Philly

After last year's successful drive, Philly is kicking off their 2011 Bagged Leaf Drive this Monday, November 7th through Friday, December 16th. Collected leaves are used for composting, for beautiful benefits like fertilizing gardens & nourishing trees... and wayyy better alternative to face-planting in a wet leaf pile. (Not like I've done this…) Here's how to get your leaves collected:

Camphill communities in Chester County will host the fifth annual Camphill Challenge cycling event on Sunday, October 16. Camphill Special School, Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, and Camphill Soltane provide life sharing and educational opportunities for children, youth, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In just five years the Challenge has grown from twelve cyclists to over 300! The bike ride begins and ends at Kimberton Waldorf School in Kimberton this year and offers 50, 25, and 10-mile courses for all ages and ability levels. Read on for more details!

Filmmaker Josh Fox of the critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated documentary, "Gasland", comes to Franklin Commons Wednesday September 7that 6:00 pm. The public is invited to join Fox and legislators for an important discussion regarding the dangers of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking.") Fracking is a means of natural gas extraction that involves millions of gallons of water, sand, and undisclosed chemicals being injected under high pressure into the ground. 205,000-935,000 pounds of chemicals are used per frack per well and scientists have identified many carcinogens, including benzene, in gas drilling waste. The event at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville, PA will begin at 6:00 p.m. and include (read on after the jump!)

I'd like to give a special shout-out today to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society! Philly Mag did a nice write-up about President Drew Becher a few months ago, and they continue to make huge strides in the green community & beautifying Philly. One of the latest efforts reaches out to youths - The Green Machine, a special program run by PHS and funded by the William Penn Foundation, is to deliver expertise and assistance to those who use and love (find out more, after the jump!)

Rumor mill alert on a local green business: Greenable is moving from its No’ Libs home to 3 new locations:

Although I had my own experience last fall as a Zipster for Zipcar, I fully respected the PhillyCarShare non-profit option... Another alternative where Philadelphians could share cars, pay less, and support the 'little' guy. PhillyCarShare announced that it's being purchased by Enterprise Holdings (aka the world's largest car rental company). They had been in financial trouble - aka

Whales, sharks, seals, schools of fishes, killer whales, penguins. The Mann Center certainly delivered incredible visuals of all of these aquatic creatures (plus many more!) combined with amazing sounds from the Russian National Orchestra during last night's Blue Planet Live. Starting off Blue Planet Live with a video of the biggest creature to ever roam the earth (including dinosaurs), the Blue Whale is fascinating at the least, as you can see from this video: (catch the video and much more after the jump!)

Philly Mag published a post yesterday by Carrie Denny titled “Philadelphia Cyclists Finally Get What’s Coming to ‘Em..”     *hand to forehead.* As Ms. Denny begins, “The Boyfriend says that bikers throughout the city of Philadelphia know well the hum of my 2000 Land Rover Discovery. You know what I say? I wish they did. Then maybe they’d get the hell out of the way.” Get the hell out of the way?? Oh, Carrie, it’s been brought-en. Throughout the article, Ms. Denny (find out more, after the jump!)

70% of South of South residents (surveyed) are having their wishes answered: More BigBelly solar waste units are coming to South Philly. The South Philly Review reported residents from the area stretching from South Street to Washington Avenue and west of Broad Street were surveyed and requested more