Is Your Family Prepared?

Naomi Bloch

July 9, 2011

Potomac, Md

By: Naomi Bloch

First of all, I sincerely hope that you and your family came through the recent storm with minimal inconvenience.  If you, your friends, family and neighbors didn’t, I hope you have already begun to think about the critical importance of having a family emergency plan in place, even those of you that did not lose power.

Speaking for myself, and this may also be true for many of you, we still have not made a plan, though we have talked about it for quite sometime now.  Losing our power for 48 hours only brought this lack of an actual emergency plan front and center for me.

What really made me think that this cannot be overlooked any longer was that our oldest daughter’s townhouse, in Silver Spring, had a very large tree branch fall on her roof, which created a concussion impact that brought down the ceiling in her bedroom.

The room currently looks like a “mini-9/11”.  Everything is covered in a gray dust that is God-knows-what.  Fortunately, we have a spare bedroom  so she and her two kitties are able to bunk with us until all of this can be fully sorted out.  An advantage that many others might not have.

As a mother, I have to say that when a child of yours comes this close to genuine disaster it is a motivator like none other.  When you are forced to face the reality of  “what if”,  you can no longer put off having an emergency plan in place.

This is especially relevant since nowadays because we have to agree that these “weather events” (A.K.A. – Climate Change) are only going to become more frequent and more debilitating in the years ahead.  Seeing first hand that the various emergency response teams will be clearly overwhelmed means that you and yours will be on your own for what could be several days before any outside help arrives.

In these past few days, since our power came back, I have been searching the  local, state, and federal government websites for just exactly what should go into a solid emergency plan.

I also have been thinking that this sort of project might actually get done easier if there are family, friends and/or neighbors you could team up with and make this a team effort!  We all have hectic lives and my concern is that all of us have the natural tendency to forget the seriousness of following through regarding a plan as our lives quickly return to normal.

I found a few good websites that I wanted to share with all of  you as we each ferret out the various elements for assembling our own personal emergency kits.

http://www.redcrossstore.org/shopper/prodlist.aspx?LocationId=107&gclid=CJ60haXhhbECFYFo4Aod0CshKQ

http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/frs-safe/resources/index.asp

http://www.ready.gov/are-you-ready-guide/

https://www.facebook.com/FEMA

http://www.emd.wa.gov/about/documents/Business_ShelterInPlaceAtYourOffice.pdf

I would really love to hear what you and your family, your schools and places of employment are doing, or have already done to be prepared.

Let us help each other to better be able to help our own families and community members the next time some unforeseen disaster strikes.

Let the planning begin!

It’s Happening!

Naomi Bloch

June 28, 2012

Potomac, Md

I have to say that I am really becoming excited by the growth of green and sustainability-related happenings going on in Montgomery County and beyond.

Looking at just the last couple of weeks on my personal schedule, there have been many, and varied,  green-related engagements that I want to share with you.  So often, when one cares deeply about the environment and our collective future, it can seem like there isn’t that much happening on the solutions front.

Trust me, I have had those days myself.

I have been a “greenie” in my heart and soul since growing up back in the 60’s in San Francisco when I was writing term papers in high school about pollution issues and solutions.

When I moved to Maryland in 1989, I was dismayed by the lack of any apparent concern for these issues.  I had to look very hard to find a place where I could drop off the plastic milk cartons for recycling. I managed to find a place, thank goodness, even though the county’s recycling program was years away.

Back to here and now, the various events and activities I attended over the past few weeks makes me hopeful and happy to know that the environmental movement is gaining momentum.   I know that there are also so many more events happening in the DC metro area that I am not even aware of.   I hope readers will share with me what you are seeing and participating in.

On June 7^th I attended the Bethesda Green’s first Thursday of the month Happy Hour where 96 people crowed into a back room at Food, Wine & Company in Bethesda to learn about the new Farm to Freezer program from Sue Kirk, the director of   Bethesda Cares and Cheryl Kollin, principal of Full Plate Ventures.

