[EVENT:] Benefits of Juicing at Yoga & Tea, March 24th

Have you seen Dr. Terry Wahl's TEDx talk about "minding your mitochondria"? She was able to reverse her multiple sclerosis just by changing her diet & juicing fresh fruits and vegetables:

Yoga & Tea in Lynbrook will be hosting a juicing workshop this Saturday, March 24th in their studio. You can find more details here, and if you can't make it to the workshop, be sure to visit their new juice bar! The cafe also has smoothies, hot & iced tea, and a variety of healthy muffins, cookies, and granolas. You can check out their yoga schedule to stop in for a class, too. 

Facebook & Twitter for Locally LI

Have you "Liked" and "Followed" Locally Long Island?

There's new Locally LI Facebook & Twitter accounts!

You'll get more frequent updates for Nassau green living, connect with other Nassau residents & share your favorite green resources. Hope to see you there!

Rockville Centre Winter Farmers Market

Happy to report that G&G Farmers Market will be providing Nassau County with New York grown produce this March! You'll also find locally-made breads, pasta, cheeses, baked goods, eggs, pickles, meat, wine, and cookies (for you and your dog!).

Rockville Centre Farmers Market

Central Synagogue of Nassau County

430 DeMott Avenue

Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Sundays from 12pm - 4pm

Green Resolutions

We've all set resolutions to go on a diet, join a gym, sleep more, drink less coffee, etc., and even "green" resolutions can get a little tired (shorter showers, recycle more, drive less).  Here's some unique and possibly more concrete resolutions you can try to incorporate into your life in 2012. Please comment & share what you'll be doing this year to go "greener," too!

• RESOLUTION #1: Use the bulk section at grocery stores

  By buying food in bulk, you can purchase exactly how much you want & avoid excess packaging. Dinner foods in bulk sections include rices, quinoa, dried beans, lentils, and seasonings. You can also find coffee beans, oats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and chocolate & yogurt-covered fruits for breakfast & snacks. Jandi's & Wild By Nature in Oceanside have great bulk sections -- please comment if you've seen them elsewhere in Nassau County!

  
  

  Jandi's bulk section
  [ image from: http://www.jandis.com/retailer/store_templates/ret_about_us.asp?storeID=7D612D95A81E4D1AB01BA80578A7D64D ]
  
  
  

• RESOLUTION #2: BYO- Bags, Cups & Containers
  Finding a water bottle, coffee mug, and reusable utensil set you love make it easy to remember them on your way out the door. It can also be helpful to carry wet naps & sanitzer with you in a pencil case to clean your hands beforehand & wipe down containers when you're done. You can also rinse these out in a bathroom sink or water fountain until you get home to thoroughly wash them.



Bento Boxes make carrying lunch & to-go containers convenient & discrete.
[ image from: http://secure.laptoplunches.com/AMAZING/ ]



To-Go Ware's Bamboo Utensil Set uses renewable, non-toxic materials
[image from: http://worldofgood.ebay.com/To-Go-Ware-RePEaT-Utensil-Set---Agave/260817215374/item  ]




 Rubbermaid's Filter Fresh water bottles contain no BPA's and have a
filter in the bottle for clean water on the go.
[image from: http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP091951 ]

• RESOLUTION #3: Try to eat one vegan or vegetarian meal a day
  It can definitely be hard to change eating habits, whether it's eating less of something not-so-good or eating more of something good-for-you. You can try to make a more gradual resolution to ease into better eating habits, so you can slowly get used to a new routine throughout 2012. Eating less meat & animal products is good for your body & the planet - maybe you can try eating an apple & peanut butter instead of apple & cheese for a snack this year?

Vegan Outreach has vegetarian recipes and resources on its site, like the
"Best & Fastest Chili" recipe pictured above.
[ image from: http://www.veganoutreach.org/guide/ ]

• RESOLUTION #4: Buy less
  In our consumer society & disposable-goods culture, it's hard to cancel out all the messages that "more" and "new" is better (remember the "thneeds" in The Lorax?). This year, for the sake of your wallet, the clutter of your home, and the good of our overflowing landfills, try to really consider the necessity of each purchase. Do you already have something similar at home? Can you put this purchase off until you really need it? Might you be able to do what you need to without it? 

