Slow down and take time to smell the rosés.

That’s our highly recommended approach to the eco-sensual pairing of artisanal food and terroir-expressive wines at this Sunday’s Golden Glass Wine Event at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Pavilion.

It’s also the prevailing philosophy of sponsor Slow Food USA, an organization dedicated to advocating the importance of sustainable farming practices that respect traditional knowledge and taste.

Complementing more than 100 no-pesticide wines from around the globe will be exclusive sampling from some of the Bay Area’s top restaurants and artisanal producers, including: A16, Absinthe, Aquarelle, Heaven’s Dog, La Poggio Trattoria, SF Baking Institute, Slow Club, Stella Cadente and Trattoria Corso.

Whew! And you thought this coming Sunday was for popping the top off a Bud Light for dad as he basted ribs on the BBQ in celebration of Father’s Day. How “˜bout a radical departure? Treat him to a brave new world of pure, delicious food and fruity no-nonsense wines fast by the San Francisco Bay.

The best news about the Slow Food Movement – as on display in this event – is that it combines high-minded principles with unsurpassed gourmet pleasures.

A few bites and sips later, your dad just might be more than happy to trade in his brewski and back rib for a Bordeaux and brioche.

When: Sunday, June 21, 2009
General admission: 2:00 ““ 6:00 p.m.

Entrance fee: Advance purchase: $60 (Slow Food members: $55); at the door $70; Food only and under 21: $20 (all entry tickets include 5 food tasting tickets. Additional food tickets can be purchased in groups of 5 for $20).

Where: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
The Festival Pavilion

Images: Joe Budd Photography

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Victoria Everman.

Having a sustainable wedding is as easy as locally-grown, organic pie. In the midst of planning my own event, I’ve found that being planet- and money-conscious is not only feasible – it is fun.

It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the wide world of weddings that you might forget about your green goals. Even I’m guilty of it. That’s where my eco-wedding blog comes in, where I catalog my visual inspirations and favorite sustainable wedding companies.

Ready to save some time and a nice chunk of change? Just check out my list of eco-conscious wedding-related companies and creative ideas that are a click away!

Ink and Wit

There are a number of wonderful eco-friendly wedding invitation companies out there, but Tara Hogan’s Ink+Wit has a special place in my heart. I’ve been a long-time fan of her letterpress art and stationary, so when the time came to began planning my own wedding, I knew she was the designer for me.

Just recently, Tara launched a pre-designed line of wedding invitations that can be easily customized and come in any Pantone color you can imagine. Working with her on my custom invitations has been a fantastic collaborative process; I couldn’t ask for anything better.

Earthly Affair

For those who like more traditional invitation designs, Jen Stambolsky’s Earthly Affair collections are just the thing. With
18 designs to choose from, you can choose the type and colors on all the styles. Though she doesn’t do custom work, she does stick firmly to her sustainable manifesto. A small, eco-friendly, affordable business – Earthly Affair is a triple treat!

Sarah Seven

Choosing a dress is one of the toughest tasks when planning an eco-friendly wedding. For the non-traditional bride, my favorite handmade gowns come from Sarah Seven. Handmade in Portland, Ore. with recycled bustiers and fabrics, Sarah’s designs are mostly above-the-knee, but she will happily customize them to any length (and color) you choose. She has also developed her first bridal line that will make any bride stand out … sustainably.

PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

If you like traditional styles but can’t bring yourself to pay $6,000 for a dress, check out PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com. The site features over 2,000 gowns by any and all major designers you can name, all of which have been either never worn or worn only once. I’ve found over 20 gowns that fit my style, budget, and body. Of course, most gowns will need to be tailored after you receive them, but is a small price to pay compared to how much you can save!

Krikawa Rings

Sustainable rings are another difficult task for a green wedding. There are a number of great companies out there for ethical diamonds and recycled metals, but that is all too traditional for me. Instead, I prefer lab-created color “diamonds” and gems set in palladium – the lesser-known (and more affordable) sibling of platinum. Krikawa Rings specializes in both and makes some beautiful custom bands in varying prices.

Snippet & Ink Budget Tips

Saving money can easily be connected with saving the planet. Snippet & Ink, one of my all-time favorite wedding blogs because of their constant source of inspiration, has a full category of real and idea weddings based on budgets. I’ve found money-saving ideas in their posts that I’ve never seen elsewhere. Inventive and thrifty – that’s a winning combination in my book.

Martha Stewart’s Free Templates

No one can deny the mastery of Martha Stewart and her Weddings magazine is always fantastic. Add a bit of her crafty world to your wedding, thanks to her free downloadable templates. Available in a host of patterns and colors, she offers up options for everything from favor bags and seating cards to centerpieces and thank-you postcards. Who ever said you can’t get anything good for free?

Laurie Cinotto + OnceWed’s DIY Projects

Creatively-endowed or not, you can easily pull off one of Laurie Cinotto’s spectacular DIY wedding projects. Flower arranging, ring pillows, vases, boutonnieres, garlands – there are six pages of simple projects that will create a big impact for your special day. Each project has clear step-by-step instruction and pictures, including an item-by-item cost roundup to help budget. These are not to be missed!

The Small Object Cake Toppers

Be prepared to say awwww, because these cute creations are incredibly swoon-worthy. Handmade by The Small Object’s founder, Sarah Neuburger, these wooden cake toppers are made specifically for each couple and can be customized right down to their wardrobe and flower colors. Sarah recently added cupcake toppers to her list of creations, perfect for anyone with a smaller budget or quirky sense of humor.

Have your own favorite green wedding vendors? Share their website links with us in the comments section.

Victoria Everman is an eco writer, consultant, model, photographer, crafter and yogi. You can check out her process of planning a local,
eco-friendly, independent wedding at Planning an Eco-Indie Wedding. For more eco inspirations, visit her main blog at victoria-e.com.

Images: Fevi in Cayman, Victoria Everman

Earth Day humbuggery aside, what are you doing on April 22nd? Here’s a list of treehuggin’ ideas and entertaining events across the country to celebrate our planet while having a blast.

Green Apple Festival

Uniting green advocates from ten cities from coast to coast, the nationally-coordinated Green Apple Festival is the largest Earth Day celebration in the country. While it began as a single event in New York City three years ago, the major metropolises of Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle will all take part in the action this year and co-host this monumental gala the weekend before Earth Day. Through live entertainment, environmental activities and distinguished guest speakers, this combined effort aims to raise awareness of the green cause and inspire individuals to take an eco-friendly initiative.

Party for the Planet

Pass on eco-friendly practices to your little ones by treating them to a Party for the Planet in celebration of Earth Day. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums sponsors this fun-filled event at over a hundred locations across the country, including Phoenix, Denver, San Francisco, Dallas and Pittsburgh. In addition to learning about wildlife, they’ll enjoy activities that are both fascinating and fulfilling, such as measuring their eco-footprint, building a birdhouse and planting a seed to bring home and nourish. Click here to find one year you.

Disney’s Earth

Following the incredible journeys of a family of polar bears, African elephants and humpback whales, Disney’s Earth opens in theaters on Earth Day. From the creative team responsible for the acclaimed television series Planet Earth, this epic environmental film will touch and dazzle nature lovers of all ages with its remarkable footage and spectacular landscapes. Plus, if you buy a ticket to see this flick on Earth Day a tree will be planted in your name.

Earth Day in Central Park

Think you can’t get anything for free in the Big Apple? Well, get yourself to Earth Day in Central Park. Without spending a cent, you can commemorate this environmental holiday with demonstrations in composting and tree care, mulching and planting projects, recycled material crafts and live entertainment – all thanks to the Central Park Conservancy. Events will be held from noon until 4 pm on Sunday, April 26.

Environmental Film Festival

From April 16-19, Yale University is hosting an Environmental Film Festival in honor of Earth Day. Filmmakers of showcased documentaries and experts on featured topics will be on hand to answer questions and further educate attendees about critical green issues. And, it’s not just for students. Screenings and events are on the house and open to the public.

Earth Day on the National Mall

On Sunday, April 19, the nation’s capital will be abuzz with environmental solidarity in observance of Earth Day with famous figures like Edward Markey, member of the House of Representatives, Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx and Denis Hayes, the man behind the very first Earth Day. In addition to these eminent guests, the anticipated Eco-Roadshow will feature exhibits from green companies and non-profit organizations.

Earth Stroll

With the purchase of an $8 eco-passport, Bay Area dwellers and visitors can honor Earth Day on Crissy Field. On Saturday, April 18, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will host entertainment for the whole family at this popular outdoor spot as a tribute to the environment. Attendees of all ages can learn about native plants, participate in a bicycle rodeo and ride a biodiesel bus, all with live music jamming in the background.

Leap for Green

Kicking off the festivities on Saturday, April 18 with the Early Bird exploration, the Leap for Green Earth Day event outside of Seattle invites locals to get acquainted with the Reptile Man, EarthCorps, Full Circle Farms, renowned artist Marita Dingus and more. Wrap up the green celebration in the heart of nature by taking the Busy Beaver tour of the north wetlands.

