Green Living in Marin 
Green ideas, tips and information on sustainable, eco-friendly living in Marin County, California.
There are currently 62 blog entries related to this category.
Free Electronics Recycling In Marinwood: April 20, 10am-2pm
Sunday, April 7th, 2013 at 5:39pm. 261 Views, 0 Comments.
Brought to you by the Dixie School District's Green Initiative Committee, it's time to recycle all your electronic waste.
Who: Everyone is welcome and there is no limit to what you can bring. So tell a friend, ask your company or businesses in your area to recycle, too.
What you can recycle:
Most electronics equipment such as: Television sets,
CPU's, Computer Monitors, Computers, Keyboards,
Laptops, Printers, Copiers, Scanners, Fax Machines,
Servers, Main Frame Units, Networking Equipment,
Systems, Printed Circuit Boards, Telephones, Cellular
Phones, DVD Players, VCR's, Radios, Microwave Ovens,
Stereo/PC Speakers, Small Appliances, Wires, Cables,
Chargers, Adapters, Ink/Toner, VHS Tapes &…
Marin: Expensive and Worth It
Friday, March 15th, 2013 at 12:29am. 288 Views, 0 Comments.
I recently received a query from a new Marin resident. He is renting in Southern Marin. The question went something like this:"While I am from the metropolitan East Coast and used to high home prices, I was simply unprepared for the sticker shock of homes in Southern Marin. Why should I even consider a home purchase in Marin? These prices are outrageous."
I am posting my reply: There is a very simple reason Marin is so unique and thus so expensive.
With very strict zoning and environmental laws, Marin is a Mecca of natural beauty and healthy living yet close to one of the most exciting major metropolises in the world. In a nutshell: Marin is utterly unique.
How did it get to this point? It almost didn't.
In 1968-71, the County Supervisors in…
Greenbuild Conference 2012 - Top 10 residential applications!
Wednesday, December 26th, 2012 at 1:13pm. 372 Views, 1 Comments.
Greenbuild Conference 2012 - Top 10 residential applications!
In early November San Francisco was fortunate to host the 2012 Greenbuild conference. A perfect setting for a conference focused on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. Under the leadership of our former Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco became one of the ‘Greenest" cities in the country.
According to the Huff Post report San Francisco is the #1 greenest City in the US based on public transit, energy and food.
As a Realtor and Ecobroker I was curious to experience the newest and greatest innovations in Green and sustainable building products. Like most conferences of this size the predominant audience is commercial…
Free LED Holiday light swap for Marin residents!
Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 at 12:26pm. 435 Views, 0 Comments.
Free LED Holiday light swap for Marin residents! Mark your calendar and go a little greener this December.
Rising Sun Energy Center, a green workforce development and retrofit service organization, is offering a holiday light exchange program. So bring in your old incandescent light strands and get new LED ones for FREE! The old lights will be recycled by ACE and funds will go toward cancer research. The LED light supply is limited, so come early.
To participate, you must be a Marin County resident and bring your PG&E bill. The holiday light swap is offered on a first come first serve while supplies last basis. The next Marin dates are in San Rafael:
- 12/1/12, 12pm-5pm: Northgate Mall, 5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, CA
- 12/8/12, 8am-12pm:…
What is Permaculture?
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012 at 11:40am. 398 Views, 0 Comments.
Regenerative Design Institute, Bolinas CA 94924
What is Permaculture?
My youngest sister (now 28 yrs. old) is taking a course at the Regenerative Design Institute, Commonweal Garden in Bolinas, CA 94924. I have a basic understanding and appreciation for sustainable practices in relation to building and real estate and general lifestyle choices like composting, recycling and minimizing waste, however, before Thursday night I had no idea what Permaculture was and what they taught at the Regenerative Design Institute (RDI) in Bolinas.
My memories and experience with Bolinas are trips to the beach and small town, trolling beach houses for sale on the MLS and my favorite event from the past was…
How to add more living space to your Marin home on a budget
Tuesday, October 30th, 2012 at 4:22pm. 1403 Views, 0 Comments.
How to add more living space to your Marin home on a budget? There is the traditional way of adding on to a home such as adding a second story, finishing off a basement or knocking down walls and extending the foot print. Most often a team of specialists is needed, not to mention countless design revisions, permit applications, lots of money, lots of time and what seems like never ending delays and a whole lot of patients.
And there is the new hip way-modernly designed pre-fabricated spaces. From storage sheds to full blown houses, the choices are numerous. Recently, the Marin Modern team was fortunate enough to tour one of the design homes by Blu Homes up in Healdsburg, CA. The property was an exquisite pre-fab home utilizing state of the art green…
Pumpkin Patch Front Yard Marin Style
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 at 8:27pm. 314 Views, 0 Comments.
This is so easy and fun to do! You will love it every time you drive up to your house!!
Put 12 or more pumpkins (gourds and squashes too) around under bushes and strewn around the yard. Turn some upside down, some sideways, etc. It's great to use different shapes, sizes and colors! You don't have to spend a fortune either....pumpkins start going on sale at some of the groceries mid-October. I found mine as low as $3.99 each for nice sized ones at TJ's this year. Pumpkin patches will obviously have the most interesting and unique choices, but definitely at a price when you need/want so many (I have 15 in my yard).
You could also put some individual solar lights (like the kind you get for $2 each at your local home center store) near…
Sleepy Hollow, San Anselmo and its Walkability
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 at 5:30pm. 391 Views, 1 Comments.
I think we can all agree that walking is good for you and it seems that many of our buyers are looking for properties with good walkability. A home's walkability score is determined on its proximity to various amenities. Go to www.walkscore.com where you can enter a property address and find its walk score.
I live, work and play in Sleepy Hollow, San Anselmo, and am aware that when it comes to running errands for instance, you're pretty much going to have to get into your car and drive somewhere. But what about the other walkability that Sleepy Hollow has to offer? From my doorstep I can walk in either direction and access any number of great hikes, either on or off the pavement.
One of my favorite hikes here is the Terra…
Home Improvements - Kitchen remodel Do's and don'ts
Monday, September 24th, 2012 at 9:55pm. 650 Views, 1 Comments.
Home Improvements - Kitchen remodel Do's and Don'ts
Before( dark, sad, 60's) 
After (Bright, happy, modern)
Whether you're a Martha Stewart wanna-be or a heat and serve cook, the kitchen is the most important room in your home. Almost all homeowners fantasize about their "dream" kitchen. Buyers searching online for homes often base the value and desirability of a potential property by the kitchen first.
I have family members who have invested thousands into their kitchens and never plan on cooking a meal. Why? Because if you don't do it for yourself, smart homeowners always consider resale when making changes and improvements to their space. If you don't you should.
If you are considering…
The Marin Community Garden Project and Crop Swapping
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 at 7:37pm. 333 Views, 0 Comments.
Did you know that Marin is home to over 80 community gardens? The bounty to be harvested from these gardens (both on public and private land) includes fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. The Marin Open Garden Project connects network gardeners with land with gardeners without land, sends out volunteers to harvest unpicked fruit trees and lists gardening events in Marin County on their website, www.opengardenproject.org.
Backyard bounty exchanges or “Crop Swaps” are presently held in the following communities:
Mill Valley: Saturdays 9 a.m. - Boyle Park
Novato: Saturdays 9 a.m. - Novato Unified School District Lawn
Sun Valley in San Rafael: Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - Sun Valley Park
San Anselmo: …