august abundance

I recently started a habit of popping over to Union Square Farmers Market midweek after witnessing the great abundance on a whim a couple weeks back. I've been missing out on my own little neighborhood market lately because it's held on Saturday's (at Grand Army Plaza), which is the day I learn the wonders of permaculture.

The abundance of food and sunshine at Union Square is often overwhelming. Today I tried to take it slow by scanning the whole shebang to compare goods before making any hard and fast decisions. Here's what I came up with:


Escarole, dandelion, frisee, black & purple peppers, eggs, chanterelles, husk tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, and a loaf of hazelnut sweet rye sourdough bread

Psst, thanks to Alison for inspiring this post, here's the bounty she brought home from the market:


(If you couldn't tell, Alison has a thing for peppers)

Subsequently, my sweetheart sent over these two videos from The Atlantic's new From Farm to Table series (not to be confused with Zach Cohen's Farm to Table blog & show). These really make farming look romantic (& the yield delicious). They also give us a sense of distinction between 'real' food and the stuff you'll find at the supermarket which has been picked many days (or weeks) ago and shipped many miles to get to your plate.





And then to round it all out, an article from, once again, The Atlantic about how 'organic' has grown too big for its britches. Here, I'd like to point out that the author is talking about big organic vs small scale locally distributed organic like you'd find at the farmers market.

Find a farmers market near you!

nothing over $30 sale at the greenloop

You read that right. The Nothing Over $30 sale is on at the Greenloop, online eco-boutique. What better time to introduce some low-impact, high-style items into your wardrobe?



You can get adorable duds like this Stewart & Brown organic cotton dress for only $29.99! (it was $138)


Or this sweet fair trade organic cotton Loomstate tee for just $19.99! (it was $60)



Greenloop was recently named best online eco-boutique in Treehugger's Best in Green Awards.

house of organic sale

Ekovaruhuset (aka, House of Organic), purveyor of premium organic fashion is having a huge sale next week.

House of Organic is an itsy-bitsy boutique at 123 Ludlow St (just south of Rivington), but it's jam packed with lovely organic dresses, denim, tees, and more. Details on the sale below:

We are having a massive ONE WEEK SALE next week and we want to invite you to enjoy 50% off of nearly everything in the store. All Veja Sneakers, Bergmans shirts, Fin dresses, Kuyichi jeans, Pjux shoes, Katherine Hamnett Tees, Knowledge Cotton Apparel ... just about EVERYTHING (excluding designer items) will be 50% off!

Sale will last from Wednesday, June 3rd until Sunday, June 7th. Come quick to enjoy these amazing prices on our amazing organic goods!

a whole lotta stuff going on this weekend

Oh man, this is what I live for. Stuff swapping, supporting local arts, enjoying the great outdoors of the urban jungle. Unfortunately I won't be around for the fun this weekend. Hopefully you'll get to enjoy some of these tasty events...

Saturday May 30

"Score!" Freecycling Event
@ BKLYN Yard
11am - 6pm
FREE!


Start gathering your old Twisted Sister albums, ill-advised sample sale purchases, well-intentioned gifts from grandma, those jeans that just don’t fit anymore, etc, and get ready to exchange them for new treasures.

MeanRed Productions is teaming up with FreeNYC, Newmindspace and RefugeNYC (the same folks who brought you the Wall Street Pillow Fight) to transform the waterfront venue, BKLYN Yard, into an open-air free boutique.

Over hundreds of records, clothes, household items, and regretful “impulse buys” will find new homes. This one-day event celebrates the joys of finding treasure in some one else’s trash.

Also:

• Enjoy delicious sweets from the Treats Truck
• All leftover stuff goes to Rock and Wrap It Up – an anti-poverty “think tank” that distributes donations to worth non-profits throughout the city

Full details here.

Sunday May 31

Brooklyn Bike Jumble
@ JJ Byrne Park & Old Stone House
10am - 2pm

On May 31st, JJ Byrne Park and the Old Stone House will host the 1st Brooklyn Bicycle Jumble, New York's only outdoor bicycle flea market and celebration of New York City bike culture.

At this one-day-only-event, private, non-professional vendors will be on hand to sell bicycles, bicycle components, and clothing to the public. If you're looking for kid's bikes, cruisers, BMX, mountain, racers, fixed gears, or any wheeled, pedal-powered machine, or any part for one, come to the Brooklyn Bicycle Jumble.

Click here to send us an email.

