Grow Your Own

Why Grow Your Own ?

Beauty, serenity, exercise, food and environmental stewardship…these are some of the reasons that you might want to grow your own plants. You can start small and take a leaf or stem from a friend’s succulent, throw it in some soil, and give it minimal attention or you can transform your own garden into a pollinator habitat that provides both food and beauty for you, your family, your neighbors and the hundreds of local pollinators and creatures that are desperate for our assistance. Many plants are also great at keeping carbon in the soil and out of the atmosphere, thus reducing global warming. And if you decide to go big and plant treees, you will also be providing shade that actually lowers the temperature of the earth. Your actions make a difference, so get inspired and inspire others!

 

Spider plants - Nature’s Air Purfier!


Houseplants and Phytoremediation

Spider plants, like many other houseplants, are very good at purifying the air in your home.   They absorb chemicals through their leaves which then travel down to the roots, where soil microorganisms break them down into less harmful compounds.  The process is called phytoremediation. Most leafy houseplants do it to some degree, although spider plants have a high leaf surface area, a fast transpiration rate, and the ability to tolerate a wide range of indoor conditions. 

Learn more about the benefits of Spider Plants at: 

https://www.beangrowing.com/spider-plant-air-purifying-benefits/

Compounds Absorbed by Spider Plants

Airborne toxins from paint, nail polish, adhesives, cleaning products, and cigarette smoke. These include Formaldehyde, Benzene, Carbon Monoxide and many others.

Grow Your Own Plants for Free!

Grow new plants from cuttings. branches and leaves.  Succulents, spider plants, plumerias and more!  You can have it all with a little help from your friends and a few supplies that can easily be found around your home.  Create your own circle of plant swappers. Learn more about starting new plants from cuttings: 

https://www.wikihow.life/Propagate-Succulent-Plant-Cuttings

PS Science - March 8th at the Mar Vista Green Tent

 

Food Chains in Action: Lessons from Owl Pellets

Food chains show us how energy moves through an ecosystem- connecting plants, herbivores, and predators into a delicate balance.  Predators like owls play a crucial role in this system as keystone species- animals whose presence helps keep populations in check and ecosystems healthy.  By hunting rodents and other small animals, owls prevent overpopulation, protect crops, and support biodiversity.  When food chains are balanced, ecosystems are more resilient, productive, and better able to support life- including our own.  At PS Science, we strive to help students see how all life on this planet is interconnected in crucial ways, and how our actions can have a direct effect on this balance. 

Hidden Stories Inside Owl Pellets

At first glance, an owl pellet might look unremarkable (gross, even!) - but inside is a fascinating snapshot of the natural world.  Each pellet contains the indigestible bones and fur from an owl’s recent meals, preserved in a way that allows scientists (and students!) to reconstruct what the owl ate and where it lived.  By identifying skulls and other bones, we can learn about the owl’s diet, the types of animals in its environment, and even changes in local ecosystems over time.  At the Mar Vista Green Tent this Sunday, families will get a chance to dissect an owl pellet and classify what they find, getting a glimpse into the wonders of nature. 

PS Science

PS Science was launched in 2006 as a project of the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation, an initiative of Crossroads School in Santa Monica in response to a chronic deficit in public schools- the lack of meaningful early elementary science education.  Our programs and curriculum provide elementary students with a foundational understanding of the world around them, using hands-on STEM lessons to promote curiosity and critical thinking.  

Westside Repair Cafe - Februrary 21 - 2026

Sunday, February 26 at the Green Tent

Westside Repair Cafe

What do you do when you've got something you like but it no longer works?

Throw it out and buy a new one? Stick it in the attic, the basement or under the stairs? Pay to get it fixed? Fix it yourself? Chances are you toss it out. Or maybe you store it away until that magical day when you can figure out what to do with it.... right.

There's another solution

: bring it to one of the local Westside Repair Cafes.  This Sunday at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. volunteer fixers will be on hand to answer your questions about how it works and how you can participate.  They will also be available to repair  small appliances, electronics and computers.  Need some easy mending done on a piece of clothing? Bring it to the Green Tent!

The Westside Repair Cafe is a volunteer-run, community service dedicated to encouraging the repair and reuse of goods rather than relegating them to landfills. It's an extension of Our Time Bank's Sharing Economy program to further support sustainable living solutions.

How does it work? What can you bring? Do you need to register ahead of time? How can you volunteer? Stop by the Green Tent this Sunday and get all your questions answered

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Food Forward - This Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Mar Vista Green Tent

Food Forward® fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Food Forward was founded in 2009 and this year marks the organization’s 15th anniversary. That’s 15 years of Building Generational Health, growing to become the largest independent produce reclamation and urban gleaning organization in the nation devoted exclusively to bringing healthy fresh produce to communities experiencing food and nutrition insecurity.

Food Forward® has three award-winning food recovery programs, two of which are volunteer-powered! 100% of the produce we recover is donated directly to our partner hunger relief organizations, free of charge. All produce donors receive a receipt for their in-kind donations.

Backyard Harvest: Volunteers harvest surplus fruit from trees that would otherwise go to waste. We harvest trees across Los Angeles, Ventura, and small sections of Santa Barbara counties. Sign up to volunteer!

Farmers Market Recovery: Volunteers "glean"—meaning Food Forward collects surplus fruit and vegetables—from 16 farmers markets across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Market vendors can choose to donate any produce at the peak of its freshness that may not make it to the next market they attend. Fun fact: Food Forward® has gleaned the Mar Vista Farmers Market since 2013. In 2023 alone, our volunteers recovered over 34,000 pounds of produce from this market that would have otherwise gone to waste! 

Sign up to volunteer! You can glean the Mar Vista Farmers Market with Food Forward® on Sundays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. or volunteer at another market.

Wholesale Recovery: The Wholesale Produce Recovery refrigerated warehouse located in Bell, California is the hub for tens of thousands of pounds of daily surplus produce donations from the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market in Los Angeles, its surrounding district, and from growers and shippers across the region and the country. Food Forward’s Wholesale Recovery Program provides a sustainable solution to avoid the loss of perfectly edible produce being thrown away, often due to not meeting cosmetic standards or changes in demand. Instead, this nutritious surplus is redirected to hundreds of hunger relief organizations across Southern California and the surrounding region, ranging from regional food banks to community-based service centers for people experiencing food insecurity.

A volunteer gleans the Mar Vista Farmers Market in October 2023
Photo credit: Eron Rauch

A volunteer harvests lemons
Photo credit: Jeffery Dawson

A vendor at the Mar Vista Farmers Market donates surplus produce to Food Forward in October 2023
Photo credit: Eron Rauch

In addition to volunteering, there are other ways to join our work: 

PS Science - January 11th at the Mar Vista Green Tent

 

Powering Our Future: Exploring Solar Energy
Why Alternative Energy Matters

As our world grows and energy demands increase, finding cleaner and more sustainable ways to power our lives is essential to keeping Earth healthy for future generations.  Alternative energy sources- like solar, wind and hydroelectric power- help to reduce air pollution, slow climate change, and lessen our dependence on fossil fuels that are limited and harmful to the environment.  Solar power in particular has made incredible strides over the past few decades.  Advances in technology have made solar panels more efficient, more affordable, and more widely used than ever before, turning sunlight into a powerful tool for cleaner air and a more resilient planet.  Helping students understand these dynamics is a core part of what PS Science does in its curriculum, helping them to consider where energy comes from and the impact it has on our environment.

Hands-On Solar Science

At our booth this Sunday, students will get to experience solar energy in action by using real solar panels to power a variety of fun and fascinating gadgets.  They’ll also explore the amazing invention of the generator, discovering how motion can be converted into electricity by using a hand-crank generator to power devices with their own energy.  To top it off, each student will take home a small wearable souvenir that gets its ‘power’ from a special type of energy found in sunlight- a reminder that even something as simple as sunshine can be transformed into usable energy.    

PS Science

PS Science was launched in 2006 as a project of the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation, an initiative of Crossroads School in Santa Monica in response to a chronic deficit in public schools- the lack of meaningful early elementary science education.  Our programs and curriculum provide elementary students with a foundational understanding of the world around them, using hands-on STEM lessons to promote curiosity and critical thinking.  

PS Science - December 14th at the Mar Vista Green Tent

 

Brilliant Beaks: Exploring Nature’s Clever Designs
How Bird Beaks Reveal the Science of Adaptation

Bird beaks come in an incredible variety of shapes and sizes, each one perfectly adapted to help a bird survive in its environment.  From long, straw-like beaks that sip nectar to broad, flat beaks that filter food from water, these structures offer a fantastic entry point for students to explore how animals evolve to meet the challenges of their habitats.  At our upcoming farmer’s market booth, young scientists will get to see firsthand how form connects to function- an essential idea in understanding the natural world and the adaptations that allow living things to thrive.

