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In This Issue
FREE Ocean Friendly Garden Classes
Get A Rain Barrel Discount
Commercial Business Recycling: It's the Law!
Two Local Ventura Businesses Make A Difference
From the Farm to Your Table: Ventura's Certified Farmer's Markets
Saving Money with Renewable Energy Conservation
QUICK LINKS



March 2012

March 10
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class

March 16-18
Spring Home and Garden Show

March 23 & 24
Wild & Scenic Film Festival

March 25
Ocean Friendly Garden Hands on Workshop 

 

April 2012

 

April 14

Earth Day Eco-Fest

 

April 21

 Compost Workshop &
Rain Barrel Demonstration
10am-Noon, Cornucopia Garden

 

Ventura Botanical Gardens First Annual Garden Festival 


April 24

Ocean Friendly Gardens - Core Concept Workshop 

 

   

GET A GREAT DEAL ON RAIN BARRELS - SUPPLIES LIMITED!
by Christine Wied
A rain barrel discount program for City of Ventura residents is now available through Environmental Sustainability and Ventura Water. Working in cooperation with Smith Pipe and Supply at 3060 Sherwin Avenue in Ventura, the Channel/Bushman 60-gallon rain barrel with a retail value of $85.oo will be available for $42.oo plus tax at their store with a Rain Barrel Discount Voucher. 

READ MORE. 
Commercial Business Recycling - It's THE LAW as of July 1, 2012

What every Ventura Business Needs to know!

Conserving our natural resources is essential for the health and wellbeing of our community and our planet.

 

In keeping with this sentiment, beginning July 1, 2012, the State of California has made business recycling mandatory. According the newly enacted legislation (AB341), businesses that generate 4 cubic yards or more of trash per week (the equivalent of a large commercial dumpster) and all multifamily complexes with five or more units (regardless of the amount of trash they generate), will be required to recycle.

 

Compliance is determined by solid waste service capacity. Businesses that share trash service accumulating the 4 cubic yards or more of trash per week must comply even if individually, the businesses do not generate that amount of trash. READ MORE.

 

 

What Can YOU Do To Help Preserve Ventura's Environment?

 
 Ventura's Natural Beauty
Let's keep it that way!
 March 2012
Ocean Friendly Gardens Workshops begin Saturday, March 10, 2012: Reserve Your Spot TODAY!

 

by Christine Wied

 

With little rain this year and water rates increasing, now may be the time to think about replacing a water-hungry grass lawn with what is known as an Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG).  The Ventura County Chapter of The Surfrider Foundation in cooperation with the City of Ventura will be sponsoring an educational series open to all Ventura County residents on how to do just that.  OFG's preserve water resources and reduce pollution into our waterways while providing attractive landscaping.  READ MORE. 

 

To reserve your spot please RSVP by email at vcsrf.oceanfriendlygardens@gmail.com or call (805) 652-4501.

 

 

Reduce*Reuse*Recycle:
Two Local Ventura Businesses Make A Difference
 By Courtney Lindberg
Packing peanuts are not an accepted item for recycling in the City of Ventura, but they are an easily reusable item. 
Packing Peanuts


Local company Ventura Postal Services,(2674 East Main Street,   Suite E, 653-5712), offers a take back program that is
Bring your used packing supplies to Ventura Postal Services
open to the community.  In addition to offering postal services to their customers, they also accept used packing supplies such as packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and boxes that are in good shape. These are bulky items and can be reused over and over, thus extending their life and keeping them out of our landfill. 

Get a FREE pizza or gelato from Red Brick Pizza when you DONATE your cell phone
Red Brick Pizza
(4990 Telephone Road, 658-2828), is currently promoting a cell phone collection program running until May 31st.  The cell phones collected at their store will then be donated to help support the much-needed Malawi Teen Education programs in Africa.  Participants that donate a cell phone receive either a FREE pizza or gelato!
FROM THE FARM TO YOUR TABLE:  Certified Farmer's Markets  
By Maryann Ridini Spencer 

 

March is National Nutrition Month.  In Ventura, we have the privilege of being surrounded by abundant 

agriculture providing fresh, local produce.    

 

Buying local is a great way to support the local economy. Purchasing produce when it's "in season" is also the best way to enjoy the nutritious benefits.   For while we might be able to buy produce from anywhere across the globe, at any time of the year, doing so may not always be sustainable.

 

In purchasing local, produce is fresh and unprocessed.  Spoilage that sometimes results in shipping long distances is also eliminated.  Fresh fruits and vegetables in season not only taste better, they're better for you! 

 

Attending Certified Farmer's  Markets are a great way to take advantage the best our local environment has to offer in the way of fresh fruits and vegetables and baked goods and beautiful flowers and plants, direct from the farm to your table.  

 

Always check to make sure the market you attend is certified - where all food producers must have verifiable licensing, proof of production, and meet all county and state health department regulations.

 

 

 

Some other helpful shopping tips:

 

*ARRIVE EARLY to get the best produce!

*THINK GREEN and bring your own reusable grocery bags!

*TALK TO THE VENDORS  about their products. How they are grown?  Are they organic? What are some tips on handling, storage, food preparation?  

*BRING CASH.  Although some vendors have credit card machines, ATM machines may or may not be close by.  So, come prepared! 

 

Certified Farmer's Market information in Ventura: 

 

Wednesdays, 9am to 1pm -

Pacific View Mall, West Parking Lot (North of Sears)

 

Saturdays, 8:30am to Noon - Downtown City Parking Lot (Corner of Santa Clara & Palm Streets)

 

For more information CLICK HERE. 

 

City of Ventura Public Works Department Saves Money with Sustainable Renewable Energy Conservation Programs
Rick Raives, City of Ventura Public Works Director introduces
Renewable Energy Video 


The City of Ventura Public Works Department takes great pride in being a proactive leader in preserving and protecting the natural resources that Ventura's community enjoys. Environmental conservation is vital to the continued health and well-being of the City.

For more than a decade, Ventura's Public Works Department has been committed to reducing the City's reliance on non-renewable energy sources by promoting energy saving technology and practices. This has reduced the City's greenhouse gas emissions as well as its electricity and maintenance expenditures.

In this video, City of Ventura Public Works Director Rick Raives, introduces the video. Several Public Works employees, Ray Olson (Manager, Environmental Sustainability Division), Mary Joyce Ivers (Fleet and Facilities Manager), Joe Yahner (Environmental Sustainability Supervisor) and Joe Buccino (Traffic Operations Supervisor), talk about the city's renewable energy milestones, as well as current and upcoming energy projects in the works.  READ MORE. 

 

City of Ventura Public Works Renewable Energy and Conservation Programs
Joe Yahner, Environmental Sustainability Supervisor, talks about the City of Ventura Public Works Renewable Energy and Conservation Programs
Environmental Sustainability
is  
Everyone's Responsibility!
 
Save!
Green Thumb Nursery in cooperation with the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division, provides Garden Gourmet Compost bins and Wriggley Wranch worm bins at amazing prices to Ventura residents. CLICK HERE.

Offer Expires: Enter Expiration Date here