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Community Corner

It's Easy (and Fun) Being Green

From green building tips to pedal-powered smoothies, there are a lot of ways to help the community and the planet at the annual Encinitas Environment Day.

Encinitas Environment Day, slated for June 5, celebrates five years of sustainability this year. The brainchild of the late community activist and business owner Bob Nanninga, the event “covers our entire lifestyle as Encinitans and how to live in a green way,” says Anne Julian-Fagergren, a member of the steering committee. In honor of its anniversary, here are five things you should bring to make the most of the day:

1. Your time. There are many activities that are part of Encinitas Environment Day, and you can plan your schedule by visiting the event website (eeday.org). The lineup includes the annual public art project made of recyclable materials that will be installed at the , two cleanups, appearances by Dr. Zoolittle for kids, talks on topics such as green building and water quality, and environmental short films made by local students.

2. Broken boards and used wetsuits. Enjoy Handplanes, a Leucadia company that makes body surfing boards from recycled materials, will be at the event to take your old surf gear. This year marks the first time the event has pulled in members of the surf industry, Julian-Fagergren says. Also included: screenings of Surfrider short films and a session on sustainability in the surf industry presented by local Pierce Kavanagh, whose new film on the subject, Manufacturing Stoke, will be shown at the event’s special VIP night.

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3. An appetite. Green gourmet food trucks SD Street Eats, The Green Truck and Espresso Urbano will be on hand, plus an ice cream cart offering organic Viva Pops. And of course, the popular pedal-powered smoothie station will be back. The trucks run on biofuel, and the plates and cutlery are compostable, says Julian-Fagergren, who adds that all vendors sign a release to pledge it will be a waste-free event. Recycle and composting bins also will be on site. 

4. Your wallet. “We want Encinitas and Leucadia to stay as beautiful and funky as it is, but we want it to sustainably grow,” Julian-Fagergren says. “People who love Encinitas want to know how to keep their homes green. People come to find out what their options are.” Those options will be on display by vendors offering all kinds of environmentally friendly products and services.

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5. An open heart and mind. “This is a way to embrace Encinitas, a way to learn how to live holistically and synergistically in Encinitas,” Julian-Fagergren says. “It’s also a place to celebrate this town and celebrate what makes it so beautiful and unique, and people want to keep it that way.” 

Encinitas Environment Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 5 at Cottonwood Creek Park, 95 N. Vulcan.  Admission is free. Ride your bike or walk to be entered in a raffle. Volunteers are still needed; send an e-mail to info@eeday.org. For more information, go to eeday.org.

Garden Delights at Night

summertime Thursday Family Fun Night program begins June 2. The garden is open until 8 p.m. Thursdays through Labor Day, with children’s activities and concerts each week. This week’s kickoff concert is by the kiddie-music band Hullabaloo. Admission to the garden is $6 to $12 (free for children age 2 and younger) and parking is $2. 230 Quail Gardens Dr., 760-436-3036, sdbgarden.org.

Let’s Put on a Show

Participants young and old in the city’s recreation classes show their stuff in the ninth-annual performing arts recital, which starts at 6 p.m. June 3 at the . The Mardi Gras-themed event is free. 1140 Oakcrest Park Dr., 760-943-2260.

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