Pasadena weekend: September 19-21

Two presentations on energy efficient living, bike rides and a Coastal Cleanup Day define the sustainable weekend.


Coastal Cleanup Day in the Arroyo on Saturday aims to help keep trash out of the ocean. This is one of two sites the Arroyo Seco Foundation is supporting in 2014. Last year over 648,000 volunteers worldwide participated in Coastal Cleanup Day events to clean up beaches and streams in 92 countries.

Energy efficient living 1Energy Efficiency in Historic Homes is the title of a half-day seminar that Pasadena Heritage has organized for Saturday. Architects, contractors and energy consultants will discuss financial incentives and preservation challenges. Session topics include Traditional climate control features in historic homes, Insulation and landscaping for shade and Water conservation.

Energy efficient living 2. For Sunday morning, the 7th Principle Group at the Unitarian Church has announced a presentation by Peter Kalmus from Caltech titled Joyful low energy living. All are welcome to attend.

Bicycling. On Sunday morning, Pasadena Cyclery will hold two rides: Gwen's Group Ride and the Sunday Morning Neighborhood Stroll. For details see the calendar page of Pasastainable, CA.

Gardening. Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden meets on Sunday.

Ongoing petition. The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition has initiated a petition for the City to adopt an ordinance to protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders and persons with disabilities.

Ongoing exhibition. An exhibition at Descanso Gardens in La Canada titled Signs of Life aims to look at water "in all its moods and states." The event is part of this year's AxS Festival, a celebration of the arts and sciences that is held in Pasadena every two years.

The Arroyo Food Co-op will be open on Saturday morning for pick-ups and shopping. Orders placed online by Sunday midnight will be available for pick-up next Tuesday and Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Patti Harrison will share her expertise on all things Chinese teas, from their history to brewing methods.

Got kids? On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center is hosting a family nature walk. Bring your small children, walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a hat. Also on Saturday morning at the Nature Center: the weekly Nature Tails Story Hour which includes stories, nature walks and puppet shows for children ages 3-5.

Random read. Created and maintained by the Friends of Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve and Constance M. Vadheim, an adjunct Professor of Biology at CSU Dominguez Hills, Mother Nature's Backyard is a blog about water-wise and life-friendly gardening in Southern California. The latest entry reads like a love letter to the often unseen change of seasons in the region: how a drought-tolerant vegetation transforms as the months go by, how its colors move from silvers and purples to yellows and browns. Serving as a perfect introduction to the website, the post reminds us that the driest time of the year bears beauty. "Overall," it says about water-wise backyards during the months of August, September and October, "the garden is a symphony of browns; a restful blend of colors that is subtle and soothing."

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Unless otherwise noted, all events take place in Pasadena. For times, addresses and other details please see the calendar page of Pasastainable, CA or the event owner's webpage.