Cheryl Kollin had approached Sue Kirk with the idea of freezing all the wonderful farm fresh bounty that the growing season brings so that the meals Bethesda Cares serves to it’s homeless clients could include wholesome produce through out the year instead of it ending up in a landfill.

Some of you may have even read the Washington Post article in last Thursday’s Food section mentioning that over 40% of food in this country, from farms, stores, restaurants and households is throw out in the trash!

So, this farm to freezer program is a real win/win solution to a local problem.  If you’d like to learn more and even volunteer to help (a good learning experience, too!) to help with the preparation of the fresh food for freezing, check out these links above.

On June 9^th,  I tabled for Amicus Green Building Center at the Bethesda Green’s third annual “Solar & Green Home Expo” and it was the largest gathering of vendors yet.  The goal of this event was to provide homeowners and other interested parties an opportunity to get the latest information about area services and incentives to green their homes.

It is always so wonderful to see new vendors at these types of events because it means that more and more companies are being set up to work on some aspect or another of the new green economy.For more information about sustainable products and future Bethesda Green events, just follow the links below:

The following weekend, on June 16^th, I again tabled for Amicus Green Building Center, but this time in NE, Washington, DC at the “Solar Flare” event, which was co-hosted by a division of DC Sun and the Ward 7 Solar Co-op.  This was a very well attended event.   It was clear to me that the elected leaders and residents living in DC’s lower-income neighborhoods are extremely interested in and up on all things green.

 https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/

When it comes to becoming more sustainable, it really makes sense to be aware of what our neighbors are doing and the creative approaches they are employing to help make going solar, going green and saving energy much more accessible to more and more people every year.

On June 19^th I attended the Green Wheaton Gala at Brookside Gardens in celebration of their first anniversary.  If you, or anyone you know lives in the Wheaton area, you/they should check out their website to learn more about what they’re working on toward making Wheaton a more green and sustainable community.

On Wednesday, June 20^th I attended the third public meeting of the Montgomery County Food Council.  

On Thursday evening, June 21^st, I headed downtown to mix and mingle at the Green America Happy Hour where we enjoyed locally produced food and then listened to four speakers who are on the front lines of creating a vibrant local food economy:

1. Jim Epstein, founder & chairman of  Blue Ridge Produce — Blue Ridge Produce is an aggregator of Virginia-grown fruits and vegetables for sale to wholesale buyers in the Washington, DC region.

2. Margarita Morgan-Hubbard, CEO of Eco-City Farms –– Located in Edmonston, Maryland, Eco-City Farms harnesses solar and geothermal power for growing vegetables, raising chickens for eggs, and keeping  bees. From August through December they harvested more than 600 pounds of local produce.

3. Ted Rouse, co-founder of  Big City Farms — Big City Farms in Baltimore grows and harvests fresh organic vegetables, supplying restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, and local distributors, all while turning deteriorating urban land into job-centers and profitable green spaces.

4. Andy Shallal, founder of  Busboys and Poets — With four locations in the Washington Metro area, Busboys and Poets is more than a restaurant, serving as a community resource for performers, activists, writers, and local nonprofit organizations, and supporting local farms and local clean energy.

Hearing from all of these speakers and how they are each creating and promoting different aspects of  a regional and local food system was so inspiring and very hopeful.

It is happening, friends!  We are, collectively moving ever closer to the “tipping point” when all of these various efforts toward healthier, more sustainable communities and economy will only become stronger and more a part of our collective every day.

Together we will make the changes necessary to a more sustainable tomorrow.

As I See It- Heritage Days

Naomi Bloch

July 16, 2012

Potomac, Md

My family and I have lived in Montgomery County for nearly 23 years.  It wasn’t until I worked at the Montgomery County Council that I began to learn about all the amazing things going on in this county!

