We’ll be undergoing some changes over the next week or so. Please pardon our dust. Thanks for your patience…it will be worth it!

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Imagine Miami Changemaker Summit - Presented by the Human Services Coalition. 

Read the full story

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Green Urban Living Center
Spring B
For more information call 305-237-1218 or email.
To register call 305-237-1019 or go to www.mdc.edu/ce/north

Kids’ Classes

Nature Club for Kids -$66 (Ages 6-12)

470980
03/15 – 05/03 Sat 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Awaken the scientist, artist, and explorer in your child with Nature Club for Kids.  Activities will include organic gardening, mini science experiments, arts and crafts, and Native American Traditions.

Traditional Arts/Crafts from Nature -$75 (Ages 6-12)

470981
3/16 – 04/20 Sun 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Allow your child to explore nature through Arts and Craft activities.

Healthy Cooking for Kids-$30

461997
03/01 Sat 11:30 a.m. -1:30 a.m.
Your child will learn how to prepare simple, delicious food high in nutrition and low in sugars and fats. 

Gardening

Composting at Home-$29

470984
04/05 Sat 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Turn your food scraps into “black gold” for the garden.  Learn the easy essentials of composting, and explore different options including worm bins, home-made systems, and aesthetically pleasing ceramic containers. 

Xeriscaping -  $32

471017 03/22 Sat 9:00 am – 3:30 p.m.
Learn how to plant and maintain your garden using Florida Native plants.  Xeriscaped yards conserve water and do not require supplemental irrigation.

Healthy Cooking

Gourmet recipes for What’s in Season Now!  -$45

470985
03/25 Tue 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Seasonal cooking! Get familiar with preparing delicious, nutritious meals in the current growing season.

Love those Lentils: Recipes from Africa and India-$45

470986
04/15 Tue 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Spice up your vegetarian cuisine palate.  Chef Henry will teach you how to make a mouthwatering meals packed with nutrition. 

Health/Fitness

Ashtanga Yoga-$75

470991

03/13-05/15 Thur 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Enjoy the relaxation and rejuvenation of yoga through stretching, breathing, and meditation.

Qigong -$65

470997

03/16 – 04/15    Tue 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Once a week treat yourself to a relaxing hour of moving meditation.  Allow work and school related stress to melt away, and increase your energy, focus, and clarity.

African Dance -$79

470999

03/12 – 04/23 Wed 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Get an excellent work out while learning traditional West African Dance.  This class is fun, energizing, and inspiring!

Pilates - $75

471001

03/15– 05/10 Sat 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

Condition, strengthen and lengthen your muscles with mat work.

Yoga – All Levels $75

471002

03/16 – 05/18 Sat 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Enjoy the relaxation and rejuvenation of yoga through stretching, breathing, and meditation.

Natural Self-Care

Nutrition Essentials -$35.00

(PSR 059) 471003

03/31 Mon 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Learn how to manage your diet and understand your body.   

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I live in Miami Dade County and my condo doesn’t recycle. What gives?

Miami Dade County Recycling Ordinance No. 91-123 requires that all multifamily residential establishments  must recycle. This has been in effect since August 10, 1992. Unfortunately, it has been poorly enforced and publicized.

Because the county or cities don’t provide the waste services for multi-family units, the condo must contract a private waste or recycling hauler. This will cost money. The charges will likely need to be taken from maintenance fees for the condo, therefore dividing the cost amongst all property owners / tenants.

All condo and rental units must recycle:

• Newspaper
• Glass
• Aluminum cans
• Steel cans
• Plastics (PETE, NDPE-natural, HDPE-colored)

How do I find a hauler that will provide this service?

The county recommends contacting your current waste hauler or looking in the phone book. Get multiple quotes, as prices may vary. The county has also provided questions to ask potential contractors:

• Can I reduce the size of my garbage container (and some of the cost of garbage collection) by establishing a recycling collection program?
• Will you remove and replace containers located in trash rooms or on the ground floor, or must the toters be located outside? (Toters should be placed in areas that are accessible to tenants, yet secure from vandalism or theft.)
• Do you provide any educational materials that can be distributed to tenants? What is considered a "contaminant" and how will a contaminated load affect the program?
• When you hire a commercial hauler or recycler who hauls your material, then all reporting requirements for County compliance are their responsibility.

How should I approach my condominium about providing recycling?

First, we recommend speaking with your property manager and asking why recycling isn’t currently offered. Then, you might want to express your interest in recycling. Your property manager may not know how to proceed. Explain that they need to speak with the waste hauler about this.

If you encounter resistance, provide your property manager with the recycling ordinance (found below), focusing on sections 15-2.2, 15-2.4, 15-2.5, and 15-2.6.

