Copy
March 2019 Newsletter
 




 
 
View this email in your browser

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."
―Vincent Van Gogh


      Connect with us!

               

Sustainable Solano - March 2019

Our New Logo: A symbol of what nurtures us as an organization, and the positive impact we want to have in Solano County. 

What's Growing 2019?

 

Sustainable Solano is 20 years old! We hope you will celebrate with us this year as we recognize how we have grown and changed over the years, even as we hold tightly to the core values that have led to our creation and have driven our interwoven initiatives for the future. 

To recognize this milestone, we have unveiled a new logo to represent the organization's roots in the past even as we grow toward the future. To celebrate 20 years of dedication to promoting ecologically sustainable, economically and socially just communities, we plan to host several celebrations this year. We will recognize the communities and volunteers that have helped shape and support our efforts, starting with "Out Benicia Roots & Soil," a celebratory breakfast in Benicia that honors where we first set down roots through Benicia Community Gardens.

For more information about our new logo and celebrating our 20th anniversary, click here

Upcoming Events

 

Thursday, March 7

Next Economy Series: Essential Knowledge for Transition

6-8 pm, Green Hive Spaces, Vallejo


Few people realize the extent to which the design of the money system, the economic system and the financial system constrains our choices and frustrates our designs to bring forth a more healthy and compassionate world. The purpose of this talk will be to provide an accessible understanding of money, the economy and investing. Join us to collectively identify the design flaws of economic systems and find out how we can participate in their transformation. Register here.

 

Saturday, March 9 

Hands-on Rain Barrel Workshop

9 am-12 pm, Register for location, Vacaville

 

Join Shalom, the newly established demonstration food forest with a laundry-to-landscape greywater system in Vacaville, for a workshop on installing rain barrels. This workshop will cover different types of rain collection, catchment system anatomy and design, sealing and ventilation, drainage, size calculation and more! There will will be a hands-on component where participants will work together to build a multi-barrel catchment system using recycled food-grade barrels. All experience levels welcomed!  Register here. 

 

Tuesday, March 12

Gardening for Renters

6-7:30 pm, Benicia Community Center, 370 East L St., Benicia 


Are you a renter who wants to garden? Or curious about gardening in small spaces? This class will help you navigate small spaces so you can! Through this workshop, you will learn many ways to grow food as a renter. Topics covered will include container gardening, working with your landlord, gardening indoors, free and low-cost resources, re-use options, composting and maintaining your garden. Register here. 


  

 

 

Saturday, March 23 

Walk the Talk Workshop: Sheet Mulching 101

2-3pm, Shelter Solano, 310 Beck Ave., Fairfield

Learn the benefits of sheet mulching your yard, such as suppressing weeds, preventing erosion, maintaining nutrients and controlling pests. During this very first "Walk the Talk Workshop," you will learn how to sheet mulch like a pro. Join us as we have fun layering cardboard, compost and woodchips in preparation for the expansion of a demonstration food forest!  Register here


Saturday, March 30

Our Benicia Roots & Soil

9-11 am, Heritage Presbyterian Church, 1400 East 2nd St., Benicia 


Join us for “Our Benicia Roots & Soil,” a breakfast to recognize the importance of the Benicia community where the first seeds of what would become Sustainable Solano were planted 20 years ago. We hope you can join us as we thank the community and volunteers who have helped shape and support Sustainable Solano over the years as we have grown. This Benicia breakfast is the first of several celebratory events around the county this year and honors where we first set down roots through the Benicia Community Gardens. Register here.




 

Where to Find Us This Month:

"You are never alone. You are eternally connected with everyone."
- Amit Ray

 

March 16-17, Santa Cruz, CA 

Systems Change & the Next Economy: Regenerative Design for People and the Planet 

 

March Blogs

 

Systems Change & the Next Economy: Cultivating Right Livelihood

By: Kassie Munro and Nicole Newell, Program Managers


The economy can be difficult to understand, yet we all can identify the many problems that we are facing as individuals and as a society in our current system. Sustainable Solano has committed to attend the Systems Change & the Next Economy workshop series presented by Santa Cruz Permaculture and report back on what was learned through a series of presentations and community circles at Green Hive Spaces in Vallejo. This gives us an opportunity to explore solutions on how to create a world that benefits the whole within our Solano County community.  [Read more...]

 

Interested in Sustainable Landscaping and Community-Building? Tell Us! 

By: Nicole Newell, Program Manager 


Have you ever wondered how Sustainable Solano makes the connections that lead to our involvement in the community? Whether it is the planning and planting of a sustainable garden, the installation of a greywater system, urban forests to bring food and shade to residents or bringing local communities together around these sustainability efforts, the process to find sites can be a long one. [Read more...]

 


Sustainable Solano Seeks Lead Landscape Designer

By: Nicole Newell, Program Manager

 

At Sustainable Solano, we have been lucky to have Kathleen Huffman, owner of The RePurposed Okie, as a central force in our sustainable landscaping work. Kathleen and the program have grown together and she has played a key role as our lead landscape designer. Now, as Kathleen plans to move back to Oklahoma this summer to take care of family, we are seeking someone who understands permaculture and uses its principles in food forest garden design to step into that role.[Read more...]


The Value of Local Food 
By: Pablito, Terra Firma Farm 

 

We wanted to share with you some recent musings from our partners over at Terra Firma Farm in Winters on the recent closing of S.F.-based Munchery and why these startups are not the solution our food system needs. As Terra Firma Farm’s Pablito points out, there is value in putting our money as consumers into local farms with sustainable practices. By buying local produce, money stays within our communities, farmers are able to retain more of what is paid for the food they produce and there are environmental benefits from having produce travel shorter distances (and our tables benefit from having the freshest, most flavorful produce). [Read more...]


April Preview

 

April 4, 6-8 pm, Next Economy Series: Restorative Economics (Green Hive Spaces, 425 Virginia Ave., Vallejo)

At a time of growing economic inequality, ecological degradation and social unrest, we need to understand the root causes that created the problems before us to identify real solutions for a just transition to an equitable economy. Join us as we explore restorative economics: a strategy that aims to restore and reinvest in low-income communities of color by establishing community-owned and community-governed projects for self-determination and shared prosperity. This is the fourth talk in a series of five. Register here. 

 

April 13, 9 am-12 pm, Urban Forest Community Planting Project (Shelter Solano, 310 Beck Ave., Fairfield)

Join us for the next installation of Solano County's Urban Forest! Sign up and help us to convert 3.5 acres of Shelter Solano grounds into a resilient, mixed-canopy urban forest. Be part of planting carbon-sequestering trees and learn the benefits of urban tree planting and join us in reducing greenhouse gases through this hands-on community project! Register here.

 

April 13, 2-3 pm, 'Whats for Dinner' Cooking Workshop: Soup Garden (John F. Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara St., Vallejo)

Join 'Whats for Dinner' for a special workshop on how to plan for a soup garden that will yield the ingredients for a late summer gazpacho and hearty fall squash soup. This event will feature tips for planting from a guest master gardener and Chef Lisa Núñez-Hancock, who will walk us through the recipes for making delicious garden-to-table soup.

 

April 27, 2-3 pm, Walk the Talk Tours: No Water, No Life. Know Water, Know Life (Shelter Solano, 310 Beck Ave., Fairfield)

Water is the most precious resource of all life on Earth. Yet, on a planet where 70% of its surface is covered in water, access to freshwater has become a growing concern in many places across the globe. Join us as we learn about the importance of water and various low-cost methods to conserve it that you can start applying today! Register here.

Partners and Community Member Events


Wildflower and Critter Walk

March 9, 10 am-2 pm, Solano Land Trust, 4845 Cook Lane, Dixon

Wildflower season is here, and Solano Land Trust’s Jepson Prairie docents are ready to share the first wave of vernal pool flowers. Weather permitting, there will be two-hour guided walks starting at 10 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday, through Sunday, May 13. Docents will also introduce you to the rare aquatic animals, all on the Endangered Species list, that live in the ephemeral pools, including vernal pool fairy shrimp, Conservancy fairy shrimp, and the larvae of the California tiger salamander. A minimum $5 donation per person is encouraged. For more info, click here


The Basics of Plant Propagation
March 9, 11 am-2 pm, Dog Island Farm, Vallejo
Learn the basics about propagating plants. Join Dog Island Farm as they focus on edibles but will also discuss native plants and ornamentals. They will talk about seeds, cuttings, layering and division. Learn about different growing media and supplies that you'll need to be successful at propagation. This will be a hands-on class, so prepare to get your hands dirty. Register here. 

 

Garden Workday!

March 10, 10 am-12 pm, St. Vinnie's Community Garden, 1200 Marin St., Vallejo

Hoping that monsoon season is coming to an end, it is time to resume St Vinnie's Community garden workdays! They need support to start the year off with a bang by having a lot of people help with the clean-up from the winter rains! If you are interested in joining them, be sure to bring a food item to share for a lunch potluck. To learn more, click here


Drip Irrigation Basics

March 13, 6-9 pm, Vallejo Water Conservation Program, Florence Douglas Center, 333 Amador St., Vallejo 

The Vallejo Water Conservation Program is having its annual classes on ways on conserving water. Join them on March 13 and March 20 for free classes! The topics covered will be Drip Irrigation Basics on March 13 and Water-Wise Plant Selection on March 20. 


Growing, Harvesting & Storing Herbs 

March 16, 10-11 am, Vallejo Garden Club, 419 Farragut Ave., Vallejo 

Join Lyta Hamm, local herbalist, and learn about growing, harvesting and storing herbs. This free event is hosted by the Vallejo Garden Club. 


Eating Animals: Documentary and Discussion

March 27, 6-9 pm, Benicia Public Library, 150 E L St., Benicia

How much do you know about the food that's on your plate? Join the Benicia Library in exploring this topic via a documentary. Based on the bestselling book by Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals is an urgent, eye-opening look at the environmental, economic and public health consequences of factory farming. After the documentary viewing there will be a discussion led by a member of Teens in Action. 

 


Community Conversations


Sustainable Solano's Conversations Initiative is expanding countywide to bring you inspirational, engaging and meaningful talks on sustainability topics you care about. These topics include global sustainability, our local economy, sustainable landscaping, waste, etc. What speakers would you like to hear speak on these topics? Any relevant films that you feel we should show? To share requests, thoughts and ideas please email: 
stephanie@sustainablesolano.org. Visit our calendar for upcoming speaker events in your area.



Sustainable Solano's website has information about our exciting programs, upcoming events, and other community news.


Go to www.sustainablesolano.org to check it out.



Want to engage? Be creative?
 
If you are a blogger, photographer, or just interested in volunteering, please join in! If you are interested supporting a sustainable future in Solano County, let's talk at 
info@sustainablesolano.org 


Something to share? 
Newsletter deadlines are the 3rd Friday of the month. Please email to gabriela@sustainablesolano.org


 
Copyright © 2019 Sustainable Solano, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Sustainable Solano
PO Box 1215
Benicia, CA 94510

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp