Live, Play: San Francisco Green Festival
Join EcoMetro Guide in booth 532 at the nation’s premier sustainability event, where you will see the best in green. Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses—everything from all-natural body care products and organic cotton clothing to Fair Trade gifts and beautiful kitchen tiles made from renewable resources.
Fri-Sun, Nov 13–15
Concourse Exhibition Center 635 8th St, San Francisco
View the EcoMetro Guide coupon>>
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Working with local schools on their fundraisers we often hear their great ideas to raise money and awareness for green living. This fall one of the schools fundraising with EcoMetro Guide, Glenview Elementary opened its first-ever produce stand, a project of the PTA’s school food and nutrition committee. Open from 2-4pm every Tuesday afternoon, the stand includes a “tasting” table, where all Glenview students have the opportunity to taste the fruit or vegetable of the week. More...

Have you ever thought about what sort of food grows around your neighborhood? The bounty of edibles found right around the corner, from apples and nuts to rosemary and greens, is astounding. The urban landscape is filled with fresh, free food if you just know what to look for. Plants you might normally ignore, like dandelions or nettles, can be cooked into healthy, delicious meals.

Many people first experienced wild foods in their childhood—learning to mushroom hunt with their grandfather or picking apples from a neighbor’s tree. Looking for wild fruits, veggies, and nuts is a fun family activity that helps teach kids the value of local, fresh food. In addition to having kids help you forage for your own kitchen, you can volunteer to help harvest urban edibles for those in need (see resources below). More...

-Heather Hale, Sustainable Business Accounts Manager

The seasons here in the East Bay are definitely changing. We've had our first two heavy rains, and there's a new crispness to the air. Leaves are turning wonderful shades of red, orange, and rust, and many trees are losing their leaves altogether.

You're probably picking the last of your homegrown tomatoes, if you haven't already. But wait! If you're packing all that gardening equipment away until early next spring - and you haven't tried fall and winter gardening yet - you're missing out on six months of outdoor fun! More...

October is the greatest time of year. My favorite, in fact. I love the smell in the air, the sun going down too early and I love picking out Halloween costumes. Recently l've been reading about some tips on how to green Halloween. One idea came from our very own website: buy candy that comes in recycling-friendly packaging, such as aluminum foil or paper. I also found tips on the Green Schools Initiative newsletter: using cloth/reusable bags, avoid vinyl masks, buy second hand, make your own, and so on.

The idea that really stuck was to have a costume swap! What a great idea. I know that I have a couple of costumes of my own that could be easily passed on. More...

Live: Fall Neighborhood Plant Exchange
Have plants you must prune or divide? How about trading your excess with others in your neighborhood? Take home new plants for your yard and have an instant new garden! All types of plants are welcome, from cuttings up to full size. Garden accessories and accents welcome: umbrellas, clippers, books on gardening, pots, stepping stones, tools and supplies—even goldfish.
Sat, Oct 17, Noon-4pm
3811 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland

Live: FOSC Fall Native Plant Sale
Here's a chance to purchase native plants for your own garden. For details, contact nursery@sausalcreek.org.
Sat, Oct 17, 10am-3pm
Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery, in Joaquin Miller Park

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Point Richmond Fall Fest
Fall Fest will feature live music, an arts fair, beer garden, chili cook-off and fall-inspired activities for people of all ages and interests.
Oct 10, 10am-8pm
Washington Ave and Park Pl in downtown Point Richmond

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond
Enjoy German and local craft beers, Kid's Rootbier Garten, Gourmet German Food, Entertainment and Raffle, Sausal Creek Eco Fair, and new this year, Homebrew Competition.
Oct 10, 11am-6pm
MacArthur Blvd at Fruitvale Ave
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Play: "The World in a Woman's Hands" - Shotgun Player's
A wonderful show sung in cool jazz about Rosie the River gals during the war in Richmond. Anyone who buys a ticket before this September 27 for any performance until the closing date will get a $5 discount on their ticket.
Now - October 11
Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley
View coupon at ecometro.com

Play, Eat: Rockridge Out & About
This is the third year of the Rockridge District Association's annual street festival. On top of its usual delights, College Avenue becomes the stage for musicians, clowns, street performers, fashion shows, cooking demos, in-store workshops, and wellness activities. Come visit us at the EcoMetro Guide booth: pick up your 2010 edition, support a fundraiser, and enter to win great prizes!
September 27, 11am - 6pm
College Avenue from Manila to Claremont, Rockridge, Oakland More...

In our 2010 edition we inaccurately reported how mattresses are recycled in the East Bay area. The Salvation Army does accept mattresses in good condition for recycling; however, Goodwill (eastbaygoodwill.org) does NOT accept mattresses. Mattresses are also accepted at the Berkeley Transfer Station for $10. For pick up of bulky waste, including mattresses, appointments can be scheduled in Oakland (510-613-8710) and Berkeley (510-981-7270).

We at EcoMetro Guide regret the error printed in our 2010 edition. More...