Sustainable Fairfax

Bringing people together to support a vital environment and thriving community

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Water Action NOW in Fairfax and Beyond

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Understand the Imperative to Save Water Today AND Build Resiliency in our Watershed for the Future

Historically low rainfalls combined with hot weather means that we are experiencing historic drought conditions that cannot be ignored. The threat has been raised from “severe” to “EXCEPTIONAL”!

As of the end of August, our reservoirs which supply about 75% of Marin’s water, are at 38% of capacity. The other 25% would normally come from Sonoma but that is NOT happening this year. That’s bad.

Nicasio Reservoir - June 2021

Hopefully it will rain this Winter but the County will need about 250% of a typical rain year to bring our supplies to a “normal” level. That is unlikely to happen.

It is a priority for communities to come together to protect this watershed. Brown lawns are good and dirty cars are fashionable. Anything else means those folks need help understanding the imperative and tools to take action to change it up.

We need YOU. If you can help with this effort, please contact us.

Read More Water Action NOW in Fairfax and Beyond for Tips, Resources and Rebates, Becoming a Water Warrior and more…

Fairfax Curbside Cleanup: May 4-8

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FAIRFAX! On your regularly scheduled collection day during the week of May 4-8, 2020, you may put out up to 14 bags of extra material to be collected at no extra cost.

THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR A SPRING YARD CLEAN UP!
Leave your extra bagged yard waste out for us to collect so it can be turned into organic compost.

Place 32 gallon bags or cans of extra garbage, recyclables or yard waste at the curb the night before your regularly scheduled service day. There is a 14 bag limit. Each bag can not weigh more than 60 pounds.

MARIN SANITARY WILL ONLY COLLECT MATERIAL IN BAGS OR CONTAINERS

PLEASE NO BULKY ITEMS.
Bulky items such as couches, appliances and large items will not be collected on your Curbside Clean-up day.

HAVE A BULKY ITEM? Give Marin Sanitary a call at (415) 456-2601 to schedule your two (2) inclusive annual pick-ups of large items like furniture and appliances. Special handling fees may apply.

This service is proudly offered by Marin Sanitary Service and the Town of Fairfax.

The Fairbuck Project Comes to an End

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For the last 5 years Sustainable Fairfax, in a joint project with the Fairfax Chamber and the Town of Fairfax, has been part of a consortium supporting the Fairbuck Project, a community based currency.  The program has been very successful in generating thousands of dollars for community based projects such as the garden at the Women’s Club, the Bike Mosaic Bench on Bolinas Road, and Streets for People.

The Fairbuck program has been winding down over 2016.  The last day for businesses to cash in any Fairbucks  was July 31, 2016.  The remaining reserve funds will be distributed to other community projects.

FAIRBUCK PROJECT: HOW IT STARTED

The FairBuck Project was a local exchange system employing trade tokens. The FairBuck, launched at the 2011 Fairfax Festival, supported a more vibrant local economy, encouraging residents and visitors to invest in Fairfax, and heightening awareness of how spending locally encourages the Fairfax community’s economic well-being.

The FairBuck Project was initiated by members of the Environmental Forum of Marin’s 2010 Masters Class in Sustainability, and grew into a collaborative effort that includes the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Fairfax, and the Fairfax Town Council. These three organizations partnered on the FairBuck Steering Committee, creating a community partnership to chart a course for long term viability of the FairBuck.

The first FairBuck token, designed by a local artist, was a  1.25″ brass token with the image of a Buck on one side and a Snail on the other.
Why the Buck and Snail? The buck is part of the Seal of Fairfax, and also stands for strength in community. The snail is a celebration of our community’s commitment to home, living a purposeful existence, and an homage to Fairfax becoming the second CittaSlow certified community in the U.S.

fairbuck
These tokens, which were worth $3 a piece at participating businesses, provided an opportunity for residents and visitors to invest in Fairfax by using the FairBuck to make purchases and accepting them as change. When FairBucks were accepted as change, they could only be spent at participating businesses in Fairfax, thus keeping those dollars circulating locally. When the FairBuck tokens became cherished as souvenirs or collector’s items by residents or visitors, the US Dollars they represent remained as an investment as they continued circulating within the Fairfax economy.

Sustainable Fairfax Announces First Annual Baking Contest at the Fairfax Craft Faire

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The Fairfax Craft Faire is holding its first annual Baking Contest!

There will be two categories for judging: Cookies & Brownies and Cakes & Cupcakes.

Bring your bake sale donation to the Fairfax Craft Faire Bake Sale at the Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Road (the red barn) by 10:45am on Saturday, December 13. Provide your name, name of dish, and ingredients list to be entered into the contest.

Fairfax Craft Faire hours are 11am-5pm and judging for the baking contest will take place at NOON. Judges

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include Mayor Barbara Coler, Fairfax Council Member Renee Goddard, Taste & Kitchen owner Lorenzo Jones, musician Jack Irving, Lola’s store owner Joelle Levy, and owner of Aphro Cuisine Megan McCulloch.

Winners will receive a gift from Taste Kitchen & Table. Category 1 will receive a $25 gift certificate to Taste and Category, and Category 2 will receive one cooking class from Taste’s new cooking class series starting in January (value $65).

Entries will be judged equally on 1-appearance (1-10), 2-taste (1-10), and 3-ingredients (1-10).

For more information, contact SustainFX@gmail.com.

Going to Streets for People? Take Alternative Modes of Transport!

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Coming to Streets for People on Sunday, August 31, 2014? In the car-free spirit of the event, please leave your car at home! If you can, consider walking or biking to the event. Or consider taking the bus; Marin Transit Routes 23 and 68 run on Sunday and stop in Fairfax every 30 and 60 minutes (respectively); consult www.marintransit.org or www.511.org for details.

Share the Ride

Plan on driving, or need a ride? Try using Carma to find others to share the ride! Carma is a free smartphone app designed to match riders and drivers for one-time trips or regular commutes. Download Carma Carpooling to your iPhone or Android phone, enter your profile and trip, and then find others going your way.
carma_w_nameLook for the Carma table at Streets for People! The first 20 people who use Carma to come to the event and show us their Carma ride receipt will receive a $5 Fairfax Roastery gift card! And first-time Carmapoolers will also receive a $10 Amazon card just for trying it out.

For more information on Carma and how it works, see http://car.ma/sfbay .