Live: Master Gardeners Garden Walk 
Contra Costa Master Gardeners are offering a garden Walk which showcases stylish ways to landscape without lawns. View 6 Master Gardener owned neighborhood gardens located in Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Martinez. Nearly all of the gardens selected for this year's Garden Walk demonstrate how to have a vibrant and useful garden without extensive turf. $15/person. 
September 12, 10am - 4pm 
Various locations in Contra Costa County 

Eat, Play: Webster Street Jam
Join us in September for the annual Webster Street Jam, a special weekend of music, wine, international food and art, plus a fun-filled area for the kids! Stop by the EcoMetro table on Saturday. 
September 12, 10am - 6pm and September 13, 10am - 5pm 
Webster Street, Alameda More...

Eat: Vegetarian Cooking Class: Hearty Homestyle Italian
Join Compassionate Cooks’ founder Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of the Joy of Vegan Baking, in her monthly fun-filled Vegetarian Cooking Classes that celebrate healthful and humane eating! Designed to fill you up and warm you up, these hearty Italian dishes will satisfy anyone and everyone you feed! Cook up Italian-style Hummus; Polenta Squares with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce; Pizza Marinara; Spring Vegetable Risotto; and Chocolate Cheesecake. $55 (in advance), plus $5 food/materials fee due on day of class (Discounts for registering for class packages.) Register online or mail a check to Compassionate Cooks P.O. Box 18512, Oakland, CA 94619.
April 25, 10am-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St, at Castro
View Coupon at ecometro.com

Live: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale
The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden has an incredible number of beautiful and unusual plants that are sure to make a spectacular addition to your garden. Check out their website for a list of practical workshops.
April 25, 10am-2pm
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden
View Coupon at ecometro.com

Play: Persian New Year at Habitot Children's Museum
Golden Thread productions will present an interactive performance about Norooz history as part of Habitot’s Persian New Year celebration. Families can celebrate the coming of spring with Norooz customs like painting 'tokhme-morgh' eggs and planting 'sabzeh' wheatgrass.  In the Art Studio, children will use flower petals, seeds, and other natural materials to make spring collages. Golden Thread’s performance is from 11:00 am to 11:30 am.  Iranian children’s stories will be told at 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, & 3:30 pm in the Multicultural Reading Tent. Regular hours (9:30 am - 4:30 pm) and admission rates (Children $8, Adults $7) apply.
March 21, beginning at 11am
Habitot Children's Museum, 2065 Kittredge, Berkeley
View coupon at Ecometro.com

Live: Lakeshore Neighborhood Free Plant Exchange
Recycle, trade, and save. Have plants you must prune or divide? Bring your excess to this great free plant exchange and take home new plants for your yard just in time for spring planting. All types of plants are welcome: from cuttings up to full size. Create an instant new garden on a shoestring budget. Garden accessories and accents are also welcome- umbrellas, clippers, books on gardening, pots, stepping stones, and even goldfish.
March 21, Noon-4pm
3811 Lakeshore Avenue

Image: Flickr/CreativeCommons More...

The Berkeley Marina satisfies my water-gazing-while-walking need.  By following a paved path that circumnavigates the entire marina complex I feel the wind on my face, smell a bit of salt-tinged air and ogle million-dollar views.

One of the largest and oldest yacht harbors in the East Bay, the Berkeley Marina knows the value in stretching beyond the boating community, providing recreation and learning opportunities in a number of time-worthy attractions. More...

With Valentine’s Day come and gone, you may begin pondering just how many artificial ingredients are in those little candy hearts. Amongst the flowers and teddy bears, it’s impossible not to notice all the red and pink candy displays at the market.

It’s also impossible that all that packaging doesn’t end up in the garbage.

Here are some ideas on how you can cut down on waste and find creative gifts made from what is normally thrown away. More...

Play: Santa's Wonderland on 4th Street
Visit Santa & sit in his big red sleigh at 1809B Fourth Street. Whisper your holiday wishes to him any Thurs. thru Sun. ‘til 6 p.m. thru Dec. 23 when he must fly back to the North Pole to tend to his workshop. Donate a new pair of socks filled with small toiletries or an unwrapped kid"s book. Donations benefit Harrison House homeless shelter. Outside, the canopy of trees is filled with dazzling lights and music fills the air while the stores stay open late. www.FourthStreet.com
Now - December 23, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Fourth Street Shops, 1809B Fourth Street, Berkeley

Live: Tear Out Your Lawn Challenge
Drought conditions and water rationing often lead to a proliferation of ugly brown lawns. Now Ploughshares Nursery has a better way of saving water and saving money. The Nursery is offering a "Tear Out Your Lawn Challenge". Participants in the challenge will receive a one time 20% coupon good for the purchase of drought tolerant plants and a free half hour landscaping consultation with a senior staff member. To be eligible you must remove 40% or more of your lawn and provide before and after photos as proof. The offer is good until the end of 2008. Info: 510-898-7811
Through December 31, 2008
Ploughshares Nursery at 2701 Main St. in Alameda
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Live: One Warm Coat Drive
The One Warm Coat program encourages supporters to pass along new and used coats to benefit those in need. Coats will be collected in The Concierge at Broadway Plaza.
Now – December 31
Broadway Plaza, S. Main Street & Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek

Play: Walnut Creek on Ice
Walnut Creek on Ice returns for a fourth season with a new location in Civic Park. The ice rink will be located in the Clay Arts parking lot along Civic Drive - same size rink, new memories to make. Our magical wonderland moves just a little North to make room for the new library. Come see for yourself the magical transformation of Downtown Civic Park into what can only be described as a twinkling Winter Wonderland.
Now - January 25
Walnut Creek On Ice, 1313 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek

Live: All About the Oakland Green Job Corps
Learn about resources and successful strategies for creating meaningful employment in the new green business sector. Presented by The Sustainable Business Alliance. Featuring: Honorable Barbara Lee, 9th Congressional District; and Arthur Shanks, Executive Director, Cypress Mandela Training Center. Presentations by Local Green Companies. Pre-registration required and seating is limited -- RSVP by phone or email no later than December 5. Info: 510-208-0845
December 11, 3:30-5:30pm
James Irvine Conference Center, 353 Frank Ogawa Plaza, near 14th and Broadway, Oakland

Home: Introduction to Urban Permaculture
Hear and see local permaculture designers from the Ecological Division of Merritt College's Landscape Horticulture Department discuss what's possible in a city. Come see what's been incubating at this little 7-acre gem in the Oakland Hills. Christopher Shein will talk about the large food forest and garden built by students and the Permaculture Design Certificate program. Hear about the Regenerative Design Class, and working with biology to purify air, food, water and ourselves. Other classes offered at Merritt include Natural Building taught by Kevin and Marisha Farnsworth and Growing Mushrooms with Ken Litchfield. Our amazing teachers will be on hand to present a quick overview of their classes and what motivates them to live their passions for urban sustainability. Find out where and how to plug-in to the local permaculture scene!
December 11, 7-9pm
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Live: Make Your Own Bike Bag -- Advanced
Looking for a bag that specifically designed for YOU? Need a bag that's BOTH a pannier AND a backpack? Check out Waterside Workshops' bike bag workshop, and learn to design and build your own bag specifically for your bike lifestyle. We have many different materials to use including recycled signs, vinyl, canvas and different types of nylon. We also have hardware, zippers, buckles, rivets, everything you might need to complete your project. You are encouraged to bring your own materials if you have something specific in mind. Sewing experience is required, but don't worry - we have a NEW CLASS just for beginners. Sign up for both the beginning (12/6/08) and advanced (12/13/08) classes for only $85 (plus the Kit Fee). Visit website for more info and to sign up. Info: 510-644-2577
December 13, Noon - 4pm
Waterside Workshops, 84 Bolivar Drive, (at Berkeley's Aquatic Park), Berkeley

