August 8th Tasty Tomato Festival

The Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival, presented by Sustainable Midlands & Slow Food: 6-9PM on Sunday, August 8th at City Roots Urban Farm. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, available online at:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118638

Celebrate our local food economy and home gardens!  Enter the tomato contest, come taste locally grown heirloom tomatoes, share the potluck, hear great music and join in the games!  (Cash bar)

For more information about the contest or the event send an email to: ryan@sustainablemidlands.org

July 30, 2010   Posted in: Public Events  No Comments

EPA requests comments on coal ash

Coal ash is a dangerous mixture of arsenic, lead, mercury and many other poisons. When improperly disposed of it contaminates drinking water supplies, surface waters and communities. There are thousands of these poorly managed and maintained coal ash impoundments across the country and one in Lower Richland County.

The National Riverkeeper Alliance is asking for everyone who cares about our waterways and clean drinking water to write to the EPA to comment on the proposed coal ash disposal plans. The EPA is asking for opinions on whether to treat coal ash as standard waste or hazardous waste. This ruling is one of the most important decisions on water that the EPA will make.  Lower Richland County will be impacted by this decision because we have a coal power plant on the Wateree River.  Either SCE&G will have to clean up the arsenic and mercury they are currently leaching into the Wateree River or they will continue to pollute.  It is up to us.  The coal industry & power companies are fighting hard on this issue, will we?

We need many individuals and individual organizations to send a comment letter, asking for coal ash to be handled as the hazardous waste that it is, before September 20th.   The Waterkeeper Alliance letter shown below can be sent by clicking on the following link to the Waterkeeper Alliance:

http://www.congressweb.com/cweb2/index.cfm/siteid/WA/action/TakeAction.Background/LetterGroupID/14

A hearing will be held in Charlotte on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 from 10AM to 9PM at the Holiday Inn Charlotte (Airport), 2707 Little Rock Road, Charlotte, NC, 28214; Phone: (704) 394-4301.  If you want to speak, pre-registration is suggested.  Click this link to pre-register: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-form.htm

July 30, 2010   Posted in: ACTION ALERT, Environmental Concern, In the news, National Legislation, Public Hearing  No Comments

August 8th: The Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival

The Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival, presented by Sustainable Midlands & Slow Food: 6-9PM on Sunday, August 8th at City Roots Urban Farm. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, available online at:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118638

Celebrate our local food economy and home gardens!  Enter the tomato contest, come taste locally grown heirloom tomatoes, share the potluck, hear great music and join in the games!  (Cash bar)

For more information about the contest or the event send an email to: ryan@sustainablemidlands.org

July 1, 2010   Posted in: Member event, Public Events  Comments Closed

July 3rd Food, Inc. at 701 Whaley… free!

Come celebrate with The All Local Farmer’s Market on their 1st anniversary and see a free screening of the amazing movie Food, Inc.  The screening will be inside at 701 Whaley and begin at 10AM.  Come early and have breakfast before the film.  Stay after and buy great local produce, baked goods, eggs & meat, even prepared foods!

June 24, 2010   Posted in: Education Opportunity, In the news, Public Events  Comments Closed

Support our local businesses… check out the 3/50 Project!

The 3/50 Project helps keep our independent, locally owned businesses finically sound by inspiring consumers to pick three local businesses to support.  Help save your local economy and get involved! For more information visit http://the350project.net or http://www.facebook.com/The350Project.

June 23, 2010   Posted in: Public Events  Comments Closed

August 28th, Two Great Events!

Day: Celebration of Water Festival at Riverfront Park

Evening: Wild Summer’s Nite Auction & Wild Game Feast

Watch for details!

June 23, 2010   Posted in: Public Events  Comments Closed

July 6th, Green Drinks Columbia

Tuesday, July 6  from 5:30 to 7:00PM

Keep the Midlands Beautiful in partnership with the Sierra Club is hosting an opportunity for eco-friendly individuals to network, socialize, and discuss various environmental issues in an informal setting.  Kelly’s 1001 Washington Street Columbia, SC.

June 23, 2010   Posted in: Public Events  Comments Closed

June 26, AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy

Saturday, June 26  from 11:30AM to 6PM at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

You are invited to take part in a nationwide discussion of our federal budget, our deficit, and our economy. Only 20 cities in the United States have been selected for the Our Budget, Our Economy discussion, and only six are face to face. Columbia is fortunate to be selected as one of the six.  We will discuss the budget challenges, and collectively identify priorities and options to reduce the national debt.  More information & to register, visit www.usabudgetdiscussion.org.

June 23, 2010   Posted in: Public Events  Comments Closed

June 26, Take Part in a Butterfly Census

Come participate in the North American Butterfly Association annual butterfly count at Congaree National Park. To make reservations call (803) 647-3966. No experience is necessary. Participants must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Sun protection, water and food are recommended, as are binoculars.

June 23, 2010   Posted in: Public Events  Comments Closed

Celebrate National Pollinators Week!

Do your part to help halt the declining population of the birds, bees, bats and

beetles vital to the growth of our fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers. Provide

many sources of flower pollen for these valuable critters. June 21-27 is National

Pollinators week as proclaimed by the USDA .  You can

celebrate by joining the butterfly count at Congaree Swamp June 26.

But first  add a blooming flower to your garden!   See our newsletter archive for info on Sustainable Gardening.


June 18, 2010   Posted in: Environmental Concern, Public Events  Comments Closed