Events

There's a lot of talk about plastic pollution in our oceans and by plastic bags, but what is anyone doing about it? The 5 Gyres Institute is launching a Last Straw Plastic Pollution Solutions Outreach Tour, conducting beach & watershed cleanups all over the East Coast from Boston to Charleston. The 1400 mile bike tour is hitting up major cities to discuss problems (and solutions!) for the plastic plague. The 5 Gyres tour is coming to Philly on October 15 - and you won't be bummed out by their visit. (Find out more about the awesome upcoming visit and how YOU can win free stuff, after the jump!)

Eco-minded Philadelphians were graced with a picture-perfect day yesterday for GreenFest. The historic Headhouse Square was lined with rows of green businesses and non-profit organizations. It was refreshing to look around and see hundreds of like-minded people gathered in one place. Though we're constantly interacting with so many of Philadelphia's eco- activists and green companies, it's always revitalizing to chat in person. For us, much of the day was focused on discussing the Plastic Bag Ban.

This September 15th the Camden waterfront is the site of the Philadelphia Red Bull Flugtag competition. Red Bull Flugtag challenges teams of everyday people to build human-powered flying machines and pilot them off a 30-foot high deck in hopes of achieving flight! Flugtag means "flying day" in German, but typically these crafts simply splash into the waters below. But that doesn't make the event any less fun. Teams are judged not only on their flight's distance, but creativity and showmanship as well. One of the team's participating this year is a group of Rowan University students who are members of the university's environmental club. They recognized the opportunity to create an "aircraft" using upcycled materials. I spoke with team captain, Brooke Golden, to get the scoop on the team's Flugtag initiative and her team - The Filthy English Kuh-Knights.

Your rooms may look beautiful and spankin’ new, but there’s a wee bit of paint left over.  So readers, what can you do with that unused paint cans?

Save the date! The Hemp Heals Music Festival takes place in Philly at Penn's Landing Festival Pier on August 25th from 4pm-11pm. As the name suggests this music event is unique in that it's founded with a specific mission in mind. Former Philadelphia Flyers player Riley Cote is hosting the event with Live Nation in an effort to educate the public on the powers of holistic healing. He founded the non-profit org, The Hemp Heals Foundation after his younger sister, Jaime was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and found a way to treat and alleviate her symptoms through her diet - specifically through the use of hemp. Click through for details!

On Wednesday, June 13th the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce chapter will host an event focusing on energy efficiency for businesses. Today companies - big and small - are taxed with the challenge of finding ways to decrease their energy costs and operate more efficiently. If you're a local business this is a session that may benefit you and your sustainability initiatives. The event will feature a panel of industry experts including keynote speaker, Kyle Tanger, Director of Clear Carbon Service, and energy experts from the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub. Read on for details!

Spring has Sprung, and Philly's exploding with activity both indoors & out. I can't wait to play in the warm weather this weekend! Here's a roundup of some events & recent green news:

May 12th -19th is Philly Love Your Park Week - a week dedicated to celebrating Philadelphia's park system. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and Pennslyvania Horticulture Society have joined forces to bring Philadelphians eight days of diverse park events. Out-of-towners may think of Philly as an urban jungle, but we're lucky to have over 100 area parks to meet and exceed our "great outdoors" quota. There's a laundry list of park events happening over the next week, read on for some of the highlights...

At Green Philly everyday is Earth Day but that doesn't mean we shouldn't reflect and celebrate properly! Read on for info on some of the Earth Day happenings to check out in Philly this week.