Eat: HEALTHFUL & HUMANE HOLIDAY COOKING & BAKING
We’ll focus on delicious recipes perfect for holiday dining and entertaining. On the menu: Warm Lentil Salad; Pan-Grilled Portabello Mushrooms with Fresh Herb Marinade; Purple Potatoes with Cashew Cream and Toasted Sage and Walnuts; Decadent Chocolate Truffles; Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Cost: $55, plus $5 food/materials fee due on day of class. Register online or mail a check to Compassionate Cooks P.O. Box 18512 Oakland, CA 94619. Deadline to sign up - Thursday, December 11th
December 13, 10-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro.
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Eat: The Berkeley Farmers' Market 17th annual Holiday Crafts Fair
Farmers' Market (lots of organic produce) & Local craftspeople selling a wonderful variety of beautiful handcrafted gifts. Live Music all day, every day of the fair. This event is supported in part by the Berkeley Civic Arts Program. A program of the Ecology Center since 1987, the Berkeley Farmers' Markets offer a wide range of mostly organic produce and healthy, locally-produced foods.
December 13, 10am-4pm
Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park, Center St. @ MLK, Jr. Way, Berkeley
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Live: FRENCH BROOM REMOVAL PROJECT
Help restore beautiful Redwood Regional Park. French broom has been displacing the native plants. Volunteers are needed to remove the broom. We provide the tools. Meet at Skyline Gate staging area (8500 Skyline Blvd. Oakland) on the first Saturdays and meet at the Wayside overflow lot off Redwood Road on the second Sundays in Redwood Regional Park. For more information, call Dee Rosario at (510) 482-6024. Meet at the Wayside overflow lot
December 14, 9:30am-1:30pm
Redwood Gate Entrance-Redwood Regional Park

Go: Sunday Family Hikes
Earth and sky unite in an outing that is out of this world. Hike the redwood-laced trails near Chabot to hidden, historic sites. Experience the ecosystem walking through the beautiful, shady paths of the Redwood Regional Park, led by a naturalist from the East Bay Regional Park District. Then explore the cosmos at Chabot with hands-on interactive exhibits and displays and be amazed how your child’s Universe can expand in one excursion! Tickets are $5 plus General Admission to Chabot Space & Science Center.
December 14, 9-11am: Redwoods to Cosmos (8 years & up), 1:30-2:30pm: Little Tike Hike (5 years & up)
Chabot Space & Science Center
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Play: Holiday Kid's Yoga (4 & under)
What better time than now to introduce your little ones to yoga? Kids will stretch, focus, laugh, and play with fun yoga postures! Teach them early about the yogic themes of cooperation, peaceful interaction and acceptance. Perfect for the winter holiday season when kids are cooped up indoors! For kids ages 2-4, with a parent or caregiver. Visit the website for more weekly events.
December 16, 10:30- 11:00 am
Elephant Pharm, Walnut Creek
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Live, Volunteer: Scrub Canoes with Save The Bay
Local non-profit Save The Bay leads canoe field trips on San Francisco Bay for about 5,000 youth and adults each year, teaching people about the ecology and importance of San Francisco Bay to our lives. After a busy Fall season filled with these trips we need help to scrub down canoes, organize education materials and make minor repairs on our equipment. All abilities of volunteers are accepted and needed! Save The Bay educators will provide all instruction, tools and guidance for the cleanup. No experience is necessary. Hosted by the California Canoe and Kayak store. RSVP by phone or email required. You’ll be emailed directions and additional information. Please indicate when you will be able to show up for the cleanup - 4.5 hour shifts acceptable: 8am-12:30pm or 12:30pm-5pm. Info: 510-452-9261 ext. 119, bayevents@savesfbay.org.
December 16, 8am-5pm
Jack London Square, Oakland

Play: Gentle Yoga
Use chairs, the wall, the floor and props to support gentle yoga poses. The perfect class for seniors and yoga beginners. Visit the website for more weekly events.
December 17, 10-11am
Elephant Pharm, Walnut Creek
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Play: EAST BAY GREEN DRINKS
A monthly gathering of people interested in sustainability, including green business, architecture, design, organics, clean energy and other topics. We’re meeting the second Tuesday and third Wednesday of every month in Berkeley , Oakland, and the Tri-Valley. We average 50 souls at these events… You don’t have to drink the brew…sip water! It’s all great fun!
December 17 (every 3rd Wednesday), 5:30-8pm
Bobbie G’s, Berkeley
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon

Home: Solstice Sale for Ecology Center Members
All Merchandise 20% Off for Members Only! Plus hot cider from Pomo Tierra Farm and Free Gifts. This holiday, give gifts full of possibility, like seeds and cookbooks. A thoughtful purchase from the Ecology Center Store can be the first step down the path of simplicity, sustainability, or self-sufficiency. Our seasonal produce wheel, stainless steel lunch kits, and ziploc bag drying racks make terrific gifts. Give a boost to the faltering recycling industry by buying recycled glass and paper gifts. Stimulate organic agriculture by purchasing clothing made from organically grown fibers. A gift to a friend can also be a gift to the earth.
December 20, 11am - 6pm
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley
*View the EcoMetro Guide coupon More...

