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>>

Play: East Bay Green Drinks
A lively monthly gathering for anyone interested in sustainability, including green business, environmental and social causes, architecture and design, organics, renewable energy and more.
Wed, Nov 18, 5:30-8pm
Visit the website for location

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-Elliott Mamauag, EcoMetro Guide East Bay Market Director

Every knitter's heart does a little purl every time they see a sheep. Not simply because of the inherent cuteness contained therein, but because they are imagining the lifetime of warm and cozies that can come from the irrepressible growth of wool. 

Knitting has always been the ultimate sustainable craft; the purest, most organic materials used in the craft grow from an animal's back. More...

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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Buy organic
Conventionally grown cotton is responsible for as much as 10% of pesticide use in the world and up to 25% of insecticide use annually, according to Grist. The chemicals can impact workers and leach into the groundwater. Because the United States produces more cotton than all countries except China, much of this is on our soil.

Next, ask about the processing method for cotton, wool, and other fabrics. Look for those that use natural dyes and avoid chlorine bleaching. Organic Consumers estimates that 1/3lb of chemicals are used in the production of a cotton T-shirt, so buying secondhand comes second to buying a product that avoids the conventional cycle.
 
Image: CreativeCommons/Cosmic Kitty More...

I recently headed to the upholstery store to find fabric for an old rocking chair in need of rehab. Surely they would have organic fabrics to choose from...and yet the saleswoman shook her head. There just isn't much interesting green upholstery fabric, she said. So I was pleased to find Mod Green Pod, out of Austin (found via their Twitter), and revive my project.

Mod Green Pod's fabrics are 100% Organic cotton that is grown, woven, and printed with non-toxic dyes in the USA ($39.75/yard). The line of wallpaper is PVC-free and also uses non-toxic inks ($60/roll). Using organic cotton grown in the USA is especially impressive. And those patterns!

Pictured is the Room Creator, where you can play with prints and get an enthusiastic environmental message from the furniture (and the cat). See their blog for inspiring cover ups. More...

Are you ready for more sun and more fun in the great outdoors? So are we. To launch into summer, we're sending our June newsletter soon with free printable coupons for outdoor recreation and reminders of all the great deals in our book.

If you aren't signed up yet, enter your email in the box at upper right. We only send newsletters monthly.

Here's a sampling to get you interested. This Tizzi bathing suit by Kelly B is 65% bamboo and 25% organic cotton (with 8% spandex), and USA made. Order online ($130) from Nimli.

Image via Nimli. More...

Organic cotton men's jeans for $39.99? And from Loomstate? Thank you, Target!

Loomstate is a hip organic cotton clothing company that we've long adored, and they've paired with Target for a more affordable line of 100% certified organic cotton, beach-inspired clothing for men and women. Nothing in the collection is over $50, a serious savings since Loomstate brand jeans are rarely under $100.

Shop the Loomstate for Target collection online, or visit Target at Walnut Creek, one of 250 stores to carry the limited collection. More...

Eat: Year-round Edible Gardening Workshop
This hands-on workshop will offer vegetable gardening basics including: soil preparation, when and what to plant for our local climate, companion planting and pest control, plus creative ways to use your bountiful harvest. Seeds, catalogs, regional food source information, and other handouts will be provided.
April 4, 10am-1pm
Ploughshares Nursery, 2701 Main St, Alameda
View at ecometro.com

Go: Climbing Mount Shasta: Tips for the Novice and the Expert
Chris Carr, owner of Shasta Mountain Guides–outfitter for REI Adventures, has made more than 130 successful ascents of Mount Shasta. In tonight’s slide presentation, Chris will show you the major routes on this majestic peak, including Avalanche Gulch, Casaval Ridge, Sargeant’s Ridge, Hotlum Glacier, the West Face, and more. He’ll share his expertise on mountaineering gear and technique, best times to climb, U.S. Forest Service regulations, mountain weather, and snow conditions. Learn what it takes to make a safe and successful summit climb from someone who has climbed, skied, and guided on the mountain for 16 years.
April 7, 7pm
REI, 1338 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
View Coupon at ecometro.com
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Live: Compost Give-Away at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market 
Bring your own container -- two buckets are suggested or large garbage bags. Please backyard amateur gardeners only and no professionals. Sponsored by the Berkeley Nutrition Coalition in cooperation with the Network for a Healthy California - a state program promoting healthy active families through the daily eating of fresh fruits and vegetables.
March 28, 10am-3pm
Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market, Center St at MLK Jr Way, Berkeley
View coupon at EcoMetro.com

Eat: Vegetarian Cooking Class: Demystifying Tofu and Tempeh
Join Compassionate Cooks’ founder Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of the Joy of Vegan Baking. In our popular tofu/tempeh class, you will learn the difference between silken, soft, firm, extra firm, and super firm tofu; discover the magic of frozen tofu; and learn the secret behind perfect tempeh! Cook up: Tempeh Pate, Cornmeal-Crusted Tofu Filets with Tartar Sauce, Tofu Parmigiana, BBQ Tempeh, No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie . $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.
March 28,10am-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro
View Coupon at ecometro.com

Image: Flickr/CreativeCommons  More...