Finally, if you get absolutely nowhere, and want to continue the fight, try contacting the county’s Department of Solid Waste Management at 305-594-1500 or dswm@miamidade.gov. Explain what you are trying to accomplish and ask for their help in enforcing the law.

References:

Miami Dade County, Solid Waste Management: Apartments and Condominiums

View the complete file: Miami Dade County Recycling Ordinance (pdf)

Miami Dade County Code

A special thanks to Luiz Rodrigues and ECOMB (Environment Coalition of Miami Beach), without which we would have never known about this wonderful little law.   

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While yours truly is up in New York City attending Live Earth on 7.7.07, people across the world will be holding viewing parties and related events in their homes. (Throw your own party.)

The Miami Dade Public Library System is even celebrating with their Art Against the Climate Crisis event. Swing on over to the Main Library on Saturday, July 7 from 12 - 3 pm. It’s free. Here’s what will be going down:

Edwin Villasmil and Elba Martinez, the artists who created the Everglades Forever installation in Main Library’s 2nd floor exhibition space, will host an afternoon of exhibitions, workshops, artmaking, music, food, discussion, and a public art installation illustrating the potential effects of global warming on Miami.

Make art with Villasmil and Martinez; see a special preview version of Everything’s Cool, a feature documentary and “toxic comedy” about global warming from Toxic Comedy Pictures and Working Films; listen to latin jazz fusion with spoken word poetry from The Oscar Fuentes Combo; snack on vegetarian and organic treats, and more! Email the library to get on the mailing list and receive updates on the event.

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Ecorazzi, a green celebrity website which I co-founded with Michael d’Estries of Groovy Green, just announced today that we have signed with a production company to develop a television show on the same concept. If you’ve never visited Ecorazzi, check it out. It’s been a huge success story for us so far, with thousands of visits daily. We’re really enjoying ourselves and hope you do, too.

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There are A LOT of green events coming up. As usual, they show up on the calendar in the right sidebar, as well as on Upcoming.org. Many of them request an RSVP, and some of the conferences have a cost associated with them. Please check them out and try to attend at least one!

Rag Trade Grand Opening: Sat, Jan 20 12-sundown FREE

• Bring some clothes to trade or just stop in to shop! Plus, there will be a bounce house!
• More information.

Plug-In Hybrid Lecture: Wed, Jan 24 12:30pm RSVP / FREE

• Sign me up!
  Sherry Boschert, author of PLUG-IN HYBRIDS: THE CARS THAT WILL RECHARGE AMERICA, will be speaking.
• More information.

Density by Design: Wed, Jan 24 5:30pm RSVP FREE

• A talk all about Smart Growth. Sounds like something we need to talk about.
• Register.

Under the Sun, Sustainable Innovations + Traditions: Jan 25-27 RSVP / $375 / $425 after 1/19

• UM School of Architecture conference to discuss and promote green building. Serves as AIA continuing education credit.
• More information.

Volunteer Workday @ Deering Estate (earn community service hours!): Sat, Jan 27 8:45a-12noon RSVP / FREE

• Need Community Service hours? Want to help clean up Deering Estate? This event is for you!
• More information.

e2 Vision Broward: Feb 8-9 RSVP / $50

• Environment & Economy: Keeping them both alive in South Florida. Discuss the year’s accomplishments and what is coming up.
• More information.

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I’m constantly proud of my university, and today, even more so. The Fueling Station recently brought my attention to this story: UF commits to fight global warming.

A group of universities around the US have created and signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The agreement is modeled after the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which formed as a result of the US not signing on to the Kyoto Protocol. It also complements the student-led Campus Climate Challenge. (Source: Grist)

The ACUPCC is so new, it doesn’t even seem to have a home on the web yet. University of Florida President Bernie Machen is one of the first to sign the agreement and is quoted as saying, "Global warming is one of the great challenges of our time, and UF needs to do everything it can to help address the problem before it seriously impacts the lives of future generations."

By signing this agreement, Machen has committed UF to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.

Additionally, he has assured us of a win over Ohio State at the BCS Championship on Monday. Well, maybe I made that last part up, but I’m pretty sure it’s true. 

I can’t wait to report on when FIU, UM, and other local universities sign on as well.

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GreeenerMIAMI is taking a couple of days off. Happy Holidays and we’ll see you soon!

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I might be the only one who didn’t realize it, but if you live in District 2 in the City of Miami, you need to vote again today for City Commissioner. The same is true for Miami Beach (not sure if all of the beach or just Group V?) & El Portal. See who you will be voting for here. If you have a question, call 305-499-VOTE.

Don’t forget your ID!

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