Hands-On Discovery: Bringing Beak Science to Life

To bring these important concepts to life, children will rotate through engaging hands-on stations that model real bird beaks: a strainer to scoop floating beads out of water like a duck filters its food, a pipette to sip water like a hummingbird gathering nectar, a nutcracker to crack open hard shells like a finch, and many more.  Using everyday items to model scientific concepts is at the heart of what PS Science does in the classrooms with students across Los Angeles.  After experimenting with these models, children will also get a chance to create a simple holiday-themed bird feeder to take home and hang outside, applying what they’ve learned and giving them a chance to support local birds in their own neighborhoods.  

PS Science

PS Science was launched in 2006 as a project of the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation, an initiative of Crossroads School in Santa Monica in response to a chronic deficit in public schools- the lack of meaningful early elementary science education.  Our programs and curriculum provide elementary students with a foundational understanding of the world around them, using hands-on STEM lessons to promote curiosity and critical thinking.  

The Master Gardeners - December 7th at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m

Attention MV community, the LA County Master Gardeners will continue to appear at the Mar Vista Community Green Tent — but they will no longer be coming on the first Sunday of every month. This Sunday, Dec. 7, from 9 am to 1 pm,  will be their last regular monthly visit. Don’t worry, though, they will be back in March, June and October of 2026, so take advantage of their presence this weekend!

This time they’re bringing lots of lettuce and succulents for you to choose from and of course there will be free seeds as well, in addition to a few other seedlings. 

There are romaine and curly varieties, some cilantro, and sweet pea and viola flowers:

And there’s a generous selection of succulents to choose from, too.

What to plant right now:

VEG: Beets, Broccoli, Carrots, Cabbage, Fava Beans, Radish, Lettuce, Cauliflower, Kale, Peas

FLOWER: Sweet peas, Calendula, Pansy, Snapdragon, Cosmo, Viola, Poppy, Alyssum, Stock

HERBS: Parsley, Dill, Cilantro, Arugula, Thyme, Rosemary

Don’t forget: the LA County Master Gardener program has a fully-packed and informative website where you can find monthly tips on what to plant, articles to help you grow and a helpline for your questions, plus resources about fire recovery, pest control, upcoming classes and so much more.

AND: They can still always use your leftover six packs, so drop them off at the booth when you stop by for a free plant and a packet of seeds. Happy holidays!

Food Forward - This Sunday, November 30, 2025 at the Mar Vista Green Tent

Food Forward® fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Food Forward was founded in 2009 and this year marks the organization’s 15th anniversary. That’s 15 years of Building Generational Health, growing to become the largest independent produce reclamation and urban gleaning organization in the nation devoted exclusively to bringing healthy fresh produce to communities experiencing food and nutrition insecurity.

Food Forward® has three award-winning food recovery programs, two of which are volunteer-powered! 100% of the produce we recover is donated directly to our partner hunger relief organizations, free of charge. All produce donors receive a receipt for their in-kind donations.

Backyard Harvest: Volunteers harvest surplus fruit from trees that would otherwise go to waste. We harvest trees across Los Angeles, Ventura, and small sections of Santa Barbara counties. Sign up to volunteer!

Farmers Market Recovery: Volunteers "glean"—meaning Food Forward collects surplus fruit and vegetables—from 16 farmers markets across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Market vendors can choose to donate any produce at the peak of its freshness that may not make it to the next market they attend. Fun fact: Food Forward® has gleaned the Mar Vista Farmers Market since 2013. In 2023 alone, our volunteers recovered over 34,000 pounds of produce from this market that would have otherwise gone to waste! 

Sign up to volunteer! You can glean the Mar Vista Farmers Market with Food Forward® on Sundays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. or volunteer at another market.

Wholesale Recovery: The Wholesale Produce Recovery refrigerated warehouse located in Bell, California is the hub for tens of thousands of pounds of daily surplus produce donations from the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market in Los Angeles, its surrounding district, and from growers and shippers across the region and the country. Food Forward’s Wholesale Recovery Program provides a sustainable solution to avoid the loss of perfectly edible produce being thrown away, often due to not meeting cosmetic standards or changes in demand. Instead, this nutritious surplus is redirected to hundreds of hunger relief organizations across Southern California and the surrounding region, ranging from regional food banks to community-based service centers for people experiencing food insecurity.