Because I too, at one point, did not know about all that we have to enjoy here in Montgomery County, I’m guessing that some of you may also not be aware of these wonderful local options.  In this week’s blog I want to tell you about one of these exciting events.

Heritage Days is in its 15^th year next weekend, Saturday, June 23rd and Sunday, June 24th.  I want to tell you a bit about it so that you might partake in some of the happenings this year.  Even if you are not able to this time around, at least I’ve put it on your radar for next year.

This is a FREE, two-day countywide festival and is the signature event of the Heritage Tourism Alliance of Montgomery County. The festival was created to bring the County’s natural beauty, cultural diversity, and history to the attention of residents and visitors alike.

To get started, Montgomery County has five distinct areas: Bethesda/Glen Echo/Silver Spring, Gaithersburg/Rockville, Brookville/Olney/Sandy Spring, Germantown/Boyds/Damascus/Clarksburg and last, but not least, C&O Canal/Western Montgomery County/Poolesville.

I will touch on just a sampling of a few of the offerings in each of these five regions of the county and if these peak your interest, then you can get more details about these and other events that might be of more interest to you and your family at: www.HeritageMontgomery.org

If you love carousels, live music, arts & crafts, then you will want to check out the fun taking place at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo: www.GlenEchoPark.org.  The festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. and take place on both Saturday June 23rd and Sunday, June 24^th.

Right next door to Glen Echo Park is the Clara Barton House, home of the “Angel of the Battlefield” and founder of the American Red Cross.  Check out: www.NPS.gov/clba for further details.

Moving on to the Rockville/Gaithersburg area, probably the best place to visit for a good overview of the county’s Civil War history would be a stop by the Beall-Dawson House and Stonestreet Museum of 19^th Century Medicine.  Check out: www.MontgomeryHistory.org for more details.

You can also easily take in the Redbrick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, as it is very close to the Beall-Dawson House.  There will be tours of this designated historic building on Saturday, June 23^rd only at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.. www.PeerlessRockville.org

Moving over to the Brookville/Olney/Sandy Spring portion of the county, you will want to check out the Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park, located at 3610 Brookville Road, Olney.  Bring the family and enjoy guided tours, demonstrations of 19^th century crafts and live music by Music on the Rise throughout the day. (Saturday only)  www.HistoryintheParks.org

Then, in Sandy Spring at 16501 Norwood Road, you can join “conductors” on guided hikes on a simulated Underground Railroad trail.  This is two-mile trail that winds through fields, woods and across streams to historic Sandy Springs.  Along the way you will learn of true stories of freedom seekers and how they eluded pursuers.  The 90-minute hikes begin at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and are appropriate for ages eight and up.  Saturday only.  www.HistoryintheParks.org

If it is closer for you to visit the Germantown/Boyds/Clarksburg/Damascus part of the county, then you and the kids might really enjoy the King Barn Dairy Mooseum, located at 18028 Central Park Circle, Boyds.  Here, family activities include: milking a model cow, visiting with live animals, enjoying a puppet show as well as arts and crafts!  www.Mooseum.com  (Saturday & Sunday)

Also in this sector of the county is the Hyattstown Mill Arts Project, located at 14920 Hyattstown Mill Road, Hyattstown.  Here on both Saturday and Sunday you can view the multi-media art exhibition titled “Invasive” presenting imaginative interpretations of the environmental concerns of invasive species.  Enjoy live music on both days featuring “Shortbread”, “The Trio” and others.  And on Saturday night from 7:30 p.m. to midnight will be the Saturday Night Song Circle!  www.HyattstownMill.org

Finally, in the C&O Canal/Western Montgomery County/Poolesville portion of the county, you might want to cross the Potomac from Whites Ferry (24801 Whites Ferry Road, Poolesville) where J.E.B Stuart’s cavalry crossed in the Civil War.  This ferry crossing is for people (no vehicles) and departs every 20 minutes.  This free activity can be enjoyed both on Saturday and Sunday.