Do you really need that "thneed"?
[ image from: http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~cjermain/thneed.htm ]

Good luck with all of your New Year's resolutions!

Wishing you Peace & Love in 2012

Christmas Tree Recycling

It's never easy to say "goodbye" to a Christmas tree, but when its time has come, you can make sure it goes back to the earth in a sustainable way.

Each village in Nassau County has its own yard waste & sanitation pick-up procedures, and many have special days for Christmas tree pick up & drop offs. These trees are used as mulch in landscaping. Some villages even offer this mulch for free for residents.

To find out how to recycle your tree, check your town's sanitation department website.

You can also put your tree to use as a birdfeeder in your backyard, or as a soil erosion barrier on a hill. You may also want to consider a rooted or potted tree for next year that can be planted at the end of the season. For more ideas, you can visit this site.

Recycled Shoes & Fashions

With Simple Shoes taking a creative break, the search recycled materials shoes had to get a bit more creative! Although many companies offer a style or two of shoes with recycled materials, it can make a much bigger statement (as a fashionista & a consumer) to buy from brands that consistently stick with the values you believe in.

soleRebels tooTOOS  [top]
& Okabashi Classic Flip-Flops [bottom]

The best-known online brands for recycled materials are soleRebels, for all types of shoes, and Okabashi, for recycled rubber sandals. soleRebels was founded in 2004 by Bethlehem Alemu to create jobs in her community in Ethiopia. They now carry WFTO/IFAT Fair Trade Certification & make literally hundreds of styles of shoes, from flip flops to sneakers to ballet flats & slip-ons, all with options to customize colors. Okabashi shoes are made in the USA from recycled materials, creating jobs & vegan styles since 1984. They also have a recycling program, where you can send in your worn out shoes to be recycled at their factory.
       

On Long Island, you can find new & lightly used shoes at many resale & thrift shops, to reduce and reuse footwear. Homegrown Boutique, a new store based in Babylon Village, creates handmade garments, bags & accessories from repurposed materials; they're made in the USA by Long Island artisans.


New York City is the home of Moo Shoes, a vegan accessory store that sells cruelty-free shoes, bags, belts & accessories. They also have an online store if you'd rather not make the trip to the Lower East Side. Moo Shoes isn't its own brand, but offers the vegan selections from other well-known brands (like Big Buddha & Madden Girl).

Luckily, many of today's brands offer vegan, fair trade & recycled options that don't look much different than mainstream shoes, so you can chose to stand out, speak up, or blend in as much as you'd like while still putting your dollars toward sound choices.

Long Beach Farmers Market Winter Hours

Great news! Friends & Farmers just announced that Kennedy Plaza Farmers Market in Long Beach will have extended winter hours this year!

Kennedy Plaza Farmers Market
Long Beach City Hall Lobby
1 W. Chester Street, Long Beach, NY
Open: Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
December 14, 2011 - February 29, 2012

http://www.kennedyplazafarmersmarket.com

The Kennedy Plaza Farmers Market always has a great selection of food & plenty of vendors available so you can find everything on your grocery list at one stop. And, if somehow something's still missing, there's always Bob's Natural Foods across the street. Another reason to love this farmers market is the accessibility through the LIRR -- the Long Beach station is directly across from Kennedy Plaza.

This Wednesday, you'll find:

• Apples (Red Jacket Orchards)
• Root veggies (Madura Farms)
• Mushrooms (Madura Farms)
• Salad mix (Madura Farms)
• Pickes (Horman's Best Pickles) 
• Eggs (Millport Dairy)
• Bacon (Millport Dairy)
• Breakfast Sausage (Ronnybrook Farm Dairy)

• Eggnog (Ronnybrook Farm Dairy)
• Ice Cream (Ronnybrook Farm Dairy)
• Yogurt (Ronnybrook Farm Dairy)
• Pies & baked goods (Bread Alone)
• Wine - $2 off every bottle (Ronnybrook Farm Dairy)
• Coffee (Bread Alone, Gentle Brew)

