Peach Bites

McMansions Out of Favor, for Now - WSJ.com

When they get cheap enough, do you think they will be in favor again? I hope this is a sustainable trend but I'm not 100% convinced yet.

Organic Box Program @ Emory - in Decatur
Emory has started the Emory Organic Box Program to help connect farm-fresh produce, local, sustainable farms and the Emory Community. Those Emory Students don't realize how good they have it.

Suniva lands Fairburn project - Atlanta Business Chronicle - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Norcross based Suniva will supply solar cells to Woodbridge at Parkway Village an independent senior living facility. This is great for Georgia since Woodbridge will be the first Georgia location to have an all Georgia solar installation.

Go Green Intown: ICS Contract Services' Cleaning Service is the Southeast's First Green Seal Program - Go Green Intown

Why aren't more businesses and cleaning companies jumping on this wagon? I guess it's an awareness thing because I have a difficult time just getting my maid to use green products. But, she is gradually opening up and recognizing that they do just as good of a job.

A Glimpse of the Trains in Atlanta's Past

Here's a link to a great post via The Infrastructurist about old train stations and what they have become. Atlantans should be proud to see two former Atlanta train stations on the list and not to be left out, Savannah jumped in to bring the total for Georgia to 3 in the top 11. It amazes me how society has just discarded so many buildings that were examples of great architecture and offered in many cases great places for the public to go and enjoy their city.  Let's hope that the heavy presence of Georgia buildings on the list isn't an indicator that the city has moved too far away from its train dependant past that it now can't take part in what is bound to be a great resurgence in train travel.  Enjoy...

This Week in Atlanta

The big event last week was the Go Green Expo here in Atlanta. Hopefully you had a chance to stop by. There were a lot of quality green minded businesses in attendance. This week isn't as busy with the Fourth of July holiday. There are several networking events and drinking events. I know I could use a beer. Have a fun and safe holiday weekend.

June 29 (Monday)

No Events

June 30 (Tuesday)

4pm - 8pm - Whistlestop Farmer's Market - Norcross

6pm - 9pm - Pints for Park Pride @ SweetWater Brewery ($,R)

7pm - 9pm - Oakhurst Community Garden - Buggin' Out and Living in a Garden of Weeden'

July 1 (Wednesday)

730am - 10pm - 5% Day @ Whole Foods Buckhead - Benefit for Captain Planet Foundation

1130am - 1pm - Green Chamber of the South - Green Wednesdays @ Urban Flats ($,R,M)

6pm - 8pm - Green Drinks Atlanta @ Twain's Bar & Grill in Decatur

July 2 (Thursday)

7am - 9am - ABC - Commuter Breakfast @ Thumbs Up Diner

6pm - 630pm - Northeast Beltline 101

6pm - 10pm - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Cocktails in the Garden ($,R)

July 3 (Friday)

No Events

July 4 (Saturday)

8am - 12pm - Lawrenceville Farmer's Market

8am - 12pm - Suwanee Farmer's Market

8am - 1230pm - Alpharetta Farmer's Market

830am - 12pm - Peachtree Road Farmer's Market

9am - 12pm - Trees Atlanta - Planting - See Website for Details

9am - 12pm - Serenbe Farmer's Market

9am - 1pm - Piedmont Park Green Market

July 5 (Sunday)

No Events

This Week in Environmental History

July 1 - David Brower Born 1912

July 4 - Henry David Thoreau Moves to Cabin @ Walden Pond 1845

$ - Event Costs Money
R - Registration Required
P - Private Event Invite Only
M - Group Membership Required
V - Volunteer Event

Take a Look at Earth Share's Newest Ad Campaign

Peach Bites

Study: Use mass transit, save more than $9,000 a year - AJC

I could definitely use $9k a year. I don't think this will work out too well for those of us living in Alpharetta though.

Greenhaven Home by Pace Home Builders Open to the Public July 10th - Greenhaven Home

I love the idea and the Greenhaven home has ALL of the bells, whistles and certifications to make it a green home. However, I just can't fully buy into the 5k - 7k square foot green home. That's just gigantic. The builder says they are building what buyers are demanding but it just doesn't seem green.

Atlanta ranks as Southeast’s No. 4 city - Atlanta Business Chronicle

This isn't so much green as it is interesting. Study authored by NC professor ranks Atlanta fourth out of nine cities in the southeast on factors affecting economic growth. Atlanta is behind Raleigh-Durham, Austin and Charlotte (hmmmm).

Commuter buses' idling causes stir - AJC

Maybe we wouldn't have this issue if the two big counties to the north of the city had had the foresight to become part of MARTA years ago.

This Week in Atlanta

The big event this week is the Go Green Atlanta exposition on Friday, Saturday & Sunday at the Cobb Galleria. There are over 225 exhibitors which I believe will make this the largest event of its kind ever here in Atlanta. There will also be a number of speakers talking on various topics relating to the green movement.

