The opportunity to drive a Chevy Volt doesn’t come along very often. I was happy to give it a try. It was interesting to see that they have put the battery inside the car, so it doesn’t take up trunk space like you may have seen on other electric and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, there is an extra window on the hatchback so you get an extra view of the road you normally don’t find in other cars. My only regret is that we didn’t get to test the EV portion of the Volt, as it had lost it’s charge during transport and didn’t have enough time to charge before the event.

Our first stop was Ecoist in the Wynwood Arts District, a locally based eco-accessories company, most well known for their candy wrapper handbags. I was excited to find that they now offer upcycled t-shirt necklaces, as well.

Next, we headed over the bridge to Uhma Spa, an utter sanctuary in the heart of South Beach. Everyone received a mini massage and a fabulous gift bag from the spa itself.

Finally, we ended at Metro Organic Bistro to dine on organic grub. All items on the menu are organic!

If we offer an event like this again, all I can say is, sign up immediately! GM provided top notch event planning and treated us like royalty. Read more accounts of our day from Brandon’s Puppy, Tropic Home & Family (Uhma Spa), Tropic Home & Family (Chevy Volt).

Transportation and gifts provided by Chevrolet.

We’ve got 8 spots to fill on the Chevy Eco Chic Tour with greenerMiami.com on Saturday, July 16, 2011. Details on how to enter to win a spot on this fab FREE eco tour of Miami are below.

We’ll meet at a dealership and then hop into the cars: two electric Chevy Volts and Tahoe Hybrid. Each participant will have an opportunity to drive each vehicle throughout the day.

Our first stop is Ecoist in Wynwood. We’ll get a private tour of Ecoist, makers of eco-friendly accessories. If you haven’t seen their candy wrapper handbags in person, you are in for a treat. Next, we’ll drive over the bridge to Uhma Spa. This organic spa is an utter sanctuary in the heart of South Beach. Mini-treatments, anyone? Then, we’ll have a late lunch at Metro Organic Bistro, which looks delish. Finally, we’ll head up the street to pick up your car and say our goodbyes!

The Details
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2011
Time: 10:30am – 5pm
Meeting Point: Tropical Chevrolet, Miami Shores
You MUST enter to win a spot on this eco-tour! See details below.

To enter to win a spot in the Chevy Eco Chic Tour with greenerMiami.com, please reply below including why you would like to participate and your Twitter handle (if applicable). Please confirm you are available on July 16, 2011 from 10:30a-5p before entering. We will select eight participants from all eligible entries on Monday, July 11, at 9:00 am ET. If we have not reached eight participants by this date, the remaining spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Entrant must be 21 years old as of date of entry, a US resident and have a valid driver’s license. Entries will be judged based on articulation of why entrant would like to participate and judge’s analysis of entrant’s Twitter influence. Sponsors must receive a reply including necessary information from potential winner within 24 hours of contact, or the prize will be forfeited.

Best Buy – In Store Kiosks

Accepted items include: Nearly everything electronic, including tube TVs and monitors up to 32″, flat-panel TVs and monitors up to 60″, peripherals, DVD players, home and car audio, cell phones, MP3 players, and cables. Desktop or laptop computers with the hard drive removed. Small electrics, fans and vacuums. $10 for televisions and monitors, but you immediately receive a $10 Best Buy gift card good toward future purchase. Three items per household per day.

Not accepted: Internal and External computer hard drives. Console TVs of any size, or tube TVs and monitors larger than 32″. (They have a pickup program for this, see website) Electronics containing refrigerants, such as mini refrigerators or air conditioners. Appliances.

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Miami Dade Solid Waste – Select Locations

Accepted items include: Computer monitors, televisions, personal computers, keyboards, hard drives, printers, VCRs, audio & video equipment, cell phones

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SIR International

For businesses. Free pick-up in Miami Dade.

Accepted items include: Anything that plugs in or runs on batteries.

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Staples

Accepted items include: PDAs, cell phones, digital cameras, ink cartridges, toner. Dell computers. All other computers and large office electronics accepted at $10/item.

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Target – In Store Kiosks

Accepted items include: MP3 Players, Cell Phones, Ink Cartridges

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Many manufacturers are now offering free recycling programs for their products. Here is the EPA’s list of where you can drop off or send your cell phone, computer, and television. Always check Earth911.com when you have a specific item you’d like to recycle; it is the most complete list in the country.

Don’t forget, if the item is still in working order, try to donate it first!

South Miami Farmers Market

Farmers’ Markets across South Florida have exploded in recent years. Find fresh (and often Local and Organic!) produce and more all across Miami. Many are weekend markets during growing season (winter), but some are year round and others on weekdays.

