Open Mar Vista

New Edible Landscape for a Cottage

Christy Wilhelmi — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:41:00 PST

Back in November, I got a call from a woman who wanted to turn her front and back yard into an edible landscape. She had seen me on Food For Thought with Claire Thomas, and felt instinctively that Gardenerd was the right hire for the job.

We worked together to come up with ideas: moving existing baby fruit trees to permanent homes in the front yard, adding a vegetable garden and more fruit trees in the backyard. She ...

Moon Juice Now Open in Venice

TheOpenDaily — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:36 PST

Moon Juice is the only place in LA serving 100% organic, cold pressed juices – and they’re now open in Venice, or as I like to call it: Mar Vista Adjacent.

Moon Juice is the brainchild and baby of Amanda Chantal Bacon, and she has launched amid great fanfare.

The location is small and serene. The juices are delicious and there is a flavor for any taste, from Beet Aid, which has beet, lime & cucumber in it, to California Sun, which is a mixed citrus juice, to Goodness Greens, with kale, dandelion, parsley, spinach and celery.

Moon Juice will also sell their own concoction, known as Moon Milk, which is an almond milk base to which the customer can add what they like, choosing from a list of things like bee pollen, chocolate, date paste, and figs, among many others.

Moon Juice, 507 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA 90291

Spring Garden Planning Workshop This Saturday

Christy Wilhelmi — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:32:00 PST

You've riffled through all of those seed catalogs, you've taken a survey of your seed collection and filled in the blanks. Now what?

Where will everything go this season? How will you find enough room? What about crop rotation and companion planting?

With all these things to think about, planning your spring garden may feel overwhelming. It's supposed to be fun. We can help.
...

Fried Green Tomatoes - in Winter?

Christy Wilhelmi — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:29:39 PST

Yes, Dorothy, there still are tomatoes in February - if you live in Los Angeles. It's one of the many oddities of living in a warm winter climate. Up until last week, we were picking tomatoes from a volunteer tomato that had entwined itself through a giant Cecil Brunner rose, but with recent pruning, it all came to a delicious end.

The vine had ...

Mar Vista CLIMATE REALITY

Open Mar Vista — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:09:26 PST

Mar Vista Public Library
12006 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles
FREE ADMISSION

Join local homeowners, business owners, and community leaders for a screening of FUEL, a 35-minute winner of the Sundance Audience Award and fast-paced look into our clean energy future.

Featured speaker John Zavalney from the Climate Reality Projectwill facilitate a lively discussion highlighting the…

Time:March 8, 2012 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Location:Mar Vista Library
Street:12006 Venice Blvd.
City/Town:Los Angeles
Website or Map:http://openmarvista.net/clima…
Phone:(310) 893-3100
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Coalition of NC Green Committees meets THIS THURSDAY

TheOpenDaily — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:21:06 PST

Please join us THIS THURSDAY for the first meeting of the Neighborhood Coalition of Green Committees. We intend to meet quarterly to share best green committee practices (including zero waste events and effective social networking), to discuss relevant upcoming local … Continue reading →

Pta week events

janineinvenice — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:49:11 PST

Bake Sale 2-22, wednesday at 2:30 pm

Coffee with the Principal 2-23, thursday at 8:30 am

Movie Night 2-24 at 5:30 pm, friday, Dolphin Tale

3645 May Street

noreply@blogger.com (Mar Vista Green Committee) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:46:00 PST

Looking for a refreshing spot of rosemary lemonade to reviveyou? This garden is your oasis.

Shortly after beginning a new position at the Electric Lodgein 2008, a performing arts and environmental community center, this homeownerstarted to rethink their lifestyle. It became a personal mission to findpractical ways of reducing their impact on the environment.

On walks to work, they saw traditional gardens that werebeing transformed into eco-friendly oases. After attending the Mar Vista GardenTour, they were convinced of the necessity to replace their under-utilized,water thirsty lawn with a more sustainable landscape that reflected thecontemporary aesthetic their home and their commitment to the environment.

