th , August 2nd Tasting Menu Banquet

Classes limited to 15 people , Venue to be determined

Instructors: John Farais & Alrie Middlebrook

RSVP Required: Please call 408-292-9993 or email info@cngf.org

Prepayment of class required to confirm your spot!

Payment forms accepted are check or Paypal

Panel Discussion at New York Public Library

EDIBLE ESTATES: Attack on the Front Lawn
Fritz Haeg, Peter Sellars, Dolores Hayden, Frederick Kaufman,
Shamim Momin & Paul Holdengräber

Friday, March 7, 2008
at 7:00 PM
Celeste Bartos Forum
Humanities and Social Sciences Library
5th Avenue and 42nd Street

$15 general admission and $10 library donors, seniors and students with valid identificatio

2008 San Francisco Flower Show
The Cow Palace
2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City CA.
March 12-16
Wed-Sat. 9 am-8pm
Sun: 9am-6pm

2000 Philadelphia Flower Show
Pennsylvania Convention Center
12th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Sundays, March 2 & March 9: 8 am to 6 pm
Monday, March 3- Friday, March 7: 10 am to 9:30 pm
Saturday, March 8: 8 am to 9:30 pm
(Best viewing hours are after 4 pm)
Box Office closes one hour before Show closing on all days.

This Announcement is from the Greenwich VillageSociety for Historic Preservation:
232 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003 : (212) 475-9585 : gvshp@gvshp.org

Join us for the third installment in GVSHP's popular panel discussion series, Getting It Right: From Historic Properties to Urban Landscapes--an enlightening series on Wednesday evenings sharing successful strategies for renovation, restoration, and gardening in New York's historic neighborhoods, featuring prominent keynote speakers, and panels of leading experts, each followed by a wine and cheese reception.

The next panel discussion, Sharing the Dirt on City Gardening, will explore the variety of strategies to create and maintain a successful garden in an urban environment with practical advice from some of the best in the field.

Keynote: Planning Successful Urban Gardens From Backyard to Rooftop

Donald Sussman, President, Town & Gardens, Ltd.

Panel Discussion: Plants in Focus

Moderator: Lisa Miller, Vice President, Metro Hort Group

Susan Sipos, Chief Horticulturist, The Jefferson Market Garden & St. Luke in the Fields

Donald Sussman, President, Town & Gardens, Ltd.

Linda Yang, Author, The City Gardener's Handbook; former garden columnist, The New York Times

Also Upcoming...

Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb Offers Grants to Support
Community Gardening

Deadline: February 15, 2008

Fiskars Brands, Inc.
seeks to inspire and encourage creative expression through gardening with Project
Orange Thumb. To promote sustainable agriculture, horticultural education, community involvement as well as neighborhood beautification, the program will offer ten grants in 2008.

Community organizations, schools, gardening clubs, senior centers,
or other groups interested in fostering gardening within their
community are invited to apply.

Awardees will each receive up to $1,500 in Fiskars garden tools
and $800 for plant materials to cultivate their garden vision.

For grant application materials and additional information on
Project Orange Thumb, visit the Fiskars Web site.

From Brooklyn Based today:

Greenbelt
Proof that condo developers can also be do-gooders, Greenbelt, a sleek 8-unit condo building at 361 Manhattan Ave. in Williamsburg, is the first L.E.E.D.-certified residence in Brooklyn and the first L.E.E.D-certified performance space in the city. The sale of its units will subsidize the ground floor Center for Performance Research (CPR) run by Jonah Bokaer of Chez Bushwick and acclaimed choreographer John Jasperse -- reversing that whole new-condos-displace-artists trend.

A story about Greenbelt will appear next week in the premiere issue of Brooklyn Boom, published by The Brooklyn Paper, but yesterday, the developers announced their upcoming events: a BKLYN Green Drinks meetup Feb. 20; open houses on green design and products the following two weekends from 11-6, Sat-Sun; a panel on green living Feb. 28, 7-9 pm; and CPR's inaugural performance and exhibit March 8. (Prospective buyers are invited to the open house party on Feb. 7. RSVP at 718-384-5304). Greenbelt Brooklyn