A volunteer gleans the Mar Vista Farmers Market in October 2023
Photo credit: Eron Rauch

A volunteer harvests lemons
Photo credit: Jeffery Dawson

A vendor at the Mar Vista Farmers Market donates surplus produce to Food Forward in October 2023
Photo credit: Eron Rauch

In addition to volunteering, there are other ways to join our work: 

CALPIRG Save the Bees Campaign November 23 /2025

Ban Bee-Killing Pesticides !

Come to the Green Tent this Sunday, November 23, and learn about what you can do to eliminate a dangerous new class of toxic chemicals from our soils, our foods and our bodies.


  
  
















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
          
          

            
In just 2 minutes you can complete an action step toward saving the bees and other pollinators.

          

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
   The Problem: 
A critical problem affecting the bees is that they are increasingly exposed to a relatively new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids (neonics). These chemicals have been used in exponentially increasing quantities in the last few years and studies definitively link loss of bees to exposure to neonics. Some bees experience acute toxicity from directly sprayed crops and die right away, while others are chronically exposed as they collect pollen from flowers grown from neonics-treated seeds. 
Neonics are neurotoxins. In addition to weakening bee immune systems and making them more susceptible to disease, the neonics disorient the bees meaning they can’t find their way back to their hives. And unfortunately the NIC in neonics acts just like nicotine in cigarettes – it can be addictive to bees. So bees are exposed and then go back and back again to plants that have been treated, increasing their exposure and speeding up the die off.
The Solution
To fully save the bees we need to phase out and then ban the use of neonics and we need to ensure that they are not replaced with equally or more dangerous chemicals. Common sense alternatives exist, like altering the time of planting and watering, and planting more native species, but big big agrichemical companies like Monsanto, Dow Chemical, Bayer and Syngenta are fighting to prevent bans.
 
 Thankfully, many legislative bodies have already begun the process of removing this deadly chemical from our lands. The European Union has banned several of them; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has committed to phasing them out on the public lands they manage; and cities like Seattle and states like Maryland and Connecticut have taken action as well. 
In order to restore bee populations to health and save our food supply, we need states and cities to ban the sale of bee-killing pesticides. In California, we’re focused in particular on closing the loophole that has allowed companies to continue to sell neonics-coated seeds, an issue the state is required to address with new legislation proposals by February of 2026. And on a local level, we’re looking to expand the number of “Bee Friendly” cities and campuses across the state.
 























  
  





  



  
    
  
  









  
How?
With many strategies including
  • Petitions
  • Press conferences 
  • Lobbying with statewide leaders 
  • Volunteering 
  • Canvassing
Organizational History:
Our partner groups Environment America and U.S. PIRG both have a history of working on pesticides and bee-killing pesticides. Environment America has organized chefs and restaurateurs in support of a Bee Friendly Food Alliance. And U.S. PIRG has a long history of working on pesticides, mostly from a public health perspective, and in this case from a food supply perspective. The last time this campaign was run in California, we got several universities and cities registered as “Bee Friendly”, and got legislation passed to ban the commercial sale of neonics sprays in private gardens.
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        Free Yard Trees !   Rain or Shine
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
Mar Vista ARBOR GROUP + CITY PLANTS HAVE FREE TREES FOR YOUR YARD!
Come to the Green Tent on Sunday, November 16 9:00-2:00
For more information go to https://www.marvistaarbor.org/events-and-activities























  
  





  



  
    
  
  









  
COME TO THE GREEN TENT AND WE WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE TREE PICK UP AREA !!!
Trees
    - Save water
    - Combat the greenhouse effect
    - Clean the air
    - Provide oxygen
    - Cool the streets and the city
    - Conserve energy
    - Provide homes for local wildlife























  
  





  



  
    
  
  









  
JUST IN TIME FOR OUR COOLER WEATHER!























  
  





  



  
    
  
  









  
ADOPT RESPONSIBLY ! We'll have information about different watering options to make sure your tree will not just survive, but thrive!
Contact 
Shelley Wiseman 
 to find out about all of free tree programs available from 
City Plants, a public-private partnership between the City of Los Angeles, local non-profit organizations, community groups, residents, and businesses.























