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February 2010 Reservoir report |
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Water Conservation
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MMWD's
reservoirs have continued to fill during the month of February as rain
has fallen at near normal rates. Rainfall year to date (July 1, 2009
through February 25, 2010) is 37.47 inches; average for this same
period is 38.52 inches.
In mid-January our reservoirs were at just 57 percent of
capacity, which was below average, while today they are at 92 percent.
Average for this date is 85 percent. Our largest reservoir, Kent, is
the only one that isn't filled to capacity. It is now at 81 percent,
well above it's mid-January level of 44 percent.
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Water Conservation
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There has been much discussion about securing the water future for Marin
County. MMWD is our main water district and through them we procure 75%
of our water from our local watershed and import 25% of our water from
outside the county, the average MMWD client uses 140 gallons of water
per person, per day and plans are moving forward on a costly
Desalination plant to meet a projected future demand and provide during
drought. The conservation department and many concerned citizens
believe we can live sustainably in our watershed and now it is time to
put our money where our mouth is.
Fairfax has been selected by MMWD Conservation Department as just the right town for a pilot
program promoting water conservation. Sustainable Fairfax will be will
be the hub and main operators of the pilot. Water project staff and
volunteers will be approaching every business, school and resident in
Fairfax to see "How Far We Can Go" to reduce our water use through
technology and behavior.
The idea is to focus intensively on one community to
increase water conservation to see if that is an effective
model resulting in long-term water savings. Education and rebates will
be brought to the community through a number of events, staffing at the
Sustainability Center, and on a one on one basis.
Our
Town Manager and Mayor have met with representatives from MMWD and
Sustainable Fairfax to find ways the town can support this effort
through modeling and possible resolutions or ordinances.
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Voter Education Town Council election |
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Current Projects
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Sustainable
Fairfax has traditionally participated in voter education-As in years
past we have asked the candidates to answer just a few questions so we
can share them with you. For further information about the candidates
please view the candidates night debates on www.cmcm.tv/fairfax or on
Channel 27. Special thanks to the League of Women Voters for moderating
the forum and Fairfax Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring. You may have noticed that one of the Candidates for Town Council is Pam
Hartwell-Herrero, the Executive Director of Sustainable Fairfax. There
have been some concerns that running for council means she will be
leaving Sustainable Fairfax. We are happy to report that this is not
so, most Council members manage to hold down day jobs while serving on
the Council and Pam has no plans to leave Sustainable Fairfax. As a
nonprofit organization we are not able to endorse any candidates but we are able to provide this survey.
Candidates that participted- David Weinsoff, William B. Madsen, Wendy Baker, Christopher Lang, John Reed, Pam Hartwell-Herrero
Questions Included-
What sustainability resources to you bring as a candidate for Town Council?
What do you think will be
the most pressing ecological issue facing Fairfax during your term? If
elected, what are your plans to address it?
Do you support the Marin
Clean Energy proposal to buy renewal power collectively directly, while
PG&E would continue to be responsible for the transmission lines,
billing and other duties?
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Read more...
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Current Projects
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 "Green Wednesdays" are in full swingthis year at the Fairfax Farmer's Market!
Come by and visit our Sustainable Fairfax table during the month of August and join us in these fun, family friendly projects.
Wednesday, August 20th and 27th:
 The Lorax signs are coming back to remind us all that kids are going back to school and that drivers need to slow down and make way for them to bike and walk safely. Wear your painting clothes and we will once again "speak for the trees" and make signs to decorate our town and celebrate alternative modes of people moving!
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Read more...
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Sustainability Volunteer CorpsTraining |
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Current Projects
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Be the Change You Want to See in the World
When: Friday and Saturday, June 27th-28th, 2008
Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Where: 141 Bolinas Road Fairfax, CA
Sustainability 101 will be taught by our staff, along with special guest speaker Warren Karlenzig, author of How Green is Your City?
Together we will work on team-building and visioning, as we collaborate to develop a Sustainable Fairfax Community Plan.
We warmly welcome those who come mostly to learn, as well as those with lots of ideas to share!
"Graduates" will become members of the Sustainable Fairfax Volunteer Corps -- a group of highly valued team members who are committed to preserving and regenerating our town, for ourselves and the future. Volunteers must commit to staffing our Sustainability Center (one 4-hour shift per month), and join one of our committees (Policy, Community Education, Projects, Volunteer Training, Fundraising). We welcome you to participate in a variety of capacities, that suit your schedule, interests and desired level of involvement. Our goal is to build a reliable base of support for all of the wonderful resources we're providing to our local community.
This inspiring workshop is provided free of charge, but participants are required to join Sustainable Fairfax ($25 per individual, $50 per family).
Your Must Register!
Contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 415-269-0621 to reserve your space!
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Current Projects
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Sustainable Fairfax opened its' Sustainability Center in October of 2007. The Center is located at 141 Bolinas Avenue in the retail district of downtown Fairfax. The purpose of the Center is to promote sustainability by providing families, individuals and groups an educational experience in sustainable living practices through the use of classes, demonstration and resource materials.
Visitors will have the potential to learn a wide range of fascinating topics to support a healthy home and environment such as using non-toxic products, environmentally friendly building materials, resource saving practices, renewable energy, and sustainability in the design of organic gardens and permaculture landscape.
The residents of Fairfax and other communities in Marin County will benefit from our services along with other interested parties. The Center will also house a vital program for training volunteers (Master Sustainers Program) to staff the Center and lead community action projects that enhance our local economy, create and sustain diverse ecology and connect our community.
