DC-area green events in August

Here are a few green events happening in the Washington, DC, area during August.

August 1 - GO Urban Adventure Race
This is a city-wide scavenger hunt and fundraiser for the Vallon Institute, a non-profit think tank that works on solutions to unhealthy and unsustainable living. Teams of two compete in the race. They receive 12 clues (via text message) that lead them to 12 locations, or "GO points." At each location they must complete a mental or physical challenge in order to get the next clue. Contestents cannot use a personal vehicle, taxi, bike or rollerblades -- they have to use footpower or public transport to get around the city.
Details: $100 entry fee per team. Race begins at 12 p.m. at Kogan Plaza at George Washington University, 2132 H Street NW.

August 5 - GreenMeetup.com's Launch Party
GreenMeetup.com is a new, DC-based Web company that provides an online meeting place for green consumers, companies and entrepreneurs across the country. The launch party will bring together more than 200 people, companies and vendors.
Details: 6:00 p.m. on the rooftop of BLT Steakhouse, 1625 I Street, Washington, DC

August 20 - Northern Virginia Green Drinks
6 p.m. at Auld Shebeen Irish Pub, Fairfax Virginia. Contact them to confirm the August event is on.

August 27 - Green Drinks Bethesda
5:30 p.m., Redwood restaurant, 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, Md. Special prics on bar appetizers and drinks.

August 29 - Cooking and Preserving Summer Bounties
A workshop from City Blossoms in DC.
Details: Will take place in the Girard Children's Community Garden, 1480 Girard St. NW

Report from the MoCo Farm Tour

Peaches and blackberries are in season here in Montgomery County. I was vaguely aware my county had peaches, but who knew we grew blackberries, too?

I discovered some great new places last Sunday, when my wife, mother and I participated in the Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale. We visited Poolesville's Homestead Farm, 230 acres that have been farmed by the Allnutt family since 1763. It's a picturesque place in the county's agricultural reserve. You could pick your own blackberries and peaches; we didn't -- it was too hot.

We bought some of the fruit and some sweet corn and green peppers. Then we visited Lewis Orchards farm market, and then ended at the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, which has some nice wines, I must say. Check it out if you're ever near Sugarloaf Mountain.

In Virginia, the local food can come to you

Want fresh local food but can't get to the farmer's market every week? Don't want to subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture program?

Two small companies in Virginia will deliver just what you order. Their mission is to connect some Virginia farmers with consumers.

Local Flavor (farmbuyersclub.com) delivers food (meat, produce, honey, jams, locally roasted coffees) from Rappahannock and surrounding counties to Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, Delaplane and Warrenton. The schedule varies by location, but it appears to amount to every other Thursday.

Another company, On the Gourmet, makes home deliveries within 20 miles of Vienna. There's a minimum $35 order for home delivery; the delivery is free within 5 miles of Vienna, with a $10 charge for 6-20 miles. Deliveries are every other Saturday. On the Gourmet also attends various farmer's markets in Northern Virginia.

The Washington Post wrote about these two businesses in the July 22 Food section.

Have you used one of these services? Tell us about it!

Take up the Buy Local Challenge

You can still participate in Maryland's Buy Local Challenge, which runs through July 26. The Challenge asks you to pledge to "eat at least one thing from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week," which is the last week in July.

Dan's modified challenge: Buy at least one product from a local farm -- at a farmer's market, grocery store, wherever -- during the next four days. We're planning to do the Montgomery County 2009 Farm Tour and Harvest Sale this weekend, July 25-26. It includes 12 farms and, conveniently, the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, which is where we'll end up after visiting one or two farms.

Why buy local this week or any other? "Supporting farms promotes fresher air, cleaner water, healthier families, stronger economies, safer food and a greener planet," according to the Buy Local Challenge site. The event is sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission.

Virginians, check out Buy Local Virginia for places where you can buy local food. There's also a site promoting Loudoun County farmer's markets: Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Association.

Remember, July's a great time to visit a farmer's market, because lots of great produce is being harvested now!

Green events calendar for July in the DC area

Here's a rundown of some green events in the Washington, DC, region in July.

July 4 - Independence Day Bike Valet
Forget fighting for parking, traffic jams, and crowded metros at the 2009 Independence Day Celebration! RIDE YOUR BIKE and park it safely at WABA's FREE bike valet! Sponsored by the Washington Area Bicycling Association.
2 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

July 11 - Locavores Unite: Eating Locally
Come hear about opportunities, ideas, and resources to grow and source your food from the Chesapeake Region. 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Amicus Green Building Center in Kensington, Md.

July 11 - Dinner Under the Stars at Butler's Orchard
Mosaic Cuisine and Cafe is hosting an outdoor dinner at long tables. According to the Mosaic Web site, "The idea behind this event is to minimize as much as possible our carbon foot print, eat healthy and happy in the best company of friends and cricket’s courting songs."
6-9 p.m.; space is limited. See Mosaic Web site for contact info.

July 16 - Bike-In Movie at the Riverfront
WABA is teaming up with the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District to bring you two bike-in Movies. WABA will be providing a FREE Bike Valet at each movie. The July 16 film will be "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial."
Bike Valet begins at 8 p.m., movie starts at 8:45.

July 18 - Elizabeth Furnace Clean-Up
This event is part of the Environmental Stewardship Adventure Days in Virginia. Help clean up Elizabeth’s Furnace! Volunteers will be removing debris from the bottom of the rock and surrounding trails, then rewarding themselves with an afternoon of rock climbing.
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

July 23 - Green Drinks Bethesda
5:30 p.m at Redwood, 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, Md.

July 25 - Red Wiggler Community Farm Tour
Come out and join us for a day of music, hay rides, and educational activities! This free event is a great way to learn more about life on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and how green farming can be when we work with an eye to environmental stewardship and utilize sustainable farming practices.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

July 25 - Bugs...Friends or Foes?
How do you know if an insect in your garden is good or bad? Kids and families can come on a bug hunt and learn how to identify insects, and make some bug-inspired art! The Girard Garden Workshop Series programs are held in the Girard Children's Community Garden, 1480 Girard St. NW, Washington, DC.
10-11 a.m. Free.

Food Independence Day: Eat local stuff July 4

I saw this a few days ago in the Washington Post, "A Locavore's Fourth: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Really Fresh Produce." The article describes how the group Kitchen Gardeners International has created Food Independence Day, taking place July 4, when participants should try to source the ingredients of holiday meals as locally and sustainably as possible.

Guess this means no hot dogs, unless you live next to the Esskay plant.

It's an interesting concept and could make for some even more interesting meals. As the blog Going Green DC mentioned a few weeks ago, beets were overflowing in at least one farmer's market. Two weekends ago, my wife and I bought kale and spring onions at the Rockville farmer's market (in the jury parking lot).

I know that strawberries are no longer available at some Eastern Shore stands. So would the July 4 menu incude beets, kale and spring onions? What else is hitting farmer's markets these days?

What will you be eating July 4? Let me know by posting a comment below.