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Dear Friend,
This is a truly exciting summer for MEF! We are proud to announce that Michelle's memory will be honored all around the globe THIS SATURDAY during Al Gore's highly publicized Live Earth Concert Series! In addition, we have been touched by the many friends of MEF who have organized events in their own areas.
In that spirit, MEF is asking you to go local- all around the globe! |
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SOS Live Earth, 7/7/07
Concerts Feature Celebrity Reading of Michelle's Essay
A short film has been made from Michelle's "I Believe" Essay, in which she declares her personal commitment to environmentalism. The film, which features Sheryl Crow, Tipper Gore,
Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Sarah Ferguson (the Duchess of York) and
Michelle's mother, Diane, will be aired across the globe as part of the SOS Live Earth Concert Series, hosted by Al Gore this Saturday, 7/7/07.
Live Earth will consist of 24 straight hours of continuous music, short films, and public service announcements in diverse locations the world over: New York City, London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Hamburg, Istanbul, Antarctica, and the space station.
The short film will then make its' way to various film festival and be used as part of the Alliance for Climate Protection's awareness program.
Bravo will offer continuous coverage of this worldwide event reaching over two billion people this Saturday, so please tune in!
For more information on Live Earth, visit the official website at:
http://www.liveearth.org/
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Eat, think, buy LOCAL!
Member Action for the Summer Months
Five
Arlington farmers' markets make it easy to buy local! Most
of the products sold at the markets listed below come from within a 125 mile radius of Arlington so
you get fresher produce while supporting local farms and bakers! And
buying local also helps the environment, it's more
environmentally friendly to eat food grown or produced close where
you live.
Consider this: On average a meal can travel over a
thousand miles by truck, ship or plane before it reaches your table.
Eating locally grown, organic and or meatless meals can be very
beneficial to the earth and your health. Eating locally also promotes
smaller, independent businesses, and benefits the local economy.
Local foods consume less energy, cause less pollution, taste better,
are more nutritious, and help your local community.
Even if you don't live in or near Arlington, you can do your part for your own community and environment by buying produce from local farmer's markets in your area.
Arlington
Farmers' Market, Courthouse
Saturdays,
8 a.m.-12 p.m., year round
N.
14th St. / Courthouse Rd.
703.228.6400,
www.arlingtonfarmersmarket.com
Ballston
Farmers' Market
Welburn
Square, 9th and N. Stuart St. (across Ballston Metro)
Fridays,
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
June
1 through Oct. 12
703.528.3527
www.ballstonvasquare.org
Clarendon
Farmers' Market
Wednesdays
3-7 p.m. at the Clarendon Metro
May
through October
703.821.8881
www.clarendon.org/farmers.html
Columbia
Pike Farmers' Market
Columbia
Pike and S. Walter Reed Dr.
Sundays,
9 a.m. -1 p.m.
May
26 through Nov. 25
703.892.2776,
www.columbiapike.org/market
Rosslyn
Farmers' Market
N.
Lynn St at Metro Park
Thursdays,
May 17 through Oct. 25
11
a.m.-3 p.m.
703.522.6628
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Sally's Birthday Party
An Environmentally- themed party inspired by Michelle
By Sarah Wiley
At the end of April we invited twenty of our seven- year-
old daughter's best friends over to our house for a birthday party. This was a
daunting prospect, despite having hosted many children's parties in the past. This
time, I was determined to not create excess waste with goodie bags, and to have
earth-friendly activities, further challenging our creativity.
For favors we bought a large selection of seeds. Some were
root vegetables, such as carrots and radishes, and others were easy to grow
flowers, such as Cosmos and Zinnias. My husband got a large bag of potting
soil, plenty of spades, and materials to make stakes identifying what was
planted. The children planted the seeds, exchanging and trading to get what they
wanted, and then created their stakes, making insects out of felt and
clothespins to decorate the tops. This activity was very popular, mainly
because it was clear that many of the children hadn't had much experience with
gardening, and were entranced by the idea of a seed becoming a plant.
Luckily I have two older children who were wonderful helpers
for the scavenger hunt. Our large group headed down to the bike trail, pieces
of paper with names and illustrations of various wild plants in hand. During the
hunt, we discussed how pokeweed is edible only in its youngest stage, how to
look out for poison ivy, and other fascinating information about our local
flora. Once again, it was striking how interested the children were by this
somewhat simple activity. It was an exercise in taking time to really look at
the many things in our environment that we tend to take for granted on a daily
basis.
The parents reported back to me what a great time their
children had had that afternoon, and I know that most of them were relieved to
have a pot of flowers or vegetables instead of more plastic clutter to take
home. I felt as if we had created a true "Michelle's Earth" day: we had started
to teach young people the pleasures of the world around them, right here, in our
own backyards. I feel confident that they will continue to expand upon their
knowledge and appreciation for plants, extending down through another
generation.
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Vermont Honors Michelle
Several events in Burlington, VT pay tribute to Michelle
- The Burlington Policy Department and University of Vermont sponsored a 5k Fun Run in memory of Michelle on May 19th, 2007. Thanks to the hundreds of students and local residents who came out to participate in this fantastic event!
- The University of Vermont College of Agriculture hosted a Going Local Colloquium dedicated to Michelle. This wonderful event brought attention to an issue that Michelle was passionate about.
- The University of Vermont awarded Michelle a posthumous degree on May 20, 2007.
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Earth Day Clean Sweep
organized by MEFers at the University of Rochester
On April 21st, 20 University
of Rochester students were joined by
members of the city's CleanSweep corps for an Earth Day clean up of Genesee Valley
Park in Rochester, NY.
The group, which totaled over 40 people, collected a truckload of waste from
the park and river banks.
For some of the Rochester
students, members of Alpha Phi fraternity, the clean-up held extra meaning, as
it was conducted in the memory of Michelle's mission, based on a suggestion by
Dana Mueller, a former Arlington Storm teammate. The park, which connects the
city to the University, is often used by University students for pick-up games
and cookouts. Thanks to Dana and everyone who helped with this event!For more information on the CleanSweep program, see http://www.ci.rochester.ny.us/index.cfm?id=746
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Burlington EarthFest: In Review
A sucessful tribute to Michelle's memory
"EarthFest:
A tribute to Michelle," was held at the University of Vermont on
April 21st. An Earth Day benefit concert, EarthFest was organized by Julia Martin, a personal friend of Michelle's, and the UVM Program
Board. It was an all day event that featured a wide array of
musicians including the Jazz Mandolin Project and Burlington Taiko
drummers. Ben and Jerry's, Champlain Orchards, Leonardo's Pizza and Cabot cheese were among some of
the local vendors to set up tables, and donated a portion of their
sales to MEF to commemorate the Earth and Michelle.
Alison Bell, who
attended the event on behalf of MEF said, "It was the perfect
spring day to host this really beautiful event. All day
students and families from Burlington came out to support the cause,
and MEF was able to connect with some other like- mined environmental
groups."
Earthfest was an inspiring event, and we hope to
continue the tradition.
* Thanks to all of the vendors who contributed at least 25% of their EarthDay profits to MEF! *
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| Thank You!!!
To our MEF friends across the country.
- The Lewis family of Arlington, VA made a very generous donation to MEF which will help to fund many exciting programs in the future. MEF extends our thanks to the entire family.
- Kristin Becker and her students at Accotink Academy in Springfield, VA held a bake sale to benefit MEF, generously donating all of the proceeds to the foundation. We sincerely thank Accotink Academy for honoring Michelle's memory and supporting MEF in this way.
Your donations make MEF possible!!
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MEF Tote Bags and Shirts for Sale!
Show your support for MEF!
Our beautiful tote bags (an environmentally friendly way to carry your groceries) are available for just $10, and t shirts for just $20.
To purchase any MEF merchandise, please contact Carlyn Caruthers at: ccaruthers@gmail.com
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 Donate Today!
Help make Michelle's Earth a better place by donating to MEF today.
Remember, Michelle's Earth Foundation has been granted 501c3
status as an educational and charitable organization by the IRS! This
means that all donations made to Michelle's Earth Foundation since
November are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
Donations can be addressed to:
Michelle's Earth Foundation
Preston King Station
P.O. Box 5140
Arlington, VA 22205 |
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Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
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Michelle's Earth Foundation |
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