I found this link on Brooklyn Based . I'm going to try to make the January 15th lecture on green roofs, rain collection, and then later this spring, one on "spring greening" from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Check out their courses at City Tech Division of Continuing Education (www.citytech.cuny.edu/academics/continuinged)offers a range of courses including fantastic design and DIY repair classes for Brownstone Brooklyn and beyond. On JAN 15: Greening Your Home covers rain collection, green roofs and more (HHT 075, $40); FEB 20: Get an overview of Interior Design Basics (HHT 072, $40); MAR 6-27: Learn about design, plans and sourcing in The Art of Home Décor (HHT 070, $125); MAR 11: Contractors teach Basic Home Repairs in City Tech's Home Lab (HHT 077, $40); APR 12: Lecturers from Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bettancourt Building Supply and more discuss "spring greening" in Spring Spruce Up (HHT 031, $20); APR 17: Learn Low Impact Living basics including green furnishings and geothermal heating (HHT 076, $40). Call 718-552-1170 to register; email dsalomon@citytech.cuny.edu for more info.

Also, for environmentally friendly products, there's a sale going on at Tribbles Home & Garden. (217 West Broadway between Franklin and White Streets;(212) 965-8480) announces their first Storewide Floor Sample & Warehouse Sale, which begins on Friday, January 10th and ends on Monday, January 21st. Several environmentally friendly/green products sold by Tribbles Home & Garden are also on sale during their storewide sale Tribbles has emptied their warehouse for a floor sample and warehouse sale with savings of 30-50% off in all departments. A huge selection of unique glass vases and accessories, French porcelain, personal care products, furniture, garden accessories, and more are included in the sale from names such as Arte & Cuoio, Guy Degrenne, and Plata Lappas.

During the past 19 years the number of wintering bald eagles on the lower Hudson River has steadily increased. These birds are sometimes viewable in impressive numbers, and are often to be seen fishing, feeding and interacting. No guarantees for sightings, but we can guide you to the best viewing areas in the lower Hudson and discuss eagle life in New York during all seasons. High-powered spotting scopes and running commentary made available. No charge.

These programs all meet at the lower parking lot in Georges Island Park in Montrose. The entrance is off the Old Post Road (Route 9A), just to the north of the FDR Veterans Hospital. Turn at the County Park sign and proceed 1 mile to the park and waterfront.

At Georges Island Park, Montrose, NY

January 1, 2008 2:00 PM
January 13, 2008 2:00 PM
January 19, 2008 2:00 PM
February 10, 2008 3:00 PM

As an extra treat, on New Years' Day Chris will serve his special spiced hot cider, guaranteed to warm your heart!

Outside New York
is having a Spring Cleaning event of outdoor furniture & site furnishings at their shop through December 24th.

They have pottery and plants as well. Everything in the shop is 50-70% off.

Swing by the Red Hook Community Farm for the harvest festival Saturday Oct. 20th from 9am to 5pm. Bring the kids for food, music, and pumpkin carving. (590 Columbia St. at Beard St., Added Value

The Battery Conservancy Fall Plant Sale
Sunday, Oct 21, 2007
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

In partnership with House & Garden's Design Week, The Battery Conservancy will hold its first Fall Plant Sale.

Many of the perennials for sale were hybridized at Piet Oudolf's nursery in the Netherlands and are not available commercially.

House & Garden garden editor, Charlotte Frieze, and The Battery Conservancy's director of horticulture, Sigrid Gray, will lead tours of the Gardens of Remembrance and the Battery Bosque.

Location: Enter the park across from 17 State Street. Plant sale will take place adjacent to Battery Gardens restaurant.

More Information:
Phone number: (212) 344-3491 x21

From October 15-21 House & Garden has put together a Design Week in New York City. There will be tours and lectures of the food, art, interior design and lots of garden-related events. Melissa Ozawa created a list of garden spots. As well, local eco-celebrity Majora Carter will be speaking about Sustainable South Bronx and there will be a tour of the Chinese Scholar Garden at Staten Island. For more information go to: Design Happening

Garden Spots

1. Wave Hill
West 249th Street and Independence Ave
Bronx, NY
718.549.3200

2. The Garden at St. Luke in the Field
487 Hudson Street (corner of Grove Street)
212.924.0562

3. The Conservatory Garden in Central Park
5th avenue at 105th Street

4. GRDN
103 Hoyt Street (btw Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street)
Boerum Hill, Brooklyn . 718.797.3628

5. Sprout Home
44 Grand Street (btw Kent and Wythe Streets)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn . 718.388.4440

This weekend is Open House New York. You can go into those bell towers and basements you've frequently walked by, but never entered. There's going to be lots of gardens and urban nature to explore, like The High Line, the elevated rail viaduct in West Chelsea, the New York Restoration Project - The Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse at Swindler Cove Park on the Harlem River, Wave Hill Gardens in Riverdale and several historic cemeteries. Visit Open House New York for details.