  
  





        
      
    


    

    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        PS Science - November 9th at the Mar Vista Green Tent
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          
 




  
Plant Wonders: The Science of Seed Dispersal 
The Hidden Journeys of Seeds























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  














































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Every towering tree and blooming flower begins with something small and easily overlooked: a seed.  What makes seeds remarkable is not only the life they contain but also the ingenious ways plants ensure those seeds reach the right places to grow.  Seed dispersal- the process by which seeds move away from their parent plant- is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, preventing overcrowding, and giving new plants the best chance to thrive.  For students, learning about seed dispersal is a chance to see nature’s problem-solving in action.  Seeds reveal how living things adapt creatively to unique challenges. 
Nature’s Creative Solutions























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  














































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Plants have developed an incredible variety of ways to spread their seeds. Maple trees send out ‘helicopter’ seeds that twirl gracefully to the ground, slowing their fall so they can land farther away.  Burrs use hooks to hitch a ride on passing animals (or kids’ shoelaces!), while coconuts and other buoyant seeds float across rivers and even oceans.  Some plants launch their seeds explosively, while others package them inside delicious fruits that entice animals to carry and scatter them.  At the Mar Vista Green Tent on 11/9,, we will give participants the opportunity to model these different seed dispersal techniques and understand them on a deeper level through hands-on engagement.  Come by for some science fun!  
PS Science
PS Science was launched in 2006 as a project of the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation, an initiative of Crossroads School in Santa Monica in response to a chronic deficit in public schools- the lack of meaningful early elementary science education.  Our programs and curriculum provide elementary students with a foundational understanding of the world around them, using hands-on STEM lessons to promote curiosity and critical thinking.  























  
  





        
      
    


    

    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        PS Science - October 12th at the Mar Vista Green Tent
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          
 




  
Discover the Magic of Decomposition!
Composting: A Simple Act With a Big Impact























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  














































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Composting is one of the most accessible ways we can care for our environment, and it starts with something as ordinary as kitchen scraps.  By turning food waste and yard clippings into nutrient-rich soil, we not only keep material out of landfills but also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote healthy new plant growth.  In our communities, and especially in schools, composting becomes a living lesson in sustainability.  When students see firsthand how yesterday’s lunch can become tomorrow’s fertile ground, they learn that their choices matter and that conservation is something they can actively take part in.
The Science Beneath the Soil























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  














































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
At the heart of composting is the fascinating process of decomposition.  Fungi, bacteria and invertebrates such as worms and beetles work together as nature’s recyclers, breaking down organic matter into usable nutrients.  This process highlights the importance of biodegradable materials and the interconnected cycles that sustain life on Earth.  For elementary school students, understanding decomposition helps them appreciate the value of healthy ecosystems and gives them a tangible example of how small natural processes lead to big environmental benefits.  
PS Science
PS Science was launched in 2006 as a project of the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation, an initiative of Crossroads School in Santa Monica in response to a chronic deficit in public schools- the lack of meaningful early elementary science education.  Our programs and curriculum provide elementary students with a foundational understanding of the world around them, using hands-on STEM lessons to promote curiosity and critical thinking.  























  
  





        
      
    


    

    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        THE MASTER GARDENERS - October 5th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
This month at the Green Tent, it’s the UC/CE LA County Master Gardeners from 9 am to 1 pm, with free plants, free seeds and free advice about gardening.
Bring your gardening questions, give your seedlings a head start and find out what’s best to put into the soil right now to become a better backyard gardener! There’s plenty to do in the garden during this busy growing season.
Don’t forget to recycle your seedling six packs with the Master Gardeners, who’ll use them for the next batch of seedlings they plant for the Mar Vista Community.























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  




        
      
    


    

      
      
      

        
  
    
    
  

      

    


    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        CALPIRG Save the Bees Campaign  SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28 2025
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
Ban Bee-Killing Pesticides !
Come to the Green Tent this Sunday, September 28, and learn about what you can do to eliminate a dangerous new class of toxic chemicals from our soils, our foods and our bodies.























  
  





  



  
    

  
  
















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
          
          

            
In just 2 minutes you can complete an action step toward saving the bees and other pollinators.

          

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
   The Problem: 
A critical problem affecting the bees is that they are increasingly exposed to a relatively new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids (neonics). These chemicals have been used in exponentially increasing quantities in the last few years and studies definitively link loss of bees to exposure to neonics. Some bees experience acute toxicity from directly sprayed crops and die right away, while others are chronically exposed as they collect pollen from flowers grown from neonics-treated seeds. 
Neonics are neurotoxins. In addition to weakening bee immune systems and making them more susceptible to disease, the neonics disorient the bees meaning they can’t find their way back to their hives. And unfortunately the NIC in neonics acts just like nicotine in cigarettes – it can be addictive to bees. So bees are exposed and then go back and back again to plants that have been treated, increasing their exposure and speeding up the die off.
The Solution
To fully save the bees we need to phase out and then ban the use of neonics and we need to ensure that they are not replaced with equally or more dangerous chemicals. Common sense alternatives exist, like altering the time of planting and watering, and planting more native species, but big big agrichemical companies like Monsanto, Dow Chemical, Bayer and Syngenta are fighting to prevent bans.
 
