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Jennifer Hammond

Buying Clothing- how can we reduce our impact?

November 15, 2019 by Jennifer Hammond

On Friday, November 15, Sustainable Fairfax hosted a film and speaker event featuring THE TRUE COST, a film that addresses the environmental and human impacts of fast fashion and the choices we make when buying clothes.

The film unveiled the struggles of the sweatshop workers in countries like Bangladesh, and the brutal working conditions, sometimes ending in injury and death. Most often, profits are the single-focus of the corporations, while the well-being of the workers and the health of the environment is simply not factored in. We live in a throw-away culture, where clothes are cheap and disposable, creating an unsustainable demand for the workers living on dollars per day.

Heather Podoll of Fibershed speaks at the Sustainable Fairfax screening of “The True Cost”

After the film, Heather Podoll of Fibershed spoke about the importance of being mindful when making purchasing decisions, and the benefits of supporting locally-made clothing with natural fibers that can be composted when worn out. Here a few of my takeaways from the evening:

  • Quality over Quantity. When buying new clothes, it is better to purchase high quality items made of natural fibers that will last longer. You may not end up spending more money if you manage with less items.
  • Buy locally made when possible. Buy clothing made from locally grown fibers and support the regional textile economy. Learn more at Fibershed. (Check out their free Symposium Marketplace this Saturday, November 16, at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes, 9am-5pm. You will find plant-based goods and raw materials for textile creation).
  • Buy organic. Support organic clothing producers. Pesticides are destroying soil and harming farm workers. And, non-organic cotton can expose your skin to pesticides, causing potential health concerns.
  • Shop at consignment stores. We have several wonderful stores in Fairfax!
  • Polyester and other synthetic materials should be avoided. They shed microplastics and are a significant source of plastic pollution in our oceans. Clothing from plastic bottles is not an eco-friendly option for this reason. If you already have synthetics in your wardrobe, try not to wash them often. There are products you can buy that remove some of these microfibers from the laundry water (see Cora Microfiber Laundry Ball).  Another consideration: synthetic clothing contain toxic chemicals which may be absorbed through the skin and cause health issues.
  • Host Clothing Swaps! Sustainable Fairfax is currently hosting a serve-yourself scarf & hat exchange at the outdoor tables next to Indie Alley at 69 Bolinas Road, Fairfax. Drop off your gently used scarves and hats, and take some home to refresh your accessories for fall and winter!

Filed Under: slider, Sustainable Film Series, Zero Waste Tagged With: Slide, slider, sustainable clothing, zero waste

Bring it Home- Free Compost for Fairfax Residents!

October 9, 2019 by Jennifer Hammond

For Fairfax Residents only.  NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE!  

NEXT DELIVERY: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th, 2020

Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) provides compost deliveries at the Fairfax Pavilion parking lot (at the ball field fence). Typically, the compost lasts for several days until it is gone. For the event, bring a shovel, and a bag or container to transport the compost.

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This compost is shared with all Fairfax residents. Please do not take more than FIVE 5-gallon buckets (which provides a one inch cover for a 40 square foot garden)

GIVE YOUR GARDEN A BOOST! This compost is certified organic and is made from the food and yard waste collected in the MSS Green curbside carts. Please note that compost is a soil amendment – it is recommended that you do not put more than 1-2 inches on perennials and annuals, 1/4 inch for lawns.  According to Marin Master Gardeners: “A good rule of thumb when incorporating compost as a soil amendment is 25 percent of the planned depth, i.e., two inches of organic matter worked in to a depth of eight inches.”

Sustainable Fairfax coordinates several compost deliveries from Marin Sanitary Service per year in accordance with a contract with the Town of Fairfax.  Deliveries typically take place three times per year. Sign up below to be notified:

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Filed Under: Sustainable Garden, Zero Waste Tagged With: free compost, zero waste

Climate Strike – Friday, Sept 20

September 16, 2019 by Jennifer Hammond

Swedish youth climate activist Greta Thunberg, center in blue, joins other young climate activists Friday for a climate strike outside the White House in Washington, Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

On September 20th, three days before the UN Climate Summit in New York, young people and adults will strike all across the US and world to demand transformative action be taken to address the climate crisis. Millions will take the streets to demand a right to a future, and you are invited to #strikewithus !

SAN FRANCISCO: Meet 10am at the office of the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s offices at 90 7th St. in San Francisco to begin the march.

Email Claire Seda if you would like to take a bus from West Marin at sedaclaire@gmail.com.

You can also take Golden Gate Transit from Fairfax, catching Line 24 at 7:50am from downtown Fairfax to the Financial District, and catching BART or Muni along Market St to the Federal building.