In august 2011, with the help of local landscape architect,Duane Border, design ideas, plantselection, budget and the like were fleshed out. Two weeks after the initial meeting theproject was complete!

Duane Border created a landscape design composed of a richvariety of plant forms, textures and colors to highlight the modern style ofthe architecture. The new design is comprised of Rosemary, Pride of Maderia andAgaves, with vibrant, deep red highlights of Paddle Plant, Safari Conebush and relocated Dracenas set in graphicpatterns of decorative aggregate.

The existing irrigation system was left in place with asignificantly reduced watering schedule. The removal of the lawn not only saveson water use and costs, but also eliminates the dependence upon fertilizers,fossil fuels and labor associated with traditional maintenance. The new plantmaterials offer year round interest and a beneficial return to the environmentthat turf grass could only dream of providing.

The revived garden provides an environmentally responsible,uniquely Southern California landscape that is enjoyed by not only theresidents, but also many of theneighbors. And then there’s the added pleasure of no longer being a de factohotel for the local crow population!

Before - a thirsty lawn

Free Screening of FUEL at Mar Vista Library March 8th

TheOpenDaily — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:47:45 PST

The Sundance Award-Winning documentary FUEL plays Thursday March 8th, 2012 at 5:30pm at the Mar Vista Library.

Free admission. Advance registration required. More details at www.openmarvista.net/climatereality

"A ROUSING DOCUMENTARY"..."FUEL" is about making a difference, Tickell's enthusiasm and encouragement left me inspired rather than discouraged, empowered with practical knowledge in how I can make a difference as a consumer, as a voter and as an inhabitant of the planet.
- Sean Axmaker, SEATTLE POST INTELLINGENCER

"SWEEPING AND EXHILARATING"...Tickell's passionate film goes beyond great storytelling; it rings out like a bell that stirs consciousness and makes individual action suddenly seem consequential.
- Caroline Libresco, THE SUNDANCE INSITUTE

"IMPRESSIVELY COMPREHENSIVE"..."FUEL" is a vital, superbly assembled documentary that presents an insightful overview of America's troubled relationship with oil and how alternative and sustainable energies can reduce our country's -- and the world's -- addictive dependence on fossil fuels."
- Gary Goldstein, LOS ANGELES TIMES

What Would You Like to See in the Vacant Wild Oats?

TheOpenDaily — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:15:56 PST

Do you remember when there was a Wild Oats at the corner of Centinela and Palms? The little grocery was a boon to the neighborhood. It was a conveient place to pick up healthy food, if a bit more expensive and smaller than groceries farther away.

The store has been vacant for more than five years. During that time it has attracted graffiti and advertising posters. The lot has been rented out for Christmas trees, but the store has not been occupied.

According to the Mar Vista Community Council, there are no plans for a new tenant in the empty store.

It has difficult parking lot access because cars and delivery trucks must enter and exit from Palms going west on a steep hill and there is a posted no left turn sign for cars going east on Palms.

Still, we can dream. What would you like to see in that empty store? Do you think a business could occupy the existing structure and make a go of it? Or do you think any new business there would neeed a different building and access from Centinela to succede?

Fuel - Theatrical Trailer

Open Mar Vista — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:47:45 PST

The Sundance Award-Winning documentary FUEL plays Thursday March 8th, 2012 at 5:30pm at the Mar Vista Library.

Free admission. Advance registration required. More details at www.openmarvista.net/climatereality

"A ROUSING DOCUMENTARY"..."FUEL" is about making a difference, Tickell's enthusiasm and encouragement left me inspired rather than discouraged, empowered with practical knowledge in how I can make a difference as a consumer, as a voter and as an inhabitant of the planet.
- Sean Axmaker, SEATTLE POST INTELLINGENCER

"SWEEPING AND EXHILARATING"...Tickell's passionate film goes beyond great storytelling; it rings out like a bell that stirs consciousness and makes individual action suddenly seem consequential.
- Caroline Libresco, THE SUNDANCE INSITUTE

