Filed under: Eco-Shopping | Tags: Bergers, Charm City, Emily's Cafe, Green Valentines Day Gifts, Kirchmayer, Rhebs, Sweet Sin Cupcakes
A Green Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a tradition that has been celebrated for hundreds of years. The oldest known paper Valentine’s card is from the 1400’s and housed in the British Museum. However, today the pressure of presenting your loved one with a dramatic (and often expensive) gift comes from a marketing beast that is incapable of appreciating the simple romantic gestures of yesteryear.
But, doing something nice for those you love can be thoughtful and fun. And there are still ways to be considerate of the environment when giving gifts. One idea is buying locally made handcrafted edible treats as presents.
Great Treats From Baltimore City Businesses:
Rhebs
Homemade Candies
3352 Wilkens Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21229
410-644-4321
http://www.rhebcandy.com/
A. Kirchmayr Chocolate
Fine European Chocolates
Available At The Wine Source
3601 Elm Ave
Baltimore, MD 21211
http://www.fineeuropeanchocolate.com/
Emily’s Cafe & Desserts
Vegan & Gluten Free Vegan Desserts
4901 Springarden Drive
Baltimore, MD 21209
http://www.emilysdesserts.com/index.html
Bergers Cookies
Award Winning Cookies
Available In Many Grocery Stores In Baltimore And Lexington Market
http://bergercookies.com/
Sweet Sin Cupcakes
All Natural & Gluten Free Desserts
123 West 27th Street
Baltimore, MD
http://www.glutenfreedesserts.com/
Charm City Cupcakes
For Special Days & Everyday
326 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
http://www.charmcitycupcakes.com/index.htm
Filed under: Green Building, News | Tags: Baltimore Green Buildings, Bozzuto Group, Green Apartments, LEED, The Fitzgerald Baltimore
The Fitzgerald To Be Largest Green Apartment Complex In Baltimore
The Fitzgerald, a large grey building under construction on Mt. Royal Avenue between the Maryland Institute College of Art and the Lyric Opera House, is nearing completion and will become Baltimore’s largest green Apartment Complex. The Bozzuto Group, the project’s developers, announced via PR Newswire that the Fitzgerald “is on track to become the most sizeable LEED certified apartment community in the Baltimore area”.
According to the article, the Fitzgerald will:
- be at least 14% more efficient than current standards require
- purchase 70% of the building’s electricity from renewable sources
- reduce water consumption by 40%
- be 100% smoke free
- implement carpets, adhesives, sealants, paints that will meet or exceed low VOC standards
- be constructed from at least 10% recycled materials
- divert no less than 75% of construction waste to recycling
- offer an enclosed bicycle area with racks
- offer preferred parking for hybrid vehicles and car sharing
The Fitgerald will begin leasing in March. For the full article, CLICK HERE.
Filed under: Baltimore Recycling | Tags: Baltimore City Council, Baltimore Plastic Bag Ban, Councilman James Kraft, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Waste
Why You Should Support Baltimore’s Plastic Bag Ban…
On Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 the Baltimore City Council will hold the next hearing on a plastic bag ban in Baltimore.
- Tuesday, February 16, 2010
- Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, James B. Kraft – Chair
- 10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
- 09-0179R Carryout Plastic Bag Waste – Department of Public Works Study
- Rescheduled from January 5, 2010
- 10:30 AM
- 08-0205 Plastic Bag Prohibition
- WORK SESSION – Rescheduled from January 5, 2010
- 08-0208 Plastic Bags – Surcharge
- WORK SESSION – Rescheduled from January 5, 2010
- 08-0209 Paper Bags – Surcharge
- WORK SESSION – Rescheduled from January 5, 2010
Since 2008, Councilman James B. Craft has been leading efforts to make Baltimore the second city in the nation to ban plastic bags in grocery and retail chain stores. San Fransisco was the first. In previous hearings, where legislation would require a charge 25 cents for each plastic bag, the bill failed.
PLASTIC NEVER BIODEGRADES
It only breaks down into smaller & smaller pieces that become part of the ecosystem. Is 25 cents to much to ask to remind us to bring our own bags to stores? People from other parts of the world have been bringing their own bags to stores for years. According to the BBC, a 2002 tax on plastic shopping bags in the Republic of Ireland has cut their use by more than 90% and raised millions of euros in revenue.