MARIN: Although people are encouraged to attend the San Francisco March, 350Marin is organizing a Climate Strike – March and Rally in Marin, in Novato for those that cannot make it to San Francisco. It starts at 10:00am at Novato City Hall and goes until 12:00pm. Contact Silke at 415 272-5287 or silkevalentine8@gmail.com for more information.

It is important for people of all ages to come out to support the youth in taking action. We are in a climate crisis and there is no time to waste! For more marches around the country, please visit: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/us-climate-strikes

Filed Under: Climate Action Now Tagged With: climate activism, Slide

Ways to reduce waste at Fairfax Hardware

August 14, 2019 by Jennifer Hammond

Thanks to Fairfax Lumber & Hardware for becoming a Sustainable Fairfax Sponsor!

DID YOU KNOW THAT….

  • You can skip the plastic bag and BUY YOUR SOIL IN BULK! Just bring your own container. Fairfax Lumber’s bulk soils and compost are manufactured from organic ingredients with no biosolids.
  • Fairfax Lumber will EXCHANGE your empty camp stove propane cylinder when you purchase a full ones. Every year in North America, 40 million disposable one-pound propane cylinders are used. The empty cylinders are often disposed of improperly, and pose a threat to our sanitation workers and are a financial burden on our national parks.
  • Fairfax Lumber gives away their clean durable plastic bags that they receive from product shipments. Check out the new bin, and save these bags from the landfill. Great for storage, pet waste and more. 
  • You can safely dispose of your batteries in their battery bin.

Fairfax Lumber’s FAIRFAX GREEN program provides nature friendly products and information to their customers. Fairfax Green is the convergence of their four goals – conservation of natural resources, increased energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, and the reduction of toxins in our environment. >>Learn more about Fairfax Green.

Filed Under: Zero Waste Tagged With: bulk shopping, zero waste

FRIDAY JAN 25: Film Screening of “WASTED! The Story of Food Waste” featuring Bourdain

January 15, 2019 by Jennifer Hammond

Join Sustainable Fairfax and the Environmental Forum of Marin for a screening of the film WASTED! Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming “scraps” into incredible dishes that creates a more secure food system.

See how food waste directly contributes to climate change and how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st century.

Submit your pledge to reduce food waste before the film and enter a free Raffle for $100 Good Earth Gift Certificate!

Film will be followed by a discussion with the Sustainable Fairfax Zero Waste Team.

6:30pm: DOORS OPEN
6:30-7:00pm: Raffle and tabling
7:00pm: Film

Suggested donation: $10.

Filed Under: Zero Waste Tagged With: food waste, zero waste

The Fairfax Craft Faire is Here!

December 6, 2018 by Jennifer Hammond

<p align="left">The <a href="http://www.fxcraftfaire.com/"><strong>Fairfax Craft Faire</strong> </a>returns on Saturday, December 8th, 11am-5pm at the Fairfax Pavilion. The Craft Faire has become a local tradition, and we hope you can all join us again for another great year! The event features 50 vendors selling handmade crafts and sustainably produced products.</p>

SHOP TO FESTIVE LIVE MUSIC

Our favorite craft faire bands will return this year:

11:30am:   Ukulele Friends Ohana
1:00pm:    Liz Stires and friends
Last set:   Jack Irving


CRAFT FAIRE RAFFLE 

Try your luck at our Craft Faire Raffle! Get your raffle tickets from theSustainable Fairfax or Fairfax Recreation table, and bid on your favorite items donated by our Craft Faire vendors.


CALLING ALL BAKERS!

Wondering how you can support the Fairfax Craft Faire? That’s easy! Bake your favorite goodie(s) for the Craft Faire Bake Sale. All bakers will receive free raffle tickets to the raffle. Drop off your item at the Pavilion kitchen between 9:30-10:30am on Saturday morning. Thank you!!!!

Sign-up here! 


ZERO WASTE CAFE

Visit the Zero Waste Cafe and enjoy some fantastic CHILI and delectable gluten-free MAC & CHEESE donated by Good Earth Natural Foods. Be sure to treat yourself to something sweet at our bake sale too. The Cafe does not generate any landfill waste! We serve the food in reusable dishes with real utensils.


WARM UP WITH SOME KEY TEA

Don’t miss Key Tea’s delicious locally grown chai teas and other wondrous beverages.


GIFT WRAPPING BY INDIE ALLEY

NEW THIS YEAR! Get your gifts wrapped at the Indie Alley booth at the entrance to the Faire!

>>Learn more


The proceeds from the Craft Faire benefit Sustainable Fairfax and Fairfax Recreation, the organizers of the event.

Filed Under: Community, Fairfax Craft Faire, Zero Waste Tagged With: Community, Fairfax Craft Faire, zero waste

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