"IMPRESSIVELY COMPREHENSIVE"..."FUEL" is a vital, superbly assembled documentary that presents an insightful overview of America's troubled relationship with oil and how alternative and sustainable energies can reduce our country's -- and the world's -- addictive dependence on fossil fuels."
- Gary Goldstein, LOS ANGELES TIMES

Monthly Meeting of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

ChuckRay — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:07:35 PST

The monthly meeting of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be held at 7:30 pm at Windward School, 11350 Palms Blvd., Tom Hunter Board Room (Room 800)

Items to be considered include:

MVCC PLUM

smcommins — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:33:13 PST

Regular meeting of the MVCC PLUM Committee

MVCC Green Committee February Meeting

sakers — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:49:56 PST

read more

3200 Butler Avenue

noreply@blogger.com (Mar Vista Green Committee) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:22:00 PST

Red flowers at left are California fuchsia, purple by porch is Mexican bush sage, yellow at left is bladderpod, purple at right is another sage

Mexican bush sage (purple flowers) in foreground, purple sage back left.
Sycamore and persimmon trees growing.

This garden was inspired by the first MV Green Garden Tour when they saw a garden with decomposed granite that was totally rainwatered. They wanted a native plant garden that would support native pollinators and be like walking up in the Santa Monica mountains. Their goal was that it would eventually become just rain watered to save water.

In summer of 2009 they took out the lawn with the help of their gardener. In December 2009 they planted 80 native plants out of the 120 on the full plan by a landscape designer who loves native plants. They were able to get a $2,000 rebate from DWP which was paying $1 per square foot of lawn removed.

Many of you saw this as a newly planted garden on the 2010 tour and will love seeing the result! Some plants grew and some died. They've replanted some areas and decided to change some plants from the original plan. It has a beautiful rain chain to decrease rain runoff; a persimmon and a pineapple guava tree. In 2011 they added a circulating fountain and 3 more rain barrels. The 1 gallon sycamore tree is now 15 feet tall 2 years after planting!

They love the fact that birds, butterflies and bees are attracted to the garden. It looks good and smells fabulous. In good weather they love to sit on the porch, look at the flowers and watch the wildlife. They’re still learning how to prune, how to water optimally (they still hand-water once a week during dry weather) and how the plants will look when mature. Pruning is free aromatherapy. And they've cut their water bill by more than 1/2. Jacky Bolbat, the landscape designer, is hoping to be available the day of the tour.

Seed Library of Los Angeles Presentation and Meeting

Open Mar Vista — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:02:18 PST

Best Practices Co-Chair Albert Chang reports on the 6th Annual Organic Seed Growers Conference, where farmers, seed production and distribution companies, plant breeders and others share their latest news and findings. Free seed distribution to members follows the meeting. $10 lifetime membership.

Time:February 18, 2012 from 2:30pm to 4pm
Location:The Learning Garden at Venice High School
Street:13000 Venice Blvd (enter on Walgrove)
City/Town:Los Angeles
Website or Map:http://www.slola.org
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Chickens - Part 2: The Arrival

Christy Wilhelmi — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:04:21 PST

[Cue movie voice over guy]

It's been two years in the making...

But now they've come...

And No One knows what to expect...It's...

[Cue percussive orchestral filler music]

Chicken Invasion

Already exhibiting personality...

Our story continues from last week's post.

Our pullets arrived late ...

Meet the Milk Man

Christy Wilhelmi — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:50:03 PST

The latest edition of Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter is live and ready for your cheese-y delight: This week you'll learn about Milk Man Cheese Services and find out where to get local artisan cheeses in Southern California.

The Milk Man Cometh
...

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up February 12, 2012

Mar Vista Mom — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:24:10 PST

Love was in the air today at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market, with everyone getting ready for Valentine’s Day…

ChocoVivo, The Real Princesses, crafts for the kids, Flowers For Pretty Girls, Heart-shaped succulents, Beat Poetry, and the Love Uninhibited Orchestra.

And in the Green Booth, they are gearing up for this year’s Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase on April 21st, 2012. Volunteers welcome!

HISTORIC 62

smcommins — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:05:30 PST

HISTORIC 62 MEETING