This month the Queens Botanical Garden is celebrating the completion of the Sustainable Landscapes & Buildings project, Phase I of the Queens Botanical Garden master plan.

This includes an 8000 square feet greenroof on the visitor's center. It has been planted with a wide variety of primarily native plant species. Visitors can walk up to the roof and see it, along with having a great view of the gardens.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden will host its annual Chile Pepper Fiesta on Sunday, featuring music from chili loving regions like Mexico and Louisiana. Films, and cooking demos and art classes from kids are part of the celebration.

Chelsea Garden Center is taking 25 percent off teak furniture, shrubs, and pottery; an eight-inch mum is now $7.96.
When: 10/1-10/31; call for hours.
Where: 580 Eleventh Ave., at 44th St. (212-727-7100) and 444 Van Brunt St., nr. Reed St., Red Hook, Brooklyn (718-875-2100).

4th Annual Family Farm Festival
Celebrating sustainable agriculture,
grass-fed meats, and NY family farms

Sun., Sept. 16, 2 - 4 PM, SEED SAVING & SALSA MAKING at PHILLIES BRIDGE FARM PROJECT. Ken Greene, founder of the Valley Educational Seed Saving Exchange and Library (VESSEL) will provide hands-on instruction in seed saving techniques for various food crops. The workshop will conclude with making salsa from the crops used to save seed. $8 for PBFP members, $10 for non-members. Registration required: info@philliesbridge.org or www.philliesbridge.org/ .

Wed., Sept. 19, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, FARM TO TABLE COOKING at PHILLIES BRIDGE FARM PROJECT. Holly Ann Shelowitz, certified nutrition counselor and director of Nourishing Wisdom Nutrition, will lead participants in harvesting fresh produce on the farm, then use it to prepare a delicious meal. Holly is experienced in bringing people together to prepare delicious meals, meet new people, and have a great time while learning how to nourish themselves well. The classes are hands on, chopping, slicing and stirring a great meal together. $20 PBFP members, $25 non-members. Registration is required, space is limited. Email jimmyodowd@yahoo.com or visit http://www.philliesbridge.org/.

Sun., Sept. 30, 4 PM. LOCAL DIET CHALLENGE Potluck Series at Brook Farm CSA, Butterville Road, New Paltz. All welcome. Come meet with farmers and other locally conscious eaters to discuss food sources, share stories and encourage each other. Children activities will be available along with a guided farm tour. Please bring a dish using local ingredients and recipes to share. A mess kit (no disposable wares will be available) is essential and lawn chair/blanket encouraged. For more information visit www.EatLocalFood.org.

Conservatory Garden Tour and Concert

Saturday, Sep 16, 2006
2:00 p.m.
Manhattan
Tour - 2:00 p.m; Concert - 3:30 p.m.
The assistant curator of the Conservatory Garden will lead a tour featuring late summer and early autumn flowering annuals and perennials. A concert in the South Garden performed by a jazz quintet from the Mannes School of Music will follow. FREE.

More Event Info
Location: Conservatory Garden, Central Park - East side from 104th-106th Streets; enter at 5th Ave & 105th St., or 106th St. gate inside

On September 12th, AMD and Architecture for Humanity will launch the AMD Open Architecture Challenge. Architects, designers, students and others are invited to participate in an international, open design competition to help bring connectivity and computing power to communities in need.

Faculty and student groups: If you are interested in participating in the challenge as a studio, contact us. We will send you a draft of the brief so that you can prepare your studio. Studios and organized student groups will recieve group rates to enter the competition.

We recieved 115 RFPs from community groups in 35 countries to partner on the Challenge. A huge thanks to the cross-disciplinary panel of 40 reviewers, including professionals from the fields of design, technology, environmental science and international development for helping us read and review each proposal. After a month of intense review - Three sites were selected... (drum roll):

and they are.. (drum roll);

Kallari Association, Napo Province, Ecuador
Challenge: Connect a cooperative of indigenous chocolate producers and artisans in the Ecuadorian Amazon with the global marketplace by building a fair trade exchange and satellite rural technology hubs.