June 22 (Monday)

6pm - 8pm - Organic Gardening Workshop - Sevananda Natural Foods ($)

June 23 (Tuesday)

4pm - 8pm - Whistlestop Farmer's Market - Norcross

530pm - 730pm - Georgia Organics - Farm to School Roundtable ($,R)

630pm - 830pm - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Earth-Friendly Garden Pest & Disease Control ($,R)

June 24 (Wednesday)

6pm - 8pm - Georgia Organics - Farm to Table Rogue Beer Pairing Dinner @ Graveyard Tavern ($,R)

June 25 (Thursday)

6pm - 10pm - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Cocktails in the Garden ($,R)

June 26 (Friday)

1pam - 5pm - Go Green Expo ($)

June 27 (Saturday)

8am - 12pm - Lawrenceville Farmer's Market

8am - 12pm - Suwanee Farmer's Market

8am - 1230pm - Alpharetta Farmer's Market

830am - 12pm - Peachtree Road Farmer's Market

9am - 12pm - Trees Atlanta - Invasive Plant ID & Control Workshop ($,R)

9am - 12pm - Trees Atlanta - Planting - See Website for Details

9am - 12pm - Serenbe Farmer's Market

9am - 1pm - Piedmont Park Green Market

9am - 2pm - Bulky Recycling & Trash Amnesty Day - John's Creek

10am - 12pm - Oakhurst Community Garden - Chicks and the City ($,R)

12pm - 1pm - Slow Food Atlanta - 3rd Annual Ice Cream Social @ The Peachtree Road Farmers Market ($)

10am - 6pm - Go Green Expo ($)

June 28 (Sunday)

9am - 12pm - Atlanta Bicycle Coalition - Stone Mountain Bike & Hike (R)

10am - 5pm - Go Green Expo ($)

This Week in Environmental History

June 22, 1969 - Cuyahoga River Catches Fire
June 23, 1988 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hansen


$ - Event Costs Money
R - Registration Required
P - Private Event Invite Only
M - Group Membership Required
V - Volunteer Event

Sites You Should Know - Get Outdoors Georgia

The Get Outdoors Georgia website is a useful tool to find ways to get you and your family and friends outside for some fun here in Georgia. The site is run by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. It has good info on events that are held in the State parks as well as clubs and groups that you can join. The handy 'find a park' feature is already pre-set on Atlanta and you can see eleven parks in the metro area. Some of the activities you can find information on include biking, boating, fishing, camping & hiking. You can also find locations for golfing, disc golf and tennis.

If you're looking for a way to plan a quick outdoor adventure, check it out.

Retail for the River at Vinings Jubilee

Head over to the Vinings on Saturday to get some great deals and help out the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. 

Peach Bites

EarthShare of Georgia Wants Your Georgia Nature Photos - Go Green Intown

Help EarthShare of Georgia out with their project. Post a picture. We did but you'll have to guess which one it is.

Lovett Gets National Recognition for Conservation Programs - Go Green Intown

Great strides are being made by the Lovett school in greening their entire operation. They have a fantastic sustainability program that includes the following; carpooling, biodiesel fuel initiatives, seeking LEED certification, Recyclling, Organic Gardening. There is much more that you might want to check out on their website, www.lovett.org.

Oregon: The Green Jobs Leader - Worldchanging

Well, the good news is that Georgia has 4.95 million jobs. The bad news is that only .31% of those jobs are in the clean energy field. This is a tie for 4th worst in the US. Only Florida, Nevada and Mississippi had lower percentages.

A big messy thing like the Beltline is 'in my sweet spot' - AJC

This is a good interview with Terri Montague outgoing CEO of Atlanta Beltline Inc. She's been through a lot in just a few years.

Find What You Need @ ecoEMPORIUM

You can find some fantastic products to help you live an environmentally friendly, sustainable lifestyle at ecoEMPORIUM in the Brickworks on the west side of Atlanta. The store is a beautifully designed showroom with just enough size to make it feel open while still keeping a cozy atmosphere. You can find everything from bedding to baby products in the store and virtually everything is earth-friendly, organic and/or non-toxic. Store owner Carol Held opened shop in September 2008 and although times have been tough she has managed to continue to do good business and her store is really the only store focused fully on green solutions for the home here in Atlanta. There are other locations that carry green products but you would be hard pressed to find one that compared closely to ecoEMPORIUM.

Their website states that "ecoEMPORIUM endeavors to make the world and our environment a better place to live by introducing our customers to earth-friendly products with style, regardless of your shade of green." From what I can see, they are doing a good job achieving their mission. Many of the products they sell are very unique and seem to be very useful. I was surprised to find a number of products that I have never seen before even being an avid environmentalist who has a chronic addiction to all things green.

Their product selection is great and includes the following:

• Air Purifiers
• Bath
• Cleaning Products
• Composters
• Pet Supplies
• Fabrics
• Fashion
• Gifts
• Kids & Baby
• Kitchen & Dining
• Linens
• Loungewear
• Mattresses & Pillows
• Paint
• Sustainable Furniture
• Toys

The store is also hosting a series of seminars by local non-toxic baby expert, Heater Tubbs, that will focus on how to set up a non-toxic baby nursery. See their website for more info on their events.

Ultimately, ecoEMPORIUM is an exciting concept and we're lucky to have it as part of the green business community here in Atlanta. I'd highly suggest that our readers stop by and check it out when the chance arises even if it's just to window shopping or look for a small gift.