 Thankfully, many legislative bodies have already begun the process of removing this deadly chemical from our lands. The European Union has banned several of them; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has committed to phasing them out on the public lands they manage; and cities like Seattle and states like Maryland and Connecticut have taken action as well. 
In order to restore bee populations to health and save our food supply, we need states and cities to ban the sale of bee-killing pesticides. In California, we’re focused in particular on closing the loophole that has allowed companies to continue to sell neonics-coated seeds, an issue the state is required to address with new legislation proposals by February of 2026. And on a local level, we’re looking to expand the number of “Bee Friendly” cities and campuses across the state.
 























  
  





  



  
    
  
  









  
How?
With many strategies including
  • Petitions
  • Press conferences 
  • Lobbying with statewide leaders 
  • Volunteering 
  • Canvassing
Organizational History:
Our partner groups Environment America and U.S. PIRG both have a history of working on pesticides and bee-killing pesticides. Environment America has organized chefs and restaurateurs in support of a Bee Friendly Food Alliance. And U.S. PIRG has a long history of working on pesticides, mostly from a public health perspective, and in this case from a food supply perspective. The last time this campaign was run in California, we got several universities and cities registered as “Bee Friendly”, and got legislation passed to ban the commercial sale of neonics sprays in private gardens.
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        THE MASTER GARDENERS - September 7th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
This month at the Green Tent, it’s the UC/CE LA County Master Gardeners from 9 am to 1 pm, with free plants, free seeds and free advice about gardening.
Bring your gardening questions, give your seedlings a head start and find out what’s best to put into the soil right now to become a better backyard gardener! There’s plenty to do in the garden during this busy growing season.
Don’t forget to recycle your seedling six packs with the Master Gardeners, who’ll use them for the next batch of seedlings they plant for the Mar Vista Community.























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  




        
      
    


    

      
      
      

        
  
    
    
  

      

    


    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        Food Forward - June 29th at the Mar Vista Green Tent
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
Food Forward® fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Food Forward was founded in 2009 and this year marks the organization’s 15th anniversary. That’s 15 years of Building Generational Health, growing to become the largest independent produce reclamation and urban gleaning organization in the nation devoted exclusively to bringing healthy fresh produce to communities experiencing food and nutrition insecurity.























  
  








  
Food Forward® has three award-winning food recovery programs, two of which are volunteer-powered! 100% of the produce we recover is donated directly to our partner hunger relief organizations, free of charge. All produce donors receive a receipt for their in-kind donations.
Backyard Harvest: Volunteers harvest surplus fruit from trees that would otherwise go to waste. We harvest trees across Los Angeles, Ventura, and small sections of Santa Barbara counties. Sign up to volunteer!
Farmers Market Recovery: Volunteers "glean"—meaning Food Forward collects surplus fruit and vegetables—from 16 farmers markets across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Market vendors can choose to donate any produce at the peak of its freshness that may not make it to the next market they attend. Fun fact: Food Forward® has gleaned the Mar Vista Farmers Market since 2013. In 2023 alone, our volunteers recovered over 34,000 pounds of produce from this market that would have otherwise gone to waste! 
Sign up to volunteer! You can glean the Mar Vista Farmers Market with Food Forward® on Sundays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. or volunteer at another market.
Wholesale Recovery: The Wholesale Produce Recovery refrigerated warehouse located in Bell, California is the hub for tens of thousands of pounds of daily surplus produce donations from the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market in Los Angeles, its surrounding district, and from growers and shippers across the region and the country. Food Forward’s Wholesale Recovery Program provides a sustainable solution to avoid the loss of perfectly edible produce being thrown away, often due to not meeting cosmetic standards or changes in demand. Instead, this nutritious surplus is redirected to hundreds of hunger relief organizations across Southern California and the surrounding region, ranging from regional food banks to community-based service centers for people experiencing food insecurity.























