South African Tourism’s Launch of ECOTHANDA: the Sustainable Meetings Directory

Held at the Haworth showroom in Washington, DC, this website launch featured everything South Africa:  Zebratinis, wine, food, music by MAHALA, and models wearing South African hats and demonstrating the new sustainable meetings directory with i-Pads.   Below is a list of our 14+ green initiatives.

1.  Our venue was LEED Gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Photo courtesy of balance photography

  

2.  We were able to use the existing furniture in the showroom for the event.

Photo courtesy of balance photography

  

3. Geppetto Catering, our caterer for the evening, is the highest rated certified green caterer in the Metro DC Region.  They are 100% wind powered. 

Photo courtesy of balance photography

  

4.  All vegetables, fruits and produce are from farmers at local farmers markets.

Photo courtesy of balance photography

  

5.  All serving ware was on china, not plastic. 

  

6.  No plastic bottles were used.

  

7.  The napkins were compostable.

  

8.  We composted and recycled our waste. Our trash bags were biodegradable and made of rice.

  

9.  The South African wines were from sustainable wineries listed on ECOTHANDA.

Photo courtesy of balance photography

  

10.  Our votives contained LED lights and our decorative lighting was via LED lights thanks to John Farr Lighting Design.  

  

11.  The name badge holders were made of 50% recycled vinyl and the inserts were made of 100% post consumer recycled.

Photo courtesy of balance photography

  

12.  Plastic generated from our linens and other rentals was baled and recycled.  Linen hangers were returned to be reused.

13.  Our guest gift was made by MonkeyBiz, a nonprofit income-generating bead project listed on ECOTHANDA.

Photo courtesy of balance photography

Photo courtesy of balance photography

Photo courtesy of balance photography

Photo courtesy of balance photography

Photo courtesy of balance photography

Photo Courtesy of balance photography

Photo courtesy of balance photography

Sixth Annual Polar Bear Plunge the Coldest Ever!

I did it! On Saturday, January 22, I plunged into 30-degree water in 20-degree weather and raised over $1,523 (and counting!) thanks to nearly 50 friends, family, colleagues and clients.

I had an amazing time at the Plunge! I bundled up (8 layers on top, 3 on the bottom if you count my suit) and looked a bit like the Michelin Man and didn’t feel cold at all – even when I took off all those layers to get in the water. In previous years, I actually felt sick as soon as I hit the water, but not this year. I kept charging forward, full speed ahead and had the most amazing time! Everybody is ALWAYS in such a good mood and so many people really get into the spirit of the day.

lori hill event productions helped out with some of the logistics and in recruiting the day’s sponsors who also helped out a bunch. Be sure to give these folks you attention and business if you can.

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company
            












 Not only does Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company produce some of the region’s finest coffees (if you were at the Plunge, you know!), they do it with modern eco-technologies. But more importantly, they are devoted to making the world around us a better place. CBRC pledges 2% in support of their H2O-Initiative that contributes funding to local organizations devoted to restoring our regional treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. Visit their web site to find out how you can purchase them at a store near you.

New Leaf Vegan Society
For three years in a row, Dale Ball from New Leaf Vegan Society has baked her buns off to provide the most delicious vegan muffins, cookies and brownies. We are confident she shocks skeptics when they realized they are eating vegan treats! New Leaf believes in a tasty plant-based outlook towards a more compassionate and sustainable future for ourselves, the animals and the planet. They are a valuable resource for delicious recipes, tips and hot topics.


Perfect Settings
A rented table looks pretty naked without a beautiful linen to adorn it and we are grateful that Perfect Settings, a party rental company with one of the most extensive product lines in the area, helped us adorn our tables with beautiful grass green linens. There are many party rental companies out there, but Perfect Settings makes every effort to reduce their carbon foot print. Furthermore, they recycle all plastic linen bags and cardboard, offer recycling services to events through the rental of recycling bins, purchase 100% wind power and have the most environmentally friendly tables and coverings in the special events industry.

Waste Neutral Group
We wouldn’t walk the talk if we didn’t dispose of our Plunge waste responsibly, so for the past three years, Waste Neutral Group has taken our compostables (all food, coffee cups and collars, wooden stirrers, napkins, paper waste) and recyclables and diverted them from the landfill. Whether you are planning an event, or are a commercial business or institution, Waste Neutral will come up with cost effective alternatives to help you divert needless waste from going to the landfill.

Brrrr! I'm Taking the Plunge!

Why I Plunge
Visiting the home of Mike Tidwell, the executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, in the summer of 2006 for one of his clean energy open houses turned me from light green to dark green. I credit CCAN for the sustainable practices I engage in at home and in my business and I’ve developed quite a passion for the fight against climate change. I’m trying to do my part to raise awareness about it and to help CCAN in their battle to change legislation. Accordingly, it has been my pleasure and honor to participate in their Annual Polar Bear Plunge for the previous 3 years even though I’m not a fan of the cold.

Make a Pledge!
If you'd like to make a pledge -- I'll take pledges of $5 to $500 -- go to my plunge page.

I Hope You’ll Join Me
I always have a great time at the Plunge. Seeing people of ALL ages is so inspiring and some folks wear amazing costumes. We drink great organic/fair trade coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (we also provide hot tea and cocoa) and Dale Ball from New Leaf Vegan Society gets up at the crack of dawn to prepare her tasty vegan muffins and cookies. Be sure to get to the Plunge site early because Dale’s treats go fast! Our food and beverage spread always looks so nice because Perfect Settings party rental company donates the most beautiful table linens. And afterwards, Waste Neutral Group takes away all our waste – compost, recycling and the tiny bit that goes to the landfill.

The actual plunge itself is less than a minute. In fact, your time in the water is mere seconds. It’s a small sacrifice for a great cause.

Afterwards, we all head to an after party close by and nosh on great food and many of us have an adult beverage or two. This year, we’ll be at McLoone’s Pier House, a restaurant that cares about the environment.

If you'd like to join me, you can register at Keep Winter Cold.

Tips for an Effective Plunge
When I arrive at the Plunge site, I have my bathing suit on under my multiple layers of clothes (long johns under pants and about 3 or 4 layers up top). When it comes time to plunge, we all head into the heated tents to strip down to our suits. I then put on a bathrobe and wrap myself up in a blanket. I also bring a towel. For the previous 3 years, I’ve worn flip flops which is NOT a good choice because they fly off as soon as I hit the water. This time, my plunge attire will consist of a pair of old athletic shoes, my bathing suit, a hat, a scarf and some gloves. After the Plunge, we head back into the warm tents to change back into our warm clothes. Be sure to bring a Chico bag (or some other nylon bag – no plastic!) in which to place your suit and any other wet clothing.

If you are on the fence about plunging, I hope you’ll – pardon the pun – take the plunge and participate in the Plunge! You’ll have a great time!

Eco Gifts for the Holidays

My family has decided not to exchange gifts this year because we already have enough stuff! But if you have gifts to buy, make thoughtful, fair-trade, eco selections that will be easy on the Earth.

Here are some of our favorites in alpha order:

All for the One
Educate your child today about a greener tomorrow by purchasing the beautifully illustrated book Easy to Be Green. If you would like it autographed, at check out, indicate in the gift message block that you want it signed by the author AND if you want it personalized with the gift recipient's name and/or the gift giver's name (Santa, Mother Earth, etc.).

Carbon Fund
Give a gift this year that reduces the carbon footprint of someone you care about. Your donation supports projects that help the climate by reducing carbon emissions. Choose from guilt free wrapping paper, coal for being naughty, carbon offsets for yourself, your family or your office, or plant 10 to 100 trees.

eco-artware
Not just art, this site sells all types of cool gifts from recycled, reused and natural materials.

Green America
Check out Green America's list of simple holiday gift ideas.

Herban Lifestyle
You'd be surprised how many evil chemicals are in traditional bath and beauty products. Herban Lifestyle's are chemical-free and good for the Earth.

Ten Thousand Villages
With stores all across the U.S., Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America.

If you like to shop in person and live near the Baltimore/Annapolis/DC area, here are some more picks:

Community Forklift
If you are looking to give your home a makeover for the holidays, come to Hyattsville, Maryland to check out this not-so ordinary home improvement center which not only sells surplus and salvaged building materials, but also new green materials. They also have cool antiques such as mirrors and lighting fixtures.

Earth Alley
Located in the kitchy Hampden section of Baltimore, this store sells eco-friendly and fair trade gifts.

nest
Located in Clarksville, Maryland, nest sells items that are organic, recycled, environmentally friendly, fair trade, hand made, and supportive of a healthy lifestyle.

