December 2015, Sustainable Monroeville, and COP 21 in Paris

Hello and Happy December!

In honor of the COP 21 conference in Paris, we will not have a Sustainable Monroeville meeting in December, 2015. Why no meeting this month? No free movie? No talking about how to create and document a more Sustainable Monroeville and a more Sustainable Metro Pittsburgh and more Sustainable Western PA? Hey, we will save some greenhouse gases! There's never been a person in all the years we've been having these meetings at the Monroeville Public Library that has biked or walked to a meeting in these suburbs. Prove me wrong! Yes, there have been carpools....
How are we individually and collectively going to reduce our carbon footprints?

Take time to catch up with filmmaker Mark Dixon on his journey. Learn from him and all the others who have put amazing time and energy into creating our new reality!

Follow these links for day by day COP 21 updates:
on Facebook: Mark's Climate Journey to COP 21
on the Blog: https://markatcop21.wordpress.com

Here's the link to the climate lecture Mark presented at a recent meeting of Sustainable Monroeville and has presented all over the Pittsburgh region: https://plus.google.com/115412509729507569276/posts/QC5Jpj4jjtZ

Mark is THE representative lay person who has traveled to Paris from Pittsburgh. Follow Pittsburgh's amazing Mayor, Bill Peduto, to see what is going on during the talks and figure out how you can shift your awareness and consciousness and wrap your heart and spirit around the changes you can make as an individual. Think of how you can be involved in your community to shift awareness and make positive changes towards carbon neutrality!

And get ready for an amazing 2016 life changing time! Happy Holidays and Happy end of 2015 and 2016 and Way Way beyond!!

Blessings,

Elisa Beck:)

FREE Virtual Sustainability Summit and Wanda Guthrie of the The Thomas Merton Center speaks her truth at the November 2, 2015 meeting of Sustainable Monroeville!

Hello there, and Happy November! 

Join us on Monday November 2, 2015, at 7:00 PM to hear Wanda Guthrie, one of the original regional sustainability activists and pioneers talk at the Monroeville Public Library for the November meeting of Sustainable Monroeville.

From Wanda Guthrie:

"There is much movement in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area as people all over the world anticipate the decisions of the UN Paris Summit on Climate Change known as COP 21.

The Thomas Merton Center has a number of projects dedicated to environmental justice and climate justice. Our newest project is Pittsburgh 350 and we have been working together with other local groups to build momentum for local climate change actions and information. 

We are working with 350.org to create momentum for local, national and international actions addressing fossil fuels and climate change.

Please come and hear about our OFF + ON CAMPAIGN, POWER THROUGH PARIS, and our very important DIVEST PITTSBURGH: Asking the City of Pittsburgh to Divest from all fossil fuels."

On another note check out this virtual Sustainability Summit starting tonight for 12 consecutive days, absolutely FREE!!! Here's the link: http://theselfreliancesummit.com/the-search-for-sustainability-home/

See y'all tomorrow evening in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. This meeting is free and open to the public. Feel free to invite others and share widely!

Elisa :)

Thank you,
Elisa Beck
(e): sustainablemonroeville@gmail.com
www.sustainablemonroeville.com

Join Us on Monday, October 5, 2015 for Sustainable Monroeville on COP21 Climate Change negotiations with Filmaker Mark Dixon of YERT fame!

Dear Sustainable Monroeville fans and community members in beautiful Western Pennsylvania,

Happy early Autumn! We are honored to host Filmmaker Mark Dixon for the October meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, October 5, 2015 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Sustainable Monroeville meetings are free and open to the public so bring along a friend or two or three! Save some room for some delicious surprise dessert that surely will have something to do with our sustainable and regenerative future!

From Mark: "This December nations around the world will send delegates to the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, France. This is quite possibly the most important climate-related event in all of human history, and Mark Dixon will be bringing his eyes, ears, and voice (and audio/video/photography gear) to this gathering to raise awareness about this important issue and urge responsible action by lawmakers – particularly in the Pittsburgh region.

