ecotopics
- Environmental Tips for Individuals
- Sustainable Solutions
- Tips on Alternative Transportation and Improving Fuel Efficiency
- Reducing Personal and Business Junk Mail
- Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
- Online Fair Trade Shops
- Calendar of Global Environmental Events
- Current Environmental Issues and News
- Tips for Green Hotels
- Information on Biodiesel
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Water Conservation Tips
- Energy Conservation Tips
- Ecotips for Your Home and Finances
- Ecotips for Your Garden
- Ecotips for Your Work
- Eco-Gift Ideas
- All ecotopics
Sponsors
Resources for Sustainable Living in Marin County, California
Announcements and Events
- If you haven't switched to all low-flow toilets, now is a great time. MMWD is offering up to $250 in rebates for qualifying toilets. For a review of available low-flow toilets go to Terry Love's consumer toilets reports.
- If you would like to get involved in stopping the spraying of Marin and other Bay Area communities with pesticides, visit Stop the Spray Marin and Play Not Spray.
- If you own a business in Marin, consider becoming a Green Business.
- Marin County residents throw away, on average, 2.76 pounds of trash a day. How did other Counties do? (source):
- Orange: 2.58
- San Francisco: 1.16
- Alameda: 1.17
- Contra Costa: .69
- Los Angeles: .80
- Napa: 1.4
- San Diego: 1.75
- Santa Clara: .94
- Santa Cruz: 2.11
- The County may implement Community Choice Aggregation(CCA) (aka 'Marin Clean Energy'), which would increase renewable energy usage in Marin. If you would like CCA to be adopted, contact your city/town Mayor.
- Events related to the environment:
- Marin.org Environmental Events Calendar
- EECoM Events Calendar
- Ecology Center EcoCalendar
- San Francisco Bay Area Progressive Calendar
- Craigslist North Bay Events
- Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Calendar
- Green City Calendar
- IndyBay Calendar
- Marin County Open Space Volunteer Days and Walks
- California Native Plants Society-Marin Chapter-Calendar of Events
- Angel Island Events
- Environmental Forum of Marin-Workshop Schedule
- Hawk Hill-Best Times to Visit
- The Marine Mammal Center Events
- Marin Audubon Society Field Trips
- Best Birding Times and Locations in Point Reyes
- Wildcare Classes
- Save the Bay Volunteer Days (Restoration)
- Audubon Canyon Ranch Visitor Schedule
- Events Listed at Bicycle Trails Council of Marin
- Bay Area Discovery Museum Calendar
- Spirit Rock Meditation Center Calendar
- Farmers Markets:
- Corte Madera: The Village, 1-6 Wednesday, (415) 924-8557
- Fairfax: Fairfax Theatre parking lot, 4-8 Wednesday, (800) 897-3276
- Marin County: San Rafael Civic Center, 8-1 Thursday and Sunday, (800) 897-3276
- Novato: Sherman and DeLong, 4-8 Tuesday, (800) 897-3276
- San Rafael: San Rafael Farmers' Market, Downtown San Rafael, 6-9 Thursdays
- Sausalito: Dunphy Park (Bridgeway and Napa Street), 9:30-1:30, Saturday (415) 382-7846
- Pacific Gas and Electric Energy Efficiency Classes
- Other Volunteer Opportunities
Animal Guardians
- If you see a wild marine mammal that may be in distress, call 415-289-SEAL (24 Hour a Day Rescue Line run by the Marine Mammal Center).
- If you find injured wildlife, call 415-456-SAVE (Rescue Line run by WildCare).
- All Creatures Animal Caring Society
- Animal Charities of America
- Audubon Canyon Ranch
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory
- Humane Farming Association
- The Hungry Owl Project
- In Defense of Animals
- The Institute for Bird Populations
- The Marin Humane Society
- The Marine Mammal Center
- National Audubon Society - Marin
- Persian & Himalayan Cat Rescue of Northern California
- The Point Reyes Bird Observatory
- Sea Turtle Restoration Project
- WildCare
Food and Health
- Californians for Pesticide Reform
- Environmental Health Network
- Farmers Markets:
- Corte Madera: The Village, 1-6 Wednesday, (415) 924-8557
- Fairfax: Fairfax Theatre parking lot, 4-8 Wednesday, (800) 897-3276
- Marin County: San Rafael Civic Center, 8-1 Thursday and Sunday, (800) 897-3276
- Novato: Sherman and DeLong, 4-8 Tuesday, (800) 897-3276
- San Rafael: San Rafael Farmers' Market, Downtown San Rafael, 6-9 Thursdays
- Sausalito: Dunphy Park (Bridgeway and Napa Street), 9:30-1:30, Saturday (415) 382-7846
- Marin Beyond Pesticides Coalition
- Zero Breast Cancer
- Pesticide Watch -- fight pesticide use in California
- Vegetarians in Marin -- meet every 3rd Sunday -- (415) 459-4668
- Florence Schneider, CYT, CEH - provides individual support for learning about and exercising choice in our body-mind health. View at: www.florenceschneider.com
- Living in Harmony - Energy Healing with Vicki Landes - Vicki offers Jin Shin Jyutsu (including self-help training), Aromatherapy, Reiki, Health Assessments, and Lifestyle Education in Marin and Sonoma counties.
- Kakleas Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Center of Marin - Dr. Jon Kakleas provides both chiropractic care and physical therapy.
Parks and Open Space
- Angel Island Association
- California State Parks -- register online for camping in Marin County's state parks: Angel Island, China Camp, Mount Tamalpais (Steep Ravine and Alice Eastwood Group Camp), Olompali, Samuel P. Taylor, Tomales Bay -- (800) 444-PARK.