To wind up the day in a relaxed way, head over to the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard where you can enjoy samples (for a small fee) of these award-winning wines from Montgomery County’s only vineyard/winery.  Take a tour of the fermentation and barrel rooms, (especially nice on a hot day!) and hear all about how this wonderful wine is made.   For more details: www.SMVWinery.com

Well, I have only given you a very small sampling of the many, many free activities taking place all over Montgomery County NEXT weekend in celebration of the 15^th Annual Heritage Days Festival.

I do hope that you will be able to take in at least one or two of these wonderful good-for-the-whole-family festival offerings… Again, if not this year, then next year.

Please also consider going to www.HeritageMontgomery.org to learn about the other wonderful projects to bring history alive all year round for the residents of Montgomery County.

Happy Trails!

As I See It- Farmers Markets

Naomi Bloch

June 8, 2011

Potomac, md

This past weekend, my husband Byron, a neighbor, and I, all attended the opening day of the newest Central Farm Market, located on Rockville Pike between Old Georgetown and Montrose Roads.

We missed the official ribbon-cutting festivities because, quite frankly, we are not “morning people” and the opening celebration was at 8:30am!   The fact that early morning hours are normal for farmers is just one of the many reason I admire them so much.  How do they do it?

I love how there is someone for every type of job in this world and really appreciate that farmers do what they do so the rest of us can eat.  Without farmers what would life be?  Which actually brings to mind that the average age of farmers in the U.S. today is now 60 and the need for attracting young farmers is growing… no pun intended.

Here are some links so you can learn more about this essential issue:

http://www.goodfoodworld.com/2011/11/where-have-all-the-farmers-gone/

http://www.mocoalliance.org

http://www.brickyardeducationalfarm.org

So anyway, we non-farmers arrived at the Pike Central Farm Market closer to 11:00 am… a normal time for us to venture out on our typical weekend.  When we pulled into the parking lot, the place was humming.  And what a fun time we had.

The market is situated where the old Silver Diner used to be.  There is a nice grass area there now which is surrounded on all sides by tents with farmers and artisan food producers displaying their bounty.

There was live music playing (nice touch… always!) and a few places to even buy ready-made food that you could enjoy at a table in the sitting area as you watched all the people walking by with their children and dogs in tow.

Farmers Markets are increasing in number every year all across the country and our area is no exception.  I believe that this is in part due to the deep, almost instinctual need we have to be around other people.  We are social beings after all,  and meandering amongst other people in search of fresh food brings together two very primal needs.

We decided to walk around the entire market just to get the lay of the land.  There were over 35 vendors at the Saturday market.  I’d recommend that you walk the grounds first before settling on what and where you want to buy.

After we had taken this quick tour, I then went into serious hunting and gathering mode.  I ended up with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, fresh bread, a dozen eggs, chard, summer squash, raspberry honey, some fresh French pastries and fresh-squeezed lemonade.  YUM!

I had brought along my reusable bags, of course, but also picked up a free red Central Farm Market bag that came in very handy.

I am so happy that this latest Central Farm Market is so conveniently located for me. It is open two days a week: Thursdays, from 11:00am – 3:00pm and Saturdays, from 9:00am – 2:00pm.

Check out the two links below for more information about the schedules, locations and vendors for the Central Farm Markets as well as list of Farmers Markets throughout Montgomery County.

www.centralfarmmarkets.com

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ded/agservices/pdffiles/Farmers_Markets/2012fmflyer.pdf

Honestly, it is now quite possible to stop by a farmers market every day of the week on your way home and have the freshest food possible for you and your family!

Happy hunting and gathering!

As I See It- “Staycations”

Naomi Bloch

Friday, June 1, 2011

Potomac, Md

My husband Byron and I just spent the last few days with friends from California who are true world travelers. As we happily showed them around some of our favorite local sights they kept remarking how this place or that reminded them of Italy, France, or New England.