Coconut Grove Saturday Organic Market

When: Saturdays 10 am – 7 pm; Year Round

Where: 3300 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove (map)

Organizer: Glaser Organic Farms, 305.238.7747

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Coral Gables Farmers’ Market

When: Saturdays 8 am – 1 pm; January – March

Where: Corner of LeJeune Road & Miracle Mile (map)

Organizer: City of Coral Gables, 305.460.5600

Est. 1991

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Homestead Farmers’ Market

When: Mondays 2 pm – 6 pm; December – April

Where: Losner Park in Homestead, 104 N Krome Avenue (map)

Organizer: Kristin Jayd & City of Homestead, 305.342.5844

Est. 2010

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Jackson Memorial Green Market at Alamo Park

When: Thursdays 9 am – 4 pm; Year Round

Where: Inside the Jackson Memorial Hospital Campus (map)

Organizer: The Market Company, 305.531.0038

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Liberty City Farmers’ Market

When: Thursdays 12 noon – 6 pm; December – April

Where: Tacolcy Park (map)

Organizer: Urban Oasis Project (market manager), founded by Urban GreenWorks and Youth LEAD

Est. 2010

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Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market

When: Sundays 9 am – 6:30 pm; Year Round

Where: Lincoln Road between Washington Ave & Meridian Ave (map)

Organizer: The Market Company, 305.531.0038

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Normandy Village Marketplace

When: Saturdays 9 am – 5 pm; Year Round

Where: By the Fountain near 71st St and Rue Vendome on Normandy Isle (map)

Organizer: The Market Company, 305.531.0038

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Pinecrest Gardens Farmers’ Market

When: Sundays 9 am – 2 pm; November – May

Where: Pinecrest Gardens parking lot

Organizer: The Market Company, 305.531.0038

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Roots in the City Farmers’ Market – Overtown

When: Wednesdays and Fridays 1 pm – 4 pm; December – April

Where: Corner of NW 2nd Avenue and NW 10th Street (map)

Organizer: Roots in the City, 305.772.3229

Est. 2010

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South Miami Farmers’ Market

When: Saturdays from 9 am – 2pm; Year Round

Where: Parking lot in front of South Miami City Hall, 6130 Sunset Drive (map)

Organizer: Earth Learning and City of South Miami

Est. 2010

Okay, so here’s some direct language from the County:

Miami-Dade County Code Section 15-2.2 mandates that all multi-family establishments implement a recycling program. The program must be serviced by a permitted hauler or the appropriate governmental agency. Please note that we are executing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each city to determine if they will perform the enforcement function for this section of the code or if they want our department to do it. Probably the safest way for a caller to know who is responsible for the enforcement in their city is to contact the city’s Solid Waste Department.

What’s that mean? It means your condo has to recycle and enforcement is either up to the County, or the City that you live in. You can contact your City’s Solid Waste Department to find out, or if you have any trouble, just call 311.

Once you are on the call, request to report a complaint about the condo not recycling. You’ll really just need the address of the condo. Then, this is what happens:

1. An inspection is conducted either proactively or through a complaint received. A thirty day (30) warning notice is issued by the officer if a recycling program is not revealed during the inspection. If a request for an extension is made, the officer will accommodate according to the time requested. Even though the code is mandatory, condominiums normally have to go through their association board meeting for approval prior to adding a service and may need additional time.
2. At the time a compliance inspection is completed, a citation will be issued if the recycling program has not been implemented. The amount of the fine for a multifamily establishment is determined by the following schedule in Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 8CC.
   1. Up to 25 Units – $300.00
   2. 26 Units to 100 Units – $650.00
   3. 101 Units and above – $950.00
3. Citations also have a five (5) day compliance period, which begins to accumulate on the sixth day and will continue up to 20 days. This means that a $950 dollar fine can accumulate to $19,000 for non-compliance.
4. If after this process there is still non-compliance, our Administrative Unit will begin the process to lien the property.

Recycling. It is a law that basically every resident of this county should have access from their home, condominiums and multi-family homes included. Do you? Are you going to report your condo if you don’t?

“WHOLE FOODS” TAKING YOUR “WHOLE PAYCHECK” FOR NON-ORGANIC FOOD?

Not everything in Whole Foods is organic. In fact, the Organic Consumers Association has found that this natural food store carries only about 1/3 organic products. The remaining 2/3 is “regular” food disguised as natural. Whole Foods claims that selling the other 2/3 of the food allows them to offer the organics at a reasonable price.  The OCA would like us all to participate to test this claim. It will require effort and time, but this writer believes it is the worth it in the end.

Download the Whole Paycheck” Organic Price Survey Worksheet which you can use to list Whole Food’s organic prices in your local community. The results will be tallied and all personal information will be protected; maybe this way consumers can get the truth on what they are paying at Whole Foods Markets.

SEAFOOD WATCH iPHONE APP

If you eat fish on a daily basis either at home or in a restaurant and want to know if it is fresh, toxic, endangered or shipped from countries violating the fishing laws, this is the guide for you. The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a Seafood Watch app so that you can have the information at your fingertips. This seafood watch ranks seafood as Avoid (red), Good Alternative (yellow), and Best Choice (green). Plus,

• Free, up-to-date recommendations at your fingertips
• Regional guides highlight the seafood that’s best in each area of the country.
• Loads the right guide for your location using your phone’s GPS
• Lets you search for seafood quickly and easily within regions
• Lets you sort seafood by rank

Download the iPhone application or Visit mobile.seafoodwatch.org for our online pocket guides, just in time for your next seafood meal!

TARGET STOPS CARRYING FARMED SALMON

Greenpeace jumped for joy this week when Target stores announced that they would no longer carry farmed salmon. “Greenpeace applauds Target’s decision to replace farmed salmon with wild Alaskan salmon, a relatively sustainable and healthy product, throughout its operations,” said Casson Trenor, Greenpeace’s Senior Markets Campaigner. “The company’s decision to address this issue represents an incredible willingness to challenge old paradigms in favor of sound science and environmental preservation, as well as provide real market value to its customers. We have no doubt that the leadership will set a new standard for the seafood industry; one we hope is echoed by other retailers.”

So what’s the issue with farmed salmon? Seafood Watch (mentioned above) gives us the details. They include a health advisory for increased PCBs in the farmed fish, as well as major environmental issues (like the fact that it takes 3 lbs of wild fish to “make” 1 lb of farmed salmon).

SLOW FISH DINNER: MIAMI JAN 31, 2010

Reserve Your Seat for a Slow Fish Dinner at The River Oyster Bar
Sunday, January 31 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

$80 per person including tax and gratuity.
$15 of the ticket’s purchase price benefits a school garden program in Downtown Miami.

Chef David Bracha has created a menu showcasing regional seafood and local produce. Menu items will be paired with Domaine Chandon wines. Reserve now!

A “green” program of the Riverwalk Trust in partnership with the City of Fort Lauderdale, Riverwalk Trust Tree Harmony is dedicated to saving trees on privately-owned properties that would otherwise be lost, by transplanting them in the Riverwalk Park and other public spaces. Where once there were unhealthy trees, causing danger for those who played or walked among them or lived within their shelter, are now healthy trees, providing all of the elements they were meant to give us.

Recently 14 trees were taken from the beachfront property where the Yankee Clipper is under construction to become the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel. Within 36 hours they were replanted in Riverwalk Park behind Broward County Courthouse. No easy task!

Related: Sun Sentinel – Riverwalk replants Yankee Clipper trees

The good news is, the Yelp community is doing it for us! This week, they featured vintage & thrift shops around Miami. Buying used items is the ultimate in eco-friendly shopping. No new resources, keeping items away from landfills. It’s a win all around! This list includes businesses we’ve never even heard of…and what’s best, you can read about other people’s experiences before you even get there.

Do you have a favorite used spot? If you know me at all, you already know mine!

“Help save planet earth starting with uranus.” That pretty much sums up this product! Uranus eco-friendly boy shorts (ladies underwear) are made from soy material. They are super soft, and what’s best perhaps, is that the entire concept came from a couple of local Miami girls (and fellow Gators).

In an interview with the New Times, the founder tells the story of Uranus:

We came up with the idea a little over a year ago. We were painting my sister’s room in our underwear and were talking about our favorite planets. Somehow we got to talking about how it would be funny if there was an underwear company called Uranus. I think we were slightly delirious because of the paint fumes, but my dad heard us talking and thought it was a great idea, so Uranus Apparel was born. We decided we wanted to make the underwear out of eco-friendly fabric and came up with our slogan: “Help save planet earth starting with uranus”. We did a lot of research about different types of sustainable fabric and chose soy because it is the most eco-friendly and the softest.

The soy fabric is made from by-products of the soy food production process (tofu, etc). A set of 3 pairs is priced at $19.

The Good

• A green product created by Miamians…love it!
• I think this is my first soy garment. Very nice material. The fabric really is super soft.
• I love the story in the New Times article. They have really thought about the fabric, where it comes from, the entire process. Though it’s currently coming from China, they are being open and honest about the entire process with the consumer. That is invaluable.
• The name. Come on. It’s awesome.

The Not So Good

• Currently the only option is to buy a 3 pack of the underwear and it arrives in a burlap sack. Though burlap is pretty eco-friendly, I’d reserve this kind of packaging for “gifts”, and allow people the option to order without. They do request that you compost or reuse the bag, however!
• I’m not a boy shorts person. I think it’s just not the right cut for me. I’ve never had luck with them and these didn’t prove to be any different. However, if you like boy shorts, I bet you would like these!

The Verdict

• We would recommend this product to others. It is truly an eco-friendly product, created by some creative local ladies that seem to be taking the big picture into account.

Have you tried Uranus? Tell us your experience in the comments section below!

Want greenerMiami.com to review your product in our ProdLab? Contact us!

BMW’s 2009 line included two diesel models, the 335d and the X5 xDrive35d. Both of models are improving fuel efficiency while minimizing emissions and are the first clean diesels from BMW in the US in 25 years. I’ve been given the X5 to test out, and I’m a gonna test it, alright.

We’re taking the family on a mini-road trip to see what this car is all about, test out the mileage (supposedly 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, 22 mpg combined), and frankly to enjoy a little luxury for once!

BMW has an Eco Credit offer that is about to expire on August 31, 2009. It’s similar to the Cash for Clunkers program, but doesn’t require a clunker. You’ll get $4500 towards the purchase of one of these diesel cars. Details here.

So follow us along for the ride this weekend. We’ll be tweeting as often as we can from @greenermiami on Twitter.