SF Events 2007

Event

Dear readers,

Welcome to another list of events, classes, actions, films, conferences, grant deadlines, etc., for your planning convenience. Our searchable website edition of the calendar ( http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/ ) contains events further into the future. Please continue to send event listings to calendar@ecologycenter.org and forward any breaking action alerts to alerts@ecologycenter.org .

Check out our online EcoDirectory: http://www.ecologycenter.org/ecodirectory/ . Do you have questions? The EcoDirectory provides resources and referrals for common environmental concerns.

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(the events are listed by date and title, then again below with full descriptions)

ECOLOGY CENTER EVENTS
10/27/2007 Fall Fruit Tasting at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market
10/27/2007 Compost Give-Away at Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market
10/30/2007 Fall Fruit 'n' Fright at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers' Market
11/2/2007 Ecology Center Berkeley Farmers' Markets 20th Anniversary Benefit Dinner--SOLD OUT
11/3/2007 Introduction to Permaculture Design
11/4/2007 Home Graywater Systems Slideshow & Tour - 10am
11/4/2007 Home Graywater Systems Slideshow & Tour - 1pm
11/5/2007 Presentation: Berkeley Biodiesel Collective
11/18/2007 Solar Hot Water Heater Workshop
12/3/2007 Presentation: Berkeley Biodiesel Collective
12/8/2007 Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Crafts Fair
12/9/2007 Workshop: "Grow Edible Mushrooms at Home"
12/15/2007 Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Crafts Fair
12/22/2007 Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Crafts Fair

ALL EVENTS
Through 10/28/2007 Natural Building Colloquium in Texas
Through 10/28/2007 United Nations Association Film Festival
Through 11/25/2007 Farallon Islands Nature Cruises 2007
Through 12/1/2007 Eco-City Sketchbook Design Competition
Through 12/11/2007 UC Berkeley Extension Sustainable Design Program Fall Schedule
Through 12/31/2007 Volunteer in an Eco-City: Bahia de Caraquez, Equador
Through 3/29/2008 Volunteer Training: Bay Interpretive Training
10/26/2007 Workshop: Biodiesel Intensive
10/26/2007 Hike/Talk: Muir Woods by Moonlight
10/26/2007 Forum: Discuss MTC's Transportation 2035 Plan
10/26/2007 Electronics, Medicine and Thermometer Recycling Event
10/26/2007 Free Compost for Berkeley Residents
10/26/2007 Reality Tour: Delegation to Oaxaca with Global Exchange
10/26/2007 Film and Discussion: "Sentenced Home"
10/26/2007 Book Talk: "Under the Dragon: California's New Culture"
10/26/2007 Discussion: Suppression of Dissent in the U.S.
10/26/2007 Workshop: Cleaning Up Our Waterways
10/26/2007 Film: The War at Home
10/26/2007 Media Accountability Conference and Awards
10/27/2007 Fundraiser: Oakland Food Connection
10/27/2007 Really Really Free Market
10/27/2007 Workshop: Advanced Grid-Tied PV
10/27/2007 Volunteer: Mission Tree Care with Friends of the Urban Forest
10/27/2007 Workshop: Tree Selection and Care
10/27/2007 Volunteer: Collect Native Plant Seeds with Save the Bay
10/27/2007 Volunteer: CFL Distribution Campaign -- San Jose
10/27/2007 March: "Bring the Troops Home Now"
10/27/2007 Educational Adventure: Walnut Harvesting
10/27/2007 Volunteer: CFL Distribution Campaign -- Sunnyvale
10/27/2007 Talk: Wildly Successful Plants
10/27/2007 Educational Adventure: "Science for Tykes: Scatology and Signs"
10/27/2007 Fall Fruit Tasting at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market
10/27/2007 Muir Woods Centennial Walk
10/27/2007 Railroad Corridor Charrette
10/27/2007 Service: "Computer Recycling"
10/27/2007 Alemany Farm Harvest Festival
10/27/2007 Compost Give-Away at Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market
10/27/2007 Educational Adventure: "Beans, Beans, and More Beans"
10/27/2007 Conference: How To Make The World A Better Place
10/27/2007 Volunteer: Quail Habitat Restoration
10/27/2007 Class: "On-Road Instruction for Bicyclists"
10/27/2007 Workshop: "Gardening to Manage Pests Naturally"
10/27/2007 Workshop: Hillside Permaculture II: Swales and Perennial Food Cropping
10/27/2007 Educator Workshop: Watching for Wildlife
10/28/2007 Liberation Permaculture Open Space Conference
10/28/2007 Hike: "Rich Oaks and Riparian Forests of Morgan Territory"
10/28/2007 Benefit Concert for the Labyrinth Walk
10/28/2007 Tour: Ohlone Village Site
10/28/2007 Interfaith Convocation on Climate Change
10/29/2007 Discussion: "Environmental Heroes of the Pacific Rim"
10/29/2007 Lecture: Richard T. T. Forman on "Urban Regions: Ecology/Planning..."
10/29/2007 Idealist.org Grad School Fair
10/30/2007 Sneak Preview: "King Corn"
10/30/2007 Benefit Screening and Reception: "SHARKWATER"
10/30/2007 Workshop: PV Design and Installation Boot Camp for Beginners
10/30/2007 Fall Fruit 'n' Fright at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers' Market
10/30/2007 Talk: Demystifying Green: Design, Materials & Product Selection
10/31/2007 Film: "Clove"
11/1/2007 Build It Green Home Tour Awards & Mixer
11/1/2007 Tour: Green Town Homes -- Florence Lofts
11/1/2007 Application Deadline: Grants to Restore Impaired Surface Water
11/1/2007 Workshop: Payback: The Financial Case for Solar
11/1/2007 Lecture: Angela Davis, "From Jim Crow to Guantanamo: Prisons, Democracy and Empire"
11/2/2007 Workshop: PV 311 Breakthrough Solar Sales and Marketing
11/2/2007 International Latino Film Festival
11/2/2007 Ecology Center Berkeley Farmers' Markets 20th Anniversary Benefit Dinner--SOLD OUT
11/2/2007 Lecture: "Before the Rainbow Flag: California's Gay History"
11/2/2007 Keyline Design Workshop with Darren Doherty
11/3/2007 Introduction to Permaculture Design
11/3/2007 Point Reyes Field Seminar: The Wonderful World of Wild Mushrooms
11/3/2007 Volunteer: Restore Wetlands at Eden Landing
11/3/2007 Volunteer: Collect Native Plant Seeds at Baylands Preserve
11/3/2007 Guided Hike in the Lower Redwood Creek Watershed
11/3/2007 Workshop: Urban Composting
11/3/2007 Richmond Shoreline Festival
11/3/2007 Benefit Brunch with People's Grocery
11/3/2007 Orientation: Clem Miller Environmental Education Center
11/3/2007 Walking Tour: Lower Codornices Creek: From Rails to Restoration
11/3/2007 Conference: The Protection of California Deserts
11/3/2007 Workshop: PV 203 Grid-Tied PV for Professionals
11/3/2007 Workshop: Hands-On Biodiesel Homebrewing
11/3/2007 Educator Workshop: More Than Your Standard Garden
11/3/2007 Workshop: "Design a Bay-Friendly Garden"
11/3/2007 Volunteer: Habitat Restoration at Strenzel Meadow
11/3/2007 Volunteer: French Broom Removal
11/3/2007 Volunteer: Habitat Restoration Work Party
11/3/2007 Volunteer: Edible Schoolyard Garden Work Party
11/3/2007 Volunteer: Migratory Bird Habitat Restoration
11/3/2007 Rally: Blue Sky / Foggy City
11/3/2007 Step It Up 2007 National Day of Climate Action
11/3/2007 East Bay Community Foundation Grants
11/4/2007 Home Graywater Systems Slideshow & Tour - 1pm
11/4/2007 Home Graywater Systems Slideshow & Tour - 10am
11/4/2007 Symposium: Awakening the Dreamer -- Changing the Dream
11/4/2007 Educational Adventure: "Recycle With Worms"
11/4/2007 Workshop: Landscape Watering Systems
11/4/2007 Volunteer: Food Plant Gatherings in East Bay Parks
11/4/2007 Urban Creeks Council 25th Anniversary Benefit
11/5/2007 Workshop: Essential Facilitation of Small Groups
11/5/2007 Talk: David Loeb of Bay Nature
11/5/2007 Presentation: Berkeley Biodiesel Collective
11/5/2007 Forum: State of the World from a Mediator's Perspective
11/5/2007 Lecture: Eran Ben-Joseph on "PARK(ing)"
11/6/2007 Volunteer Training: "Become a writing coach for public school students"
11/6/2007 Film and Discussion: An Unreasonable Man
11/6/2007 Workshop: Wise Ways to Get the IPM Service You Want
11/6/2007 Forum: Affordable Housing and its Role in a Sustainable Future
11/6/2007 Volunteer: Ecological Restoration at Bolinas Lagoon
11/7/2007 Workshop: "NOAA Sea Grant"
11/7/2007 Co-op America's Green Business Conference
11/7/2007 Forum: Greening Your Holidays
11/7/2007 100 Mile Holiday Food Event
11/8/2007 Dicussion: An Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq
11/8/2007 Bilingual Reading and Discussion with Poet Javier O. Herta
11/8/2007 Film and Discussion: "ÁSalud!"
11/8/2007 Safe Medicine Disposal Symposium
11/8/2007 Ella Baker Center Celebration
11/8/2007 Film: "Grapes of Wrath"
11/8/2007 Tour: Green Town Homes -- Florence Lofts
11/8/2007 Workshop: PV 190 Design and Install an Off-Grid RE System
11/8/2007 Course: Designing a Successful Zero Energy Home in California
11/9/2007 Application Deadline: Climate Protection Grant Program
11/9/2007 San Francisco Green Festival
11/10/2007 Educational Adventure: "Native to the Americas"
11/10/2007 Workshop: Preparing Your Garden for Winter
11/10/2007 Volunteer: Save the Quails!
11/10/2007 Vegetarian Cooking Class: Thanksgiving for the Birds
11/10/2007 Volunteer: Shoreline Cleanup at Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park
11/10/2007 March and Rally to Stop Richmond Refinery Expansion
11/10/2007 Short Course: "Solar Power Basics for Residential Customers"
11/10/2007 Volunteer: Berryland on the Richmond Greenway
11/10/2007 Deadline: Call for Papers: Ecocity World Summit 2008
11/10/2007 Volunteer Orientation: Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge
11/10/2007 Workshop: Basket Weaving
11/10/2007 Workshop: Off-Grid Systems for Professionals
11/10/2007 Class: Pruning with Friends of the Urban Forest
11/10/2007 Volunteer: Russian Hill Tree Planting
11/10/2007 Volunteer with Save the Bay: Plant Natives at Santa Venetia Marsh
11/10/2007 Hike: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
11/11/2007 Workshop: Hands On Homebrewing
11/11/2007 Workshop: Survival Essentials
11/11/2007 Educational Adventure: Walnut Harvesting
11/11/2007 Volunteer: "Weekend Weed Warriors"

ECOLOGY CENTER EVENTS

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Fall Fruit Tasting at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market — An opportunity to sample for free, all at one table, the whole delicious range of Fall fruit varieties at the Berkeley Farmers' Market. There will be apples (Fuji, Crimson Gold, Pink Lady, Royal Gala, Golden Delicious, MacIntosh, Brae Burn, Granny Smith, Rome Beauty, Jonagold, etc.); Asian pears (Hosui, 20th Century, Shinko, Shinseiki, Yali, etc.); European pears (Bartlett, Olympic, Anjou, Kieffer, Warren,etc.), Fuyu persimmons, etc. Convenient public transportation, lot parking. One block from "Berkeley" BART station. Location: Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market, Center St. at MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-548-3333, http://ecologycenter.org/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Compost Give-Away at Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market — Free compost -- bring your own container. While supplies last. Location: Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market, Center St. at MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-548-3333, http://ecologycenter.org/ .

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Fall Fruit 'n' Fright at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers' Market — Fall Fruit 'n' Fright is the fourth event in a series celebrating 20 years of the Ecology Center's Berkeley Farmers' Markets. On the day before Halloween we enjoy pumpkin pie, carve pumpkins into jack 'o' lanterns, make costumes, and honor those that are no longer in the land of the living. Pumpkin Carving Contest - prizes (at 6pm) in many categories; either bring your pre-carved pumpkin from home or carve one on the spot; Free Costume Making - table by the East Bay Depot for Creative ReUse; Pumpkin Patch by People's Grocery: "Healthy Food for Everyone-Building a local food system that improves the health and economy of West Oakland"; Day of the Dead Altar by BAHIA (Bay Area Hispano Institute for Advancement) in honor of farmworkers, farmers, and food activists who have passed on; Pies by Mission Pie a project of the nonprofit Pie Ranch "a rural center for urban renewal"; Champurrado (sacred Aztec hot chocolate drink) by Flacos. Co-sponsored by the South Berkeley YMCA and the César Chávez Commemoration Committee. Tuesday Berkeley Farmers' Market is near Ashby BART and buses on MLK and Shattuck, street parking. Location: Tuesday Berkeley Farmers' Market, Derby St. at MLK, Jr. Way, Berkeley. Time: 3pm - 7pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-548-3333, http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/ .

Friday, November 2, 2007
Ecology Center Berkeley Farmers' Markets 20th Anniversary Benefit Dinner--SOLD OUT — Ecology Center Berkeley Farmers' Markets 20th Anniversary Benefit Dinner, with Special Guests Michael Pollan and Alice Waters. We are toasting two decades of bringing the community together, supporting family farms, supplying the finest restaurants, and fostering stewardship and equity in the food system! The program will feature renowned authors and food visionaries Michael Pollan and Alice Waters, and a retrospective slide presentation on the little farmers' market that birthed a thriving alternative food system in Berkeley. SOLD OUT! Location: Berkeley. Time: 7pm - 9:30pm. Cost: $125. Info: http://ecologycenter.org/bfm/events/20thdinner_home.html .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Introduction to Permaculture Design — Take some time during the rainy season to design your backyard, school or community garden. This workshop will cover ecological landscape design basics and will be held indoors at the Ecology Center. We'll include a slideshow to illustrate design concepts. The class is taught by Christopher Shein. Christopher runs Wildheart Gardens, an edible & native permaculture nursery, design and landscaping business in Oakland. He teaches at Merritt College, and helps run other urban agriculture projects. PLEASE CALL TO PRE-REGISTER. Location: Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley. Time: 10 am - 1 pm. Cost: $10 EC members, $15 others, no one turned away. Info: Beck, 510-548-2220 x233, erc@ecologycenter.org .

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Home Graywater Systems Slideshow & Tour - 10am — Learn about the first permitted residential constructed wetland graywater system at the EcoHouse. We will discuss the principles and process of safely irrigating with shower, bathroom sink, and laundry waste water. Workshop includes a 1 hour slide show presentation of graywater design and the application process. Return home with ideas and plans of your own! Limited seating during presentations so be sure to RSVP. Teachers: John Russell, Graywater Designer/ Babak Jacinto Tondre Graywater Co-Ordinator. Near North Berkeley BART. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. MUST RSVP by 5pm 11/2/07. Time: 10am - noon. Cost: $15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. Info: 510-548-2220 ext. 242, ecohouse@ecologycenter.org .

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Home Graywater Systems Slideshow & Tour - 1pm — Learn about the first permitted residential constructed wetland graywater system at the Ecohouse. We will discuss the principles and process of safely irrigating with shower, bathroom sink, and laundry waste water. Workshop includes a 1 hour slide show presentation of graywater design and the application process. Return home with ideas and plans of your own! Limited seating during presentations so be sure to RSVP. Teachers: John Russell, Graywater Designer/ Babak Jacinto Tondre Graywater Co-Ordinator. Near North Berkeley BART. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. MUST RSVP by 5pm 11/2/07. Time: 1pm - 3pm. Cost: $15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. Info: 510-548-2220 ext. 242, ecohouse@ecologycenter.org .

Monday, November 5, 2007
Presentation: Berkeley Biodiesel Collective — Monthly Biodiesel 101 Presentations. We hold monthly introductory presentations on the first Monday of (almost) every month at the Ecology Center. We'll be in the first door on the left, off the hallway that goes straight back. These presentations are for those who have had no contact with the collective, are new to Biodiesel, or know about biodiesel but are new to the area. We talk about biodiesel emissions, homebrewing, types of vehicles and commercial availability. Then we will talk about what our coop does, its history and vision. And, of course, we will talk about how to get involved with the BBC or other regional groups. We will try to answer any questions about biofuels and the local biofuels scene. Location: Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley. Time: 7:30pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-594-4000 x777, berkeleybiodiesel@yahoo.com , http://www.berkeleybiodiesel.org/bbc/ .

Sunday, November 18, 2007
Solar Hot Water Heater Workshop — Come learn the process of retrofitting a solar water heater on your house. A slideshow presentation and tour of the EcoHouse solar water heater system will be given. Workshop will be lead by Jon Christianson, Sun Light & Power. Location: EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., (enter via garden entrance on Peralta), Berkeley. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: $15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. Info: 510-548-2220 x242, ecohouse@ecologycenter.org .

Monday, December 3, 2007
Presentation: Berkeley Biodiesel Collective — Monthly Biodiesel 101 Presentations. We hold monthly introductory presentations on the first Monday of (almost) every month at the Ecology Center. We'll be in the first door on the left, off the hallway that goes straight back. These presentations are for those who have had no contact with the collective, are new to Biodiesel, or know about biodiesel but are new to the area. We talk about biodiesel emissions, homebrewing, types of vehicles and commercial availability. Then we will talk about what our coop does, its history and vision. And, of course, we will talk about how to get involved with the BBC or other regional groups. We will try to answer any questions about biofuels and the local biofuels scene. Location: Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley. Time: 7:30pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-594-4000 x777, berkeleybiodiesel@yahoo.com , http://www.berkeleybiodiesel.org/bbc/ .

Saturday, December 8, 2007
Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Crafts Fair — A benefit for the Ecology Center featuring beautiful and practical handmade gifts by local artisans. Located next to the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market with continuous live music. If you'd like to apply to be a vendor, download our application. Location: Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Center Street , Berkeley. Time: 10am - 4pm. Info: 510-548-3333, http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/ .

Sunday, December 9, 2007
Workshop: "Grow Edible Mushrooms at Home" — Take a slideshow tour of some amazing mushrooms of the Bay Area and learn how to grow edible mushrooms at home. Teacher: Babak Tondre. Hand's-on: bring extra newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, wax, cordless drills, drill bits, and leave with some mushrooms of your own! Location: EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., (enter via garden entrance on Peralta), Berkeley. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: $15 sliding scale: no one turned away for lack of funds. Info: 510-548-2220 ext. 242, ecohouse@ecologycenter.org .

Saturday, December 15, 2007
Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Crafts Fair — A benefit for the Ecology Center featuring beautiful and practical handmade gifts by local artisans. Located next to the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market with continuous live music. If you'd like to apply to be a vendor, download our application. Location: Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Center Street , Berkeley. Time: 10am - 4pm. Info: 510-548-3333, http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/ .

Saturday, December 22, 2007
Berkeley Farmers' Market Holiday Crafts Fair — A benefit for the Ecology Center featuring beautiful and practical handmade gifts by local artisans. Located next to the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market with continuous live music. If you'd like to apply to be a vendor, download our application. Location: Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Center Street , Berkeley. Time: 10am - 4pm. Info: 510-548-3333, http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/ .

ALL EVENTS

Through Sunday, October 28, 2007
Natural Building Colloquium in Texas — Scheduled slideshows and lectures will cover: Construction systems including: strawbale, earthbag, cob, roundwood framing, compressed earth block, adobe, Light-Clay-Straw, earthen plasters, rainwater harvesting; Philosophy and inspiration; Project planning; Owner-Builder Forum; and participant-directed offerings. Many Hands-on Natural Building Projects will also be featured. Details on presenters, registration, costs, meals and accommodations online. Come one weekend, two weekends or all ten days. Cost: $250-$735. Info: http://www.naturalbuildingtexas.org/ .

Through Sunday, October 28, 2007
United Nations Association Film Festival — United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) offers a unique opportunity for creative exchange and education among groups and individuals often separated by geography, ethnicity and economic constraints. UNAFF program includes hosting an annual international film festival at Stanford University October 24-28, with screenings in San Francisco on October 17 & 18, East Palo Alto on October 19, San Jose on October 21 and a Traveling Film Festival (TFF) in various locations in the US and abroad. The theme for 10th UNAFF is "Camera as Witness." The documentaries selected showcase topics from Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, France, Haiti, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Iran, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Macedonia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Norway, Palestine, Peru, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Spain, Sudan, Uganda, the UK, Ukraine, the US, Vietnam and Zambia. Info: 650-724-5544, info@unaff.org , http://www.unaff.org/ .

Through Sunday, November 25, 2007
Farallon Islands Nature Cruises 2007 — The Oceanic Society conducts all-day nature cruises to the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge each Saturday and Sunday from May to November. The refuge is the largest seabird rookery in the eastern Pacific south of Alaska; a quarter of a million birds nest there in the spring and summer. Most trips encounter marine mammals from sea lions and seals to humpback and blue whales. Reservations required; trips go rain or shine. Location: Oceanic Society Expeditions, Ft Mason Center #E-230, SF. Time: 8am - 4pm. Cost: $95; call for group rates. Info: 415-474-3385, http://www.oceanic-society.org .

Through Saturday, December 1, 2007
Eco-City Sketchbook Design Competition — Submit your single page sketch of a slice of life in the green city of tomorrow. The purpose of the Califia Sketchbook Design Competition is to express to a wide variety of people what life will be like in Califia, a proposed next generation eco-city in the SF Bay Area. People from around the world are invited to enter a conceptual sketch revealing smarter greener ways of building, powering, maintaining, and inhabiting the urban fabric. Register online. Info: http://www.greencenturyinstitute.org/sketchbook.html .

Through Tuesday, December 11, 2007
UC Berkeley Extension Sustainable Design Program Fall Schedule — Designed with the working professional in mind, this year-long program focuses on developing the mandated knowledge needed by architects, designers, builders, developers, project managers, and other decision makers who want to be leaders in the sustainable, cradle-to-cradle revolution now in progress. The professional program consists of two 10-week core curriculum courses, Principles of Sustainable Design and Practical Applications of Sustainable Design, and four six-week electives from a wide range of choices, for a total of eight semester units. There are two tracks: Track I serves the needs of architects, developers, and builders; Track II addresses the needs of interior architects and interior designers. Location: UC Berkeley Extension, 95 Third St, SF. Info: 415-284-1041, interiordes@unex.berkeley.edu , http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/profseq/sustain.html .

Through Monday, December 31, 2007
Volunteer in an Eco-City: Bahia de Caraquez, Equador — Planet Drum Foundation seeks volunteers for its Ecological City projects, through 12/2007. Work with a revegetation project, planting and maintaining native plants to reduce erosion and create habitats for birds and other animals. Join neighborhood efforts to learn and use ecological practices. Help in renewable energy development. Assist bioregional environmental education groups for children and adults. A background in environmental education and activities, Spanish language speaking ability, and cooperative living experience are desirable. However, willing hands and a desire to help restore our damaged biosphere are most important. Benefits include free accommodation in a large shared apartment, extraordinary beach and wilderness recreational activities, and opportunities to improve Spanish skills as well as experience tropical Ecuadorian culture. Please email a description of your qualifications and interests to Clay Plager-Unger, Field Projects Manager. Info: planetdrumecuador@yahoo.com , http://www.planetdrum.org/ .

Through Saturday, March 29, 2008
Volunteer Training: Bay Interpretive Training — Hands-on training sessions covering the history of the Bay, marine habitats, bayshore plant and animal life, and more, with an emphasis on teaching using artifacts and live animals. Location: Shorebird Park Nature Center, 160 University Ave, at the Marina, Berkeley. Cost: $49. Info: 510-981-6720, pdonald@ci.berkeley.ca.us , www.cityofberkeley.info/marina .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Workshop: Biodiesel Intensive — Biodiesel Intensive: From the Processor to the Pump. Biodiesel is becoming a hotter topic every day as oil prices continue to climb. There is currently not enough supply of biodiesel to meet consumer demand, creating opportunities for people interested in getting involved in the biodiesel industry. Find out how you can make your own biodiesel for use in your community, support local biodiesel co-ops, or start a small business in biodiesel distribution or retail. This workshop will offer hands-on building of biodiesel processors (the first five interested students who purchase the materials will get to take their processor home!). You will also learn about: Fuel procurement and quality testing; Hands-on equipment building, maintenance and plumbing; Taxes, permits,& zoning; Procuring a supply of vegetable oil; Developing your market; The U.S. biodiesel industry. In this valuable workshop taught by pioneers, activists, and experts in the biodiesel industry, you will gain essential skills to launch you into the burgeoning biodiesel market. Instructor Jennifer Radtke is a member of the Berkeley Biodiesel Collective, teaches classes on home-brewing biodiesel at her house in Oakland, and taught interns for the Eastbay Biodiesel Internship Program. She is co-owner of Biofuel Oasis. Register online. Location: Real Goods Solar Living Center, 13771 S. Highway 101, Hopland. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $360. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/ .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Hike/Talk: Muir Woods by Moonlight — Explore the magic of Muir Woods under a full moon and learn about the secret nightlife of an old-growth redwood forest. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Children under 8 years not advised. Less than two miles round-trip, flat and paved. Call for reservations and more information. Location: Muir Woods. Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Cost: free. Info: 415-388-2596, http://www.parksconservancy.org/calendar/index.asp?event=954 .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Forum: Discuss MTC's Transportation 2035 Plan — Bay Area residents will review aspects of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's long-range plan, Transportation 2035. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will also present findings. The discussion will include sessions on transportation, land use, equity, and climate protection. RSVP online. Location: Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland. Time: 8:30am - 2pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-817-5757, www.mtc.ca.gov .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Electronics, Medicine and Thermometer Recycling Event — Bring your e-waste, unwanted medicines, and mercury devices and thermometers for safe disposal or exchange. Carry thermometers in two plastic zipper bags. Check website for items accepted. Location: UC Berkeley Cal Overstock and Surplus Den, 1000 Folger Ave, at San Pablo, Berkeley. Time: 7am - 3pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-642-1186, sreckler@berkeley.edu , overstock.berkeley.edu .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Free Compost for Berkeley Residents — Weather permitting. First priority is given to Berkeley Unified School District and Berkeley Community Gardens. Tractor operator on site between 8:45am-11:45am. General public (self-serve), 11:45am-2:45pm. Please complete sign-in log before loading compost. Location: Berkeley Marina Maintenance Yard, 201 University Ave, Next to Adventure Playground, Berkeley. Time: 8:45am - 2:45pm. Info: 510-981-6660.

Friday, October 26, 2007
Reality Tour: Delegation to Oaxaca with Global Exchange — Participants will be in Oaxaca during Day of the Dead celebration, a week-long festival dating back to the Aztecs. As a result of neo-liberal economic policies, Oaxaca exports a large number of migrants every year to northern Mexico and the United States. In spite of government development programs which favor international corporate interests over local needs, Oaxacans maintain a vital culture of struggle and resistance based in local indigenous traditions--Oaxaca has the largest indigenous population of any Mexican state, with 16 different indigenous groups. Women are often at the forefront of these struggles, organizing themselves and their communities to fight repression and leading the efforts to revitalize languages and culture. In this delegation we will examine the effects of globalization on Oaxaca firsthand by speaking with local social organizations and indigenous leaders as well as visiting indigenous communities. We will speak with migrant organizations, indigenous women leaders, and learn about the repercussions of resort tourism development for local people. Price includes: accommodations, two meals per day, transportation to and from all programmed activities, guides and translators, a qualified trip leader, all program activities, donations to the organizations we visit and relevant reading materials. Register online or call or email for more info. Cost: $1250, not including international airfare. Info: 415-575-5523, cristina@globalexchange.org , http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/632.html .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Film and Discussion: "Sentenced Home" — Screening and discussion of "Sentenced Home", a documentary about Cambodian Americans being deported for crimes they committed as youth and already served time for in the U.S. Scheduled panelists include Joren Lyons, staff attorney, Asian Law Caucus; Many Uch (one of the men featured in the film); and filmmaker Nicole Newnham. Refreshments served. Location: Eastside Arts Alliance, 2277 International Blvd., Oakland. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: free, donations welcome. Info: http://www.eastsideartsalliance.com/ .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Book Talk: "Under the Dragon: California's New Culture" — Lonny Shavelson and Fred Setterberg present their book, Under the Dragon: California's New Culture. They believe that the old paradigm of the melting pot and phrases like "ethnic diversity" can no longer describe the freedom with which more and more Americans are modifying and assimilating cultural elements across ethnic lines. Under the Dragon explores how individuals are building their own identities from an increasingly diverse pool. Slides accompany the talk (the Oakland Museum will mount an exhibition of photographs from the book in early 2008 as well). Location: Cody's Books (West Berkeley), 1730 Fourth St., Berkeley. Time: 7pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-559-9500, http://www.codysbooks.com .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Discussion: Suppression of Dissent in the U.S. — The Suppression of Dissent in the United States - With Jules Boykoff, Katya Komisaruk and a Representative of the SF-8. Eight former Black Panthers were arrested earlier this year on charges related to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer. Similar charges had been thrown out in 1973, after it was revealed that police used torture to extract confessions from some of the same men. Repression of social movements is far from unusual in the United States. Please join us for an evening of discussion about the history and current reality of government repression of dissent, and how activists can combat it. Donations benefit the SF8 Defense. This event is presented by AK Press and cosponsored by New College Center for Education and Social Action. Location: New College Theater, 777 Valencia St., SF. Time: 7pm. Cost: $5-$10 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. Info: 510-208-1700, info@akpress.org , http://www.akpress.org/events/event2 .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Workshop: Cleaning Up Our Waterways — The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water is hosting a workshop on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process and the community struggles that our members have encountered while fighting to clean up of our waterways. "In 1975 Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) in order to protect our water resources and the beneficial uses they provide. The ultimate goals of the Clean Water Act are identifying U.S. waterways that are impaired by one or more contaminants, stopping further pollution, and cleaning up contamination that has already occurred. One tool that the CWA provides is the TMDL (total maximum daily load) process, by which states develop clean-up plans for impaired waters." Andria Ventura, Clean Water Action. This workshop will provide community perspectives on the TMDL process and a forum to discuss new approaches for moving forward. RSVP by email. Location: Women's Building, 3543 18th St., between Valencia & Guerrero, SF. Time: 10am - 3:30pm. Info: miriam.ejcw@gmail.com , http://www.ejcw.org/ .

Friday, October 26, 2007
Film: The War at Home — In advance of the Anti-War March this Saturday, Activism & Social Change will be showing this acclaimed documentary. The War at Home reveals what happened in Madison, Wisconsin during most of the 1960s and the early '70s when students and the community began to protest the Vietnam War. The film chronicles the awakening and growth of the Vietnam protest movement in the United States, from a handful of politically active students, to the street confrontations at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, to the killings at Kent State. Through both newsreel and current footage, we follow participants from all sides - students, police, and political figures of the time - as they face each other in growing confrontation. Location: New College Cultural Center, 766 Valencia St., between 18th and 19th, SF. Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm.

Friday, October 26, 2007 - Saturday, October 27, 2007
Media Accountability Conference and Awards — Thom Hartmann, Jeremy Scahill and a host of independent investigative journalists will be at Sonoma State University for Project Censored's annual Media Accountability Conference and Awards Ceremony. Friday evening features journalists Jeremy Scahill, Robert Parry, Frank Morales and Mike Whitney discussing the media's tepid response to recent erosions of our civil liberties. Throughout the day on Saturday, panelists will present and discuss some of the great investigative reports featured in the Censored 2008 Top 25 under-covered stories of the year. Register online. Location: Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Cost: $20-$70. Info: 707-664-3160, http://www.projectcensored.org/conference/07Confsite.htm .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Fundraiser: Oakland Food Connection — The Oakland Food Connection, a non profit dedicated to the fight for food justice by promoting healthier living amongst Oakland's low income residents, will hold a fundraiser to celebrate the opening of their new office in the Laurel district. This all day event will feature guest speakers, educationally fun nutritional demonstrations and workshops as well as a Halloween themed night for both youth and adults. Nutrition consciousness demonstrations and workshops will begin at 10am and end at 5pm. The youth portion of the event will commence at 7:30pm and will feature live music. This will be a great opportunity for the youth to have fun while also learning about food justice and the campaign for healthier and sustainable living. The adult portion of the event will begin at 11pm and will also feature live music. Funds raised will assist OFC with programming and ensure continued operation. Location: 4173 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland. Time: 10am - 11pm. Cost: donations welcome. Info: 510-290-0520, silentbutdefiant@gmail.com , http://www.foodcommunityculture.org/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Really Really Free Market — This month the Really Really Free Market will be resisting the destruction of life for profit through war by doing what we always do - sharing, community building, and creating consciousness. One might say we are demonstrating an alternative to the capitalist war machine and the economy of scarcity. What is the Really Really Free Market you might ask? The Really Really Free Market is like a potluck for whatever you want to give or take away. Have you ever brought one dish to a potluck and gone away with a full belly and a balanced meal? Everybody brings something and goes away with more. Location: Dolores Park, between 19th & 20th, SF. Time: 1pm - 5pm. Cost: free. Info: http://www.reallyreallyfree.org .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Workshop: Advanced Grid-Tied PV — This advanced course is intended for professionals or owners/builders who have significant background in PV and electricity. This course may also be taken by non-professionals who have completed PV 201. The lecture portion will contain an intensive review of topics covered in 201 with additional detail on code issues and system configurations. This course will focus on: National Electric Code; Commercial three-phase systems; Trouble shooting; Inverter programming; Automation of back up generators in a battery-based system. There will also be more focus on case studies and system selection based on circumstances. In the hands-on portion we will assemble a battery-based system and program the system. As a small advanced class there will be some room to customize the extent to which we will cover various topics based on participants' preferences. Take this course along with PV 201: Intro to PV Design and Installation, 10/25-26/07, for a four-day, comprehensive introduction to grid-tied PV. Prerequisite: PV 201 or equivalent experience. Instructors: Doug Livingston and Ryan LeBlanc. Doug worked for Real Goods as a solar systems project engineer for eight years. He now works as an independent consultant, designing and installing solar and hydroelectric systems locally and internationally, and works on various aspects of the California Energy Commission's Renewable Energy programs. Ryan is a full time resident renewable energy instructor at the Solar Living Institute and founder of Natural Energy Works. He has been a renewable energy system designer, installer and consultant for over six years. Register online. Location: Real Goods Solar Living Center, 13771 S. Highway 101, Hopland. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $240. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Volunteer: Mission Tree Care with Friends of the Urban Forest — Learn the tricks of the pros and the science of trees by working on trees planted by FUF either 3 years or 18 months ago. Meeting location: Muddy Waters Coffee Shop, Valencia near 16th Street. Rain cancels. RSVP by phone. Location: SF. Time: 9am - 12:30pm. Info: 415-561-6890 ext.102, http://www.fuf.net/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Workshop: Tree Selection and Care — Learn the basic principles and concepts that will help you choose the most appropriate trees for your growing conditions. The pros and cons of popular trees will be discussed. The rationale behind where and how one prunes will be covered, featuring bits of tree biology and architecture. Learn how plant placement and pruning techniques can promote successful, beautiful and low maintenance landscapes. Selection of proper pruning tools will be reviewed. Instructor Kevin Raftery is a Certified Arborist with a degree in horticulture and helps us select the best tools to stock. He has been associated with Common Ground for almost 35 years! Common Ground is a project of the 501 (c) (3) non-profit Ecology Action. Register by phone. Location: Common Ground, 559 College Ave, Palo Alto. Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm. Cost: $35. Info: 650-493-6072, http://www.commongroundinpaloalto.org/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Volunteer: Collect Native Plant Seeds with Save the Bay — Collect Native Plant Seeds at Santa Venetia Marsh (San Rafael). Site Partner: Marin County Open Space District. Learn about this unique wetland site while collecting alkali heath and gumplant for this winter's planting season. Other activities include planting native plants, non-native plant removal and watering. RSVP by phone or email. Location: Santa Venetia Marsh, San Rafael. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 510-452-9261 ext. 119, bayevents@savesfbay.org , http://www.savesfbay.org .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Volunteer: CFL Distribution Campaign -- San Jose — In partnership with the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, Acterra is recruiting volunteers who enjoy door-to-door canvassing. Volunteers will work in selected neighborhoods of Sunnyvale and San Jose, giving away free Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) and engaging residents in a short conversation about energy conservation. Acterra will provide training to volunteers the morning of the event. The training will include information about CFLs and how they reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Green Challenge Event: CFL Distribution in San Jose. 8:30am - 9:15am: Registration at Southside Community Center Multipurpose Room; 9:15am - 9:30am: Training at Southside Community Center Multipurpose Room; 9:30am - 11:45am: Green Challenge Neighborhood Canvassing; 12 noon - 1:00pm: Debrief and Refreshments at Southside Community Center Multipurpose Room. This event is sponsored by Acterra, the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, and PG&E Climate Smart. Register online. Location: Southside Community Center, 5585 Cottle Rd, San José. Time: 8:30am - 1pm. Info: 408-247-1126 x327, development@vcsv.us , http://tinyurl.com/yq83nc .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
March: "Bring the Troops Home Now" — March to Dolores Park to end the war and bring the troops home. Sponsored by a broad coalition of peace and justice organizations. Location: San Francisco Civic Center Plaza, SF. Time: 11am. Info: http://www.oct27sf.org .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Educational Adventure: Walnut Harvesting — Millions of squirrels can't be wrong: walnuts are great, and harvesting them is fun! We'll trek through the walnut orchard and harvest the old-fashioned way. Location: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. Time: 10:30am - 11:30am. Info: 510-796 - 0199.