Already an accomplished environmental filmmaker (YERT – Your Environmental Road Trip, and The Power of One Voice: A 50-Year Perspective on the Life of Rachel Carson) and climate presenter, Mark Dixon further bolstered his awareness of the UN climate negotiations by formally representing Pittsburgh’s Mayor Peduto at an official UN COP21 precursor event: the World Summit Climate and Territories in Lyon, France. Based on this event and subsequent research, Mark has developed a detailed COP21 climate presentation to inform and entertain audiences with the drama and nuance around our civilization’s greatest attempt to address the climate crisis. Mark has pre-processed the complexities of the COP21 process and our collective global response so that you can be well-informed without devoting days of your life to working through all the details. We hope you can make it! More information at http://markatcop21.wordpress.com . And my crowdfunding campaign here: http://www.gofundme.com/xthcww . "

We look forward to seeing you on Monday evening, October 5. Hey, let's learn together about shifting consciousness and creating an even more beautiful world!

Many blessings for a restorative, regenerative future,

Elisa Beck:)

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Sustainability Pioneers Film screenings and Documentary Filmmaker Kirsi Jansa on Monday, September 21, 2015 at 7:00 PM; Whole Foods Plant Based Pot Luck dinner at 6:00 PM

Happy Summertime! We are so excited to be hosting documentary filmmaker Kirsi Jansa, creator of Sustainability Pioneers for our September meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening September 21, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library!

Join us for 6:00 PM for a Whole Foods Plant Based meal, followed by some amazing documentaries and discussion with Kirsi!

Here's the link for more details :

http://sustainabilitypioneers.com/screenings-community-conversations/

All meetings of Sustainable Monroeville are free and open to the public!

Elisa Beck :)

An Ecology of Mind, the movie, followed by discussion for the August 3, 2015 meeting of Sustainable Monroeville at 7:00 PM!

What's life on this planet and in this universe all about? How can we understand the nature of life without understanding our connection to the natural world and that we are nature? That our inner ecosystems are part of the "outer" world?

Join us for the August meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, August 3, 2015 at the Monroeville Public Library to see the documentary An Ecology of Mind produced Nora Bateson, daughter of Gregory Bateson. The movie screening will be followed by discussion and action!

Here's the link for more details about the documentary: http://www.anecologyofmind.com

See y'all on Monday evening, August 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library, Sustainable Monroeville meetings are free and open to the public. Feel free to bring along your colleagues, friends and neighbors!

Many blessings and much love for an amazingly aware and sustainable, resilient future to all of us!

Elisa :)

Elisa Beck, Founder
Sustainable Monroeville
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July 6, 2015 Sustainable Monroeville Meeting on Beekeeping and more!

July, 2015 with Sustainable Monroeville!

Join us on Monday, July 6, 2015 in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library to learn about Beekeeping! We have two amazing local speakers on bees, Christina Newmann and John Yakim. We'll also continue the Sustainable Community Certification conversation with Pam. Thanks so much to our amazing volunteers! Elisa Beck :)

Virginia Bluebells in early spring with bee pollinating!

Bees love to pollinate Echinacea, a wonderful medicinal plant!

Goldenrod and Asters in a yard in Monroeville for the bees!

June 1, 2015 at Sustainable Monroeville! Six PM Pot Luck and 7:00 PM Meeting at the Monroeville Public Library!

 The June meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on June 1, 2015 is in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. At 6:00 PM we'll have a plant based, as locally sourced as possible, including your yard as a source of foraged food!!!, pot luck dinner followed by our meeting at 7:00 PM. Please pack in and out. Bring utensils, plates and cups!

Lois Drumheller who has spearheaded the Monroeville Food Garden along with several other amazing volunteers will give an overview of what's coming this season! 

Pamela Barroso who has been participating in Sustainable Monroeville since the group was founded in 2009 is spearheading the effort to document Monroeville as a Sustainable Community through the certification program of Sustainable Pittsburgh. Go to www.sustainblepittsburgh.org for more details about this program.

Pam's topic at the June 1, 2015 meeting of Sustainable Monroeville will focus on Local and Regional Cooperation. Questions to be addressed for Local and Regional Cooperation are below: 

 

The numbers on the right hand side of the statements are the maximum number of points that can be acquired for these items on the questionnaire that is being filled out. I am looking forward to the meeting to learn a lot, as I have not a clue what the Council of Governments is, nor how our municipality might work with the ICA's mentioned above!!

What is this Sustainable Community certification process all about and why is it important for the Municipality of Monroeville to participate in this program of Sustainable Pittsburgh? 

In my view this questionnaire is getting the conversation started community wide about the meaning of the word sustainability and is key to facilitate documentation of what is already sustainable about our amazing community! As  the conversation continues, community members, educators, school children, businesses, and politicians have questions we work on answering. We are all working together to manifest a more and more sustainably oriented community as we move along into the middle of the 21st century!

Looking forward to seeing you in June! 