[via Brooklyn Based]

All weekend: Friday May 29 to Sunday May 31

Local Produce
You won't find locally grown veggies here - more like fresh food for the creative spirit. Park Slope's own creativity and performance art haven, Spoke the Hub, is putting on one heck of a weekend full of dance, music, stilt walking, hula hooping, you name it. Activities for kids and adults. Let the good times roll. Full details here.

And coming soon, every Sunday in June

Summer Streets
Vanderbilt Ave in Prospect Heights
(this is my 'hood!)


[Not my shot. Image via Brownstoner]

During four consecutive Sundays in June, three blocks of Vanderbilt Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into a temporary pedestrian plaza.

Summer Streets on Vanderbilt is designed to encourage the community to come together to shop, stroll and socialize. There will be music, art and gardening, face painting, sun and trees, eating and relaxing, biking and performances, people watching - and whatever else you might like to do. Plus a few surprises.

This temporary, experimental street closure, organized by the Vanderbilt Avenue Merchants District and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council in cooperation with the NYC DOT, is a smaller version of the successful Summer Streets program that ran along Park Avenue in Manhattan last August and is part of the city’s efforts to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable city as envisioned by the PlanNYC initiative.

How can you help?
You can help by: setting up and clean up on any of the days of the event; distributing flyers and postcards; supervising activities in the "kids zone"; arranging musicians and performers; making a donation to help cover expenses and spreading the word to friends and neighbors. See our contact here.

What if you want to perform?
We welcome musicians, acrobats, visual artists, etc. We'd appreciate it if you could contact us in advance – especially if you are interested in using our sound system and stage. Otherwise, don’t hesitate to bring out your acoustic guitar, juggling balls or hula-hoops.

Can you sell merchandise or promote your business?
No. This is different than a street fair; we will not have outside vendors.

[Streetsblog via Brownstoner]

buy handmade and local in brooklyn

This weekend, support local artisans peddling their handmade goods.

@ The Brooklyn Flea

[Map]

Bonbon Oiseau
Great Brooklyn-based jeweler who has a penchant for vintage baubles and beads
Check 'em out at the Brooklyn Flea (Fort Greene)
This Saturday, May 9th, 10am-5pm
(just in time to buy mom something pretty!)

Check out their adorable Petit Buddha Necklace (at right)
It's not just cute, it's for a good cause:
$20 from each sale will go directly to the Food Bank, providing over 100 meals to people in need.
Get one while supplies last.


@ The Bell House

[Map]

The Handmade Cavalcade
With over 30 local designers
This Saturday and Sunday
10am-4pm

Full details in the flyer below (click to blow up)

freemeet this saturday!

Does your home look like this? [not my shot, image: smoke & mirrors]

Have you been decluttering and Spring cleaning like I have? If so, you probably have a pile of stuff that needs a new home. Relocate your stuff at a Freecycle FreeMeet!

This Saturday, in Flatbush, Brooklyn, free your home of clutter and maybe find something "new" you can use (I'll have to use all of my strength not to bring anything home!). Any unswapped items will be donated to local charities or recycled.

Flatbush FreeMeet

Saturday, May 9, 2009
11am - 3pm
P.S. 217 Playground
(1100 Newkirk Avenue at Coney Island Avenue)
Flatbush, Brooklyn

Co-sponsored by: Sustainable Flatbush

Closest Public Transportation
SUBWAY: Q train to Newkirk Ave or F train to 18th Ave
BUS: B68 to Coney Island Avenue and Newkirk.

You will find the FreeMeet on the playground next to the school.
Check out HopStop.com or Mapquest.com to find the best route for you.

Not in Brooklyn? Find a Freecycle group near you!

loomstate sale at greenloop

This Swan's for You!

These days, I'm trying to focus on buying less, especially new things. But there are a few things I'll buy new - underwear and Loomstate 100% organic cotton t-shirts. They might be the softest t-shirts I've ever owned.

I just got myself one on sale (along with some Pi organic cotton undies) at Greenloop.


And in case you didn't know, Greenloop recently won best online fashion shop from Treehugger's Best of Green Contest.

So take advantage of this great sale and stock up on some super soft organic cotton goodies at the Greenloop!

earth day ideas from the brooklyn green team

Some more ways to get involved this Earth Day (and every other day of the year) from the Brooklyn Green Team:

In honor of Earth Day 2009, the Brooklyn Green Team would like to suggest some ways to ring in the event...

Volunteer with us this Saturday, APRIL 25 at Prospect Park. 10am-2pm @ Prospect Park Grand Army Plaza entrance (2/3 to grand army plaza). Join us in fulfilling the YES WE CAN Volunteer Challenge as part of Hands-on New York Day! Bring your closed-toe shoes and long pants and do some weeding, path edging, sweeping, and general clean-up. RSVP by emailing brooklyngreen@gmail.com and let us know the number of people you plan on bringing.

Greenmarket Head to the Union Square Greenmarket (or another one in your hood that's open on Wednesday) and get all your ingredients and make a local dinner. Click here to see all NYC Greenmarkets.

Search on Goodsearch.com. If you can't resist combing the internet for the latest developments of Miley Cyrus' career, try using this Yahoo-powered search engine that donates a penny per search to your favorite environmental cause.

Support Local (and sustainable) if you're a BK resident. Pop into 3rliving and help them celebrate their 5-year anniversary and make a $1 donation to their recycling services they provide the community. Or pick your favorite mom and pop (sister or brother) in your neighborhood and support them.

Go Outside and sit in the park.

Give to your favorite local charity. There are so many great green groups in NYC. Our YES WE CAN VOLUNTEER Challenge post has a list of organizations worthy of your support.

Plastic-free for the day. Don't purchase or take anything new that's plastic, from the produce bag you grab for at the grocery store to a bottle of Vitamin water.

Check Out the myriad of Earth Day events in NYC. Check the Earth Day NY site or visit our partners at GreenEdge Collaborative NYC for event listings.

Turn Off either your computer, your ipod, your TV, or all of the above for the day.

Spread the News to others and remind them it's Earth Day and to do one good green thing. You could even forward them this email.

We agree with Grist that Earth Day is everyday, but don't quite agree with their Screw Earth Day concept. One has to start someplace. Just do one thing and have a great day.

Stay tuned for the next challenge. . .

POW. YOU'VE BEEN GREENED.

BROOKLYN GREEN TEAM.

www.brooklyngreenteam.blogspot.com

grand opening: green in brooklyn

Live in Brooklyn and not sure where to get things like biodegradable trash bags or organic linens? Now there's one shop that carries it all, Green in BKLYN and they're having an Earth Day grand opening today. I wish I could make it, 'cause it looks like a great place to connect with other green-minded Brooklynites.



I'll be sure to bike on down there soon to check out their eco-friendly merch and chat with the Clinton Hill locals about their new biz.

afternoon thrift shop find

On my way back from lunch at the Christopher Street pier, I decided to pop up into St Luke's Thrift Shop on Hudson St (South of Christopher) when I saw the sign out front announcing "dresses on sale, 50% off."

I walked through the door and the first thing I saw was this adorable early 60s style red dress with white polka dots. I took a look at the back and that's what got me.



"Try it on," said the lady working there. "It's so cute, and look, it's new." The tags were still on it. Such is the way of ladies of means - buying dresses, never wearing them, then donating them to a thrift shop. I can't say I'm not completely innocent of this. At least one pair of shoes in my closet have met the sidewalk only once or twice.

I tried it on and it fit perfectly. The tag said $40, but I got it for $20. Thrifty is nifty.

big sale on edun duds @ greenloop

Now at Greenloop, get 50 to 75% off ethically and ecologically minded clothing line Edun - the brainchild of Ali Hewson and Bono (with some help from New York clothing designer Rogan Gregory).

Por ejemplo:

Men's Eclipse jeans were $175, you can get 'em for $79.99 (save $95.01, hey every penny counts!)


Ladies' Calliope dress was $325, now $169.99 (that's $155.01 off, yeow!)



Get 'em @ Greenloop while the gettin' is good.

celebrate earth day with peaceful valley

Attention conscious consumers: Shop at Peaceful Valley between now and April 25th and you'll be doing something good for your health (and the planet). For Earth Day, this eco-friendly e-tailer will plant 10 trees in your honor when you purchase from their shop.

Some of the great stuff they sell: organic cotton clothing, tree-free greeting cards, earth-friendly jewelry, natural beauty products, organic treats, and so much more!

Shop Peaceful Valley Earth Friendly Clothing & Gifts - for the trees, for the planet, for peace.

really, really free market

This Sunday, March 29th. Need I say more?

[via Nonsense NYC]

Really, Really Free Market

A bazaar and a celebration, where we discard capitalist notions of interaction and have fun trying new models of exchange. Expect and share free food, skills, music, clothing, books, other things and fun.

This is an open participatory event some groups and individuals are planning to bring and share food, clothes, skills, music, and things, but there has always been space for you to do the same.

Expect to find: beginner salsa dance instruction, no partner needed 5-6p, radical reference, haircuts, dental consults from a dentist, hugs, tax planning assistance, tax resistance, face-painting, food by freegan.info, silk screening, tarot card reading, beginner guitar lessons, and more and more. Live music by Holy!Holy!Holy! from St. Charles, Missouri, Guitaro (5000), and Justin Remer of the Elastic No-No Band.

Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South, Manhattan
2-7p; $free
myspace.com/anewworldinourhearts

read 'em and swap

We've all got a pile of books that we've either read or abandoned just collecting dust on the shelf. So why not give them a second life at the Desk Set’s Writer/Reader Mingle and Book Swap at Pacific Standard this Monday at 7pm?
(Pacific Standard: 82 4th Ave, BKLYN)



[illustration by Sara Varon]

While you're at it, you can pick up some new wordy friends to curl up with... for free. That's what this swapping thing is all about.

All unswapped books will go to Books Through Bars, a program that donates books to prisons.


[via Brooklyn Based]

loomstate & kaight celebrate spring this friday

I'll be heading over to eco-fashion hotspot Kaight -- 83 Orchard St -- this Friday to celebrate the first day of Spring with the guys behind Loomstate & Rogan.

I'm looking forward to seeing their new Spring line, and getting a free custom made organic tee with a Loomstate purchase. Not to mention the drinks and music to welcome the new season.

Get more details at Kaight's new blog.

free store, financial district

There's no catch. Really, everything at this store is free. With an artists' grant, Athena Robles and Anna Stein set up the Free Store where donations are accepted but not necessary to walk off with free clothing, jewelry, or household items. It's located at 99 Nassau Street in the Financial District, how apropos.



[Photos courtesy NY Post]

Read more at Racked, NY Post, or AM/NY

last minute local shopping

This weekend at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 4th Ave), get all of your last minute shopping done at their 1st (and hopefully not last) Artisans' Craft Market. Over 65 vendors will be peddling their goods. Plus, there'll be refreshments and tunes to keep you in the holiday spirit. Here are the deets:

DATES: SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 AND 21, 2008

TIMES: 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM

LOCATION: BROOKLYN LYCEUM + CAFE
227 4th Avenue, between Union and President Streets, Park Slope
Click here for a street map, showing subway station too.

TRAIN: R train at Union St, in Park Slope. We are right atop the station.
15 minutes from Lower Manhattan! So easy. Click here for a subway map

SPECIAL SHOPPING PROMOTION: Shoppers, spend $100 or more at the market, and receive 2 comp tickets to one of a choice of future Lyceum events. Grab a coupon when you enter the market.

More info here!

sustainable stocking stuffers at let's go green

Get everyone on your list some really useful stocking stuffers -- low-flow shower heads, anyone?
Let's Go Green has all the eco efficient goods.

save now at nau

Today's the last day to save big time at nau (one of my favorite eco clothing designers). Get 30% off purchases with offer code 'GIVE' and get free shipping on all purchases over $150 -- it's an incentive to get you to ship via ground, a less carbon intensive method versus air. Plus, via their Partners for Change program, they're increasing their donation amount from 2% to 10% on all purchases made today.

Here are the details:

We'd hate to have you miss out, so we're just going to say it one more time:
Order before midnight tonight and you'll save 30% on all our Men's and Women's styles. Just enter promotion code "GIVE" at checkout, and you can save 30% on everything we make.

Take advantage of these savings and you won't just be doing a good thing for yourself: Remember, for the rest of the day, we're donating 10% of every sale - up from our usual 2% - to the Partner For Change of your choice so it's a great opportunity to get a great deal and do a lot of good in the process.

And with free ground shipping on all orders over $150, ordering by December 15th will get that gift there on time with the least impact on the environment. Air shipping isn't only more expensive; it generally uses six times more energy than sending it by ground.

Share the "GIVE" code with your friends! Act now, and you'll enable them to take advantage of significant savings and help generate much needed donations for change.

eko-lab sample sale

This weekend at 121 Ludlow St check out the holiday gift and sample sale brought to you by Ekovaruhuset, aka Eko-Lab. Terrific fair-trade organic cotton goods as well as crochet lessons and refreshments... Check it out!

We at Eko-Lab your local sustainable design co-op would like to invite you to our first ever Holiday gift & sample sale. On Saturday and Sunday, December 13^th & 14th, 2008, we will be selling their wearable creations for woman and baby as well as their one of a kind stuffed animals. Every item is fair-made and produced following strict, sustainability guidelines. The co-op designers will also be instructing curious crafty customers on the basics of crochet with laid back lessons throughout this two day holiday event. Yummy tea and refreshments will be served to all. Holiday tunes will be played mixed with the laughter and warmth from 6 eko-girls.

We look forward to seeing you!