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Volunteer: CFL Distribution Campaign -- Sunnyvale — In partnership with the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, Acterra is recruiting volunteers who enjoy door-to-door canvassing. Volunteers will work in selected neighborhoods of Sunnyvale and San Jose, giving away free Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) and engaging residents in a short conversation about energy conservation. Acterra will provide training to volunteers the morning of the event. The training will include information about CFLs and how they reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Green Challenge Event: CFL Distribution in Sunnyvale: 8:30am - 9:15am: Registration at Lakewood Park; 9:15am - 9:30am: Training; 9:30am - 11:45am: Green Challenge Neighborhood Canvassing; 12 noon - 1:00pm: Debrief and Refreshments. This event is sponsored by Acterra, the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, PG&E Climate Smart, Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association, and Cool Cities Sunnyvale. Register online. Location: Lakewood Park, 834 Lakechime Drive, Sunnyvale. Time: 8:30am - 1pm. Info: 408-247-1126 x327, development@vcsv.us , http://tinyurl.com/yqo6yf .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Talk: Wildly Successful Plants — We are very fortunate to have local Mediterranean Garden Society member, Pam Peirce, speaking for our Branch. A well-known author (Golden Gate Gardening) and environmental horticulture instructor at SF City College, Pam will base her talk upon her latest book Wildly Successful Plants: Northern California. This wonderful book explores 50 plants that survive with little or no care in regional gardens. They offer drought tolerance, deer resistance, year-round bloom, and other choice features. Pam also addresses issues of management, removal, and preventing wildland invasion. After her talk, we will have light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the speaker and other MGS members. Copies of our Garden Resource Guide for Northern California will also be available for an additional donation. Location: Orinda Library, 24 Orinda Way, Orinda. Time: 1:30pm. Cost: $10 donation requested. Info: http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/branches-us-cal-north.html .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Educational Adventure: "Science for Tykes: Scatology and Signs" — Budding scientists ages 4-8 and their families are invited to a science program to delve into doo-doo, tricky tracks and secretive signs as we investigate the elusive creatures of the wilderness. Registration required. Location: Sunol. Time: 2pm - 3:30pm. Cost: $6 (($8 non-residents). Info: 888-327-2757.

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Muir Woods Centennial Walk — Have we been preserving or conserving this ancient old-growth forest of California coast redwoods? Join Evelyn Rose for this moderate two-mile round trip walk through Redwood Canyon. We'll review the history of Muir Woods and view historical photographs to discover how changes instituted over the past 100 years have impacted the Monument. Call for information and reservations. Location: Muir Woods National Monument. Time: 9am - noon. Cost: free. Info: 415-388-2596, http://www.parksconservancy.org/calendar/index.asp?event=957 .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Railroad Corridor Charrette — The American Institute of Architects, East Bay will facilitate a charrette for the Pittsburg Railroad Corridor (on Railroad Blvd.). The charrette will focus on a critical corridor that will serve as the connective tissue between a future eBART station and the highly active downtown redevelopment area. This initiative will seek solutions and input from community participants, architects and other design professionals for a mixed-use area comprising public parks, low-density housing, small-business buildings and the north-south Railroad Avenue transportation corridor. AIA East Bay welcomes and encourages all A/E/C professionals—and the public—to participate. Materials, coffee and meals will be provided. Register by phone. Location: Elks Lodge, 200 Marina Blvd, Pittsburg. Time: 8am - 5:30pm. Info: 510-464-3600, http://www.aiaeb.org/charrette.htm .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Service: "Computer Recycling" — Elephant Pharmacy and Computer Recycling Center present the Summer is Easy! Event in the new Elephant parking lot. Bring any ancient computer equipment (or even a big old console TV). We'll have recycling pros on hand to help keep bad stuff out of landfills! Small fee for recycling hard drives. Location: Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. Time: 10am - 2pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-549-9200, http://www.elephantpharm.com .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Alemany Farm Harvest Festival — Alemany Farm is hosting its 3rd Annual Harvest Festival. Hear pedal-powered music, see the Farm in its autumn beauty and bring a pot-luck dish to share. Location: Alemany Farm, Alemany Blvd. at Ellsworth St., SF. Time: noon - 5pm. Info: 415-577-7980, http://www.alemanyfarm.org/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Educational Adventure: "Beans, Beans, and More Beans" — Our pole and bush beans are ready for harvest. The pods are brown and the seeds are plump! Help harvest and take a few home for your garden. Location: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. Time: 1pm - 2pm. Info: 510-796 - 0199.

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Conference: How To Make The World A Better Place — Talks and Workshops presented by people who have made social and environmental change in the world and are willing to share their knowledge with people who want to learn! No matter what your passion is, this one day of training will extend your skills, rev up your engine, and open opportunities for change-makers. Workshops will include techniques necessary for making change including: Leadership, Public Speaking, Promotion, Writing, Community Organizing, Peaceful Protest, Art for change, Conflict Resolution, Dealing with Diversity, and much more. At the end of the day, people will gather by passion (Peacemaking, Environment, Hunger and Homelessness, etc.) You will leave having new friends to work with in your quest to make change! Location: Two neighboring church facilities near the corner of Hollenbeck and Fremont in Sunnyvale: The Presbyterian Church of Sunnyvale, 728 W. Fremont Ave., and the Church of the Resurrection, 1399 Hollenbeck Ave. Registration required. Register online. Location: Sunnyvale. Time: 8:30am - 5pm. Cost: $20. Info: 408-279-0220, maketheworldbetter@sanjosepby.org , http://www.sanjosepby.org/HowToMakeTheWorldABetterPlace.htm .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Volunteer: Quail Habitat Restoration — Restoration workday. Meet at parking lot at corner of Sunset Blvd. and Lake Merced Blvd. Location: Harding Park, SF. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 510-843-7295, mmartin@goldengateaudubon.org .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Class: "On-Road Instruction for Bicyclists" — 6-hour on-road course provides an opportunity to put into practice what was learned in the Day 1 Street Skills class, including emergency maneuvers and riding in various traffic conditions, to test your knowledge of vehicular cycling skills. Bicycle and completion of Day 1 class required for Day Two. Register by phone or email. Location: MTC Conference Room, 101 Eighth St., at Lake Merritt BART, Oakland. Time: 9am - 4pm. Cost: Free. Info: 510-548-7433, dcampbel@lmi.net , http://www.ebbc.org/ .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Workshop: "Gardening to Manage Pests Naturally" — Control pests without the use of pesticides. Attract beneficial insects to your garden. Discover least-toxic methods for managing common garden pests such as snails, slugs, aphids and yellow jackets. Location: Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont. Time: 10am - 1pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-444-7645, http://www.bayfriendly.org .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Workshop: Hillside Permaculture II: Swales and Perennial Food Cropping — Join the Garden's second hands-on workshop with Christopher Shein to learn about and build swales -- a permaculture design element to catch and store water for planting and to prevent soil erosion (the first is on 10/13). This workshop will focus on plant selection for swales, including perennial food cropping. Part of Garden for the Environment's Resource-Efficient Landscaping Education Program. Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave., @ Lawton St., SF. Time: 10am - 2pm. Cost: free. Info: 415-731-5627, info@gardenfortheenvironment.org , http://www.gardenfortheenvironment.org .

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Educator Workshop: Watching for Wildlife — Help your students track wildlife by identifying the clues animals leave behind. Participants will learn to cast plaster tracks, create bird silhouettes, and find signs of wildlife. Location: Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Drive , Walnut Creek. Time: 1pm - 3:30pm. Cost: $25. Info: 510-665-3546, www.thewatershedproject.org .

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Liberation Permaculture Open Space Conference — T.A.Z. infrastructure, DIY skillshare, green your satyagraha, art binge. Social justice- earth revival marriage ceremony. Participants define agenda. "Divergent reasoning, on the other hand, enables a person to arrive at a previously unknown solution. Instead of thoughts of concrete things patiently following one another in a beaten track of habitual suggestion, we have the most abrupt cross-cuts and transitions from one idea to another unheard of combinations of elements, the subtlest associations of analogy. We seem suddenly introduced into a seething cauldron of ideas where partnerships can be joined or loosened treadmill routine is unknown and the unexpected is the only law." Concurrent with the Really, Really Free Market at the Oak Grove -- Come and create a truly alternative economy: Sharing! As globalized capitalism consumes more of the earth everyday, let's answer with creative resistance! This event is made by and for us/you. Bring anything that you have that could be useful to others. Location: Memorial Oak Grove, East side of UC campus just off of Gayley Road, Berkeley. Time: 2pm.

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Hike: "Rich Oaks and Riparian Forests of Morgan Territory" — See fall color on many of the deciduous trees. We'll make a hiking loop down a canyon and back along a hilly ridge for four to five miles total. Meet at the parking lot. Bring lunch. Registration required. Location: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, 9401 Morgan Territory Road, Livermore. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: $55. Info: 510-841-8732, http://www.nativeplants.org .

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Benefit Concert for the Labyrinth Walk — Concert/Labyrinth Walk with musician Margie Adam and special guest, Lauren Artress. Benefit for Berkeley Marina labyrinth installation. Location: Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave, Berkeley. Time: 4pm - 6:30pm. Cost: $30 at door, $25 advance, $15 student. Info: 510-526-7377, http://www.margieadam.com/ .

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Tour: Ohlone Village Site — We'll discuss the cultural traditions that enabled the Tuibun to thrive here for more than 2,000 years, and introduce you to Ohlone cultures today. Ages 8+. Registration required. Location: Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont. Time: 10am - noon. Cost: $18 (non-res $20). Info: 888-327-2757, option 2, 3.

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Interfaith Convocation on Climate Change — Growing out of Palo Alto's "Green Ribbon" task force, Acterra is joining with other civic and religous leaders to convene this interfaith dialogue on climate change. Climate destabilization is a moral issue for our times. The Mid-Peninsula Interfaith Convocation on Climate Action offers clergy and lay leaders the tools and support they need to make climate care an active part of their ministries and their congregational life. 2pm - 4pm - Information Fair and Refreshments, 4pm - 6pm - Speakers and Program. Advance registration by email or phone required. Location: Congregation Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave, Palo Alto. Time: 2pm - 6pm. Cost: free. Info: 650-948-7498, lerman@earthlink.net , http://interfaithconvocation.googlepages.com/home .

Monday, October 29, 2007
Discussion: "Environmental Heroes of the Pacific Rim" — Russia is home to twenty percent of the world's forests and freshwater. China is one of the world's largest consumers and its top contributor of CO2 emissions. Together, they make up a third of the Pacific Rim. How are local community leaders addressing environmental issues in China and Russia, and how are their successes resonating on this edge of the Pacific Rim? Join members of Pacific Environment to learn more. Location: Women's Building, 3543 18th St., between Valencia & Guerrero, SF. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: $10 suggested donation. Info: 415-399-8850, http://tinyurl.com/26lz99 .

Monday, October 29, 2007
Lecture: Richard T. T. Forman on "Urban Regions: Ecology/Planning..." — The lecture focuses on a Boston suburb, the Barcelona region, and worldwide patters. Professor Forman teaches ecological courses in the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His expertise includes landscape ecology, road ecology, land-use planning, and, more broadly, spatial arrangements for nature and people on the land. 112 Wurster Hall. Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley. Time: 7pm - 8:30pm. Cost: Free. Info: http://www-laep.ced.berkeley.edu/laep/index.html .