SIDAREC, Nairobi, Kenya
Challenge: Empower the youth of Mukuru Kwa Njenga, an informal slum settlement of 250,000, to connect with other youth and create positive change in their community by building a technology media center and recording studio.

Nyaya Health, Sanfe Bagar, Nepal
Challenge: Enable families in a remote rural area of Nepal where there is only one doctor for a population of 250,000 to access to health care from top physicians and medical professionals all over the world by building a tele-medicine center.

Registration Begins: 09/12/2007
To enter, log on to: Open Architecture Network

The Lower East Side Ecology Center is currently looking for three qualified applicants to serve as interns with our environmental education programs in the following categories: Women's Environmental Leadership, Sustainability and Climate Change Education, and Environmental Education. Preference will be given to students who can receive college credit (undergraduate or graduate) through their schools. Seniors in high school may only apply if they will be receiving class credit. There is no stipend or lodging assistance available at this time. Interns are encouraged to apply for school and other grants/stipends.

Application information:

All three internships will begin in the second week of September and last until mid-December with the potential for continuing for the Spring Semester.

If interested, please submit your resume and an introductory letter as per your interest in working with the Ecology Center. Please, do specify which of the three internships you are applying to and what your specific expertise/interests are to that subject.

Applications are due September 1st, 2007 and applicants will be notified of interviews by September 5th, 2007. All applications and inquiries should be directed to:

Tara DePorte
Program Director
Lower East Side Ecology Center
tara@lesecologycenter.org
(212) 477-4022
www.lesecologycenter.org

How To Design and Build Your Own Native Garden

A series of do-it-yourself classes offered by the California Native Garden
Foundation.

Date/Time:
Saturday, September 8th
4:30-6:00 Designing a California Native Garden
6:00-7:00 Discussion and Question and Answer session
Sunday, September 9th
10:00-3:00 Garden Tour of private native gardens in San Jose

Where: The California Native Garden Foundation, and various gardens
76 Race Street
San Jose, CA 95126

The California Native Garden Foundation offers the first in a series of classes on how to Design, Build, and Maintain a California Native Garden yourself. These classes will introduce you, the do-it-yourself home gardener, to creating a sustainable, low-maintenance, and water conserving garden around your home.

In "Designing a California Native Garden" you will learn how to start
visualizing your native garden, learn how to incorporate native plants, learn which native plants are right for your yard, and get many design ideas for your project. This class will be taught by Alrie Middlebrook who has more than 30 years experience as a professional landscaper and author.

The Garden Tour will feature three private gardens in the San Jose area where you see hands on how each garden reflects the natural environment around it, and learn from the designer first hand about garden styles and how each garden was constructed.

Cost:
One or more Classes and/or Garden Tour: $40 for members, $60 for non-members.
Please RSVP to reserve your spot.

All proceeds go to support the work of CNGF. The purpose of the California Native Garden Foundation is to change the way Californians garden to be more sustainable. We teach Californians how to use native plants to create a garden that mimics the natural environment, saves water and energy, and creates wildlife habitat. We work with local schools to assist in the creation of native demonstration gardens, and teach young people about ecology. Please help us by joining the foundation today!

For more information please contact:
The California Native Garden Foundation
76 Race Street San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 292-9993
info@cngf.org
www.cngf.org

Permaculture Workshops with Andrew Faust

Classes will be held at Picasso Machinery 45 Broadway, Williamsburg,Brooklyn.
Payment in advance not necessary but you must pre-register.
Limited space.

To register for class email andrew@homebiome.com.
For more information on future classes or internships: http:// www.homebiome.com

August 18th and 19th
Permaculture, Ecology and Biodynamics: Design Ideas for Your Home and Garden.

We will discuss organic gardening, building with local natural materials, ecological lawn, meadow, stream and wetland care, orchards, composting, off-the-grid water systems, and domestic and wild animal
management.
2-5pm $50

August 25th and 26th
Urban Permaculture: Creating Green and Edible Cityscapes

Come learn how to regenerate New York City neighborhoods to be ecological, biodiverse and food providing.
2-5pm $50

August 30th

Ecological Consciousness: Exploring Our Sense of the Sacred and Learning to Live Well with the Earth.

Our ecological crisis is interrelated with our
spiritual crisis and derives from an absence of a sense of the sacred.
6-9pm $30