Enjoy!

This Holiday Season, Entertain to Sustain

Below are 5 quick tips to help entertain to sustain for the holidays

Source Your Food Locally and Select Organic Options When Possible

It is always best to pay a little bit more for organic options for food and beverages since they contain less of those evil "ide": pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. Your body will thank you for ingesting less toxins which will contribute to better health in the long run.

Local options are also better because the average distance our food travels from source to table is 1,600 miles. In contrast, the average distance from local farms to the farmers market is less than 50 miles. Going local is a much better option because you not only reduce the carbon footprint since the food travels a smaller distance, but you also support your local economy. For every $100 spent on a locally owned business, $45 goes back into the community. Finally, the food is fresher and therefore, tastes better and don't you want to serve tasty food to your family and friends? To find a farmer’s market near you, go to Local Harvest. Many are open year-round.

Opt for Dishware Over Disposables

When serving food, I urge my clients to use glassware, silverware and dishware over disposables. It is best to select an option that you can reuse over and over again. Be sure to use an earth friendly detergent such as Seventh Generation and don't let the water run while washing your dishes! Use the dishwasher and make sure it is full before you run it.

If you must use disposables, stay away from that evil plastic stuff that takes decades to biodegrade. I use bambu Veneerware

Made of certified organic bamboo, it is compostable and breaks down in 4 to 6 months. Many grocery stores are carrying compostable disposable plates made of bamboo, fallen palm leaves, sugarcane pulp and other natural products. You can also get cups that look plastic, but are made of corn. They may cost a bit more, but your grandchildren will thank you for taking care of the planet instead of throwing more plastic in the landfill.

Use Soy or Beeswax Candles

Traditional candles are made with paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, which burns dirty and pollutes the air. Soy and beeswax candles are the earth friendly option. Years ago, the only beeswax candles I could find were taper candles, but Beeswax Candle Company sells tea lights, votives and even pillar beeswax candles. They'll ship to you in earth friendly packaging and while it may look like they've used those evil polystyrene packing shells, they actually dissolve in water.

Floral, Greens and Other Decor

The name of the game is to stay local and seasonal and/or pick floral that can be dried and reused. Ask your florist where they source their flowers from. You don't want flowers coming from another continent – that causes a huge carbon footprint. If you put up a Christmas tree, aim to get one that is balled in burlap so that it can be replanted. Also, when decorating around your home, use any tree branches trimmed from your tree or leftover from the tree farm. I've lucked out and snagged FREE greens from a tree farm that I later used for a client's holiday party. I decorated the tables with these, bubble vases filled with water, cranberries and floating beeswax candles. It was inexpensive and festive.

Carpool with Your Family

When I think of the song, "Over the River and Through the Woods" it makes me think of a family traveling together in one sleigh to their final destination. Too many times in our modern society, we pick convenience over the earth friendly option, but it can have a huge carbon footprint. So when the 30 members of your family are gathered at grandma's house before going out to dinner, instead of taking 10 vehicles with 3 people each, aim for 5 vehicles with 6 people and mix it up a bit. You'll form a stronger bond with your relatives and may have some funny stories to tell later.

How Eating Less Beef Helps the Environment

I've been a vegetarian for nearly 7 years. Before 2003, I always thought about going vegetarian, but a conversation with a friend about mad cow disease and all the steroids and other scary chemicals and pollutants that end up in our meat and seafood prompted me to go all the way. In other words, I don't eat beef, poultry or seafood. Basically, I don't eat anything with a face.

Since high school, I had limited the amount of red meat I eat because heart disease and cancer run in my family. When I decided to become a vegetarian, it was easy to eliminate meat from my diet altogether since I hadn't been eating much. Many people ask me if I felt different -- healthier. I have to admit I didn't feel different, but that is probably because I wasn't eating much in the first place. I felt more of a difference when I stopped drinking diet Coke. But that is the topic for another blog...

When I became a vegetarian, I had no idea I was being green. A few years later, I saw the following statistic from World Watch Institute at Great Sage -- one of my favorite vegetarian/vegan/green restaurants which is in Clarksville, Maryland. The statistic was:

It takes 25 gallons of water to make 1 pound of wheat
and 2,500 gallons of water to make 1 pound of meat

Scary stuff. To learn more about how beef impacts the environment, watch this brief (6:47) video which is a trailer to the film "The Secret Life of Beef". I bet it has an impact on you.