If you would like to support Councilman Craft’s efforts to ban plastic bags in Baltimore, contact your city councilman.
To identify your district, CLICK HERE.
To identify your city council member, CLICK HERE.
Sample letter:
Dear City Council Member _____,
I am aware of an upcoming city council hearing on plastic bag prohibition in Baltimore. I am a Baltimore City resident from your district and I support the effort to ban plastic bags in our city. Plastic waste is a detriment to our landscape and waterways, as it never biodegrades. I understand, that in order to reduce plastic waste in Baltimore, residents will be required to bring their own bags to stores and/or pay a surcharge. I accept this proposal and hope that you will work to pass these measures.
Thank You,
Your Name
Address
Filed under: News | Tags: Baltimore Green Building Law, Baltimore Mayor, Builder Magazine, Rawlings-Blake, Tim Wheeler
Baltimore’s Green Building Law May Be On The Brink
Builder Magazine online, an information source for the home building industry, was quick to pick up on an article out today, by Baltimore Sun’s Tim Wheeler, that casts some doubt over the fate of Baltimore’s Green Building Law.
From the Baltimore Sun:
Departing Mayor Sheila Dixon, who has promoted sustainability during her three-year tenure, had reportedly been set to announce the rules late last month. But now they will be left for her successor, Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, to put in place. Some see the issue as a test of whether the new mayor will continue Dixon’s “cleaner, greener” policies aimed at enhancing city residents’ quality of life while promoting green-oriented businesses and jobs.
Incoming Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a supporter of slots and the Baltimore Grand Prix, is appearing to lean in the direction of big business. However, a recent article from the Baltimore Business Journal states, “it is a bit of an unknown to the business community [where she stands] from a public policy perspective”.
Again, from the Baltimore Sun:
Councilman James Kraft, sponsor of the green building law, knows that some developers are unhappy with its [the Green Building Law's] requirements. “I assume they will lobby the new mayor to slow them down, but … they had almost two years to prepare for it.” Kraft said he hopes Rawlings-Blake moves quickly to finalize the rules and the city’s own green building standards to give developers clear guidance – so Baltimore can stay in the forefront of what he called a nationwide movement.
For the full article, CLICK HERE.
To send the incoming mayor your thoughts, contact:
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor
City Hall, Room 250
100 N. Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone (410) 396-3835
Fax (410) 576-9425
mayor@baltimorecity.gov
Filed under: Events | Tags: Baltimore Pellet Stoves, Baltimore Renewable Energy, Biofuel, Mill Valley General Store, Super Green
Super Green Is Back Again *Postponed*
Super Green III At The Mill Valley General Store
Saturday, February 6, 2010, the Mill Valley General Store will be holding Super Green III from 10:00am – 2:00pm. During Super Green, the Mill Valley General Store becomes a green living fair of sorts where stations are created to teach Baltimore residents about various methods of sustainable living, such as rain barrels, vegetable gardening, solar power, biomass, biofuel, joining a CSA and more.
In addition to the green living information stations at Super Green III, there will also be food demos and samples.
Super Green III
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Mill Valley General Store
2800 Sisson St, Baltimore
(28th Street Exit Off I83 in Baltimore, MAP IT)
10:00am – 2:00pm
Filed under: Baltimore Agriculture, Events | Tags: Baltimore Local Food, Baltimore Permaculture, Real Food Farm, Urban Farming
New Local Food Source
Image Courtesy of Real Food Farm
Real Food Farm, a new urban agriculture project in Northeast Baltimore’s Clifton Park, has opened a winter food stand. They are offering turnips, radishes, arugula, spinach, kale, herbs, lettuce, and a mesclun salad mix at the Green School of Baltimore at 2800 Brendan Ave, off Belair Rd.
Vegetables sold at the stand are grown at Hoop Village on the Real Food Farm. In October 2009, Real Food Farm created Hoop Village, a group of 3 agricultural hoophouses (impermanent greenhouses), as a source for local produce during winter months. To learn more about Real Food Farm and Hoop Village, CLICK HERE.
Real Food Farm’s Winter Stand – Thursdays @ the Green School
Thursday, February 4; 3-6pm
Thursday, February 11; 3-6pm
Green School of Baltimore: 2800 Brendan Ave, off Belair Rd.
With support from Belair-Edison Neighborhood Inc.
