Green Events
Green Drinks, Cool Ideas
Every 3rd Friday of the month
1122 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Green Drinks, Cool Ideas is a monthly forum for creative solutions and critical thinking about climate change and sustainability. Each event features a local scientist, policy maker, or green entrepreneur discussing a different facet of the climate challenge. Emphasis is on audience engagement with the speaker and with each other. We see this as a bridge between the town and the university, and between younger and older generations; part networking event, part green think tank.
Free First Thursdays at the Museum of Natural History
First Thursday of each month; 10:00am - 5:00pm
1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Enjoy free admission on the first Thursday each month to Santa Cruz's Museum of Natural History.
Featured Green News
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Biofuel Rebound
Alt-energy pioneer David Blume proves Santa Cruz still wants innovative solutions to the energy crisis
Just because local entrepreneur Ray Newerik had to shutter the Ocean Street Pacific Biodiesel station, don’t think that the local biofuel scene is dead in the water. Much to the contrary, it seems to be brimming. Fellow alt-energy entreprenuer David Blume overloaded the phone lines and the server hosting his website last week when he went on the radio show “Coast to Coast” to talk about his plans for the ethanol revolution. -
Chill Factor
Cooling currents have sparked a huge comeback for life in Monterey Bay this year, but global warming could threaten it's future
The water splashes up in all directions as a huge humpback whale hits the water just a few hundred yards off the boat’s bow. An amazed crowd jockeys for position as they eagerly await the whale’s next appearance. There is tense silence on this small boat run by the Monterey Bay Whale Watch as it idles over one of the largest submarine canyons in the world. Finally, the whale’s tail emerges, indicating it is going deeper into the canyon to hunt the schools of anchovies that are in abundant supply this year. -
Heaps of Controversy
Activists smell something rotten in County plan for Buena Vista landfill
The trash talk between County Public Works and local community activists is piling up lately, with each accusing the other of engaging in a willful campaign of misinformation. -
The Politics of Plastic
County Public Works considers regulating one-time use plastic bags
China is not often looked to as a trailblazer when it comes to environmental stewardship, but the industrial behemoth is light years ahead of Santa Cruz County when it comes to minimizing excessive plastic bag waste. It’s not just China that is leading the way in banning the free distribution of plastic bags at market checkout counters. Bangladesh, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and even the failed state of Somalia have completely banned one-time use plastic bags due to the impact on drainage systems and offshore marine life. Now, public works officials from across Santa Cruz County are scrambling to play catch up.
Santa Cruz Green Businesses
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Fusion Salon & Spa
1051 41St. Ave., Santa Cruz CA 95062 831.440.3878 A full-service salon and spa in Santa Cruz, Fusion Salon & Spa is redefining the traditional pampering and manicuring experience. With their uniquely eco-friendly “Hair for Oil Spills” program, Fusion is part of a greater organization that collects hair clippings from salons to weave into mats for soaking up oil spills. Additionally, almost all of the products at this Santa Cruz salon and spa are organic.
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SC41 Furniture
2647 41st Ave., Soquel CA 95073 831.464.2228 Skillfully blending chic appeal with eco-friendly ideals, SC41 in Santa Cruz is a home furnishing store offering natural and organic furnishings that are as luxurious as they are environmentally responsible. Organic bedding, reclaimed wood furniture sets, ergonomic mattresses crafted from natural materials and more fill the showroom of this Santa Cruz furniture store, with options suitable to every style of décor, from contemporary to antique. SC41 negates the need to travel to San Jose or San Francisco when seeking beautiful home furnishings.
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California Comforts
1505 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz CA 95065 831.476.0113 Posh, eco-friendly home furnishings abound at California Comforts. Originally California Futons, this Santa Cruz furniture store is known for an incredible array of handmade futons using the finest natural and organic products. They have expanded to incorporate a broad selection of other fine home furnishings in Santa Cruz, including bedroom sets, dining room furniture, living room sets, home office furnishings, outdoor furnishings and more. California Comforts also features fun and functional furniture for younger crowds, including bunk beds, bean bags and junior desks.
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Chien Center
4630 Soquel Dr. #3, Soquel CA 95073 831.359.4333 The Chien Center in Santa Cruz embraces a heartful, client-centered approach to the healing arts. A variety of bodywork therapies are offered, including Swedish Massage, Traditional Thai Massage, Qigong Therapy, Esalen® Massage and Zen Shiatsu, not to mention 10- or 15-minute chair massages for those who are short on time. To impart wellbeing practices to all, Chien Center also offers Qigong classes in Santa Cruz.