- California State Parks Foundation
- County Parks -- McNears Beach, Paradise Beach, Stafford Lake, Civic Center Lagoon, Deer, Agate Beach, Tiburon Uplands Nature Preserve, Black Point Boat Launch, McInnis, Miller Boat Launch, Bolinas, White House Pool -- (415) 499-6387, Marin County Civic Center, Room 415.
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Greenbelt Alliance
- Marin County Open Space District
- Marin County Parks
- Marin County Parks and Resources
- MarinWatch.org
- Marin Trails
- Muir Woods
- Point Reyes National Seashore
Land Use and Native Plants
- Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
- Bicycle Trails Council of Marin
- California Native Plant Society -- Marin Chapter
- Marin ReLeaf
- Regenerative Design Institute
Bay, Creek, and Watershed Management
- The Bay Institute
- Bay Model Visitor Center
- Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed
- Friends of Glen Creek (Sausalito) -- (415) 331-1346
- Friends of Miller Creek (Terra Linda) -- (415) 472-4723
- Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP)
- Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD is one of the first districts in the county to adopt a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15% from 1990 levels by 2020)
- Mill Valley StreamKeepers
- SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
- Save the Bay
- San Francisco Bay Joint Venture
- Tam Valley Watershed Group -- (415) 381-0875
- Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary
- Baykeeper
- The Watershed Project (organization is located in Richmond but they need help developing programs in Marin)
Ocean and Coastal Management
- Adopt-A-Beach
- California Coastal Commission
- Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
- Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
- The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
Air Quality Management
Government and Elected Representatives
- Email links for elected representatives:
- Association of Bay Area Governments
- Bay Area Decision Makers -- provides information on Bay Area counties, California State agencies and legislators, and U.S. Government Agencies and members of Congress for the Bay Area.
- California Resources Agency -- oversees and coordinates the activities of around 20 departments, commissions, conservancies and boards relating to conservation in California (links provided).
- Emerging Renewables Program Rebates -- cash rebates on eligible renewable energy electric-generating systems.
- Green Party of Marin
- Marin.org
- Marin County Government Web Site
- City of Belvedere
- Town of Corte Madera
- Town of Fairfax
- City of Larkspur
- City of Mill Valley
- City of Novato
- Town of Ross
- Town of San Anselmo
- City of San Rafael
- City of Sausalito
- Town of Tiburon
Volunteer Opportunities
- Earth Share of California
- Bay Area Volunteer Information Center
- Insight Prison Project (click on "Get Involved")
- Marin Nexus Volunteer Center
- Volunteer Opportunities in Marin Country (maintained by the Marin Chapter of the California Native Plant Society)
- Volunteer Match (enter zip code)
- Care2 VolunteerNetwork
- City of San Rafael Volunteer Program
Environmental Education
- The Bay Area Discovery Museum
- Bay Model Visitor Center
- Center for Ecoliteracy
- Earth Team
- Environmental Education Associates
- Environmental Education Council of Marin
- The Environmental Forum of Marin
- Geothermal Education Office
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Headlands Institute
- Marin Headlands and Point Reyes National Seashore Hostels
- The Marine Mammal Center
- Point Reyes National Seashore Association
- Richardson Bay Audubon Center -- preserves wildlife habitat and provides docent training for adults to lead schoolchildren on field trips -- (415) 388-2524
- SEED (School Environmental Education Docents)
- Slide Ranch
- Trips for Kids
- Walker Creek Ranch
- YMCA Point Bonita Outdoor & Conference Center
Spiritual Community
- Arts & Healing Network
- Spirit Rock Meditation Center
- Florence Schneider, CYT, CEH - provides (gentle) yoga classes , relaxation counseling, and dance meditation events to restore our nature as peaceful, loving, and free. View at: www.florenceschneider.com.
Service Organizations
Peace and Social Justice Organizations
Alternative Transportation/Fuel
- Bicycle Trails Council of Marin
- Biofuel Oasis
- Golden Gate Transit Buses and Ferries
- LC Biofuels
- Marin Airporter
- Marin Biofuel/Biodiesel
- People's Fuel Cooperative
- San Francisco Biofuels Cooperative
- Yokayo Biofuels
Other Sustainable/Environmental Organizations
- Californians Against Waste - learn about statewide recycling programs
- Council on Wireless Technology Impacts
- EarthSave International (local chapter in San Rafael)
- Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC)
- Marin Conservation League
- Northern California Solar Energy Association
- Resource Renewal Institute
- Sierra Club Marin Group
- Sustainable Fairfax
- Sustainable Marin
- Sustainable Mill Valley
- Sustainable Novato
- Sustainable San Rafael
- Tamalpais Conservation Club
Other Environmental Resources
- Local computer reuse organizations that accept donations of old computer and/or electronic equipment for reuse
- Bay Area Resources for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling
- Collective Good accepts old cellular phones for resale and donate part of the proceeds to a charity of your choice.
- CERES (California Environmental Resources Evaluation System) - Marin County
- EarthNews Podcast
- Freecycle in Marin provides a way to find a new home for stuff that is no longer useful to you
- Green Fusion Design Center
- Marin.org
- Marin Green Business listings.
- Used Oil Recycling Programs (search by zip code)
- Fernwood Cemetery offers eco-friendly burial sites in Marin.
News for Marin County and for Each City or Town
- Marin County
- City of Belvedere
- Town of Corte Madera
- Town of Fairfax
- City of Larkspur
- City of Mill Valley
- City of Novato
- Town of Ross
- Town of San Anselmo
- City of San Rafael
- City of Sausalito
- Town of Tiburon