And as we wandered in and out of the Smithsonian museums, Union Station, and the Library of Congress, they kept commenting on how spectacular these places are and how amazing it is that they are all FREE, too!

Finally, we all started talking about how much beauty and cultural richness we have right here in our own country! I totally agree.

So often people feel that “real” vacations require long car rides or airline tickets, hotel reservations, unfamiliar food … and uncomfortable pillows! Not to mention the time zone changes, getting lost and all the other often unpleasant logistical realities involved whenever people take a “real” vacation.

How many times have you said… or heard others say, ‘I need a vacation after my vacation!’? Traveling is exhausting!

The costs of everything will also continue to rise as oil and natural gas becomes ever more expensive to find and produce. So, finding closer-to-home recreational options is a really good way of reducing our personal carbon footprint.  Not to mention keeping your money in the local economy to boot!

We happen to be truly blessed to live in one of the places that others travel to from all over the world to see. So, how about we simplify our summer plans this year (or next) and stick around here? I bet that if you do it will become one of your most favorite vacations ever!

Check out the various links below, and I hope that they will be just the beginning of a whole new adventure of exploration and discovery into our own magnificent part of the world.

Happy trails and I wish you and your family a safe, happy and very memorable staycation!

http://dc.about.com/od/daytripsgetaways/tp/FamilyVacations.htm

http://www.c-kayak.com/tour.asp

http://www.visitmontgomery.com/things-to-do/itineraries/

http://www.marylandlife.com/

http://www.midatlantichikes.com/md.htm

Introducing Myself

Naomi Bloch, greengaithersburg.com partner and blogger

Hello!

My name is Naomi and I am pleased to be joining Green Gaithersburg as a regular Blogger!

Let me tell you a little bit about myself, and why all things green and sustainable mean so much to me and what I believe it will take to expand and accelerate this critical movement.

First and foremost, I believe in making connections!  Not only in the proverbial “connecting-the-dots” way but also in making human connections between individuals, organizations and communities.

I believe in a strong sense of community because this is what human society is all about and it is one of the essential elements that I believe has been in very short supply for far too long in our country.

Because we are social beings I believe that it is this lack of a sense of connectedness that has lead to, (or certainly made more complicated!) the various problems that concern us today.

Problems of health and wellness, of sustainability, or economic insecurity, you name it.  I could probably argue that the solution to all of these concerns lies in all of us getting to know each other better and to begin to have the types of creative, solutions-based conversations that will lead us back into balance as a society.

I believe in balance.  And that ALL of these solutions will happen by all of us taking small steps in our own daily lives.  Steps toward each other and, at the same time, toward finding, sharing, and then adopting more earth-friendly and community friendly habits.

Because I believe in connections and community building so much, I want us to develop a genuine sense of friendship over the coming weeks and months.  I believe we all have great ideas and suggestions for ways to be more sustainable and neighborly way to share.  So, I want this forum to be one of the places where that sort of sharing can take place.

I look forward to sharing with all of you the various things that I have learned and all the exciting happenings going on throughout ALL of Montgomery County as I continue to practice my quest for creating a more inter-connected county.  I am even more excited at the thought of what you all will be sharing with me as we build that better tomorrow, together!

Stay Tuned!!

Electric Car Owners are Charging Up in Various Places Throughout the DC Metro Area

Joyce Breiner Charging her Nissan Leaf at Bucca Di Beppo in Gaithersburg, Md

February 22, 2012

Gaithersburg, Md

By: Alex Stavitsky-Zeineddin

Bucca di Beppo Italian Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Md, is attracting electric vehicle owners.   If they eat a meal at Bucca, they can get a free electric charge for their car.

“ We are happy to do what we can do help people with their energy savings” said Mark Ehrli, Bucca di Beppo’s regional manager.

Joyce Breiner of Poolesville, Md, bought a Nissan Leaf electric car in December 2011 and is part of a group electric vehicle owners that like to have a meal at Bucca di Beppo while refueling her car’s battery.