Eco Goods
1130 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz , CA 95060; Tel. 831.429.5758
Eco Goods is an environmental general store featuring organic cotton, bamboo and hemp clothing, vegan shoes and bags, bedding, towels and bodycare. This eco-friendly store in santa cruz also offers recycled and rainforest jewelry and gifts.
SC 41
2647 41st Ave., Soquel, CA 95060; Tel. 831.464.2228
Sustainably produced, non-toxic materials and sophisticated design come together at this store specializing in custom-crafted furniture, high-end ergonomic mattresses and luxurious bedding. Chemically sensitive and socially conscious shoppers, rejoice!
SunRidge Farms/Falcon Trading Company
423 Salinas Road, Pajaro , CA 95076; Tel. 831.786.7000
SunRidge Farms/Falcon Trading Company retails award-winning USDA certified organic and natural trail mixes, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, gourmet candies/confectioneries, cereals, and granolas available in bulk, packaged, and tubs.
Benedictine Healing Products
208 Locust St., Santa Cruz , CA 95060; Tel. 831.425.5977
Benedictine Healing Products organically grows more than half of the herbs used in their 100 medicinal herb tinctures and oils for people and their pets.
Laptop Lunches
849 Almar Ste. C-323, Santa Cruz , CA 95060; Tel. 831.457.0301
Laptop Lunches packs nutritious, sustainable meals for work, school and travel. The bento-style containers, stainless steel water bottles and lunch jars eliminate waste, while the meals remain delicious and fresh.
Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping
P.O. Box 677 , Santa Cruz , CA 95061; Tel. 831.425.3514
Ecological landscaping. Permaculture design. Installation and maintenance of environmentally friendly landscapes. Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping uses bicycle power with their Tread Lightly service.
GoodHumans
500 Soquel Ave. Ste. F, Santa Cruz , CA 95062; Tel. 831.420.0118
Low prices on a huge selection of natural products, including hemp and organic cotton clothing, purses, wallets, body care products and gifts.
Herbal Products and Development
P.O. Box 1084, Aptos , CA 95001; Tel. 831.688.8706
Herbal Products and Development offers foundational nutrients and original formulation for optimal health: food enzymes, probiotics, antioxidants, green foods, liquid vitamins, minerals, macrominerals, and joint support.
Blue Lotus
P.O. Box 134, Soquel CA 95073; Tel. 831.479.7051
Blue Lotus features outdoor fleece blankets made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. These comfortable blankets are great for picnics, camping, kids, and the beach.
Santa Cruz Environmental Groups
California Native Plant Society - Santa Cruz County (CNPS)
2335 17th Ave., Santa Cruz CA 95062; Tel. 831.462.6672
The Santa Cruz chapter of the California Plant Society meets on the second Monday of odd-numbered months at 7:30pm at the UCSC Arboretum. The goals of the group are to increase the appreciation of California's native plants though field trips, projects and programs for the protection of the environment for future generations of Californians.
Island Conservation
100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz CA 95060; Tel. 831.459.1476
Island Conservation seeks to prevent extinctions and protect ecological and evolutionary processes on islands.
Valley Women's Club of the San Lorenzo Valley
P.O. Box 574, Ben Lomond CA 95005; Tel. 831.338.1728
The Valley Women's Club is dedicated to community action, awareness and leadership in environmental, educational, social and political concerns which affect the health and welfare of the San Lorenzo Valley. Major activities include public education through quarterly newsletter, workshops in survival skills, statements at board of supervisor's meetings, support of the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed Management Plan, informing people of erosion control methods, sponsorship of educational programs, improvement of parks through donation of equipment and funding of supplies, management of three recycling centers and donations to fire department, play groups and any community projects voted upon.
Santa Cruz Alternative Transportation
People Power
703 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz CA 95060; Tel. 831.425.0665
People Power promotes the use of bicycles, utility tricycles, bike-trailers, skateboards, walking, and other non-motorized transit. This organization is committed to helping government, citizens, and businesses overcome their dependence on the automobile and to demonstrate that better alternatives to the car exist, while improving conditions for bicyclists in Santa Cruz County.
Campaign for Sensible Transportation
1960 Jennifer Dr., Aptos CA 95003; Tel. 831.688.2304
The Campaign for Sensible Transportation's goal is to promote an effective transportation system that makes it easier to get around and decreases the stress and frustration of driving, without causing increased air and noise pollution and without degrading the aesthetic quality of our surroundings.
Ecology Action - Energy Programs
211 River St., Santa Cruz CA 95060; Tel. 831.426.5925
The Energy Programs division of Ecology Action offers free energy efficiency assistance and subsidies for businesses throughout Northern California.
