2019 ECOSLO Schedule of Events

Feb 14, 2019 | Action, Advocacy, Hub |

Volunteer projects listed in blue Community events listed in green Click here for the quarterly schedule of our free SLO Stewards hikes Wednesday, January 16 – Green Drinks: Meet “Sweetie” the Peregrine Falcon at Top Dog Coffee Bar (Morro Bay) Monday, January 21 – MLK Jr. Day of Service, Los Osos Community Park (private volunteer event with CivicSpark) Wednesday, January 23 – Eco-Networking (private event for member organizations of The Hub) Tuesday, February 26 – Save Our Seas, Ride Across America (co-hosts w/ Central Coast Aquarium & Bike SLO County) Wednesday, March 13 – Green Drinks: Arbor Day Edition at Beda’s Biergarten (SLO) Saturday, March 16 – LOVE SLO at Cuesta Park (SLO) Wednesday, March 20 – Eco-Networking (private event for member organizations of The Hub) Saturday, April 6 – Beach Keepers cleanup at Morro Strand Southern entrance, at HWY 41 (Morro Bay) Saturday, May 4 – 2nd Annual Seas to Trees Day (10 volunteer project locations across SLO County, projects to be listed mid-March!) Wednesday, May 15 – Eco-Networking (private event for member organizations of The Hub) Tuesday, May 28 – Beach Keepers post-Memorial Day cleanup at Pirate’s Cove/Cave Landing (Avila Beach) Saturday, June 1 – Beach Keepers cleanup at Morro Rock/Morro Bay Harbor (Morro Bay) Saturday, June 1 – National Trails Day at Lopez Lake (Arroyo Grande) Wednesday, June 5 – Green Drinks at TBD Friday, July 5 – Beach Keepers post-4th of July cleanups at Cayucos Pier (Cayucos) & Pirate’s Cove/Cave Landing (Avila Beach) Wednesday, July 17 – Eco-Networking (private event for member organizations of The Hub) Saturday, August 3 – Beach Keepers cleanup at Morro Strand at Toro Creek entrance (Morro Bay Saturday, August 10 – An Afternoon at the Ranch, music festival fundraiser  Wednesday, September 4 – Green Drinks at TBD Wednesday, September 11 – Eco-Networking (private event for member organizations of The Hub) Saturday, September 21 – 35th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, International Coastal Cleanup Day – ECOSLO...

Have a Plastic Free 2019

Jan 10, 2019 | Action, Advocacy |

5 Eco-Related New Year Resolutions! Written by Andrea Biniskiewicz In light of the new year, why not make a few resolutions that revolve around Earth? As the plastic epidemic continues to sweep the nation, we’ve compiled a list of 5 ways to help out Mother Nature in 2019. 1. Use Metal Straws Why: Eliminates plastic straws, which Americans (JUST – Americans alone) use up to 500 million per DAY. They’re a conversation starter at your local coffee shop, bar, or restaurant when someone asks where you got it 😉 Doesn’t make your drink (hot OR cold) taste metal-y!! YAY! Where to buy: HumanKind in Downtown SLO (& it comes with a little brush!) Nautical Bean – both locations How to Use: simply clean the straw before first use with warm water and soap (and a little brush if you have one), and put in your delicious drink! 2019 Challenge: Don’t buy from a coffee shop (we know how hard it is!!) unless you have your metal straw with you. 2. Beeswax Wrappers – The New Way to Store Food Why: Eliminates plastic wrap waste Wraps with flexibility and durability using the heat of your hand Keeps food fresh longer – tested & verified! Easy to clean!! Rinse with warm water and soap and ta-da! Is compostable – yay zero waste! Where to Buy: Lincoln Deli, Mint + Craft How to Use: Wrap beeswax wrapper over the top of your container, or wrap your whole food item! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! 2019 Challenge: completely eliminate saran wrap and plastic sandwich bags from your house.   3. Use Reusable Cloth Napkins Why:...