The electric vehicle (EV) is becoming a popular alternative to the hybrid car and the regular gas car as more people decide that they want to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

Breiner, deputy executive director of  Poolesville Green, a local environmental non-profit,  found the Bucca di Beppo charge station on an application called Plugshare for smart phone users. This essential tool maps out private and public plugin stations throughout the United States, including the DC Metro area.  Users can add their own private or public station location address along with a review and necessary information about what kind of charger is available; a 120 volt standard outlet (can take up to 8 hours to fully charge a car),  EV plug 240, or Quick Charge (480v CHAdeMO) station.

The US Department of Energy website also provides state and municipal charging sites as well as private and utility owned charge sites throughout the United States.

Breiner explained that her husband, David Yaney, a Phd electric engineer, is the one who most often drives the car because he commutes from Poolesville to Germantown for work.  She says that the electric car does well for commuters that are also doing city driving because the battery charges up with the stop and starts.  “Electric cars are cars for geeks,” Breiner said.  “In order to maximize the amount of distance with the battery charge, the driver must think about how they are driving in order also charge the battery. “   How one drives the car improves the charge on the battery and makes a difference as to how many miles one can go without having to charge ones car.  Breiner says that other factors such as temperature also make a difference as to how far one can travel on a fully charged battery.

Breiner and Yaney took advantage of a federal $7,500 rebate tax for purchasing an electric car and additional $2,000 Maryland excise tax rebate that also gives electric car owners an HOV sticker so that they can travel even as a single passenger in the HOV lanes.  An additional $400 Maryland tax rebate is offered for home chargers as the car does need to be charged back at home.

According to the Nissan Leaf website information, Chevy Volt, and Tessla Motors, these vehicles can be driven from 100 to 300 miles before needing to be re-charged. The high end Tessla electric cars, made here in the US, say that the model S holds a charge for up to 300 miles.

All these different electric vehicles are made to order and are available on the different car company’s websites. Ford Focus 2012 Electra is taking online orders as well. On average, it takes two months for the cars to be made and delivered. The Nissan Leaf dealership in Rockville Maryland said seven Leafs were delivered in December 2011, two in January 2012, and one so far this month.

Breiner says that she and her husband have already saved $200 in gasoline costs during the month of January.  Also, their EV keeps detailed information about how much electricity they have generated and expended in each drive that is then provided to them as an email through the Nissan Leaf smart phone application to their smart phone.  Breiner and Yaney can keep meticulous track of driving habits and how they effect their energy battery consumption.  Maintenance is no longer about oil changes but rather about tire rotations and having the battery maintain its charging capacity.

Meanwhile, new charging stations are popping up in all the DC Metro region and groups such as The Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington DC serve as a great resource and support for experienced and new EV owner’s alike.  According the EVA’s website, Dulles Airport will be opening up eight new charging stations alone in the coming days.

Going Meat Free on Mondays

January 30th, 2012

Gaithersburg, Md

Editorial by:  Alex Stavitsky-Zeineddin

Today is the first day that my family and I are consciously not eating meat on a Monday.  I packed my boys mushroom pizza slices in their lunch boxes along with a yogurt, tangerine and fruit rollup. I plan to eat a butternut squash soup I made for lunch and then cook a Spanish omelette for all of us for dinner tonight.

My boys reminded me today that it is Meatless Monday, so they are on board too. I just left a message on my husband’s cell to remind him not to eat meat today too.

Vegan food coach Caroline Cherry provided an African Stew recipe today and Denise Clark, a friend and excellent cook, shared a Confetti-Stuffed Buritto recipe.  They are listed under Recipes on the right margin of this website.

Please let me know if you too tried to eat meat free today and what you cooked. Please share any vegetarian recipes by emailing me at founder@greengaithersburg.com.  I will post your recipes next Monday.