Where do we go from here

Thanks to everyone who came out to the June Green Drinks at Brewbaker's!

The question was asked, "where do you see this going, what is your vision for Green Drinks?" Honestly, I've only thought cursorily about this question until that night, at which point I realized that I would LOVE for Green Drinks to become a safe, nonthreatening environment for all of us eco-minded people in the area to bring our non-eco-minded friends. A place to learn about sustainability techniques, technologies, and challenges, but more importantly, a place to learn about what people right here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley are doing to become more sustainable. As someone else mentioned to me later in the evening, "its great to know that we're not alone in our efforts." She's right! It's great to know that there are others in the Valley that really care about the impact of their actions. To that end, if you are doing green things in your home or your business and you want to share with the rest of us about it, please let me know! If you know of someone else that is tackling a green issue in a refreshing way, again, please let me know! I'd love to see Green Drinks become not just another social hour, but a social hour with a purpose. If it becomes a place that you bring your friends to teach them a little bit about your sustainable mindset, that'd be fabulous too!

Thanks again to everyone who came. I know that I am more encouraged in my green efforts for talking with all of you.

Greening the Valley, one conversation at a time.

USGBC coming to Winchester!

The USGBC (United States Green Building Council) will be coming to the area on June 23rd (Monday) 12pm-3pm to discuss the formation of the Blue Ridge Branch of the National Capitol Region. Lite fare will be served.
This informational gathering & steering committee selection will be held in the Lord Fairfax Room of the George Washington Hotel Winchester Virginia. This is an exciting and welcomed development for our area. All interested parties are encouraged to attend so please pass this on.

A Map and directions can be found by clicking the following link http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/DCAGW/mapanddirections/main.wnt

It would be a great service to our green community to have a branch of the National Capitol Region Chapter here in the Valley!

Rain Garden Workshop - Saturday June 14th

Stormwater Management in Your Backyard

Rain Garden Workshop-Training Sessions and Planting

Friday/Saturday-June 13 and 14 (see specific times below)

In conjunction with the 2^nd Annual Farm Fun Day sponsored by Frederick County Farm Bureau

If you ever wanted to learn how to design and install a rain garden on your own property, this is a great opportunity. Space is still available -- plus we need volunteers to help with the planting.

What is a rain garden?

A rain garden is a landscaped, shallow depression that is designed to intercept, treat, and infiltrate stormwater at the source before it becomes runoff. Native plants that help retain pollutants are used, and rain gardens at this scale are designed to be both attractive and easy to maintain (homeowner friendly).

What are the benefits of rain gardens?

Rain gardens reduce the stormwater runoff to our local streams.

Rain gardens improve water quality.

Rain gardens help to recharge the groundwater.

Rain gardens replace areas that require mowing with attractive landscape features.

There are many options available in terms of participating in this workshop

You can attend any of the training sessions, come help with the planting, or both.

Session 1: Stormwater management overview and how these small homeowner projects can make a difference

Where: The Herds Inn at Hedgbrook Farm-688 Shady Elm Rd. Winchester, VA

When: Friday June 13, 7:00PM-8:30PM

Session 2: Rain garden design, site selection, site preparation and maintenance

Where: The Herds Inn at Hedgbrook Farm-688 Shady Elm Rd. Winchester, VA

When: Saturday June 14, 8:00AM-9:30AM

Rain Garden Planting

Where: The Herds Inn at Hedgbrook Farm-688 Shady Elm Rd. Winchester, VA

When: Saturday June 14, 9:45AM-Noon (lunch provided)

To RSVP or obtain additional information contact:

Jim Lawrence at 667-0761 or JIML@crosslink.net

June 26th!

Come one, come all to the 2nd ever Green Drinks - Northern Shenandoah Valley!

We'll be meeting in Winchester this time, at Brewbaker's on the
Loudoun Street walking mall, on Thursday, June 26th at 5:30 pm.

So what is Green Drinks? It’s a grassroots networking opportunity. Nothing fancy, no membership required, no cover charge, just a cash bar, a bunch of eco-minded people, and conversation. >From Automobiles and Buildings to Recycling and Watersheds and every topic in between, we’ll be talking about all things green.

Who goes? YOU and all of your friends! We’re hoping that this will be an informal way to meet and engage other like minded individuals in the area. Everyone from every profession and of every age is invited, so please, spread the word.

Why? Why not? Basically we just wanted to get together everyone that is trying to make a difference in how we interact with the world around us. Oh, and we plan to have lots of fun while we’re at it.

At 6pm, we'll start making a few introductions.

Everyone suggested last time that we all get to know each other a little better, so instead of a video or a speaker, we'll all be speaking briefly. Now before you get scared, consider this: if there are 40 people that show up and we all speak for 30 seconds, we'll have a 20 minute "presentation" Not so scary, right? So prepare to meet and greet all of your new eco-minded best friends with something short
such as "Hi, I'm (name here), I work for / go to school at / keep my time occupied by (what you do here), and I am green because or interested in green because (your interest here. You can have
multiple interests, but please remember, if we all take 30 seconds....)

Brewbaker's address is 168 N. Loudoun Street, Winchester VA 22601 (for those of you who want to use a mapping program to get there) Parking is free on the street everywhere in Winchester after 5pm.