Miami Goin’ Green

Featuring unique environmental exhibits like a bike-powered blender and a Nintendo Wii that runs on solar power, the Miami Goin’ Green Earth Day festival is sure to pique your eco interest. Here, you can honor our planet with workshops, seminars, live entertainment and interactive green experiments that will amuse children and adults alike. Ride your bike to Bayfront Park on April 25 and, in addition to complimentary admission, you can have your eco-friendly ride valeted for free.

Earth Day Festival and Flea Market in Clark Park

On Saturday, April 18, the City of Brotherly Love is expressing its devotion to Mother Nature with an entertaining festival in her name to commemorate Earth Day. Join your fellow environmental supporters at Clark Park for complimentary workshops on sustainability, health and gardening, a farmers’ market, green information booths, live music and more.

Earth Fair

With three stages for live entertainment, a long list of eco-friendly exhibitors, an activity area just for children and more, San Diego’s Earth Fair is shaping up to be quite the green gala. On Sunday, April 19 at Balboa Park, locals can learn how to make their living space more sustainable, admire artistic representations of endangered species made from recycled materials and take a peak at the future of more environmentally-conscious automobiles at the cleaner car concourse.

Wilshire Center Earth Day

If you live in Los Angeles or the surrounding area, spend Earth Day on Wilshire Boulevard. Here, you can sample organically-grown local produce at a farmers’ market or enjoy live entertainment from performers like Naked Rhythm and Mystic Journey. Bring your old electronics to have them recycled free of charge and take home a free fruit tree, compliments of the Mayor’s Million Trees Initiative.

Live too far from these major festivals? Click here to search for local celebrations in your area.

Image: mysi anne

When the people of Thailand coordinated an intentional blackout in response to a fuel crisis in 2005, the World Wildlife Fund recognized the enormous impact such a statement could make on a global level.

While Australians were the primary participants during the first official Earth Hour in 2007, the word has spread like wildfire since those pivotal sixty minutes when 2.2 million residences and businesses went dark.

In 2008, more than 400 cities in 35 countries shared in this environmental effort, from individuals to monumental landmarks like the Colosseum, Golden Gate Bridge and Sydney Opera House for a grand total of 50 million people.

What’s in store this year? 2100 cities in 82 committed countries aim for a following of a billion concerned conservationists this Saturday evening, March 28th, between 8:30 and 9:30, including famous sites like the Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Petronas Towers and Acropolis.

Image: joiseyshowaa

The nation’s retailers will tell you his message of change seems to make good cents. Americans are commemorating Barack Obama’s inauguration the American way, buying up feel-good items with the new leader’s image and slogans to show support.

The supply of Obama buttons, ball caps and Victory Plates peddled online and in city streets is barely meeting the demand, giving a boost to vendors who suffered a dreary holiday retail season.

One Washington lawyer who bought a T-shirt from the Presidential Inaugural Committee store told the New York Times, “America is excited about Obama so this all makes sense because when Americans want to express their excitement, they turn to merchandising.” Spotting $70 tote bags by Diane von Furstenberg and Tory Burch, the lawyer wondered if it could all be part of the stimulus program.

None of it appears to be organic, recycled or whittled from responsibly-planted forests, but from what I can tell, stuff sold at official sites like Store Barak Obama appears to be made in the USA, which I suppose is a start. We greenies can turn to sites like Say It Green to customize our own presidential products.

The upside to collecting the genuine political buttons, stamps and other memorabilia is an investment in the future. They could be worth a great deal some day as vintage memorabilia. And of course, they can be quite meaningful to Americans witnessing a day when we have, indeed, overcome so many biases and obstacles of the past.

If you are looking to buy into the message, you don’t have to travel far. The QVC television shopping network has already sold 100,000 items related to the election according to Dallas News. QVC sees today as a chance to hit a wider consumer audience – and will broadcast live from Washington to push pocket watches and other souvenirs. The host will not just display a flawless French manicure but also dress for success…in a ball gown.

I don’t think I will be whipping out my credit card. I am, however, reading Dreams of my Father, my book group’s current selection, to understand more about the struggles and successes that have shaped the 44th president. I can’t wear it or wave it or drink coffee from it, but in my mind, it’s a $15 well spent.

Over the next few months, as winter wanes and the night air warms up enough to be comfortably breathed, it’s time to stand in the garden and watch the sky fall.