Monday, October 29, 2007
Idealist.org Grad School Fair — Explore "graduate degrees for the public good" with representatives of 118 graduate programs in environmental sciences, global and public health, social work, urban planning, and other disciplines. Register online to attend. Location: Nob Hill Masonic Center, 1111 California Street, SF. Time: 5pm - 8pm. Cost: free. Info: http://tinyurl.com/2uord9 .

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sneak Preview: "King Corn" — King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, nitrogen fertilizers, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America's most-productive, most subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat - and how we farm. The film will be followed by a conversation between the filmmakers and UC-Berkeley journalism professor Michael Pollan. Location: Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street, at Arch, Berkeley. Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Cost: free. Info: http://www.agrariana.org/ .

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Benefit Screening and Reception: "SHARKWATER" — SHARKWATER takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world's shark populations. In an effort to protect sharks, director Rob Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Their adventure together results in pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, forcing them to flee for their lives. Through it all, Stewart discovers these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how if something is not done to protect them, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed and the barbaric practice of shark finning. Special 6pm VIP Reception & Film admission available for $50. Screening immediately followed by Q&A with director Rob Stewart. Purchase advance tickets online. Location: Roxie Cinema, 3117 16th St., at Valencia, SF. Time: 7:30pm. Cost: $15. Info: sharkwatersf@yahoo.com , http://www.roxie.com/ .

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Workshop: PV Design and Installation Boot Camp for Beginners — This intensive, five-day course just might be the toughest PV training course you'll ever love. This workshop provides a great foundation for those looking to find employment in the ever expanding PV market, as well as for handy homeowners who want an immersion in the concepts, as well as the nuts and bolts, of grid-tied PV. This workshop covers the material in PV 101, 102, and 201, and culminates in a tour of solar-powered homes in the Hopland area. Even if you know nothing about PV, this workshop will give you the knowledge and confidence to begin to tackle your own grid-tied PV installation. You will learn: Basics of electricity and PV; Energy efficiency; Equipment selection and system components; Overview of financial payback; Safety; Site analysis; System sizing; Pole, ground, and roof-mounting; Hands-on training and practice wiring and mounting arrays. Students will receive a course manual and other resource materials, all of which are included in the tuition fee. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in. Instructors: Alex Aragon, Doug Livingston, and Ryan LeBlanc. Register online. Location: Real Goods Solar Living Center, 13771 S. Highway 101, Hopland. Time: 8:30am - 5:30pm. Cost: $695. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/workshops/ .

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Talk: Demystifying Green: Design, Materials & Product Selection — An overview of reputable resources on green design and materials selection for home remodeling and building projects. This presentation is relevant to homeowners, as well as designers and builders. Attendees will learn about useful websites, publications, programs, and other resources and online tools that help streamline the green building research process. Materials-related resources that will be discussed include green product directories, product certifications, and materials selection criteria. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and share their recommendations. Speaker: Miriam Landman. Location: Green Fusion Design Center, 14 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. Time: 6:30pm - 8pm. Cost: free. Info: http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/ .

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Film: "Clove" — A short film by Andrea Young, "Clove" is a portrait of Chester Aaron's passion for garlic and writing. Born in 1923, Aaron saw combat in WWII, published his first novel in 1967, and taught at St. Mary's College until 1997. He grows 93 different varieties of garlic on his farm in Occidental, California. Location: La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. Time: 7:30pm. Cost: $0-$10 sliding scale. Info: 510-849-2568 , http://www.lapena.org/event/588 .

Thursday, November 1, 2007
Build It Green Home Tour Awards & Mixer — Join Build It Green Members, Sponsors, Staff, Board and Friends for Hors d'oeuvres, Drinks and Fun! Celebrate the success of the San Francisco Green Home Tour and network with Build It Green members, green building professionals, and green building enthusiasts throughout SF! Awards for Green Building Excellence will be presented for the Best Renovation and Best Multifamily Construction, along with the People's Choice and Most Visited Home Awards. Admission includes hors d'oeuvres and one drink ticket. Pre-register online. Location: Pacific Energy Center, 851 Howard St., between 4th & 5th, SF. Time: 5pm - 7pm. Cost: $25 at door, $20 in by 10/31/07, $15 BIG members. Info: 510-845-0472 ext. 106, http://www.builditgreen.org/registration/index.cfm?fuseaction=events .

Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tour: Green Town Homes -- Florence Lofts — Architect Steve Sheldon, who has over 30 years of green building experience, will be offering private tours of Florence Lofts, the new green live/work town homes in Sebastopol. The town homes meet one of the highest levels of LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and feature environmentally friendly building materials, water conservation through gray water reuse, solar power, and more. Location: Sebastopol. Info: 888-201-8608, info@ibisbuilds.com , http://www.ibisbuilds.com/ .

Thursday, November 1, 2007
Application Deadline: Grants to Restore Impaired Surface Water — The State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Financial Assistance is now accepting applications for the Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Program to support projects throughout the State to restore impaired surface waters through the control of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Applicants must submit their application using the State Water Board's on-line Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST). Details and registration form available online. Time: 5pm. Info: 916-341-5822, jrizzardo@waterboards.ca.gov , http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/funding/319h.html .

Thursday, November 1, 2007
Workshop: Payback: The Financial Case for Solar — Most customers know that solar electric is a good environmental choice, but few are aware that it can also be a remarkably sound investment. This interactive workshop is designed to help dealers, installers, and salespeople make the most accurate and compelling financial case possible for the value of PV systems. Register online. Location: Redwood City. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $180. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/ .

Thursday, November 1, 2007
Lecture: Angela Davis, "From Jim Crow to Guantanamo: Prisons, Democracy and Empire" — Angela Davis, social activist and professor of History of Consciousness and of Feminist Studies at UC Santa Cruz will deliver the eleventh annual Mario Savio Memorial Lecture in Pauley Ballroom, Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Center. Davis draws on her own experiences and extensive research to discuss the criminalization of communities affected by poverty and racial discrimination. Going beyond the notion of reforming the "prison industrial complex," she now challenges audiences to think seriously about the future possibility of a world without prisons. Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley. Time: 6:30pm - 9pm. Cost: free. Info: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/events/details.php?ID=412 .

Friday, November 2, 2007
Workshop: PV 311 Breakthrough Solar Sales and Marketing — Are you or your solar sales and marketing team achieving breakthrough performance? In this intensive and interactive workshop, experienced PV salesperson and marketer Andy Black will share his secrets for setting up a solid sales team, then put them on the road to creating and closing business in the solar industry. This class is for both solar salespeople and sales management/owners. You will learn how to build positive relationships with clear and fair agreements so that each party can avoid lost business opportunities, lost assets, and expensive trips to the lawyer. Maximize your sales effectiveness and marketing opportunities with interactive and take-home examples of the processes and tools that Andy has developed and successfully used for 6+ years. This unique workshop is worth way more than its price. The strategic insights you'll glean from this course will save and/or earn you thousands in avoided mistakes and increased sales. This course qualifies for NABCEP continuing education credit. Prerequisite: PV212. Register online. Location: Redwood City. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $240. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/workshops/ .

Friday, November 2, 2007 - Sunday, November 18, 2007
International Latino Film Festival — The eleventh annual International Latino Film Festival presents more than 100 films at seventeen locations around the Bay Area and in Sacramento. Features include "638 Ways to Kill Castro" documenting the CIA's attempts on the Cuban leader's life; "The City of Photographers," on Chilean photographers' resistance to the Pinochet regime; and "So, What's Your Price?", which explores the absurd cultural relationship between the United States and Mexico. Full festival details available online. Info: http://www.latinofilmfestival.org .

Friday, November 2, 2007
Lecture: "Before the Rainbow Flag: California's Gay History" — From the Amazonian Queen Califia, whose name the state bears, to the evolution of same-sex relationships, California has always been a harbinger of sexual bohemia. Jim Van Buskirk, former director of the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center at the SF Public Library, will trace the rich histories of California's sexual minorities. Location: Oakland Museum of CA, 1000 Oak St., @ 10th St., Oakland. Time: 7:30pm. Cost: free with museum admission. Info: 510-238-2200, http://www.museumca.org/ .

Friday, November 2, 2007
Keyline Design Workshop with Darren Doherty — What is biological wealth? Healthy forests, fertile soils, abundant waterways and seas -- has any great nation been built without these? As we degrade and treat them as throw-aways, can we expect a prosperous future for our families and children? Is a sustainable system for agriculture possible that enhances rather than depletes our natural environment? In this workshop, the concept of Keyline Design -- a design system that restores and regenerates landscapes and water resources -- will be explored with Darren Doherty from Australia. Keyline Design is a complete design system for landscapes. It is applicable to both rural and urban designs. It is a unique combination of water conservation and soil building, with great appeal to both farmers and ranchers, as it has the ability to build and regenerate degraded soils rapidly, and sees the use of grazing animals as beneficial to this process. Lunch included. Registration info online. Location: Two Rock Fire Hall, 7618 Valley Ford Road, Petaluma. Cost: $275. Info: 415-868-9681, info@regenerativedesign.org , http://www.regenerativedesign.org/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Point Reyes Field Seminar: The Wonderful World of Wild Mushrooms — Mushrooms are an often overlooked but essential component of our natural landscapes. Learn to find and appreciate them with Debbie Viess, an engaging Bay Area biologist. Examples of edible, inedible, and poisonous mushrooms will be shared through an illustrated lecture and hands-on classroom material, followed by an walk through the Point Reyes landscape. Location: Point Reyes National Seashore, Pt. Reyes Station. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: $55/$49 members. Info: 415-663-1200, http://www.ptreyes.org .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: Restore Wetlands at Eden Landing — Restore Wetlands at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (Hayward) with Save The Bay. Help restore this former salt pond to tidal wetlands by collecting native plant seeds and removing non native plants. Once the rain starts, we will start planting at this site! Site Partner: California Department of Fish & Game. RSVP online, by phone or by email. Location: Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, Hayward. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 510-452-9261 x119, bayevents@savesfbay.org , http://www.savesfbay.org/site/pp.asp?c=dgKLLSOwEnH&b=474297 .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: Collect Native Plant Seeds at Baylands Preserve — Collect Native Plant Seeds at Baylands Preserve (Palo Alto) with Save The Bay/ We need your help collecting purple needlegrass and bee plant seeds and, if it has rained, this could be our first planting project of the season! Other projects include transplanting native plants and removing non-native plants. Site Partner: City of Palo Alto. RSVP online, by phone or by email. Location: Palo Alto. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 510-452-9261 x119, bayevents@savesfbay.org , http://www.savesfbay.org/site/pp.asp?c=dgKLLSOwEnH&b=474297 .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Guided Hike in the Lower Redwood Creek Watershed — Learn more about stream hydrology on this guided hike of the Lower Redwood Creek watershed. Sponsored by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Location: Muir Beach Parking Lot, Muir Beach. Time: 10am - noon. Cost: free. Info: 415-561-4859.

