Green Fern Events

Green Fern Events Helps Produce ZERO WASTE Event for 700 Person Bazaarvoice Holiday Party

2011-12-19T16:43:00.000-08:00

OnThursday December 15, 2011 Green Fern Events, Austin'spremier sustainable event management company, alongside Wandering River Recycling successfullyoffset 97% of all the waste for Bazaarvoice’s holiday event held at the AustinMusic Hall in downtown Austin, Texas. There were over 700 guests in attendance.Bob McGivney, Owner of Wandering River Recycling said, “In my experience I havenever seen an offset percentage as high as this.” He added, “This end result isa testament of how well an offset program can work when proper planning is in placefor any event at any size.” ZeroWaste is defined as diverting 90% of trash from landfills by recycling andcomposting. Not only was this goal met, it was exceeded by 7%.

Sohow was this achieved?

First,it starts with a company like Bazaarvoice who is dedicated toimproving sustainability, minimizing negative environmental impact anddemonstrating community goodwill. For the second year in a row, Bazaarvoicehired Green Fern Events to provide recycling and composting services to help“green” their holiday event. Not only is Bazaarvoice a global leader in socialcommerce solutions and marketing for some of the world’s largest brands, theyare setting a powerful example of environmental leadership and corporate socialresponsibility. With special help from the BazaarvoiceG.I. Joes (a.k.a. the green team), Bazaarvoice implements many green strategiesinto their business culture, community, as well as for the events they produce.

Second,“It takes a Village.” Green Fern Events, Direct Events staff (management group for Austin Music Hall), Pascal’s Catering, and Red Velvet Events all collaborated inefforts to help minimize waste and environmental impact.

Third,it requires communication. Emily Kahn, President and Founder of Green FernEvents, effectively communicated the waste management plan to everyoneinvolved. The key to the program’s success was having an informed staff. Forexample, Green Fern Events asked Pascal’s Catering to provide compostableplates, cutlery, and napkins for the food service. When real china is notavailable, this is the second-best option. This helped reduce the wastesignificantly as everything related to food service was compostable and/orbiodegradable. Also, all drink containers used for the event were recyclable.

Lastly,limit non-sustainable options. Given the abundance of composting and recyclingbins we limited “trash” receptacles; this helped eliminate the option forguests and/or staff to place items in the wrong containers. Pascal’s Cateringstaff pro-actively bussed the tables and placed all waste in the proper bins.This not only elevated the level of service, it kept all recyclables andcompostables from ending up in trash bins.

Atthe conclusion of Bazaarvoice’s 2011 Holiday event, only 1 bag of trash(weighing 25 pounds) remained. 63% of all the waste was recycled and 34% wascomposted. The end-result: 97% (600 lbs) of all waste was diverted from alandfill.

About GFE

Green Fern Events is Austin’s premier sustainable event managementcompany. GFE helps clients reduce the negative environmental impact of theirevents, while at the same time producing flawless, professionally executedevents at a cost effective price. More information can be found at http://www.greenfernevents.com. http://www.greenfernevents.com

“Bob & Irene’s Offbeat yet Sustainable Wedding”

2011-12-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

Bob & Irene were married Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the beautiful Springdale Farm (Sustainable Urban Farming) in East Austin. Festivities began when the wedding party and approximately half of the guests arrived in a bicycle brigade with the Austin Bike Zoo. Talk about carbon emission reductions! It was a wonderful beginning to one of the most unique and creative weddings I’ve ever experienced.

Preceding the ceremony, guests gathered around the ceremony site for cocktails served in mason jars and a variety of “snacky snacks” as the bride called it. This included local artisan cheeses and crackers, house roasted almonds, and one of the groom’s favorite staples, pretzels. Live music provided by The Inheritance (a local Eastern European folk/experimental dance band) set the perfect mood for the evening.