Green Drinks

May 2, 2018 | Advocacy |

Smiling faces and friendly conversation decorated Lincoln Deli’s sunbaked patio during SLO Green Drinks last March. Sandwich wrappers slipped away and bottle caps twisted with a zing during this good-natured networking for environmentalists. As community members settled into their chairs, speakers Bill Waycott and Lindsey Collinsworth took a stand to share the importance of establishing native plants when preserving biodiversity. “Plants and animals are now evolving to a human-dominated environment,” said Waycott, President of the California Native Plant Society SLO Chapter. Excluding natives from neighborhood gardens affect creatures ranging from buzzing insects to morning birds. The Central Coast, marked by a Mediterranean climate, is home to dry, hot summers and rainy winters. Charming native plants are often drought tolerant and capable of sustaining local wildlife.   Lindsey Collinsworth didn’t need a microphone to preach about the perks of native plants brought to Green Drinks from SLO Botanical Garden. With a smile, a captivated the crowd laughed along to her glowing descriptions of yarrow’s medicinal properties and the indestructible nature of evening primrose. SLO Botanical Garden uses recycled water from the California Men’s Colony to display and preserve diverse plant life from Mediterranean climate zones. California Native Plant Society pairs science, education, conservation and gardening to power a native plant movement. Join the ECOSLO newsletter and follow @ecoslo on social media to learn about upcoming Green Drinks near...
Draw the Line Between SLO and fossil fuels

Draw the Line Between SLO and fossil fuels

Dec 10, 2015 | Advocacy |

The UN Climate Summit has been taking place this year in Paris, starting on November 30, 2015 and ending on December 11th.  On December 12, 2015, San Luis Obispo 350, as part of a worldwide effort to send a unified message: there are some things that we as environmental activists can not and will not compromise.  These are our climate RED LINES.  We demand that it is time to keep 80% of fossil fuels in the ground and ensure a just transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050.  In other words, it is time to “Turn Off” our dependence on dirty, dangerous energy like coal, oil and gas and “Turn On” to renewable energy, like rooftop solar, wind farms and energy conservation. Join the SLO community as we join together to draw the line between this beautiful place and fossil fuels.  We join to demand a better agreement than what we got in Paris and to demand an end to fossil fuel infrastructure like the oil train here in San Luis Obispo. Bring your signs and your commitment. Saturday, December 12, 11:00 AM Osos/Jennifer St Bridge at the SLO Train Station San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Signup to attend via...

Tell California Lawmakers to Vote “YES” for Climate Action!

Oct 1, 2015 | Advocacy |

CLIMATE ALERT: Tell California Lawmakers to Vote “YES” for Climate Action! Here is your chance to speak out and make a real difference in the fight against climate change today. Senate Bill 350 (de León), which has passed the Senate and is now in the Assembly, calls for ambitious but necessary changes on a short timeline: http://ecovote.org/ClimateAction Increase from one-third to 50 percent our electricity derived from renewable sources; Reduce today’s petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent; Double the energy efficiency of existing buildings; And accomplish all of the above by the year 2030. It’s critical that elected officials make the right choice and support SB 350, because it will have major consequences for all of us: our families, our neighbors, and all those who will come after us. Make sure lawmakers know how voters like you feel about climate change: Send a message to your Assemblymember now and urge a YES vote on SB 350!...
Morro Bay City Council to deliberate the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Morro Bay City Council to deliberate the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Sep 14, 2015 | Advocacy |

On September 22nd, the Morro Bay City Council will deliberate on whether to support or oppose the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.  As a member of San Luis Obispo County, we urge you to attend this meeting and support the sanctuary. Meeting location details: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. Veterans Memorial Hall, 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay, CA At this meeting you will have a chance to speak when the council prepares to discuss the agenda item on the sanctuary. (Note: Not during the general public comment period for items not on the agenda, which occurs at the beginning of the meeting.)  You will have 3 minutes to speak. Here are topic points you should share with Councilmembers: I support the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary nomination Share you simple message of support.  Ideas you can include in your message: It is time for permanent protection for our coast Oil is not good for fishing We want “Big Blue Live” in our part of the ocean (see http://www.pbs.org/big-blue-live/social-hub/) Sanctuaries are good for our coastal economy Support the nomination and give our communities a chance to have this discussion There will be Sanctuary opponents at the meeting.  If you want to use your time to respond to one or two of those arguments, the best source is the September issue of the Santa Lucian, newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club.  (See “Sanctuary’s Foes,” page 2.) Remarks delivered in person are always more powerful and carry the most weight with the council.  But if you can’t make it to the meeting, please send an email to: cjohnson@morro-bay.ca.us, jheadding@morro-bay.ca.us, nsmukler@morro-bay.ca.us, jirons@morro-bay.ca.us Identify...