• Ravioli (Papa Pasquales's)
• Pasta (Papa Pasquales's)
• Cheese (Papa Pasquales's)
• Breads  (Papa Pasquales's, Bread Alone)

• Soaps & lotions (Clean Essence)

Events: LI Small Farm Summit & Anti-Fracking Rally

There are two big Long Island sustainability events this week, starting tomorrow morning! For those interested in small- and mid-scale agriculture on Long Island, there will be a planning meeting for the 2nd annual Long Island Small Farm Summit. And for energy-minded residents, Food & Water Watch will be hosting a rally against hydrofracking in Manhasset, right next to the LIRR station.

Both events are sure to be great networking opportunities with other Long Island citizens concerned about sustainability. You may also happen upon chef & Slow Food Huntington co-founder Bhavani Jaroff of I Eat Green, who shared these Nassau events in her weekly newsletter & radio show.

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Tuesday: Long Island Small Farm Summit Planning Meeting
9:30 AM at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration
1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, NY

"Sold out in advance, the first Small Farm Summit held April 15, 2011 at SUNY College Old Westbury was attended by more than 600 people interested in locally sustainable agriculture on Long Island.

Organizers of the 2012 Summit are expecting to bring together an even larger, more diverse group of educators, farmers, parents, children, municipalities, land trusts, not-for-profits, community leaders, restaurant owners and chefs, and concerned citizens focused on strengthening the local food system and increasing community awareness of and access to more locally grown food."

Thursday: Rally Against Fracking with Food & Water Watch
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM at Mary Jane Davies Green

200 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY

Facebook Event Page

"Long Islanders will be directly affected by hydraulic fracturing. Fracking upstate will increase our air pollution, and could send millions of gallons of toxic and radioactive wastewater to treatment facilities on Long Island. That is why this coming Thursday, December 15th, at 3:30 PM, Food and Water Watch, Grassroots Environmental Education and Reach Out America will be holding a rally to show that Long Islanders care about hydraulic fracturing. The rally will take place at the Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset- the small park right on Plandome Road, near the train Manhasset train station. Come, and bring as many friends and family members as possible!"

Nature Centers, Environmental Education & Childcare in Nassau County

Even though we're starting to feel the winter chill here on Long Island, it's still a great time to get outside & explore the natural world. Did you know that squirrels make nests? Ever see animal tracks or their winter homes? Watch migrating waterfowl over a harbor? 

Bare trees and clear skies can show many of the homes & processes in an ecosystem that are usually invisible, and a guided tour at a nature center can help you identify these things year-long with your children.

Here's the nature centers you'll find in Nassau County for some outdoor, kid-friendly winter activities:

• 
  

• Garden City
• "Our Backyard" at the Long Island Children's Museum
• 
  
• Glen Cove
• Garvies Point Museum & Preserve
• 
  
• Island Park
• Our Learning Environment Early Childhood Center

• Manhasset
• Science Museum of Long Island

• Oceanside
• Marine Nature Study Area

• Oyster Bay
• Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary

• Rockville Centre
  Center for Science Teaching & Learning (CSTL)
  [ Holiday Camp 12/26 - 12/30 ]
• 
  Rockville Centre
  CSTL's Nature's Kids Nursery School
• 
  
• Seaford
• Tackapausha Museum & Preserve

Event: Organic Corner's "Survive the Holidays"

Organic Corner, the newly-renovated health food store in Massapequa, will be hosting a "Survive the Holidays" workshop with Letitia Fowler, founder and nutrition & health counselor at Personal Best Health and Wellness.

Organic Corner writes:

"As the holiday season approaches we wanted to help each of you navigate thru the never ending parties/celebrations (aka: season for binge eating) !!! On Saturday December 10th, Please stop by and learn some pointers to not only survive the holidays, but also enjoy them without all the stress and guilt that goes along with it." 


The event will take place this Saturday, December 10th from 2:00 - 3:00pm in Organic Corner's lounge, 37 Broadway, Massapequa NY 11758.