If you are a regular meat eater, trying having a Meatless Monday. Or perhaps a Meatless Thursday. The generations who come after us will thank you.

Hold Your Next Event at a Green Venue on the Chesapeake Bay

About 15 years ago, when I listened to mainstream radio (before I discovered NPR), I remembered hearing commercials for a venue called Herrington on the Bay. It sounded like it was somewhere in Jamaica, but it is just about an hour from me, down the road in Rose Haven, on the western shore of Maryland.

When I recently visited the venue, owner/operator Anna Chaney Willman laughed when I recalled their very memorable commercials. They have since moved away from that image and have successfully become a resort that keeps its eye on protecting the environment.

I’m a sucker for any venue on the water, and Herrington sits on the Most Environmentally Sensitive Marina, Herrington Harbour South, as awarded by the National Marine Manufacturers Association in 1999 as well as Boating Industry Magazine in 2006. Whether you are holding a business retreat or a wedding, you can hold your event along the water or inside the main building. Regardless, the views are stunning.

Noted for lusciously landscaped lawns with clear views of the Chesapeake Bay, miles of natural marshes inhabited by native wildlife, 600+ acres of preserved wooded walking trails, quaint waterfront Inn accommodations, private beaches, and phenomenalsunrises and sunsets, Herrington is the perfect eco setting for all occasions.

And they take being green seriously. Below is just a taste of their long list of green initiatives:

- They participate in Anne Arundel County’s recycling program
- Their chefs are committed to offer the best in sustainable Chesapeake cuisine and they purchase products from Maryland and regional farmers, watermen, and vendors who offer sustainably-raised and harvested produce, beef, oysters, crabmeat, shrimp, fish, eggs, and more
- Breads and desserts are prepared in-house with organic and natural ingredients
- Organic herbs are grown on-site, and used in food preparation
- Coffee is provided by Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company, an eco-friendly, local roaster (we are HUGE fans here at lori hill event productions)
- Wine and beer lists include sustainable and organic options
- Reverse osmosis filtered water is offered and proceeds benefit the Chesapeake Bay Trust
- That evil Styrofoam is prohibited. Cornstarch-based plastic ware or biodegradable and/or
recyclable plasticware is used when china is not an option

So go visit Anna and her team and discover the beauty of this very eco-friendly venue.

Go Naked the Next Time You Purchase Bath and Body Products

The other night I went to a product launch for Herban Lifestyle’s Naked line of bath and body products which are made without colors, fragrances, preservatives, or chemical additives. Why is that stuff is bad for you? Take a FEW minutes and watch The Story of Cosmetics.

Herban Lifestyle uses only the highest quality natural, organic, and fair trade ingredients that have been minimally processed and void of any harsh chemicals. The line includes body butter, belly balm, mineral soak, bath tea, healing salve, lip balm, body soap, facial soap, facial masque, and facial toner.

Herban Lifestyle’s Naked line is particularly good for people with allergies and skin sensitivities because they are made without essential oils which require large amounts of precious plants and, since they have potent medicinal properties, many are contraindicated for pregnant and nursing women. Instead, Naked products are scented with herbs, oils, salts, hydrosols, and dried flowers.

And what makes this company particularly attractive to me is that Herban Lifestyle TRULY cares about their impact on the earth. ALL Naked products come in glass or aluminum containers with 100% recycled labels. I LOVE IT! Also, they are a member of the Green America Green Business Network and The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics.

The other cool thing is that 10% of gross sales from the Naked line are donated to non-profits promoting the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. Proceeds from the event I went to benefitted Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, DC.

So if you are a bride looking for gifts for your maids, or if you are an event producer putting together a basket of toiletries to place in restrooms for your next black tie affair, consider going Naked!

Hold Your Next Event in Nature

If you want to hold your meeting or event in a natural setting away from the noise of the city, check out Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. Located in Baltimore County about 10 minutes outside the Baltimore Beltway, Irvine is a leader among Maryland’s environmental education centers. It features meeting and event space, a fabulous Nature Store with great eco gift items, a deck overlooking the 116 acres of woodlands, wetland and meadows, a large tent for parties of up to 150 and an interactive exhibit hall which is also great for receptions.