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Sustainable Backyard Thanks! |
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Current Projects
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 Our Sustainable Backyard got deluxe community treatment over two work days and we wanted to thank everyone who helped!
Master Gardeners- Sandra Massen, Dorothy Weaver, Marcia Harding, Cathy Rosekrans,
Our Interns- Julia Ramos and Camile Permar, Members of the Volunteer Corps; Elizabeth Baker, Don Hodge, Jeff Adams, Regula Keller, Board member; Renee Goddard, Fabulous and Talented community people: Matthew Edwards, Vicki Burns, Demetrious, Florence Schneider, Leo den Ouden, Neil Krauss, Andres Amador, Joshua Conklin, Jacki, and Pam's husband Matt who helped with that last load of plum prunings.
Our garden is ready for KQED to visit and we will let you know when the interview airs. We are looking for interns to help expand education with our garden, training included. Contact Pam Hartwell-Herrerro if you are interested in participating.
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Current Projects
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 We are working on developing and implementing a Community Education program with lectures and field trips each season that includes collaboration with other groups.
Current Schedule of Events
To join our Community Education team contact
Pam Hartwell-Herrero.
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Past Projects
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On Wednesday’s at the 2007 Fairfax Farmer's Market, we celebrated the notion that every day is Earth Day by providing local residents with tips on ways they can reduce their environmental footprint throughout the year.
Collaborating with the Inconvenient Group, we created a farmer's market where all the bags handed out by farmers were made of GMO free corn compostables, we made and gave out 140 reusable cloth bags, our kids hosted games and crafts from recycled materials, we brought bike racks from Marin Bicycle Coalition, we decorated bikes to encourage their use at the market, we had a visit from EcoMom who gave us going back-to-school green tips, and we made signs with the Lorax reminding people to watch out for bikes.
Ways you can continue to participate in Green Wednesdays year round:
· Bring your own bags to any farmers market.
· Ride your bike, use mass transit and walk.
· Turn off the TV and computer in the evenings.
· Get to know your neighbors.
· Grow food, buy local food and pay attention to how far your food traveled.
· Buy used & decomposable products.
· Shop Local, Compost, Recycle, Buy Green.
· Volunteer with Sustainable Fairfax!!
Click on the Read More link below to read a Letter from Renee Goddard
Inconvenient Group and Sustainable Fairfax Project Coordinator
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Read more...
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Reusable Bag Project-Striving for a Plastic Free Farmer's Market |
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Past Projects
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On May 16th 2007, at the Fairfax Farmers Market, Sustainable Fairfax collaborated with The Inconvenient Group in an effort to eliminate plastic bags at the market. The two groups joined efforts to hand sew 140 reusable cloth bags that they handed out for free to people shopping at the market. Paints were available for kids and adults to decorate the bags along with a demonstration on how to avoid using plastic bags at the market and in their daily lives. The Inconvenient group purchased bio-bags made of non-GMO corn to be used by all the farmers, reducing 1200 plastic bags in one evening.
The event was a kick off for our promotion of Green Wednesday. We celebrated the notion that every day is Earth Day by providing local residents with tips on ways they can reduce their environmental footprint throughout the year.
The motivation for the reusable bag project came from research shared by Green Sangha that shows that plastic has become a monumental source of litter with 86% of ocean debris being plastic. Plastic is endangering wildlife and some studies show it could take up to 1,500 years to break down in a landfill. The EPA declared it a reproductive toxin in California Prop 65.
The Marin farmer’s market is currently working on providing non-plastic bags for all markets. Sustainable Fairfax and The Inconvenient Group are encouraging Marin County to pass an ordinance similar to San Francisco banning plastic bags at all Marin grocery stores. Town of Fairfax is working on a townwide plastic bag ban.
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Past Projects
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Sustainable Fairfax hosted a recycling fair in Peri Park on May 20, 2001 from 12- 4 pm to celebrate the installation of recycling receptacles in the town's parks and downtown areas. The recycling fair featured information, entertainment, and games, all designed to promote increased recycling in Fairfax. The event highlighted the unveiling of eight mosaic plaques depicting native species of plants and animals, created by local artists, middle and high school students. The mosaics were used to decorate receptacles in Peri Park, Bolinas Road Park, and the Central Baseball Field.
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Earth Day Solar Energy Forum |
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Past Projects
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An Earth Day Solar Energy Forum was held on Sunday, April 22, 2001 from 12-4 p.m. at the Fairfax Women’s Club.
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Sustainability Film Series |
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Past Projects
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From September 2000 to October 2002 Sustainable Fairfax hosted a sustainable film series. Among some of the films shown were:
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Read more...
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MLEC Forum - Creating Marin's Energy Future |
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Past Projects
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Creating Marin's Energy Future
 A free event held on Saturday April 12, 2003, from 10AM to 12:30PM 618 B, St. San Rafael Community Center, San Rafael, CA
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Read more...
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Halloween Battery Recycling |
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Past Projects
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Sustainable Fairfax hosted a Halloween Household Battery-Recycling event on October 31st, 2000 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. This Halloween event took place at the site of our Sustainability Center (141 Bolinas) and exchanged treats for donated used batteries. The event inaugurated a comprehensive program developed by Sustainable Fairfax to encourage residents to recycle household batteries and to be aware of alternative battery options.
Members of Sustainable Fairfax Getting into the Spirit!
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Past Projects
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Ben Macri & Ruth Dunmire held an open house to allow the community to see the "nuts & bolts" of their solar grid system from noon-3 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2001. Their home is located at Olive Avenue in San Anselmo.
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The Directory & Idea Incubator |
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Cities for Climate Protection Campaign |
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Good Earth Natural Foods