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Workshop: Urban Composting — Join Garden for the Environment for a fun, hands-on workshop teaching methods for the basics of both backyard and worm composting! Composting is the most basic form of conservation and it is so simple! Learn what you can do to save money, save resources, reduce waste, and help the environment. Discover how to turn those food scraps or fallen leaves and garden debris into "black gold", helping build soil for the next season. Pre-register by phone. Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave., @ Lawton St., SF. Time: 10am - noon. Cost: free. Info: 415-731-5627, info@gardenfortheenvironment.org , http://www.gardenfortheenvironment.org/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Richmond Shoreline Festival — The Richmond Shoreline Festival will celebrate Richmond's 33 miles of beautiful Bay shoreline and encourage local residents to explore their shoreline and park resources. The festival will include interpretive hikes, bird-watching, music, speakers, informational displays by community and environmental groups, children's activities, and a BBQ. Location: Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park, Richmond. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: free. Info: 415-693-3000 x109, http://www.shorelineacademy.org/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Benefit Brunch with People's Grocery — Join us for Harvesting Justice 2007, a heartfelt presentation and an occasion to partner with People's Grocery in building a healthy and just food system in the West Oakland community. Doors open at 10am. Childcare is provided. Reception to follow. Location: Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Time: 10:30am - 11:45am. Cost: no charge, donations welcome. Info: 510-652-7607, malaika@peoplesgrocery.org , http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Orientation: Clem Miller Environmental Education Center — Attend our free orientation and tour where you will learn how to plan your own low-cost 3- or 5-day residential program at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center. Take a guided tour of cabins, the main lodge, and grounds. See demonstrations of environmental education activities that engage students. Learn about available teaching resources at the Center and in the Park. This orientation and tour is suggested - but not required - for teachers before planning a class trip to the Education Center. Please also see our required teacher training workshop posting, held 3/15-16/08 ( http://www.ptreyes.org/schoolprogram/teacherworkshop.shtml ). Reservations required. Call to reserve a space. Location: Clem Miller Environmental Education Center, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pt. Reyes Station. Time: 10am - 2pm. Cost: Free. Info: 415-663-1224, fiona@ptreyes.org , http://www.ptreyes.org/schoolprogram/index.shtml .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Walking Tour: Lower Codornices Creek: From Rails to Restoration — Explore lower Codornices Creek and its varied history, from early rails and industry through World War II worker housing and shipyard railway to recent nature restoration. 2.5-mile walk is level, but two blocks of trail are not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and Led by Susan Schwartz with Drew Goetting & Richard Register. Tour is restricted to 30 prepaid reservations. Reserve a space by mail or phone between 1pm and 4pm on Thursday or Friday before the tour. Location: Berkeley. Time: 10am - noon. Cost: $10 general, $8 BHS members. Info: 510-848-0181, http://www.cityofberkeley.info/histsoc/#EVENTS .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Conference: The Protection of California Deserts — Desert Survivors presents a one-day conference on protecting California's deserts. Presenters include Howard Wilshire on military use of the desert before and after 9/11; Lisa Belenky on endangered species issues in California deserts; and Monica Argandona on renewable energy proposals in the desert wilderness. A desert art show will also be on display. RSVP by phone or e-mail to be included on the free lunch list. Location: Live Oak Park Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Time: 10am - 5pm. Cost: free. Info: 415-307-8324, ds_initiative@yahoo.com , http://www.desert-survivors.org .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Workshop: PV 203 Grid-Tied PV for Professionals — If you are a contractor, electrician or architect, or plan to become one, this one-day workshop is for you. An intensive and condensed version of PV 201, this class is geared to those with previous electrical experience who are interested in residential-scale grid-tied PV. In addition to exploring basic PV concepts, you will also learn about: Site analysis; Component selection; Performance calculations; PV arrays; Special wiring considerations; Compliance with federal, state, and local codes; Utility interconnection; Rebates and tax incentives. We recommend that participants first complete PV 101 or have apprentice or journeyman-level electrician status (or equivalent experience). Note: This is an intensive, information-packed lecture workshop, NOT A HANDS-ON CLASS. Register online. Location: Redwood City. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $120. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/workshops/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Workshop: Hands-On Biodiesel Homebrewing — This class gives you the hands on experience you need to begin making your own high quality fuel. Topics Include: Demo & Practice; Basic Chemistry of Making Biodiesel; Oil Quality Testing - Free Fatty Acid Titration and Quantitative Water Test; Calculations and Trade-offs for Methanol and Catalyst Use; Fuel Quality Testing For Conversion; Washing Techniques; Separating Fuel From Glycerol and Water; Processor Operation; Avoiding & Breaking Emulsion; Processor Design & Building Tips; Basic Safety Guidelines. This class will combine lab, practical, theory and Q&A. Recommended Resources: http://www.biodieselcommunity.org , http://biodiesel.infopop.cc , http://www.b100supply.com . Lunch Included. Limit: 8 Participants. Second person from same household 1/2 price. Register via email. Location: Oakland. Time: 9:30am - 5:30pm. Cost: $90. Info: morris1524@yahoo.com .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Educator Workshop: More Than Your Standard Garden — Participants will learn how to link garden activities with California content standards in science, math and language arts, as well as how to develop standards-based garden units. Location: UC Berkeley Field Station, 1327 S. 46th Street, Richmond. Time: 10am - 12:30pm. Cost: $25. Info: 510-665-3546, www.thewatershedproject.org .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Workshop: "Design a Bay-Friendly Garden" — Design a Bay-Friendly Garden that meets your needs. Landscape designers will be on hand to advise and troubleshoot. The Bay-Friendly Gardening Basics class is a prerequisite. Some advance homework. Advance registration and $15 non-refundable fee required. Location: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. Time: 10am - 1pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-444-7645, http://www.bayfriendly.org .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: Habitat Restoration at Strenzel Meadow — Join EarthTeam and other East Bay teens on a variety of restoration projects including an erosion control project in the seasonal stream and removing invasive species from the meadow to improve habitat for native plants and animals. RSVP by phone or email. Location: Martinez. Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm. Info: 510-704-4030, trisha@earthteam.net , http://www.earthteam.net/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: French Broom Removal — Volunteers needed to remove the Broom. We provide the tools. Meet at the Skyline Gate staging area (8500 Skyline Blvd.). Location: Redwood Regional Park, Oakland. Time: 9:30am - 1pm. Info: 510-812-8265.

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: Habitat Restoration Work Party — Come work with our active group of volunteers as we manage habitats for wildlife. Work projects include pulling weeds, planting, and helping in our Native Plant Nursery. Meet at flagpole in main parking lot, Fremont. Pre-registration by phone required. Location: Don Edwards SF Bay Refuge Visitor Center, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont. Time: 1pm - 4pm. Info: 510-792-0222 ext 43, http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: Edible Schoolyard Garden Work Party — Join the Edible Schoolyard staff for garden clean up and plant division. At noon we will eat a delicious lunch together. RSVP for lunch. Location: King Middle School, 1781 Rose St., Berkeley. Time: 9am - 1pm. Info: 510-558-1335.

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Volunteer: Migratory Bird Habitat Restoration — Habitat restoration and planting at East Wash, Lands End. Meet at Lands End parking lot at intersection of Pt. Lobos Ave. and Merrie Way, above Sutro Baths. RSVP to BOTH Michael Martin (mmartin@goldengateaudubon.org, 510 843-7295) and Caroline Christman (cchristman@parksconservancy.org). Location: SF. Time: 1pm - 4pm. Info: 510-843-7295, mmartin@goldengateaudubon.org .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Rally: Blue Sky / Foggy City — A rally at the Civic Center Plaza, near City Hall, to end climate change. Wear funky blue threads! Location: 355 McAllister St. RSVP online. Location: Civic Center, SF. Time: noon - 3pm. Cost: free. Info: http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/show/2041 .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
Step It Up 2007 National Day of Climate Action — Join Step It Up 2007's plan for a second national rally for climate repair. It follows the successful rallies we saw nation/worldwide in April of this year, when people held banners in 1,400 places in all 50 US states, and elsewhere. This second event is meant to focus politicians' attention on climate change. Here's Bill McKibben on why this is so key: "There are occasional moments in history when we desperately need leadership, and this is one of them. If we're going to deal with global warming, then we need to go beyond politicians who say the right words and find champions who will actually do the tough work to transform our energy economy. And you could play a key role in bringing those leaders to the fore. This is an invitation to take one Saturday this fall and use it to build a movement, a movement strong enough to finally put this issue on the table where it can no longer be ignored. Here's the idea. On November 3, a year before the next election, we're asking people to organize rallies large and small in their communities. Each one should take place in some spot that commemorates great leaders of the past. People have already committed to climbing New Hampshire's Mt. Washington and gathering in Chicago's Lincoln Park. There will be rallies at the birthplace of Rachel Carson, and in front of a site honoring Navajo elder and activist Roberta Blackgoat. But we need hundreds more. You'll know the person that makes sense in your city or town--they don't need to be saints, just true leaders, the kind who, faced with the great issues of their day, didn't punt or compromise." Info: http://www.stepitup2007.org/ .

Saturday, November 3, 2007
East Bay Community Foundation Grants — Accepting grant proposals to support the development of sustainable communities throughout the East Bay. Education, youth development, human services, health and wellness, arts & culture, environment and more. Info: 510-836-3223, http://www.eastbaycf.org/ .

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Symposium: Awakening the Dreamer -- Changing the Dream — There is the possibility of a truly sustainable world. This Symposium powerfully and profoundly opens the conversation to make that a reality. Watch video clips featuring philosophers, scientists, and community leaders such as Van Jones, Desmond Tutu, Paul Hawken, Matthew Fox, Lynne Twist, Thomas Berry, Robert Reich, Julia Butterfly Hill, and Drew Dellinger. Engage in conversations of vital importance, i.e. our lifestyles and their global impact. Discover what is at the heart of a massive shift of awareness emerging in communities throughout the world. Guest Speaker, David Escobar - Born in El Salvador (or the Lenca-Poton Indian nation). David has a long history of advocating for multi-ethnic communities and mobilizing people to speak out for their rights. As Administrative Aide to Marin County Supervisor Steven Kinsey, he manages special projects for the Fourth District. www.indian-circle.org . Facilitated by: Linda Delair, LEED Accredited Professional, Certified Green Building Professional; Larry Dean Tackett, Owner of Spa Gratitude; Mark Bachelder, Owner of Bachelder Design & Construction (A Green Building Firm). Location: Green Fusion Design Center, 14 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. Time: 1pm - 5:30pm. Cost: free, donations welcome. Info: 415-482-8209, danielholeman@hotmail.com , http://www.awakeningthedreamer.org/ .

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Educational Adventure: "Recycle With Worms" — Put earthworms to work creating nutrient rich soil for your garden. Create and take home your own mini-compost bin fueled by the power of earthworms. Family fun! Ages 8 and over. Registration required. Location: Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont. Time: 2pm - 3:30pm. Cost: $9 (non-res $11). Info: 888-327-2757 (option 2, 3), chvisit@ebparks.org .

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Workshop: Landscape Watering Systems — Learn how to conserve water with proper design and installation of drip irrigation, which may save 30% - 70% over conventional spray or flood systems. Learn how sizes, shapes of areas, and plant material determines irrigation choices. We'll also discuss automation devices. Location: Building Education Center, 812 Page St., Berkeley. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: $50. Info: 510-525-7610, http://www.bldgeductr.org/shortclasses.html .

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Volunteer: Food Plant Gatherings in East Bay Parks — Learn how California Indians managed the landscape while you help gather acorns, berries, teas, and other plant food for use in next year's Ohlone cultural programs. 18+ years. Registration required. Time: 10am - 4:40pm. Info: 888-327-2757, option 2, 3.

Sunday, November 4, 2007
Urban Creeks Council 25th Anniversary Benefit — 2007 marks the twenty-fifth year that Urban Creeks Council has been protecting and restoring urban streams in the Bay Area. Enjoy delectable food, great beverages and signature UCC pint glasses. Price includes food, beverages and UCC pint glass. Purchase ticket online or by mail. Space is limited -- preregistration required. Location: Temescal Beach House, Temescal Recreation Area, Oakland. Time: 1pm - 5pm. Cost: $30. Info: 510-540-6669, http://www.urbancreeks.org/ .

Monday, November 5, 2007
Workshop: Essential Facilitation of Small Groups — Meetings are a decisive part of working together to change the world. Good facilitation makes working together effective and positive, improving focus, clarity, decision-making, ownership, implementation, use of time, satisfaction and much, much more. This workshop is for beginning facilitators and those with significant experience who wish to become more capable and confident. Participants will increase their understanding of facilitation issues, concepts and techniques, and position themselves to take the next step in their role as facilitator with concrete concepts and techniques to apply. Fee includes a copy of presenter's text: Essential Facilitation in Non-profit and Grassroots Groups and Teams. Root Action workshops are participatory, affordable, small-group experiences that give you highly usable skills in less than a day. Register online. Location: Quaker Meeting House, 65 9th Street, SF. Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm. Cost: $95. Info: 831-423-8670, http://consulting.rootaction.org/workshops.html .

Monday, November 5, 2007
Talk: David Loeb of Bay Nature — David Loeb, publisher of Bay Nature magazine, speaks on the adventures of creating and sustaining the quarterly journal exploring and celebrating the Bay Area's rich natural world. Location: Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin, Albany. Time: 7pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-848-9358, f5creeks@aol.com , http://www.fivecreeks.org/ .

Monday, November 5, 2007
Forum: State of the World from a Mediator's Perspective — Johan Galtung is a world renowned expert on peace studies and is the founder of TRANSCEND, an international network of peace negotiators and mediators. A recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, Galtung directed the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway. Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington. Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Cost: $15 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. Info: 510-232-4493, http://www.uucb.org/ .

Monday, November 5, 2007
Lecture: Eran Ben-Joseph on "PARK(ing)" — Professor Ben-Joseph teaches landscape architecture and planning at MIT. His expertise includes urban design standards, site planning technologies, urban simulation, parks, and recreation planning. 112 Wurster Hall. Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley. Time: 7pm - 8:30pm. Cost: Free. Info: http://www-laep.ced.berkeley.edu/laep/index.html .

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Volunteer Training: "Become a writing coach for public school students" — Two part training: Become a volunteer writing coach at Berkeley public schools. Help students become more confident and competent writers and thinkers. Don't need to be a writer or teacher -- hands-on training and mentoring provided. Commit 1-2 hours a week during the school year to work one-on-one with students (primarily 7th and 8th grade, some high school). Register online or by phone. Location: Berkeley. Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-526-8042, http://www.writercoachconnection.com/ .

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Film and Discussion: An Unreasonable Man — Filmmakers Stephen Skrovan and Henriette Mandel take an unsparing look at Ralph Nader, one of the most important and controversial political figures of our time. Reception at 6pm. catered by Corners Cafe; film at 6:30pm, followed by panel discussion, featuring Laura Nader, professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley. Free parking in museum garage (entrance on Oak Street). Location: Oakland Museum of CA, 1000 Oak St., @ 10th St., Oakland. Time: 6pm - 9pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-238-2022, http://www.museumca.org/ .

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Workshop: Wise Ways to Get the IPM Service You Want — A workshop for facilities managers who contract for Pest Management, and particularly for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services. IPM includes a variety of strategies that reduce or eliminate the need to use chemical pesticides. Learn how to hire and work with a structural pest management provider to get the kind of service that will help you reduce both pest complaints and pesticide use. Workshop leader Dr. Albert Greene of the federal General Services Administration has more than 20 years experience implementing integrated pest management (IPM) at public agencies. Register online. Location: Nile Hall at Preservation Park, 668 13th Street, at MLK Way, Oakland. Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm. Cost: $40. Info: 510-464-7993, lilat@abag.ca.gov , http://www.ecowisecertified.org/workshop/ .

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Forum: Affordable Housing and its Role in a Sustainable Future — Join local government officials, business owners, community leaders, and concerned citizens. Speakers include Lamar Turner, Senior Development Project Manager for Excellence to Affordable Housing (EAH) and Katie Crecelius, Founding Member of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative. This is an EcoNow event. EcoNow facilitates networking, education and collective action to achieve sustainability and social justice. EcoNow is an interactive forum that connects you with leading green business professionals through education and networking. Each event begins with a presentation on an ecologically and socially responsible venture, delivered by an expert in the field, followed by Q&A. You will have the opportunity to introduce yourself and your interests, before networking, to facilitate the connections you want to make. Pizza provided by Stefano's. Location: Green Fusion Design Center, 14 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm. Cost: free, $20 donation suggested. Info: info@EcoNowUSA.com , http://www.econowusa.com/ .

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Volunteer: Ecological Restoration at Bolinas Lagoon — Help Audubon Canyon Ranch protect and restore beautiful and biologically rich habitats along the Marin County coast and Bolinas Lagoon. Come be a part of a new team of volunteers. Help to preserve plant and animal species diversity by removing invasive plants, planting native plants and creating important habitats in restoration areas. Assist with seed collection, seed preparation, growing native plants in a greenhouse setting and improving plant propagation facilities. Learn about local plant communities and how to restore impacted lands. Learn how to grow native plants from seed and ensure their survival. Learn how to identify and control invasive plants and understand why they are threatening our wild lands. Work with diverse, knowledgeable and fun individuals. While collecting native plant seeds and controlling invasive plants, you will have the chance to see parts of the preserve normally closed to public access. Opportunities outside of the work day include amazing birding opportunities along the Bolinas Lagoon and exploration of neighboring hiking trails. Tuesdays starting 11/6/07. Contact for directions. Location: Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, 4900 Highway One. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 415-868-9244, Denise@egret.org , http://egret.org/ .

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Workshop: "NOAA Sea Grant" — Sea Grant is NOAA's primary university-based program in support of coastal resource use and conservation. Research and outreach programs promote better understanding, conservation and use of America's coastal resources. For more information, visit the website. Location: Elihu Harris Building, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. Time: 9am - 3:30pm. Info: adahlstrom@ucdavis.edu , http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/ .

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 - Friday, November 9, 2007
Co-op America's Green Business Conference — Join us for the 5th annual Green Business Conference: Llearn how to reduce your company's footprint; discover innovative financial models to scale your company; get expert coaching to grow your green business; get plenty of speed networking and speedplanning to go home with an action plan. Register online. Location: SF. Cost: $595. Info: http://www.coopamerica.org/cabn/conference/ .

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Forum: Greening Your Holidays — Join Cecile Andrews, author of Slow Is Beautiful: New Visions of Community, Leisure and Joie de Vivre, in a discussion about enjoying the holidays without overextending your wallet, your carbon footprint, or your sanity. Find out about Global Exchange's fair trade gifts and the November 18th "Buy Local Day." An Acterra Environmental Forum Event. Small snacks provided. Location: Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Time: 7pm - 8:30pm. Cost: free, donations welcome. Info: 650-962-9876 x306, ellenw@acterra.org , http://www.acterra.org/calendar/november.html .

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
100 Mile Holiday Food Event — Local Eating for Global Change. Sustainable Fairfax will host an event with Marin Organics, Good Earth Natural Foods and several local farmers on the topic of how to prepare holiday meals from food produced within a one hundred mile radius. This is part of Sustainable Fairfax's monthly Community Education series. The event will be an opportunity to find out what local farmers produce, where you can purchase their produce/products, how to create a glorious meal, and share ideas about how its all connected. Location: Sustainability Center, 141 Bolinas Road, Fairfax. Time: 7pm - 9pm. Cost: $5-$10 suggested donation. Info: 415-269-0621, pam@sustainablefairfax.org , http://www.sustainablefairfax.org/ .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Dicussion: An Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq — Join journalist Dahr Jamail for a discussion of his new book, Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq. Jamail has filed indispensable reports from Iraq, from the siege of Fallujah to the origins of the Iraqi resistance. His dispatches from Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon have appeared in the Nation, the Guardian, and more. Order tickets online. Sponsored by the Middle East Children's Alliance. Location: First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., @ 27th St., Oakland. Time: 7pm. Cost: $15 donation. Info: 510-548-0542 , http://www.mecaforpeace.org .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Bilingual Reading and Discussion with Poet Javier O. Herta — Bilingual reading and discussion with bilingual poet Javier O. Herta, author of Some Clarifications y otros poemas. This debut poetry collection is the winner of the University of California-Irvine's Chicano / Latino Literary Prize. Fluent in English and Spanish, Huerta writes poems in both languages, and occasionally combines the two in the same poem. In this, his first full-length collection of poetry, he explores themes of dislocation, loss, love, and art. Whether mourning the tragic suffocating deaths of immigrants in a tractor trailer, lamenting the loss of a lover, or writing about childhood fears, Huerta sketches haunting pieces about a bilingual, bicultural experience. Sharing similar experiences with the more than 11 million undocumented people who live in United States, Javier O. Huerta struggles with his own sense of loss, caught between his life here and his past in Mexico. "Soy nadiense," he writes in another poem—I am from nowhere. Location: Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way, under Sather Gate Parking Garage, Berkeley. Time: 7pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-848-1196, http://www.revolutionbooks.org/ .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Film and Discussion: "ÁSalud!" — New documentary sheds light on Cuba's health care system. For those committed to health in rich and poor nations alike, the new feature-length documentary film ÁSalud! examines the curious case of Cuba, a cash-strapped country with what the BBC calls "one of the world's best health systems." Screening will be follow by a panel discussion with: Connie Field, ÁSalud! director and Oscar-nominated filmmaker; Karen Bass, California State Assemblymember and Majority Leader, and MEDICC Board Member; Wing Wu, Graduate of the Latin American Medical School (ELAM) in Havana, Cuba; Teresa Walsh of Speak Out, former medical patient in Havana, Cuba. Advance tickets can be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Location: Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland. Time: 7pm. Cost: $10 general, $5 youth ages 17 and under. Info: 510-601-0182, http://www.speakoutnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=12 .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Safe Medicine Disposal Symposium — This symposium is about educating ourselves and finding solutions to the challenge of "emerging contaminants". The persistence of pharmaceuticals in our wastewater is a fact. What is actually "emerging" is the public's awareness of a long existing phenomenon. How do we, as consumers of pharmaceuticals, prevent the pollution of our waterways? What are individual communities in the Bay Area doing? How are state and federal agencies addressing this issue? What is the role of the pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies? What can non-profits do to help inform their members and the general public? These and other questions will be discussed in an interactive dialogue with all participants at the symposium. Coffee service and box lunch provided. RSVP by phone. Location: Spreckel's Theatre, 5409 Snyder LN, Rohnert Park. Time: 9am - 3:30pm. Cost: $5. Info: 707-521-6208, http://www.teleosis.org/events.php .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Ella Baker Center Celebration — Join Ella Baker Center for Human Rights staff, board and members for food, entertainment, celebration and a program of appreciation. We will be honoring our allies and supporters and celebrating the legacy of our founders. Take part as we celebrate a fantastic year and move forward with our bold vision of justice in the system, opportunity in our cities, and peace on our streets. RSVP/Purchase tickets online. Location: Oakland Museum of CA, 1000 Oak St., @ 10th St., Oakland. Time: 6:30pm - 9pm. Cost: $25. Info: 510-428-3939 x287, EndOfYear@ellabakercenter.org , http://ellabakercenter.org/index.html .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Film: "Grapes of Wrath" — Driven off their Oklahoma farm during the dust bowl days of the Great Depression, the Joad family loads its belongings into a truck and joins thousands of other dispossessed farmers in the trek to California. The sharecroppers of the time faced mass evictions as wealthy landowners moved to large-scale mechanized farming. The film captures an important period of U.S. history and shows how the workers' political development was advanced by their collective struggle for survival. The extreme exploitation of Depression-era farm workers has comparisons to the struggle of immigrant workers today. Starring Henry Fonda. Location: ATA, 992 Valencia St., at 21st, SF. Time: 7:30pm. Info: 415-821-6545, http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/bayarea.php .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tour: Green Town Homes -- Florence Lofts — Architect Steve Sheldon, who has over 30 years of green building experience, will be offering private tours of Florence Lofts, the new green live/work town homes in Sebastopol. The town homes meet one of the highest levels of LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and feature environmentally friendly building materials, water conservation through gray water reuse, solar power, and more. Location: Sebastopol. Info: 888-201-8608, info@ibisbuilds.com , http://www.ibisbuilds.com/ .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Workshop: PV 190 Design and Install an Off-Grid RE System — Are you ready to declare your energy independence by taking an active role in installing your own (residential or commercial) off-grid renewable energy system? This two-day workshop provides an introduction to off-grid solar, wind and hydroelectric systems, which—individually or in tandem—allow homeowners to generate electricity without dependence on the utility grid. Until grid-tied PV became popular and practical, this was our core intro course on PV. Day One will cover: Electricity basics; Load analysis and reducing energy demand through improved efficiency; Components of solar, wind and small hydro systems; System sizing. Day One will also include an extensive tour of the solar energy systems at the Solar Living Center. Day Two will cover: Example system designs; Component selection and wire sizing for several example contexts; Integration of wind power, hydroelectric, and combustion generators with your off-grid solar system. On Day Two, you will also gain hands-on experience wiring both battery-based and solar direct systems. Take this course with PV290 for a comprehensive introduction to off-grid renewable energy. Register online. Location: Real Goods Solar Living Center, 13771 S. Highway 101, Hopland. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $240. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/workshops/ .

Thursday, November 8, 2007
Course: Designing a Successful Zero Energy Home in California — The concept of a Zero Energy Home (ZEH) is to reduce electrical loads to the point that the home's photovoltaic system annually supplies at least as much electricity to the utility grid as the home uses. Creating a ZEH requires a clear understanding of the climate, building enclosure, and internal loads. Also, the house's actual performance must be monitored. Danny Parker explains the process of designing and verifying a successful Zero Energy Home project in California. Space limited; register online. Location: Joint Apprenticeship and Training Commitee, 908 Bern Court, San José. Time: 9am - 4:30pm. Cost: free. Info: http://tinyurl.com/2m5a9h .

Friday, November 9, 2007
Application Deadline: Climate Protection Grant Program — The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has launched a $1.5 million Climate Protection Grant Program to help reduce the Bay Area's contribution to global warming. Grants will be made to local governments, K-12 schools, non-profit organizations and small businesses within the Air District's nine-county jurisdiction. Grants will fund activities in the areas of youth outreach, city and county planning, and best practices that have proven their ability to reduce emissions. Application guidelines available online. Time: 5pm. Info: 415-749-4754, ayoung@baaqmd.gov , http://www.baaqmd.gov/ .

Friday, November 9, 2007 - Sunday, November 11, 2007
San Francisco Green Festival — Join us for this big three-day party with a purpose. Enjoy more than 150 visionary speakers, 400 green businesses, how-to workshops, organic beer and wine, delicious organic cuisine and diverse live music. Recharge your batteries with great ideas, positive energy and the abundant hope you'll find at the Green Festival. Tickets available online or at door. Location: San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth Street, SF. Cost: $10-25. Info: http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/626/281/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Educational Adventure: "Native to the Americas" — Grind corn, shell beans, and help make roasted pumpkin seeds while we explore the native foods in our diets. Location: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. Time: 1pm - 2pm. Info: 510-796 - 0199.

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Workshop: Preparing Your Garden for Winter — When Autumn nights grow longer, it's time to start preparing your garden for winter. Learn how winterizing your garden will conserve water and ensure less work and more vitality for the spring. Topics will include mulching, cover cropping, pest control practices, weeding tips, and a crop selection appropriate for the Bay Area Winter months! This workshop is part of our Resource Efficient Gardening and Landscaping Program. Pre-register by phone. Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave., @ Lawton St., SF. Time: 10am - 1pm. Cost: $5 donation requested. Info: 415-731-5627, info@gardenfortheenvironment.org , http://www.gardenfortheenvironment.org/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Volunteer: Save the Quails! — Help save California quail in San Francisco! Plant native seedlings and restore quail habitat at the Harding Park Golf Course, near Lake Merced, and in the Presidio at Quail Commons. Volunteer or sponsor the work of a volunteer and support the continuing efforts of the Save the Quail campaign. Refreshments provided! All ages and skill levels are welcome. Call for reservations/directions/more information. Location: The Presidio, SF. Time: 9am - noon. Cost: free. Info: 510-843-2222, ggas@goldengateaudubon.org , http://www.goldengateaudubon.org .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Vegetarian Cooking Class: Thanksgiving for the Birds — Join the Compassionate Cooks' Vegetarian Cooking Class that celebrates the harvest as well as the turkeys! We feature local, in-season, mostly organic ingredients. During this class, we will demonstrate five delicious, nutritious dishes, including Autumn Harvest Squash, Fennel, and Apple Soup; Mushroom Phyllo with Delicata Squash and Porcini Mushroom Sauce; Mashed Root Vegetables with Fresh Herbs; Rosemary Drop Biscuits; German Apple Cake. Desserts from Compassionate Cooks' new cookbook, The Joy of Vegan Baking. We feature uncomplicated recipes, debunk myths regarding plant-based eating, eat yummy food samples, have a lot of fun, and share Holiday Nog with Fresh Nutmeg! Fees include demonstration, food samples, copies of recipes, coupons for restaurants and local groceries, resources and more. Register in advance online or by phone. Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., at Castro, Oakland. Time: 10am - 1pm. Cost: $55 + $5 food/materials fee. Info: 510-531-COOK, http://www.compassionatecooks.com/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Volunteer: Shoreline Cleanup at Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park — The first rainstorm that hits the Bay can bring down a lot of trash from our neighborhoods. We need your help to remove trash from the shoreline and prevent if from entering the Bay after the "first flush". Other projects include wetland restoration activities like planting native plants, non-native plant removal, seed collection and transplanting. Site Partner: East Bay Regional Parks District. RSVP online, by phone or by email. Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 510-452-9261 x119, bayevents@savesfbay.org , http://www.savesfbay.org .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
March and Rally to Stop Richmond Refinery Expansion — Join a coalition of citizens and organizations to march and rally for environmental justice in Richmond and its airshed, which are threatened by Chevron's proposed refinery expansion to process dirtier, sulfur heavy oil. Meet in BART station parking lot; march to the refinery. Cosponsored by West County Toxics Coalition, GreenAction for Health and Environmental Justice, Richmond Environmental Health & Justice Leadership Academy, and others. Location: Richmond BART Station, 1700 Nevin Avenue, Richmond. Time: noon - 3pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-232-3427.

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Short Course: "Solar Power Basics for Residential Customers" — Hear about current market-ready solar power technologies and the key steps necessary to own a solar electric system for your home. Become familiar with the solar power installation process and how to reduce energy costs. Get answers to frequently asked questions from instructors at PG&E's Pacific Energy Center. Space limited; register online. Location: Pacific Energy Center, 851 Howard St., between 4th & 5th, SF. Time: 10am - noon. Cost: free. Info: http://tinyurl.com/2q68q5 .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Volunteer: Berryland on the Richmond Greenway — Please join the 5% Local Coalition for the November Foodshed Development Day on Saturday as we work together to rebuild a local food system. We will be continuing work on Berryland on the Richmond Greenway between 6th and 7th Streets near Lincoln Elementary in the Iron Triangle. The Richmond Greenway parallels Ohio and Chanslor Streets. Berryland is just starting to take shape. We have mulched a 2,000 square foot section of the Greenway and installed 10 wine barrel planters, a stump seating circle, and a log planter. A couple of years from now Berryland will be a delicious attraction for both children and adults showcasing more than 30 varieties of edible berry bushes. Berryland will help develop a love of fresh produce among the neighborhood children and be a free source berry starts for the growing backyard and community gardening movement in Richmond. We will work from 9:30am to about noon and close out the day with a brunch of West County-grown food, so bring some goodies from your garden to share. Please bring a mug, utensils, a plate/bowl, and your friends, family, and neighbors. RSVP by email or phone to volunteer or make a donation. Location: Richmond. Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm. Info: 510-691-5051, park@urbantilth .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Deadline: Call for Papers: Ecocity World Summit 2008 — The Ecocity World Summit will address the ecological city, town and village from the perspectives of people, nature, sustainable development, economies and technologies, and incentives and support structures. The Call for Papers for the Academic and Talent Scouting Sessions is open. Those interested should submit their Abstract through the Ecocity World Summit Website. Location: SF. Info: kirstin@ecocityworldsummit.org , http://www.ecocityworldsummit.org/papers.htm .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Volunteer Orientation: Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge — Have you been thinking about volunteering? Wonder if there's something you can do to help your local Wildlife Refuge? Come find out at this information packed presentation. Volunteers staff our Visitor Center and run our Native Plant Nursery; they lead nature walks and school field trips; pick up trash and pull weeds; take biologists to boats and help organize files. See if there's something that's just right for you. Meet at the Visitor Center Auditorium, Fremont. Pre-registration by phone required. Location: Don Edwards SF Bay Refuge Visitor Center, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont. Time: 2pm - 4pm. Info: 510-792-0222 ext 43, http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Workshop: Basket Weaving — Explore the plaited method of basket weaving, working primarily with paper (with discussion of other possibilities), to create traditional baskets through non-traditional means. There will be plenty of opportunity to embellish your basket with fabulous SCRAP finds. Teacher Jim Caddick worked on a project involving baskets and mathematics at the Exploratorium over 15 years ago and has been making baskets ever since. Class size is limited and classes fill up quickly, please call to reserve a space. Location: SCRAP, 801 Toland St., entrance on Newcomb, between Toland and Selby, SF. Time: 1pm - 4pm. Cost: $15 materials fee. Info: 415-647-1746, scrap@scrap-sf.org , http://www.scrap-sf.org/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Workshop: Off-Grid Systems for Professionals — This two-day advanced class in off-grid PV covers the complex world of hybrid power systems, which integrate multiple energy sources (PV, wind power, small hydro, and generators) to satisfy the electrical demand of off-grid sites. This workshop is intended for advanced owners/builders and others with electrical backgrounds who are interested in off-grid applications. There will be more and more emphasis on: Advanced system options; Specific features of available electrical equipment; National Electric Code issues; Programming equipment set points and generator automation; Battery care and maintenance. Prerequisite: PV 190 or equivalent experience. Register online. Location: Real Goods Solar Living Center, 13771 S. Highway 101, Hopland. Time: 9am - 5pm. Cost: $240. Info: 707-744-2017, http://www.solarliving.org/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Class: Pruning with Friends of the Urban Forest — Rain cancels. RSVP by phone. Location: SF. Time: 9am - 12:30pm. Info: 415-561-6890 x102, http://www.fuf.net/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Volunteer: Russian Hill Tree Planting — Tree planting with Friends of the Urban Forest. We need volunteers to help plant trees in neighborhoods throughout the city. Breakfast/lunch is provided! Meeting location: 1465 Washington St. RSVP by phone. Location: SF. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 415-561-6890 x100, http://www.fuf.net/ .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Volunteer with Save the Bay: Plant Natives at Santa Venetia Marsh — If the rains have started, we will plant native wetland plants like gumplant and grasses plants on this day! Another project includes removing invasive weeds like Harding grass and fennel. Site Partner: Marin County Open Space District. RSVP online, by phone or by email. Location: Santa Venetia Marsh, San Rafael. Time: 9am - noon. Info: 510-452-9261 x119, bayevents@savesfbay.org , http://www.savesfbay.org .

Saturday, November 10, 2007
Hike: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve — Join friends of the "Top of the World Park" for a hike of about 4.5 miles with great views of Mound Diablo, surrounding valleys, and even the Sierras if it's clear. Bring a hat, sunscreen, plenty of water, and lunch. Also, be sure to wear sturdy shoes, especially if there has been any recent rain. Sponsored by Bay Nature. Location: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, 9401 Morgan Territory Road, Livermore. Time: 10am - 2pm. Cost: free. Info: 510-528-8550, hikes@baynature.com , http://www.baynature.com/events.html .

Sunday, November 11, 2007
Workshop: Hands On Homebrewing — This class gives you the hands on experience you need to begin making your own high quality fuel. Topics Include: Demo & Practice; Basic Chemistry of Making Biodiesel; Oil Quality Testing - Free Fatty Acid Titration and Quantitative Water Test; Calculations and Trade-offs for Methanol and Catalyst Use; Fuel Quality Testing For Conversion; Washing Techniques; Separating Fuel From Glycerol and Water; Processor Operation; Avoiding & Breaking Emulsion; Processor Design & Building Tips; Basic Safety Guidelines. This class will combine lab, practical, theory and Q&A. Recommended Resources: http://www.biodieselcommunity.org , http://biodiesel.infopop.cc , http://www.b100supply.com . Includes lunch. Limit 8 participants. Second person from the same household 1/2 price. Register via email. Location: Oakland. Time: 9:30am - 5:30pm. Cost: $90. Info: morris1524@yahoo.com .

Sunday, November 11, 2007
Workshop: Survival Essentials — This introductory workshop covers the basic principles and methods of wilderness survival. Topics include assembling survival kits, shelter building, fire starting, signaling, and water purification. Registration required. Location: Lake Chabot. Time: 10am - 3pm. Cost: $18 (non-res $20). Info: 888-327-2757, option 2, 3.

Sunday, November 11, 2007
Educational Adventure: Walnut Harvesting — Millions of squirrels know harvesting walnuts is lots of fun! We'll gather them, then hull and wash them with our antique machinery. You may take some home! Location: Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. Time: 1pm - 2:30pm. Info: 510-796 - 0199.

Sunday, November 11, 2007
Volunteer: "Weekend Weed Warriors" — Help eradicate non-native plants. Learn techniques for invasive plant removal and nature planting. Learn more about the native plants and animals of the Hayward Shoreline. Refreshments provided. Bring gloves or borrow some of ours. Ages 12 and over. Registration required. Location: Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. Time: 1pm - 4pm. Cost: $8. Info: 510-670-7270.

.......................................................................................................................................

Carrie Bennett
Ecology Center

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// Thanks to volunteers Guy Baldwin, Lori Fagerholm, David Klotz, and Kimberly Thompson for help with the EcoCalendar.
// Thanks to Jennifer Bresee, Beck Cowles, and David Ricardo for their help and guidance.

The Ecology Center is a membership organization providing environmental information and direct services to promote sustainable living and a healthy, socially just world. Please support this community resource for the environment by becoming a member or making a donation. Support our work on-line at http://www.ecologycenter.org/donate/

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