All meetings of Sustainable Monroeville are free and open to the public.

Thanks so much to all of our volunteers, and Happy late Springtime!

Elisa :)

Elisa Beck, Founder

www.sustainablemonroeville.com

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Monday, March 23, 2015 on Sustainable Community Certification with Pamela Barroso!

On Monday evening, March 23, 2015 in the conference room of the Monroeville Public Library, Pamela Barroso, long time Sustainable Monroeville participant and organizer will continue presenting and facilitating discussion on Sustainable Communities. Thanks so much Pam! Sustainable Monroeville in conjunction with The Municipality of Monroeville is working towards Sustainable Community Certification through the non profit Sustainable Pittsburgh's Sustainable Community Certification program. Join Us! :)

Backyard composting with Pennsylvania Resources Council on Monday evening, February 2, 2015 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Monroeville Public Library!

Join us on Monday evening, February 2, 2015 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM with PA Resources Council in collaboration with the Monroeville Public Library to learn about Composting in your yard! Please note there is a fee for this program and you will go home with a composting bin! Woo Hoo!

Backyard Composting

Composting is nature’s way of recycling. By utilizing the natural process of decomposition, organic materials often considered “waste,” such as grass clippings, food scraps, autumn leaves and even paper, can be recycled back into a rich soil conditioner. Through this transition, soil organisms, many of which are too small to see, break down the organic material in a compost pile so that valuable plant nutrients can be released for future generations of plants to use. Composting helps you reduce your waste stream, it improves the health of your gardens, and most of all its easy to do and enjoyable. 

Workshop Details:

This workshop thoroughly covers the importance of composting, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance and ways of using finished compost. Participants will receive an Earth Machine Compost Bin with attendance. This bin, approved across the state as an ideal bin for urban and suburban areas, has an eighty-gallon capacity. 

Backyard Composting Workshops

Sign up for a Backyard Composting Workshop and turn your yard waste and food scraps into a valuable resource for your garden. If you would like to receive workshop updates by email, please send a request to the contact information below.

For more information, email compost@prc.org or call: (412) 488-7490 ext. 226

Cost: $50 per person/$55 per couple

February 2, 2015Monroeville Public Library at Sustainable Monroeville Meeting 
7 - 8:30 PM

Please note that meetings of Sustainable Monroeville are generally FREE, but there is a cost for this workshop! 

Screening of Urban Roots at January 5, 2015 Meeting of Sustainable Monroeville~ 7:00 PM! Composting Class in February!

Join Sustainable Monroeville in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library on Monday evening January 5, 2015, at 7:00 PM, to see the documentary Urban Roots!

Urban Roots is Produced by Leila Conners (The 11th Hour) and Mathew Schmid, and directed by Mark MacInnis. "The film follows the urban farming phenomenon in Detroit. Urban Roots is a timely, moving and inspiring film that speaks to a nation grappling with collapsed industrial towns and the need to forge a sustainable and prosperous future."

 Following this 93 minute film, the participants will choose to watch one of two special features, Protecting the Right To Grow Food, A short by Thomas Linzey and Mari Margil of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund about how to protect the right to grow food, 7 minutes; Insights and Tips on Urban Farming, with Urban Roots farmers sharing their expertise on how to start and maintain an urban farm throughout the year, 18 minutes, or have a discussion of the film.

Suggested $5.00 donation will go to www.urbanrootsaction.com which donates a portion of proceeds to "Putting Farms in Schools."

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Save the date for Sustainable Monroeville's February 2, 2015, meeting. PA Resources Nancy Martin will teach a class on composting: It’s Time to Compost!!

Not sure what to do with your kitchen, garden and yard scraps? Would you like natural, home-made compost for your lawns and gardens in the spring? Expand your recycling efforts to include kitchen scraps and yard debris.

You receive a composting bin at class!

This PA Resources Council workshop thoroughly covers the importance and benefits of composting, the process, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance, and ways of using finished compost. Participants will receive an Earth Machine Compost Bin with attendance. This bin, approved across the state as an ideal bin for urban and suburban areas, has an eighty-gallon capacity. 

Cost $50 single/ $55 couple and includes one compost bin

Where: Monroeville Public Library/Sustainable Monroeville’s February meeting

When: February 2, 2015 at 7:00 – 8:30 PM

For more info or to register go to:

www.prc.org 

or call 412-488-7490 X 226

This workshop is made possible by the generous support of the Giant Eagle Foundation.