After the ceremony, guests meandered over to the reception area for an evening filled with “Festivities, Food & Fun.” Whiskey Shivers, an incredibly talented roots music band kept the crowd on their toes with foot-stomping hootenannies and hoe downs throughout the night. Food catered by East Side King (delicious Asian-fusion street food) and Franklin Barbeque (voted best BBQ in America by Bon Appetit) was devoured by everyone.

So besides being incredibly unique, what made this wedding sustainable? Here is a quick rundown of the creative “green” strategy that went into the planning:

Location- Central location near downtown Austin

Venue – Wedding was held at a sustainable urban farm. Rental costs for the venue even went back into the farm to support growth of produce for community.

Transportation – Bicycles and carpooling, local transportation.

Invitations - Were printed on the back of Whole Foods paper shopping bags.

Décor – Centerpieces included reused glass yogurt jars from bride & grooms home, hand-dyed egg shells from their own chickens. No living plants were used. Confetti for the wedding ceremony was also made from crushed egg shells hand-dyed by bride.

Food & Beverage – Real plateware, silverware and linen napkins used. Local foods provided by East Side King and Franklin Barbeque. Salad was made from greens provided by the farm. Homemade margaritas were crafted using simple syrup made from organic raw sugar, hand-squeezed limes and served in mason jars that the bride & groom now have at home for everyday use.

Lighting – LED string lights, compact florescent bulbs, soy candles.

Waste Management – 89% of all waste was recycled or composted. Only 1 bag of trash for over 100 guests.

So now the question many ask..….did it cost more green to go green? It certainly did NOT. This is one of the greatest fallacies we hear in the events industry. Many think it is more expensive to produce sustainable events. This is simply not true. With smart planning, management and implementation, there are many strategies that can be implemented to minimize negative impact without hurting your wallet. This is Green Fern Events area of expertise. As a result, we helped the bride & groom produce a beautiful and unique wedding that was not only cost-effective but sustainable.

To view more picture from the wedding visit HERE

Photography by Zach Hunt

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Eco-Friendly Trick-or-Treating

2011-10-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

SUSTAINBLE TRICK-OR-TREAT TOTE BAG

This FEED trick-or-treat bag is a great way for your kids to collect treats while helping to provide life-saving nutrition for children around the world. Designed by Lauren Bush, this program was launched in 2010 in partnership with UNICEF (United Nation's Childrens Fund). FEED's Projects' mission is to create good products that help feed the world. They do this through sale of FEED bags, bears, t-shirts and other accessories. The products are made using environmentally-friendly and artisan-made materials, along with fair-labor production.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

ORGANIC & FAIR TRADE CANDY OPTIONS

1) Individually wrapped organic lollypops by YUMMY EARTH.

2) Organic candy bars by ANGELL

3) Organic & Natural Gummy Candy and Jelly Beans: SURF SWEETS

REVERSE TRICK-OR-TREATING

Tonight, across the U.S., over 100,000 households will receive candy back. This is in an effort to raise awareness of child labor, forced labor, trafficking, poverty, and environmental degradation that is widespread on cocoa farms. Click on LINK here or above to read more on Equal Exchange's FACEBOOK.

Green Tips for the 4th of July Weekend!

2011-06-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

As you begin to plan your parties here are a few ways to stay green during the 4th of July:

The obvious choice is to use real plates, utensils, and glass ware. If you cant, the second best option is using biodegradable, compostable, or bamboo products.
Make recycling easy and available!
Serve finger foods such as sliced fruit, veggies & dip, cheese & crackers, and mini sliders.
Drink local.
Compost kitchen scraps (remember no meat, only organic material).
When BBQ-ing try burning a propane or electric grill.

Here are a few web sites where you can buy earth-friendly products

Located in Austin: http://www.ecowise.com/
NatureWorks http://www.natureworksllc.com/Product-And-Applications.aspx

New Tasty Desserts for your Wedding or Special Event!

