Pasadena weekend: February 27 - March 1

Attend workshops on water and vegetable gardening, visit the Repair Cafe. Plus: ongoing and recurring events.

Need a repair? Repair Cafe is a monthly get-together of people with broken toasters, computers, necklaces, scissors, you-name-its and people who know how to fix things. Meets this Saturday morning and includes a clothing swap.

Water and You is the title of a four-part workshop series that the Neighborhood Church’s Green Council has organized. The third session, on Saturday afternoon, will explore the topic Personal Water Use. Free and open to the public.

Gardening, workshop. Want to grow vegetables in raised garden beds? On Saturday morning, the Arboretum (Arcadia) will host a workshop that will cover picking the right soil for a raised bed, manual and automatic irrigation techniques, garden planning, and seasonal growing tips.

Gardening, hands-on. On Saturday there will be a Free-Food Garden work party at the Arroyo Food Co-op. Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden (usually) meets on Sunday mornings.

Bicycling. On Sunday morning the Pasadena Cyclery will host a ride and clinic for beginner riders just starting out or for riders wanting to cycle more effectively.

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.

Walks, docent-led. Descanso Gardens (La Canada) is holding docent-guided seasonal walks on Saturday and Sunday morning. On Friday and Saturday morning, the Arboretum (Arcadia) will host docent-led walking tours.

Petition, survey. Change.org's petition for a ban of styrofoam containers in Pasadena is still up and active. Pasadena Water and Power is conducting a survey on the city's energy future. (Note: PWP has not posted any information on when the survey period ends, but as of this printing the link was still up.)

Exhibition. As part of the Pasadena Arts Council's AxS Festival 2014, the Armory presents Karin Apollonia Müller's World’s Edge, a photographic exploration of the intersection between the natural landscape and complex urbanization. Ends next summer.

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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.

Pasadena weekend: December 12-14

Learn about organic fruit and vegetable gardening, join a walking tour. Plus: ongoing and recurring events, and this week's random read.

Gardening. The Arboretum will host a class for organic fruit and vegetable gardening on Saturday morning. Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden (usually) meets on Sunday mornings.

Walking tours. The Arboretum will hold walking tours on Friday and Saturday morning. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center will host a walk with The California Native Plant Society on Sunday morning.

The 7th Principle Green Council at the Neighborhood Church will hold its monthly meeting on Sunday morning.

The Arroyo Food Co-op will host a tea appreciation event on Sunday morning. The store is now open on Saturdays and Sundays for shopping and pick-ups. Orders placed online by Sunday midnight will be available for pick-up starting next Tuesday. Looking ahead, note that the store will not be open on December 28 and on January 4.

Survey. Pasadena Water and Power is conducting a survey on the city's energy future. To participate go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PWP_Energy_Future2014. (Note: PWP has not posted any information on when the survey period ends, but as of this printing the link was still up.)

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

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.

Exhibition. The Armory presents Karin Apollonia Müller's World’s Edge, a photographic exploration of the intersection between the natural landscape and complex urbanization. Ends next summer.

Random read. In the summer, the president of Kiribati flew to Norway on a fact-finding mission. His country, "a sprinkling of mostly coral atolls that, palm trees excepted, barely protrude from the Pacific," is gradually disappearing into the rising ocean, and President Anote Tong wanted to see the Arctic glaciers melting. Tong, who is a deeply spiritual man, boarded a Greenpeace ship and went deep into Norway's fjord system where he saw the ice, a polar bear and "the sheer arrogance of the landscape." He left for home with a sense "that what has been set in train here can't be stopped." John Van Tiggelen tells the story of Tong's trip north in the most recent issue of The Monthly, an Australian magazine. His narrative, Cold Comfort, talks about oil companies, Putin and polar bears in a changing climate, and about "the pursuit of profit at any cost [that] got us into this mess."

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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.

Pasadena weekend: October 3-5

Participate in a fundraiser, attend a forum, catch up on some recurring events or slow down with this week's suggestion for a random read.

Tweet treats ... and all that jazz! is the title of a fundraiser on Saturday. Pasadena Community Gardens and the Pasadena and Foothills Chapter of the American Institute of Architects are holding the event to benefit homeless birds, fund architectural studies and grow the community garden. Highlights include a bird-house building competition.

Water worries. Also on Saturday, the Neighborhood Church Green Council is hosting a water forum that will address topics such as community support for local solutions to the effects of the drought as well as the Water Bond on the November Ballot. The speakers are Claire Robinson (Emerald Necklace Group - Amigos De Los Rios,) Conner Everts (Southern California Watershed Alliance) and Alex Nagy (Food & Water Watch - California.)

