Thankful Thursday

from our Food Editor, Katheryne Phillips

One of my most favorite people in the world is my eight year old nephew Arion.  It doesn’t seem to matter what I’m doing with him, it’s always fun. I always learn, and I’m constantly laughing and smiling.

This week I had my favorite person all Sunday! Perfect time to show him how special I think he is. He has such a positive effect on me, he brings so much joy to our family, and I just wanted to show him what a great little guy everybody thinks he is.  We planned a day of fun in the sun, and obviously a pit stop at the toy store.

We got lucky because it just happened to be a perfect park day. Bright and sunny, cool breeze, and autumn leaves just starting to fall from the trees. We headed to the neighborhood park for a game of tag, a bit of rock climbing, and a giant cup of green tea lychee shaved ice from the Hawaiian Ice Truck.

After the park, we still had time to play video games, watch a movie, and as promised a visit to the toy store. As if the day hadn’t been good enough already, it just happened to be buy one get one free on the toy he wanted, score!

What a perfect ending to a perfect day, with the perfect person, my favorite person…Arion.

A Very Special Class, Join Us for a Holiday Workshop on 11.24

FROM A SUSTAINABLE KITCHEN

A HOLIDAY WORKSHOP

gifts from the kitchen

gift wrap and packaging

holiday decorations

In between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, join us for a special 'Holiday Workshop' class.

Let us help you take some of the stress out of the holiday preparations.

You will learn to make ornaments and decorations out of recyclable and recycled materials that are appropriate for all the winter holidays, easy elegant gifts from your kitchen that everyone will want and enjoy, and get great ideas for making wrapping and packaging part of the gift, all beautiful, all sustainable.

(Oh, also snacks and surprises!)

Saturday, November 24, 2012, 10:30am-12:30pm

Surfas, Culver City

$75.00

For details, more information and to register for the class: 

http://eventbrite.com/event/4733204141

G2 Gallery Gives Thanks & Gives Back

G2 is an nature and wildlife photography gallery that husband and wife team Dan & Susan founded in 2008. A tight-knit, dedicated staff and an ever growing roster of artists that range from emerging photographers to legends like Ansel Adams.
 
The G2 Gallery specializes in nature and wildlife photography and all of our exhibits have conservation themes. Their mission is to bring awareness to critical issues affecting the environment through the works of artists who both inform and inspire.

With each new exhibit G2 partners with a different organization that is working on a cause related to the theme of the show.  They donate the proceeds from art sales to these causes.

There's really no place quite like The G2 Gallery.  There are other photography galleries, but not one whose mission is to expose and promote the beauty of the Earth.  G2 wanted to give people the opportunity to see these magnificent places and creatures so that they might feel compelled to act.
 
The biggest challenge in the gallery has been lighting.  They've solved this by replacing the bulbs with LEDs that have drastically cut energy consumption. I'd recommend the switch whether you're running a small business or just in your own home.

A chat with Susan...

How did you get involved in sustainability?

Growing up in rural Ontario, Canada, I developed a strong bond with nature and a deep love of the outdoors.  In Los Angeles, there is a wealth of nature readily available if you chose to engage with it. Living in Franklin Canyon, I had an opportunity to create a native plant garden which also attracts wildlife. After years of working on it, I have one of the most mature native plant gardens in the area and have received the distinction of being a  National Wildlife Federation Certified Backyard Habitat. I've recently joined the President's Council of National Wildlife Federation and serve on the Board of Directors for both Audubon California and the Friends of Ballona Wetlands.    

What is your favorite everyday sustainable living strategy?

By taking care of the wildlife that come through my garden I feel good about helping to restore habitat in my residential community.

How does the local food movement affect your community?

By hosting a CSA at The G2 Gallery we hope to help a much larger global community by reducing our carbon footprint. We share the goals of CSAs across the country providing sustainably harvested organic fruits and vegetables at the height of the season. 

Who is your Sustainable Superhero?

I'm motivated and inspired by so many it would be hard to name one. The young who are just entering the field filled with enthusiasm for making a difference, those who have been working in the field on a day to day basis and those who take their hard earned dollars and support the work that so many are doing.

What will you be doing in 5 years?

In five years we'll be about to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of The G2 Gallery!

Friday Special

Introducing Thankful Thursdays: Giving Thanks, Giving Back

Greetings from your friendly editor-in-chief ! 

Every Thursday in November we will be posting stories about people we are thankful for. I've asked all of our contributing editors to reach out with a gesture of thanks, big or small, and snap a pic to share with us. Imagine if we all reached out to someone and recognized them for being wonderful ?

Thankful Thursday

Not Just Thankful, Also Grateful
by Annette Eason, contributing editor and founder of A Sustainable Kitchen

Doing Thankful Thursdays in November is a great idea. The assignment is to say who you are thankful for and why, tell them and catch their reaction in a photo. When Dominique gave us the assignment, I knew immediately who I would thank, but I also knew there would be no way I would be able to get a photograph.

I am thankful, but more I am grateful for all the amazing people who have helped and worked so hard on A Sustainable Kitchen over the last two years. I am thanking them now, but a photo? We can't even get more than three in the same room for an editorial meeting. I think our record is five in one place at the same time at of our demos, but that was a fluke. 
Why? Because they are all volunteers with incredibly full and busy lives. And that is why I am so grateful, for their commitment and dedication. 

Thank you Dominique, Katheryne, Kim and Stephanie. 
Thank you John for our first venue and Jen for lending us your outstanding branding and graphic skills. 
Thank you Donna and Andrea for all the hours of help. 
Thank you Alex and Ray for your support and participation. 
I am grateful for you all.

Special Farmers Market Report

WEDNESDAY SANTA MONICA FARMERS MARKET 

Wednesday was not just a regular Farmers Market day in Santa Monica, it was also Halloween and the day before Dia De Los Muertos. And we can report, both were well celebrated.

The Walking "Bread" were manning the Red Bread booth where they were actually selling "Brain" cookies and they were making a "killing".

Meanwhile, that infamous British hard rock band, "Trevor and His Cousin Alex" were rocking the Weiser Family Farm booth.

Lady Laura of Bubble Wrap (Laura Avery, SMFM manager, and yes it was all bubble wrap) was in attendance to oversee the entire affair.

Windrose was getting ready for Dia de los Muertos with a chili pepper alter.

And Catrinas (Jody from SMFM) was there to make sure all the preparations were complete.

We hope you have celebrated well too!