2011-06-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Tiny Pies is a unique new Austin-based bakery that creates delicious bite size pies for businesses, weddings and special events. Tiny Pies uses the freshest seasonal ingredients, such as summer peaches, that will leave your mouth watering for more. They have a variety of pies such as Strawberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Bliss, Sweet Texas Pecan, and Dutchy's Apple. Tiny Pies is a great snack to enjoy out at Barton Springs or Zilker Park.

Tiny Pies treats can be found at the Barton Creek farmers market, on-line, and at your favorite neighborhood grocery store or retail shop. Tiny Pies tries to be as conscious as possible about the environmental impacts of their business. They take the following steps to minimize their foot print:

Only print on recycled paper
The plastic packaging for their pies is from partially recycled material
They communicate with their customers via email marketing (they do not send any hard copy mail pieces)
They are currently moving kitchens and will begin a composting bin at the new kitchen
They recycle all materials that they can in their kitchen

Coming Soon! 2011 APEX Green Meeting Standards

2011-06-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

APEX/ASTM environmentally sustainable meeting standards have reached a new milestone! Currently, eight of the nine sustainable meeting standards have been completed and are pending final approval for publication. When launched, the comprehensive standards will give planners and companies real metrics for applying best green strategies to the nine sectors within the event planning process. Green Fern Events is excited to implement these new standards as well as to educate and consult with interested parties.

Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Conference 2011

2011-04-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

Green Fern Events, alongside a team of colleagues at Technology Transition Corporation and McNabb Marketing Resources successfully implemented the FC&HE 2011 Conference in National Harbor, MD in February. With over 800 attendees and representatives from 19 countries in attendance, this was the first official event of the newly formed Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). In October 2010, the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) and the US Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) joined forces to accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies.

The Conference entitled "Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Pathway to Our Clean Energy Economy" featured high profile speakers such as policy makers, corporate leaders, and independent energy strategists. In addition to the powerful keynote and parallel sessions, the Expo portion of the event provided great networking opportunities as well as insight into the breadth of commercial-ready systems. With over 73 exhibitors and 112 booths, the Expo was the second largest ever. Overall, the event went very well. We would also like thank all the vendors and service providers for all of their support.

But would this event have been a success if it was not also sustainable? Maybe yes according to budget, but in this day and age success and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Below is a list of some of the measures we took to minimize negative environmental impact for FC&HE 2011 while at the same time keeping costs down.

Greening FC&HE 2011

Venue Selection: We chose a conference center hotel so people would be able to walk to meeting space and exhibit hall and not have to drive. All of the meeting space was in the same space as the sleeping rooms.
Destination & Transportation: We chose a central east-coast destination (Washington, DC) to minimize travel distance for attendees as well as for attendees to be able to use mass transportation while in town, i.e., metro, bus, rail, or to be able to walk or bike ride.
Food & Beverage: Eliminated bottled water completely. We had water stations set-up throughout the venue and encouraged attendees to bring/use their own water bottle. We used compostable/biodegradable cups for water and coffee breaks. We used real china for every food function and also reduced food waste by not over ordering.
Recycling: Recycling bins were requested and used in all food function areas, exhibit hall and in meeting rooms.
Audio Visual: We used LED stage lighting for general session and made sure all projectors were off when not in use.
Exhibition Services: Used reusable signage where we could, had carpet repurposed/recycled, made sure all cardboard from shipments was recycled
Printing: Conference bags were made from recycled plastic bottles (reusable grocery totes) and printed with soy-based ink. We combined the Abstract Booklet with Final Program (2 publications into one) to minimize print/production costs. Final program was printed on recycled paper and printed locally.

While these are just a few of the many sustainable practices we applied to the event management process, there is always room for more. The strategies we implemented worked for this group, as it was also important to stay within or under budget.