Exhibition 1. As part of the Pasadena Arts Council's AxS Festival, the Armory presents Karin Apollonia Müller's World’s Edge, a photographic exploration of the intersection between the natural landscape and complex urbanization. Ends next summer.

Exhibition 2. 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. First published in 1903, Mary Austin's essay collection The Land of Little Rain takes readers into the region between Death Valley and the High Sierras. Those of us who have traveled through this part of the country by car know it as looking dry and forbidding, almost lifeless. But Austin, who walked the area and took the time to look closely, tells us otherwise. In an essay titled Water Border she describes ferns that "shiver under the drip of falls and in dribbling crevices" and "ice-worn, stony hollows where the bighorns cradle their young." And she shows us how the local fauna and flora have learned to thrive — even in the face of little rain.

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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.

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 1. Energy 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.

Pasadena weekend: What to do August 15-17

Educate yourself, get a free repair, garden with others.

What's "Green"? On Sunday morning the 7th Principle Green Council is hosting a presentation on how the concept of "Green" has changed. Bryan Allen from the JPL Green Club will share his thoughts on the topic.

Transition Pasadena's Repair Café is back on Sunday afternoon. Expect tinkers for electronics and appliances; tailors, hair trimmers and knife sharpeners; a wordsmith for your writing needs, a potluck and more. See the Café's Facebook page for additional details.

Gardening. On Saturday morning, join others at the South Pasadena Nature Park along the Arroyo Seco to remove weeds and litter, and to enjoy the park. Also on Saturday morning, the LA County Department of Public Works is hosting a "smart gardening" workshop at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Learn how to improve your garden and reduce waste, and pick up a worm compost bin at a discount after the session. Work on Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden continues on Sunday.

Walking. On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center hosts a family nature walk. Bring your small children, walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a hat.

Co-op-ing. The Arroyo Food Co-op's pre-order program is up and running. If you order online by Sunday midnight you can pick up your items at the store on the following Tuesday or Saturday.

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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.

Pasadena weekend: What to do June 13-15

Get your damaged goods fixed, bike or walk for safer streets, take the kids on a nature walk, learn about backyard chickens, shop at the local food co-op

Repair Café. On Saturday afternoon, watch, learn or lend a hand as local repair folks fix the damaged appliances, electronics, knifes, clothes, jewelry and other items you bring with you. Enjoy a free table with pet supplies and hand-me-downs. Transition Pasadena, the Pasadena Humane Society and the Downtown Pasadena Neighborhood Association co-host the event at the new home of the Pasadena Humane Society.

Memorial walk and bike ride. On Sunday, walk or bike with others to show your support for making Pasadena streets safer. The bike ride and walk commemorates the death of Phillip O’Neill who was killed on June 15, 2013, when a motorist struck him as he was bicycling near Caltech. The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition is organizing the event.

Family Nature Walk. On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center hosts a family nature walk. Bring small children, walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a hat.

Chickens. Interested in raising chickens in your backyard? on Sunday morning, the 7th Principle Council is hosting a presentation by Cynthia Frederick of CLUCKinPasadena to help you learn how to do it.

The Arroyo Food Co-op has begun its pre-order program. If you order online by Sunday midnight you can pick up your items at the store the following Tuesday or Saturday.

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

Pasadena weekend: What to do May 16-18

Create a garden, cycle with the mayor, learn about permaculture.

Bike Week Pasadena, concludes with the Amgen Tour on Saturday. Preceding the tour, Mayor Bill Bogaard will lead a "bicycle ride and stroll" down Colorado Boulevard, which will be closed to motor vehicles. Cyclists, skateboarders, roller skaters are all welcome to participate. People who just want to jog or stroll, too.

Nature Tails. On Saturday morning, the Eaton Canyon Nature Center hosts its weekly Nature Tails story hour for children age 3-5. Expect stories, puppet shows and nature walks.

Walking tour. On Saturday, Pasadena Heritage is offering a docent-led walking tour along historic pathways and staircases in what is left of the Busch Gardens. Sights include the Old Mill, originally built as a girl's playhouse, and the Grecian Pergola, which was part of the original entrance to the gardens.

Gardening with others. UU Church's 7th Principle Group is creating a school garden at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Most of the drip irrigation system has already been installed. Volunteers are welcome to help with further irrigation work, soil prep and planting on Saturday. Contact Will Gaskill at wgaskill@hotmail.com for details or just show up. Transition Pasadena's Throop Learning Garden meets on Sunday.

Permaculture classes. On Sunday, The Shed is offering two classes by Australian permaculturalist Steve Burns, the creator of Ballarat Permaculture Guild. The guild runs permaculture design courses and skill workshops in Australia. Burns will share his expertise in classes titled Power up your community group and Sustainable children's garden.

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