GO: EAST BAY GREEN TOUR
Meet the leaders of sustainability face-to-face, and catch an insider's look at how green businesses operate on the official EAST BAY GREEN TOUR brought to you by Rasa Travel. Join us on the EAST BAY GREEN TOURS to meet and experience the owners and operators of the groups and businesses that drive the global green economy. These one and two-day flagship tours are engaging and entertaining, profiling a panorama of innovative green certified businesses: restaurants, housing, service providers, entertainment, manufacturing and many more! Gain inspiring insights into how businesses think green and succeed! Seating is limited. Call for details marissa@studiorasa.org or 510-704-0379.
Through November 17

Home: Lead-Safety for Remodeling, Repair & Painting of Older Homes Workshop
HUD and EPA approved one-day course. Recommended for remodelers, renovators, painters and maintenance workers doing painting and minor repairs. Register by phone or download registration form from website. Free to owners (and their employed maintenance crews) of residential properties built before 1978 in Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville or Oakland. Class fee for all others is $130.
November 12, 8am - 5pm.
Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Main Office, 2000 Embarcadero, #300, Oakland.

Play: Green Rheem Film Night: "Dead in the Water"
There is a problem with the world's water supply. One in four people on earth don't have access to clean drinking water. In conjunction with other Lamorinda community organizations, we are proud to announce the second "Green Rheem" film night. A $14 ticket (purchased online) includes wine tasting and appetizers in the lobby starting at 6pm, followed by the documentary "Dead in the Water" at 7pm (88 minutes).
November 13, 6 - 8:30 pm
Rheem Theater in Moraga

Play: Walnut Creek on Ice
Walnut Creek on Ice returns for a fourth season with a new location in Civic Park. The ice rink will be located in the Clay Arts parking lot along Civic Drive - same size rink, new memories to make. Our magical wonderland moves just a little North to make room for the new library.
November 13 – January 25
Walnut Creek On Ice, 1313 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA

Live: Benefit Talk: Building a Green Economy: Indigenous Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Winona LaDuke (Mississippi Band of Anishinaabeg) is the Founding Director of White Earth Land Recovery Project and Executive Director of Honor the Earth, where she works on a national level to advocate, raise public support, and create funding for frontline Native environmental groups. She has written extensively on Native American and environmental issues - her books include Recovering the Sacred: The Power of Naming and Claiming and All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life. This event benefits the work of Speak Out and Honor the Earth. Cost: $10-$15 general; $5 youth 17 and under; $75 reception with Ms. LaDuke (includes ticket to lecture, prime seating, signed copy of All Our Relations, and Dessert Reception following the lecture). Call 510-601-0182, info@speakoutnow.org for more information.
November 14, 7pm.
First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, @ 27th St., Oakland.

Play: 1st Annual Holiday Gratitude Art Faire
Fabulous Art & Crafts, Music, Kids Art Table. Special offerings by Bridgeside Merchants. Stroll by the tranquil water side.
Find holiday gifts and something for yourself too, you deserve it!
November 15, 10-5pm
Bridgeside Shopping Center, 2671 Blanding Ave, Alameda
*View the coupon

Live: Friends of the Albany Library Book Sale
Shop 3 areas of books at this great sale. The large Community Room will be packed with vintage and collectible books, all reasonably priced and great for holiday giving. 50 cent items will be sold in the smaller room, and weather permitting, magazines and library discards will be sold outside. The sale continues on Sunday, starting at 11am.
November 15, 10am-4pm
Community Center – Hall, Albany

Go: Baxter Creek Work Party
Lend a hand to restore Baxter Creek and Watershed.
November 15, 9:30am-12:30 pm
Meet at Gateway Park, Ohlone Greenway, between Key Blvd & San Pablo Ave near McDonald Ave, El Cerrito

Eat: HARVEST FEAST Cooking Class: THANKSGIVING FOR THE BIRDS
Join Compassionate Cooks as we celebrate the abundance of the harvest by featuring a fabulous menu for a compassionate Thanksgiving dinner that will leave guests satisfied and grateful. We serve special beverages and enjoy the meal together for this special class. The cost is $55, plus $5 food/materials fee due on day of class. Register online or mail a check to Compassionate Cooks, P.O. Box 18512 Oakland, CA 94619. DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Thursday, November 13th
November 15, 10am-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro.

Eat: Walnut Creek Farmers' Market
Cooking demonstrations, live music, clowns, and John Muir Women's Health Center will be featured. Validated parking will be available in the North Locust Garage next to the Lester Center for the Arts. What's In Season for Sept: Apples, Dill, Lettuces, Mushrooms, Oranges, Parsley, Potatoes, Raisins, Spinach.
November 16
N. Locust St., Walnut Creek, CA

Home: "Residential Green Building and Remodeling" workshop
Learn about healthier building materials, how to lower your utility bills, reduce home maintenance, and minimize remodeling construction waste. Local architect Greg Van Mechelen will present ways to incorporate green building materials and methods into your home remodeling and improvement projects. Also includes exposure to a variety of alternative and mainstream materials. Cost: $85.
November 16, 10am - 5pm.
Building Education Center, 812 Page St, (at 6th St.), Berkeley

Eat: Micio Mambo Special Event
Join Micio Mambo in welcoming cookbook author and cooking instructor Colleen Patrick-Goudreau of Compassionate Cooks as she provides guidance and goodies for enjoying a vegetarian Thanksgiving! Come with your questions and leave with everything you need to know about the history of Thanksgiving, about creating a beautiful harvest centerpiece, and about treating family and friends to traditional autumnal desserts. Enter a drawing to win a cookbook, a cooking class gift certificate, a Micio Mambo T-shirt or a Micio Mambo gift bag. Receive 10% off any purchase made that day (excluding sale or skincare items). And, a special donation will be made to Farm Sanctuary!
November 16, 3pm
Micio Mambo, Oakland
*View the Micio Mambo coupon
*View the Compassionate Cooks coupon

Eat, Play: Cornucopia: West Berkeley Arts Festival
Hosted by Black Pine Circle School. Cornucopia is FREE and open to the public. Fall family fun including New Style Motherlode (hip-hop dance), Global Gumbo (African music), Charlie Chin (storytelling) and homegrown bluegrass, rock n’ roll acts and more. Festival attractions including a climbing wall and dunk tank, an eco “Green Zone”, craft vendors, make and take crafts, delicious food and beer garden.
November 16, 10:00am-4:00pm
2016 7th Street, Berkeley (located one block from the I-80 University Ave. exit).

Home: Greening the Plumbing in Your Home and Business [Register]
In this seminar, we will discuss the importance of the water-energy connection--roughly 19% of the state's electricity, 33% of natural gas, and a bunch of diesel is used to move, treat, pressurize, or heat water. Attendees will learn how to heat and deliver hot water most efficiently for both new construction and retrofit. We will also show you how to deliver hot water to every fixture, wasting no more than 1 cup while waiting no more than 5 seconds. For builders, plumbers, architects or anyone interested in improving water efficiencies.
November 17, 9:00am -4:30 pm
150 Frank Ogawa Plaza , Lionel J Wilson Bldg, Oakland

Home: Solar PPA Workshop
An educational workshop on solar power purchase agreements (PPAs). Power Purchase Agreements are a new way to purchase solar where you don't have to buy the panels - you just commit to a monthly charge for the electricity coming from your roof. After an upfront cost, your combined monthly payment is less than before. Main speaker will be Robert Frehling, an energy expert, who helped develop the first generation of PPAs. His talk will be followed by a specific success story.
November 20, 7 - 8:30pm
Location TBD. Please send an email to info@sustainablelafayette.net to RSVP.