About Green Fern Events (GFE). Green Fern Events is an event management company which specializes in the production of sustainable meetings, conferences and special events. Based in Austin, TX - GFE helps clients reduce the social, economic, and environmental impact of their events, while at the same time delivering flawless, professionally executed events at a cost effective price.

Green Fern Events Helps to "GREEN" Bazaarvoice's Holiday Party

2010-11-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

Green Fern Events was contracted to provide recycling and composting services for Bazaarvoice's holiday event, held November 5, 2010 at the Austin Music Hall. With over 700 guests in attendance, theme for the evening was "Roaring 20's". In addition to the theme décor and decorations, the company wanted to do what they could to help minimize the environmental impact for their event. They brought in the "experts" and Green Fern Events (along with Wandering River Recycling) successfully diverted three quarters or 74% of all the waste from a landfill!

Throughout the evening, the casino tables were packed, drinks were going down smoothly alongside hand-rolled cigars, and the DJ downstairs and jazz duet on the patio kept everyone on their toes! With all of this going on, I observed many of the guests paying attention to the RECYCLE and COMPOST signs and disposing of their beer cans and compostable plates properly. It was a fantastic sight to see.

Not only is Bazaarvoice a global leader in social commerce technology and solutions, THEY as business and individuals are setting a powerful example of environmental leadership and corporate social responsibility. With special help from the G.I. Joes (a.k.a. the green team) Bazaarvoice employees implement many green strategies into their business culture, community, as well as for the events they produce. Voted #1 place to work in Austin, Bazaarvoice is leading the way in all that they do.

It was exciting to see how hard everyone partied and then how much waste we were able to divert from a landfill as a result of our recycling and food composting initiatives. It was great fun and we hope this is the start of a trend for many companies to follow in Bazaarvoice's footsteps.

Post Event Eco-Analysis: Green Business Networking Event 2010

2010-11-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

ISES Austin September 2010 Green Event

2010-09-27T12:27:00.001-07:00

Photos by La Dolce Vita Photography. Thanks to all who joined us for the ISES Austin September event to discuss best green strategies to implement today. I was honored to be invited to speak and to put together the program content. With input from a panel of experts (Marla Camp of Edible Austin, Brandi C. Burton of Austin EcoNetwork, and Gerry Acuna of Tri-Recycling), the room was buzzing with questions, comments and concerns regarding environmental issues surrounding the events and catering industry. Thanks to all the wonderful vendors who contributed to the production of the event and to the event professionals who participated in the discussion.

Green Fern Events provided the composting and recycling services for the event helping to keep the event true to its name! As a result of our recycling/food compost efforts as well as implementing many green strategies to the event planning process for the September meeting, we only had 2 bags of refuse post-event. Everything else was either recycled or composted.

Official Post-Event Eco-Analysis

LANDFILL WASTE: .3 Cubic Yards

RECYCLING & FOOD COMPOST: 1.2 Cubic Yards

RESULT: 80% of our waste from the September meeting was diverted from a landfill!

ISES AUSTIN: September "Green Theme" Meeting

2010-09-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! It is a privilege and an honor to be speaking tomorrow evening on behalf of the "greening" of the meeting and events industry for ISES Austin Chapter (International Society of Event Specialists). This is going to be a fantastic event at a beautiful new wedding and special events venue in central Austin. Green Fern Events is sponsoring the recycling and food compost for this event and will be leading the panel discussion of key environmental leaders in the Austin Community. Join us tomorrow 9/21 from 6-9pm to learn "Best Practices for Going Green Today!". More information can be found on ISES Austin's WEBSITE and BLOG.

Jar O’ Sun | ecofabulous

2010-08-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Jar O’ Sun | ecofabulous

Very cool!

10 Tips for Staying Cool (and Green!) This Summer:

2010-07-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

It is no big surprise that our energy bills increase during the summer months. Looking for a way to reduce your energy costs while saving money? Turn to these helpful tips to stay cool this summer.

1. Program your thermostat to work around your family’s summer schedule. