Category Archives: We Green DC

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Talking Trash in the River

Photo courtesy of
‘Cleaning Up the Potomac’
courtesy of ‘mtngirl9999’
We love the Potomac, but let’s face it: the river has issues. This Saturday, you can make it better! The 21st Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup takes place at more than 400 sites throughout the area from 9 a.m. to noon.

Can’t come this weekend? You have until the beginning of May to join the Trash-A-Thon and raise money for the river while you clean. So get out your gloves and giant leaf bags and flex your biceps.

After all, it’s our drinking water out there. What are you, scared?

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Help Create Green Jobs

Photo courtesy of
‘DC Energy Audit’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’

Green jobs are real–and they’re coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Can you lend a hand?

On the first of May, 300 young adults and blue-collar workers will start training through the Greater Washington Green Jobs Corps. Soon they’ll be ready to weatherize homes and workplaces, install solar panels, and perform energy audits–and save millions in energy costs in the DC area.

Project sponsor Green DMV is seeking partnerships with contractors and suppliers who can hire these trainees. If that’s you–or someone you know–contact Green DMV.

DC Victory Gardens, The Daily Feed, Thrifty District, We Green DC
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DIY: Garden Planters!

Photo courtesy of
‘Our Garbage Cans’
courtesy of ‘auntjojo’

I’m an unabashed free thing scavenger. If its on the curbside and in good condition, I will go out of my way to look at it. One of the best finds of late on this front, was a sizable terra cotta flower pot (thank you, 8th St. neighbor!). You know why this was super exciting? Because flower pots are expensive! And if you’re gardening with limited space/sunlight, container potting is one of the smarter ways to go. 

So, what to do? (Besides scavenge, that is.) Make your own! This is something my grandmother, a master gardener, advised me to do early on: make flower pots out of old coffee cans (either tin or plastic, doesn’t matter). Then, I saw this article in The Guardian.

All it takes is a quick pass through the recycling bin (your own, or.. if you’re adventurous, that of others) to find some really sweet-looking tin cans. Puncture holes in the bottoms and you’re ready to go. You just saved precious dollars that can be spent on more seeds!

DC Victory Gardens, The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Homegrown Veggies at the White House

Photo courtesy of
‘what a find!’
courtesy of ‘NatalieHG’

It looks like we’re not the only ones with DC Victory Gardens this year- the First Family will be starting a vegetable garden on the White House grounds. I don’t see a lot of confirmation that this will be the big ol’ organic garden that Alice Waters of Chez Panisse has been pushing for, but the example of growing your own fresh vegetables is nonetheless welcome from such a high-profile family.  And you know, if they need any gardening tips, the Obamas are welcome to hit us up in the comments…  I wonder if they’ll be doing any preserving of their home-grown produce in the White House kitchen?

UPDATE, 3/20: The New York Times has some more details about the garden. Fifty-five varieties of vegetables, grown in raised beds, total cost: $200. Awesome.

(Thanks to Twitter user @lorig for the tip! Do you follow us on Twitter yet?)

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Ice Sheets, Ice Cubes


‘Broken ice sheet’, courtesy of ‘another sergio’

This Wednesday, while the Environmental Film Festival has DC thinking green, the French Embassy will hold a talk on Polar Deserts and their Secrets.

They’ll discuss research being done in Antarctica on climate change, biodiversity, and human adaptation. In fine French form, they’ll follow the 6 p.m. lecture with cocktails. (RSVP to deputy-cnrs@ambafrance-us.org)

That’s the spirit! Let’s hear more bad news about the planet, then steady our nerves with a drink.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Be on TV…Tomorrow!


‘Cool water’, courtesy of ‘mawel’

Haven’t you always wanted to show up on TV as part of a giant human water glass?

Well, tomorrow morning at RFK Stadium you can do just that. UNICEF and Tap DC are shooting a commercial for DC’s Tap Project, which works to bring clean water to children worldwide, and World Water Week.

The ad will hit the airwaves within 48 hours of filming. Here’s your chance to be a star!

We Green DC
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Oh, Crap: Touring Arlington’s Water Pollution Control Plant


‘The merry band heads to the solids building’, courtesy of ‘mtngirl9999’

You might not think that many people would want to spend a Saturday morning in the sewer. At least I didn’t.

But when, in a fit of green curiosity, I tried to sign up for a tour of Arlington’s Water Pollution Control Plant last December, I was put on a waiting list. There were only 40 spots available on the tour, and 100 people–yes, 100 people–had already signed up.

So I snagged a coveted spot on the next tour, which also drew the interest of 100 wanna-be gawkers. (Another tour will take place this Saturday, or you can see a short video online.) I showed up even though the confirmation notice was a bit unnerving, saying, “Arrive adventure ready!” What adventures could happen in a place like that?

Wish you’d been there, too? Let’s satisfy your inquiring mind. This is what happens after you flush. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Catch the Green Screen

frog_film

Had enough American Idol and The Bachelor drama this week? Let’s give reality movies a whirl instead.

The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital starts with a special event next Tuesday and runs through March 22. It stars 136 films, with oceans and sea life as this year’s theme.

Local faces and places on the big screen include Restaurant Nora’s owner, Chesapeake Bay oysters, a toxic dumping site under Northwest D.C. (who knew?), and a plan for ick-free area rivers (hear, hear). Just the break we need.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Go to Jail for Mother Earth


‘the very scary but not secret service’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’
How deep is your love for Mother Earth? Say you’d spend some time in the slammer to save her? Well, here’s your chance!

On Monday, you can join a couple thousand of your closest friends in a march to the coal-fired power plant on Capitol Hill (source of some hot air in Congress). There the gang will peacefully surround the gates–and risk arrest–to call for action on global warming.  The action starts at 12:30 p.m. at Spirit of Justice Park.

Capitol Climate Action is being billed as the largest mass civil disobedience for the climate in U.S. history.  So far, 100 organizations have endorsed it, as well as folks from Daryl Hannah to Paul Hawken to Will.I.Am.  So get ready for that orange jumpsuit.