Eat: Green Gathering V + Sustainability Summit: Celebrating Our Local Climate
The Ecology Center and the City of Berkeley are combining the third annual Berkeley Sustainability Summit with the Green Gathering. Food from local green caterers, a wealth of interesting speakers and topics, and the opportunity to network with leaders in the local sustainability movement. Judy Wicks, Keynote Speaker (Co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies). Josh Kornbluth, Master of Ceremonies (Berkeley Energy Commissioner and Host of the Josh Kornbluth Show). Green Caterers: Back to Earth, Bread Workshop, Bancroft Catering. Purchase tickets online-$35. Info: 510-548-2220 ext. 222, amy@ecologycenter.org,
November 20, 4pm - 8pm.
Bancroft Hotel, 2680 Bancroft Way, Great Hall, Berkeley
*View the Ecology Center coupon

Eat: 29th Annual Thanksgiving Community Breakfast
Presented by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
November 21
Temple Isaiah Synagogue, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette

Go: Day 2 Oakland: Bicycle Safety Class–FREE to the Public
Day 2: Street Skills Class
6-hour on-road course provides an opportunity to put into practice what was learned in the Day 1 Street Skills class, including emergency maneuvers and riding in various traffic conditions, to test your knowledge of vehicular cycling skills. Bicycle required for Day Two, completion of Day 1 class required.
November 22, 10am-4pm
Main Conference Room, Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 101 8th Street at Oak, Oakland (at Lake Merritt BART)

Home: Greywater Design and Installation
This is a three-part workshop: Information on the most common, low-tech, low-cost, effective, residential greywater systems. Help with planning a system for your own home. Then, we'll move into the design for the system we'll be building on the site. We'll reroute the water from the washing machine to irrigate fruit trees, bushes and large perennial plants. Activities will involve digging, measuring, cutting pipes, observing, and more! Workshops tend to fill up quickly, so if you're interested register ASAP. Pre-register by email - laura@greywaterguerrillas.com.
November 22, 2008
Berkeley

GO: Aquatic Park Walking Tour
Hike along Berkeley’s original bay shoreline where civic leaders, bolstered by federal WPA funding in the 1930s, created an elegant regional destination for aquatic recreation. The City’s largest municipal park is more widely known today for shorebirds and kayaks than for the sailboats and model yachts of yore, but remnants of the past blend well with more recent recreational facilities. About 2 1/2 level miles. Led by Mark Lioilos. Members $8; Non-members. BHS members season pass $30. Call for reservation; (510) 848-0181.
November 22, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Aquatic Park, Berkeley

Home: Keep Green with Untapped Water
It is environmentally responsible to cut water use but we don't want to restrict our lives or kill our gardens. Learn how to limit water use, use greywater and rain water to lower your water bill and keep your plants alive in the coming era of water shortages. Cost: $40.
November 23, 10am - 1pm
Building Education Center, 812 Page St., (@ 6th St.), Berkeley.

Eat: South Berkeley Fresh Produce Stand
Fresh, organic and pesticide-free fruits and vegetables from local farmers, at low prices, every Tuesday! A project of Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project.
November 25 (and every Tuesday), 3pm - 7pm
Spiral Gardens, 2830 Sacramento, at Oregon, Berkeley
*View the Spiral Gardens coupon

Go: 16th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk
This fun, family tradition starts at Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness Club. The 5K starts at 8am, sharp, with prizes for the top winner and raffles for participants. Everyone receives a goody bag and t-shirt. Free childcare is included during the race, with face painting, kids bounce house and turkey temporary tattoos. A Kids Fun Run starts at approximately 9am for children ages 2 - 10. Fees apply for Turkey Trot and Kids Fun Run, with part of proceeds benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
November 27, 8-10:30am
Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness Club, 1908 Olympic Blvd, Walnut Creek

Live: One Warm Coat Drive
The One Warm Coat program encourages supporters to pass along new and used coats to benefit those in need. Coats will be collected in The Concierge at Broadway Plaza.
November 28 – December 31
Broadway Plaza, S. Main Street & Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek

Eat: Mandela Farmers' Market (Indoors for the Winter)
EVERY SATURDAY! Affordable fresh produce, compost and plant starts, ethnic foods and music, cooking demonstrations, local arts and crafts. This is one project of a collaborative effort by organizations, residents and agencies to support small, local farmers and increase health and nutrition in West Oakland.
November 29, 10am - 3pm
Mandela Farmers' Market, 7th St, @ Mandela Pkwy, Oakland

Go: Biodiesel 101 Presentation
The Berkeley Biodiesel Collective holds monthly introductory presentations on the first Monday of (almost) every month at the BioFuel Oasis. We talk about biodiesel emissions, homebrewing, types of vehicles and commercial availability. Then we will talk about what our coop does, its history and vision. And, of course we will talk about how to get involved with the BBC or other regional groups. We will try to answer any questions about biofuels and the local biofuels scene.
December 1, 7:30pm
BioFuel Oasis, 2465 4th St., at Dwight Way, Berkeley.