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
          
          

            
A volunteer gleans the Mar Vista Farmers Market in October 2023
Photo credit: Eron Rauch

          

        
      
        

      

    

  


  














































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
          
          

            
A volunteer harvests lemons
Photo credit: Jeffery Dawson

          

        
      
        

      

    

  


  














































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
          
          

            
A vendor at the Mar Vista Farmers Market donates surplus produce to Food Forward in October 2023
Photo credit: Eron Rauch

          

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
In addition to volunteering, there are other ways to join our work: 























  
  





        
      
    


    

    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        Athens Services at the Mar Vista Green Tent! - Sunday June 22nd
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
Learn how to recycle 100% of your food waste in your green bin (even pizza boxes!)
The implementation of SB 1383 in 2022 marks a big shift in how Californians handle their food waste. For the first time, residents and businesses need to put their leftover food not with their trash but with their green waste. 
Californians are used to having separate containers for trash, recyclables like paper, plastic, and aluminum, and for green waste such as yard trimmings and landscaping. Now, food waste and food-soiled paper will go in the green or organics container.  
Most of us don’t give leftover food a second thought, keeping what we can for later and scraping the rest into the trash. From there, it goes to a landfill. Therein lies the problem.
Food and other organic waste in landfills produce greenhouse gases as they decay. Roughly half of the gas is carbon dioxide, and half is methane, which is more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to CalRecycle.























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
California Decides It’s Time to Clear the Air 
If you haven’t heard of SB 1383 by now, you will. It’s California’s latest law designed to reduce harmful gas emissions – specifically methane. To do that, every city, single-family home, business, and multi-family residence of more than five units can no longer just throw food away. 
Statewide, reducing food waste and the methane gas it causes is a big, complex problem. But at the personal level, it boils down to three core, essential steps:  Reduce, repurpose, and recycle.
Less Food + Less Waste = Less Methane
Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that 30-40 percent of all food in the United States goes uneaten. Californians throw away nearly 6 million tons of food scraps or food waste each year. The EPA estimates that about 81 percent of households’ wasted food ended up in landfills or combustion facilities
Buying less food is a great way to start. That doesn’t mean doing without; it means focusing on buying what you need, with the goal of reducing waste. It will also save money, especially in these inflationary times. Planning meals ahead of time, including planning what to do with leftovers, is an effective way to reduce food waste. 
“Imperfect” Food is a Perfectly Good Approach
Much of the food that consumers and businesses throw away is still edible. There are some simple ways to reduce that.
At home, some leftovers can be frozen for later use. Items like fruits and vegetables can be used for salads. Meats and other edible scraps from prepared meals can potentially be combined into soups.
Commercial establishments can donate “imperfect” but safe and edible produce to food recovery organizations like Foodcycle LA. California provides guidelines and Athens provides educational materials to help guide this effort.
What Can’t Be Used May Be Reused 
For food waste that just can’t be kept or eaten, there are options to throwing it away. The waste can be composted, either at home or at large composting facilities. 
Composting is the process that converts organic waste into a useful resource that reduces methane, captures carbon, and helps grow food more efficiently.
Composting can be done at home. There are a lot of resources to help, from educational material to kitchen buckets to outdoor compost bins. Some cities and counties offer rebates or compost bins at a reduced cost. Los Angeles County offers two types of compost bins for $40 and $65. Check with your local city to see what they offer.
Organics waste that is collected curbside goes to one of several large facilities in Southern California that compost on a large scale. American Organics (AO) in Victorville, owned by Athens Services, is one of the largest and most advanced. Organics waste collected from homes and businesses goes to American Organics to be converted to high-quality compost. The process usually takes six months, but at AO the process has been reduced to two months using innovative technology.    
The Bottom Line
To sum up, the move is on to reduce methane by reducing food waste. By following some simple steps, we can all make a difference.
  1. Reduce – Use less food to create less food waste.
  2. Repurpose – Freeze leftovers for another day, combine them into other dishes, or donate consumable food to food banks.
  3. Recycle – compost leftovers at home, or put them in your “green” organics waste container to ship to a composting facility.
Individual actions taken together can make a big difference. Athens Services is here to help. For more information on reducing food waste, go to Food Waste Recycling.























  
  





        
      
    


    

    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        The Master Gardeners - June 1st at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
Master Gardener Julie Strnad gives us a preview of things to come this Sunday, June 1, from 9 am to 1 pm, as the LA County Master Gardeners  return to the Green Tent with seeds and seedlings to give away. Pick up a FREE pack of seeds and one of these FREE green goodies:























  
  





  














  
    
      
    
    

      

        

          

          

        

      

      
      
    

  










  
Yummy, nutritious and pretty MICROGREENS. Every now and then, give them a little “haircut” by chopping the tops off and into your salad bowl, then watch as they keep growing even more. 