The mission of the Center is to inspire appreciation and respect for the natural world, increase awareness of environmental issues, and to encourage individuals to sustain Earth’s eco system. Therefore, it is no surprise that local materials were used to build the state-of-the-art facility which employs a number of green features using U.S. Green Building Council LEED guidelines including a vegetated roof, waterless urinals, low flow fixtures, rain barrels and energy efficient lighting.

The Center also practices single stream recycling and composting and has a green standards checklist for their caterers. In fact, all suppliers who work with Irvine have to adhere to their environmental guidelines and the Center strives to always select local, independently owned vendors whenever possible.

Eco Options for Your Party Linens and Hangers

I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I rent party linens, I’ve always returned the hangers to my rental companies. On rare occasions, I’ve snagged them for myself to use in my office (for my supply of party linens) and at home (for my bed linens).

A few years ago, when I was setting up an event with a caterer I had never worked with before (the client picked ‘em), I found out that not everybody returns their hangers. I had set aside a nice pile of all the hangers and plastic wrap that the linens came in and was planning on returning them to the rental company. I stepped away and when I returned, my little pile was gone. I put on my detective hat to figure out what had become of them and was shocked and appalled when I discovered them in the trash can in the catering kitchen. NOT keeping my emotions in check, I yelled, “What are these doing in here???” The catering manager replied, “But we ALWAYS throw them away.” The pains in my chest got tighter. I quickly educated them about the important practice of re-using things. How could they just throw them into the trash?

I’m happy to say that ONE of my favorite rental companies, Party Renal, Ltd., delivers their linens on a Z-rack (basically a clothing rack on wheels) which also comes with a canvas bag. I love this because the linens stay on the rack and don’t get wrinkled because they are placed in a pile somewhere in the event space after delivery. Afterwards, customers place the hangers on the rack and the linens in the canvas bag instead of putting them in an evil plastic trash bag which by the way is made from petroleum!

So return those hangers!

Selecting a Green Venue

Event and meeting professionals are making great strides in greening up our events through catering, décor, printed materials, transportation and of course, the venue selection. When choosing a green venue, the easiest and most logical choice is a building with a LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) designation of either Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The LEED designation is bestowed by the U.S. Green Building Council and indicates that a building meets the highest green building and performance measures with respect to:

Lower operating costs
Reduced waste sent to landfills
Conservation of energy and water
A healthier and safer environment for occupants
Reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions
Demonstration of the owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility

In my mind, if a building has a LEED designation, its management undoubtedly cares about the environment. More and more venues are seeking out this designation, but in the meantime, venues can still engage in environmentally friendly initiatives without having the LEED designation.

If you work at a venue, be sure to talk up your green initiatives. Eco conscious planners like me want to give our business to venues that care about the impact they are making on the Earth.

To find an environmentally friendly venue, or to list your environmentally friendly venue, here are some helpful web sites.

• Environmentally Friendly Hotels

• Green Hotels Association

Your Wedding Cake Can Be Eco, Too

Last night I attended a vegan cake tasting for event planners at Sticky Fingers Bakery in Washington, DC.


OMG it was fabulous! They had an array of 7 different types of cupcakes. A favorite of couples is the Vanilla Cake with Almond Butter Cream, but my favorite was Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Butternut Cream and Chocolate Ganache. The Gluten Free Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream was also amazing. I just started drooling thinking about it again. I took the leftovers home to my chocoholic boyfriend who also gave them a thumbs up.

I know that SOME establishments give vegan and gluten free food a bad name. Not Sticky Fingers. Everything I’ve ever tried of theirs – from the sweets to the savories – is fabulous. Don’t just consider them for your wedding, if you need catering for an office party, they can do the job just fine.

So why go vegan for your wedding cake or birthday cake or Hey It’s the Weekend Let’s Celebrate Cake? As I wrote here previously, pretty much anything that comes from animals is bad for the environment because of all the care and, uh, feeding that goes into taking care of animals. The water, the feed, the fertilizers, the poop, it all makes for a bad scene for Mamma Earth. That is why vegan options are your BEST option.

The ladies at Sticky Fingers are hosting another cake tasting for planners THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 28TH at 6:00 p.m. at their store at 1370 Park Road, NW. It is just a five minute walk from Columbia Heights Metro on the Yellow/Green Line. They’ll also be serving organic coffee and tea (natch). If you want to go, RSVP to weddings@stickyfingers.com.