Home: Class: "Succulent Wreath-Making"
Create a gorgeous succulent wreath at this year's new holiday event. Enjoy your wreath all year round. You'll select among a variety of succulents and be guided on how to plant and care for your wreaths. Led by Garden staff and volunteers. Register by phone - 510-643-2755 ext. 03. Cost: $60, $50 members.
December 3, 7pm - 9pm.
UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr., Berkeley.

Live: Presentation: Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite out of Global Warming
Come and hear San Francisco Bay Area chef Laura Stec with Dr. Eugene Cordero, Ph.D, San José State University Professor of Meteorology, discuss the findings of their book. Cool Cuisine addresses why global warming could be the best thing to happen to the culinary world in a long time, and reports on innovative science, business, and savory solutions to the Global Warming Diet. The class and the book embark on an exploration that feeds mind and mouth with art, science, food lore, culinary tips and recipes on how to cook a global cool cuisine. Presentation includes show-and-tell displays (salt taste test, tap water vs. bottled water taste test, whole grain selection, oily water bottle display, shady coffee and chocolate explanation) and mini culinary "how-to" class (see www.globalwarmingdiet.org).
December 4, 7pm - 9pm.
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley
*View the Ecology Center coupon

Home: Lead-Safety for Remodeling, Repair & Painting of Older Homes
HUD and EPA approved one-day course. Recommended for remodelers, renovators, painters and maintenance workers doing painting and minor repairs. This class leads to a Notice of Completion in training for lead-safe work practices and meets the minimum training requirements for individuals performing certain activities in federally assisted housing, including Section 8. Register by phone or download registration form from website. Visit the website or call 510-567-8280, for cost and more information.
December 6, 8am - 5pm.
Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Main Office, 2000 Embarcadero, #300, Oakland

Eat: HEALTHFUL & HUMANE HOLIDAY COOKING & BAKING
In our class, we focus on delicious recipes perfect for holiday dining and entertaining. On the menu: Warm Lentil Salad; Pan-Grilled Portabello Mushrooms with Fresh Herb Marinade; Purple Potatoes with Cashew Cream and Toasted Sage and Walnuts; Decadent Chocolate Truffles; Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. The cost is $55, plus $5 food/materials fee due on day of class. Register online or mail a check to Compassionate Cooks P.O. Box 18512 Oakland, CA 94619. DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Thursday, December 11.
December 13, 10am-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro.
*View the Compassionate Cooks coupon

Home: The Crucible's Annual Holiday Gift Art Sale & Open House
Over 60 Bay Area artisans display their handcrafted wares in our massive indoor studio space amid family-friendly activities, an art show, astounding performances, food and fun for all ages.
December 13 - December 14, 10am - 4pm
The Crucible, 1260 Seventh Street, Oakland
*View the Crucible coupon

Eat: EcoHouse Workshop: Grow Edible Mushrooms at Home
Take a slideshow tour of some amazing mushrooms of the Bay Area and learn how to grow edible mushrooms at home. Teacher: Babak Tondre. Hand's-on: bring extra newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, wax, cordless drills, drill bits, and leave with some mushrooms of your own! Please call to register - 510-548-2220 ext. 242. Cost -$15 sliding scale: no one turned away for lack of funds.
December 14, 10am - 2pm.
EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., (enter via garden entrance on Peralta), Berkeley
*View the Ecology Center coupon More...

Sitting in the Urban Grind Coffeehouse in Portland, OR, talking about natural building with Lydia Doleman, owner of the Portland-based natural building company Flyer Hammer Productions, I could feel my jealousy of her job coalescing. I had just completed her class An Introduction to Carpentry for Women, and was ready to trade in my computer – my current primary tool – for a table saw. Inspired and empowered by the possibilities that my new skill presented, I was compelled to find out what it’s like to be a woman in a (stereo)typically male profession and to understand the spin that natural building puts on the construction trade.

  More...