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Mixed lettuces, multiple varieties in a single container  Salads are on the menu!























  
  








  
Cucumbers two ways: Bush























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
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Sunflowers   You know what they look like!
Arugula   If you let them go to seed, you’ll be surprised at how spicy and nutty the flowers are!
Green Beans  perfect for summer salads and sides.
Please note that there are fire recovery resources and information at the MG website. Check back often if you have concerns.
Don’t forget to recycle your plant 6 packs so the MGs can grow more plants for next month’s Green Tent!























  
  















































  

    

      


        

          
            

            

              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

              

            

          
            

          

        


        

      


    

  




        
      
    


    

      
      
      

        
  
    
    
  

      

    


    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

      

      
        The Master Gardeners - May 4th at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
      

    


    

      
        
          




  
May the FOURTH be with you — LA County Master Gardeners will be tending (get it?) the Green Tent on Sunday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  
As usual they’re bringing a plethora of plants to give away, as well as free packets of seeds. MG Julie Strand gives you a quick walk-through in this video, complete with small plane flying above: 























  
  





  














  
    
      
    
    

      

        

          

          

        

      

      
      
    

  










  
Here’s what they’ve grown for the Mar Vista Community this month:  
First up there are four BUSH-style plants: Bush plants don’t need to climb so they don’t need support from a trellis, teepee or strings, they grow bush-like.  They’re perfect for small spaces. You can choose from:
Sugar snap peas — the chunky ones you eat, pods and all, raw or cooked, they’re a favorite and healthy snacking munchie
Oregon Giant Snow Peas — these are the flat pods that you can also eat raw or cooked and they’re just fantastic in a stir fry or salad    climber
Traditional green beans — just like the ones the farmers sell at the market!
Bush cucumbers  — 























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Then more veggies and some herbs:
Yellow wax beans — these are quite refreshing, unlike the old canned variety you were forced to eat as kids. Nothing beats fresh!  And they look pretty on a plate! 























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Cilantro—is that controversial herb you either love or hate. For the lovers, you can pick one up at the booth. Haters! Pick up something else!
Italian flat leaf parsley — the classic! 























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
Also: Sunflowers!
Rounding it all out, there’ll be some colorful varieties of succulents for water-wise gardening























  
  















































  

    
  
    


      

      
        

          
        
        

        
          
            
          

            

                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                

            

          

        
          
        

        
      
        

      

    

  


  







  
And there’s just SO MUCH TO DO in the garden in May: find out what will help you succeed here.
Lastly, don’t forget to recycle your plant packs, so the MGs can bring you more next month.























  
  















































  

    

      


        

          
            

            

              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

              

            

          
            

          

        


        

      


    

  




        
      
    


    

      
      
      

        
  
    
    
  

      

    


    

  

  
  


    

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
        

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        GREY WATER - April 27th at the Mar Vista Green Tent
      
      

      

        
        

          
        

        
        

          
          
        

        
        

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Relaxing during a foraging expedition.

          

        
      
        

      

    

  


  




  



  
    
  
  









  
Come to the Mar Vista Green Tent this Sunday in the heart of the Mar Vista Farmers Market.  Meet Art Lee…a Renaissance man for our times.  Whether he is foraging for healing herbs or rerouting your washing machine to water your trees, his heart beats to the pulse of Mother Earth.  And don’t forget to ask about his one-of-a-kind solar powered bicycle!
GET THAT GREY WATER IN THE GROUND!
Don't let the winter rains fool you.  We still need every drop of water back in the soil.  Redirecting grey water is an easy way to prevent waste.  
What is grey water? It's the "waste" water from your washing machine reused to water your fruit trees or perennial plants instead of being sent to the reclamation plant and then out to the ocean. With a grey water system, every time you do a load of laundry your plants get a good drink and you save money as well.























  
  





  



  
    
  
  









  
As everyone knows, California has experienced an extreme drought for many years and it will most likely continue. Water is probably the most important resource for every living species on our planet. 
Learn how to double the usage of your water!
Green Tent guest Art Lee holds workshops that cover all the information you need to install a grey water system at your house. He's bringing a mini greywater demo system so visitors can see how it works and will answer your questions. He'll also have a signup sheet for those interested in attending a future workshop.