It’s not difficult to see how meteoroids got their nickname of shooting stars, even if the term couldn’t be less accurate. These lumps of icy gravel (cast-offs from comets powering around our solar system) rain against our planet in a slow, steady drizzle for much of the year, and unless you are remarkably lucky, there’s not much to see. But every few months, the earth passes through the dusty trail of a fragmenting comet – and we’re treated to the celestial firework display known as a meteor shower.

It’s the perfect excuse to grab a warming drink, wrap up well, and sit – or even lie – in your back garden until your eyes become accustomed to the dark. Because meteoroids move on parallel paths, they appear to be radiating from the same point of the sky – it’s the same perspective trick as when you are standing on railway tracks that seem to converge in the distance. Watching for meteors is a job for the more light-sensitive corners of your eyes – most of the time all you’ll glimpse is an after-image of a livid scratch of light across the dark sky, on the very edge of your perception. It’s hypnotically calming and it hones your senses.

So what can we expect from meteor showers in 2009? The best displays for North American observers are:

The Lyrids (mid April).

The Perseids (early August) – the most famous, and often the most beautiful.

The Orionids – caused by the passage of Halley’s Comet, and streaking across the sky in late October.

The Leonids (mid November) – spectacular in history, and a little unpredictable (although the heaviest storms come in 33-year cycles). Remarkable images include this one taken from an aircraft at 40,000 feet.

The Geminids (mid December). Appearing to fly out of the constellation Gemini (hence their name), the rather weird Geminids are regarded as one of the meteor-shower highlights of the year.

For the hardened stargazer, there are other less easily-spotted showers to tax the senses – SkyTour lists the full 2009 itinerary. And as eccentric as it may seem, reclining on the ground is a good way to watch – no amount of yoga (or mulled wine) will unkink the crick in your neck from a long, mesmerized night of craning your head back.

Images: jurvetson / johndan / typicalnaloboy

6 million trees can’t be wrong, especially if they are all being planted in one day by thousands of people joining together, united by visionary, inspired activist and opera singer, Boris Trajanov – and even more so if they are replacements to forests that have been claimed by wildfires two summers in a row.

1000 soldiers were included in the good works alongside of thousands of civilians in a collaborative effort to bus the busy seedling planters to the hillsides of Balkan Macedonia. If John Lennon were alive today, I imagine a song or two would come forth from this real life metaphor for the global environmental awakening taking place all around the world. More soldiers planting trees, please!

Speaking of imagination, Boris planted a few seeds for the minds and hearts of the world at large by saying, “If Macedonia, a country of two million people, can plant six million trees, we can only imagine how many trees can be planted in other, bigger countries.”

Somebody send Boris an eco-friendly airline ticket to the (new growth in need) forests of the world and tune up the veggie oil buses! How long would it take with that kind of peaceful tree-force to reseed the forests of the world?

Source: Reuters
Image: nzgabriel

Today is the first day of the next era in America. The U.S. has chosen as its President-Elect Barack Obama, after the most exciting and galvanizing U.S. presidential election in recent memory. The partying will continue for weeks – but now comes the rolling up of sleeves and the fulfilling of promises. If Obama puts his policies where his pledges are, what are the environmental consequences? There are so many challenges we face; here, we take a look at the green ones.

Appropriately for a campaign conducted with such enthusiasm, energy has underpinned everything – and no wonder, when fuel is becoming a problem in itself, never mind its complicated relationship to food. The United States of the next few decades needs to find ways of ridding itself of an unhealthy dependence on unsustainable energy sources – and to undertake a sustainable, ethical approach towards renewable ones.  Here’s how the new Democratic government intends to tackle this formidable challenge:

A reduction in national oil consumption by at least 35% (or around 10 million barrels a day) by 2030 – and by the same year, a reduction in national energy usage of 50%.

A new Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund, supported by $10-15 billion per year for the next 5 years, and an overall investment of $150 billion into energy technology (and therefore green collar employment) over the next decade.

By 2025, a quarter of all energy consumed within the United States must be from renewable sources.

Despite supporting the proposed Biofuel Security Act of 2006, Obama has publicly acknowledged the problems with biofuel. “Food comes first”, he says, although it’s not yet clear what this means in practice.

Both presidential candidates agreed on the need for nuclear power – however, McCain was in favor of a huge investment of 45 new reactors. Unimpressed, Obama has outlined his plan of supporting and maintaining existing plants, but with the emphasis on investing in new energy sources.

The other eco-issue of the presidential race has been pollution.
Both candidates agreed that failing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol was a major blunder – and were also of one mind that the government should invest in an emissions trading program. However, Obama differed from McCain in insisting that 100% of emission credits should be auctioned off, ensuring that all pollution is paid for by the people that produced it. (Something Al Gore is sure to like.)

On top of improving the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard to 43 miles per gallon, Obama also intends to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in 2015 and 10% in 2020 – a statement he made at the Detroit Economic club (you can watch it here).

Overall, Obama’s campaign pledge was to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 – a striking contrast to McCain’s 60% below 1990 levels by the same date.

If these proposals become reality, they would be unprecedented. Support for them and for Obama has been remarkable. Carl Pope of the grassroots environmental group the Sierra Club – an organization notoriously at odds with previous governments – has declared his support for “the strongest set of positions any candidate has ever offered“.

For a man allegedly from Krypton, Obama seems remarkably comfortable with the color green. His administration has 4 years to turn these visionary promises into something tangible, and that’s the real challenge – but right now, there’s plenty to be optimistic about.

Main image: courtesy Huffington Post

Autumn is here and London is calling. Unfortunately, I can’t just drop everything to jet across the pond, but that doesn’t mean I can’t at least report on the chic goings-on in one of my favorite cities. Don’t miss this year’s RE: Fashion Awards (virtually, at least).

RE:Fashion, an initiative founded by Anti-Apathy, the Ethical Fashion Forum and Futerra Sustainability Communications, promises to be the fashion event this fall. The show (which takes place on November 13 at Shoreditch Town Hall in London) is the world’s first dedicated ethical fashion awards, which champions people and organizations in the fashion industry that have taken great strides in tackling poverty, healing the environment and changing consumer attitudes towards ethical fashion. Hot off the press, the shortlist of nominees includes names we’re already familiar with here at EcoSalon: People Tree, Fifi Bijou, Adili and more.

The star-studded evening ceremony will include a runway show with top models wearing one-off pieces from designers including Vivienne Westwood, Todd Lynn, Zandra Rhodes, Preen and Allegra Hicks. In addition to the main awards, an Estethica prize will also be granted to a small selection of short listed designers to exhibit their collections during London Fashion Week.

I think Cyndi Rhoades, creative director of Anti-Apathy, put it best, “”If RE:Fashion can reward designers and brands for changing their practices, then we’re well on our way to propelling ethical fashion from a niche to the norm.”

Pizza, gelato and vino are easy to come by in Italy but eco is not. The word even gets lost in translation there, until reinforced with hints like verde (green) and il mondo (the world).

That’s why I was surprised to bump into Singapore Supergarden on one of those meandering alleys off the San Marcos Square. Part of the 11th annual Venice Architecture Biennale, the exhibit showcases 22 objects which reflect the insights of emerging young architects and visionaries working in Singapore today.

I was drawn into the Supergarden Pavillion through a continuous green surface from the exterior of the walled space. In the ultra clean courtyard, a footpath with park benches in a garden setting leads to the main exhibit room. There, a display table with objects stretches across the entire space. Each design is accompanied by a pre-recorded audio description by its maker.

An object that caught my eye immediately was Zeth, a bike described as a “formidable machine inspired by the fluid expressions of kinetic sculptures” with a frame made of recycled steel. The rims are fabricated using refurbished spokes that were previously discarded. The seat and headlamp are vintage. The architects, Angelus Novus Studio customize recycled bikes for sale to the public under the name Vanguard.

Another firm, called UNION, says it is dedicated to the creation of beautiful human environments that inspire hope. It created The Unreasonably Beautiful Fan of Faith, Hope and Love, a hand-crafted design peopled with their colorful Asian community and new office in a former church atop Mount Sophia.

Another presenter, Out of Stock Design, offered a Forrest Stool with an organically sculpted Y-junction of the legs inspired by tree branches. And Singapore-based artist Tang Ling Nah built a Luggage of Possibilities packed with the art tools she uses to create her work which is inspired by transitory spaces such as public housing void decks, alleys, ehopping malls and Mass Rapid Transit stations.

Curator Peter Sim observes the goals of the Pavillion are to present a slice of design culture in a country where the potential for new ideas is immense. This ecosystem of design thoughts involves young professionals connecting with one another to create a hothouse of  ideas for future environments.

“Visionaries and social commentators alike predict a future for architecture highly augmented by new technology; both with regards to the softer aspects: robotics, electronics, projections, sensors, monitors; and those more traditionally associated with the building: newer, greener, stronger, lighter, cheaper materials and methods,” says Sim.

The exhibit runs through November of this year.