Your Home Remodel: Before and After Greening

Free Fix for Water Heaters and Furnaces
Before: A water heater set above 120 degrees uses more energy than necessary and raises your bills. After: Turning the water heater down to 120 degrees saves 500lbs of CO2/year and reduces your monthly bill. Cost: Just a trip to the basement. While you are down there, check your furnace filter. Clean filters can save you 5% of your heating costs.

Washing Machines and the Original Eco-Fashion Tip
Before: Washing clothes in hot water dulls fabrics and costs an average of $1,310 over the lifetime of the machine.  After: Washing clothes in cold water reduces your carbon footprint by 500lbs of CO2/year. Installing an Energy Star rated washer saves an average 700 gallons of water and $550 in operating costs over the life of the machine. Cost: The price tag may be more upfront for Energy Star machines, but get $125 or $200 off with rebates. Energy Star does not rate dryers, because the energy use is similar between models. The best option is a clothes line, perhaps the oldest eco-fashion practice in the book. The cost is minimal, or you can spend more an automated clothes line.

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Envision the following improvements on your home and the resulting reduction in carbon emissions and utility costs. In addition to our exclusive coupon offers, we tracked down the local rebates and federal tax credits available to you if you make your home more efficient. If you have a vision but need the tools, register and check them out of the Tool Lending Library (at the Oakland Public Library in Temescal) for free if you are a resident of Oakland, Piedmont or Emeryville. Experienced remodelers or those just brimming with ideas will love the non-profit Build it Green, which has a directory of builders, product lists, lists of loans for green building, and a useful spreadsheet of the incentives and tax credits available to us in the East Bay. You can also call their "Ask and Expert" hotline at 888-40-GREEN for any home building questions, so if you get stuck on one of these projects, you know who to call.

Insulation and Leaky Ducts
Before: Uninsulated attics in older homes release as much as 40% of home heating and cooling costs into the air. Leaky ducts release home air into attics and walls. After: Insulation reduces heating and cooling costs and increases home comfort. Cost: Rising Sun Energy Center gives a sample cost of $500 to insulate a 1,000sq foot attic through their co-pay program. PG&E also offers a rebate of $0.15 per square foot on attic or wall insulation and a duct sealing rebate of up to $600.


Roofing
Before: Roofs absorb heat, causing home temperatures to rise and increased use of air conditioning. After: Using cash incentives through Go Solar California, you can install solar panels for electricity or for solar hot water. Cost: Up to 50% of the project can be covered through cash incentives and income tax deductions, then bask in the reduction in your monthly energy bill. A second option is a Cool Roof, which reflect sunlight. PG&E has rebates up to $200 per 1,000 sq.ft.

Materials for Floors, Decking and Cabinetry
Before: Lumber may come from a poorly managed forest far outside of North America. Lack of accountability makes it difficult to know the impact and can disguise habitat destruction and social impacts. After: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood comes from managed and protected forests, and ensures loggers meet social, economic and environmental criteria.  Cost: Square foot per square foot, building with FSC lumber does not have to mean spending more. We love the comparison Green on a Budget by ecohaus, a business in EcoMetro cities Seattle and Portland similar to our own Ecohome Improvement. They compared FSC wood flooring with non-FSC wood and found the FSC cost $6,435 for 1,500sq.ft while the non-FSC wood cost $10,365. Make use of bamboo, cork, marmoleum, and recycled tiles from new or salvaged sources.

Smaller Fixes and Adjustments

Water
Before: Older model toilets, showerheads and faucets use more water than needed. Toilets are the largest home water hogs at 4 gallons per flush, matches by showers at nearly 4 gallons per minute.  After: By purchasing dual flush toilets (with a half-flush option), you use less than 2 gallons per flush and save up to 6,000 gallons/year. Cost: Aerators and efficient showerheads are free to pick up through EBMUD, or ask for a free home water survey and have them brought to you. Toilet rebates of $150 are available to EBMUD customers until June 30th.

Phantom Power
Before: Phantom power from TVs, gadget chargers, appliances, and more sucks up power and costs you money. After: By plugging all appliances into a power strip or purchasing a self-regulating Smart Strip, you can save 1,000-1,500 Co2/year. Cost:  About $30 per strip, which the company claims you will save in several weeks of regular use. More...

An estimated 23% of landfill debris comes from construction sites, so remember to not only reduce your waste, but also post your own leftover materials on the swap forums for someone else to utilize or donate to one of the following stores. More...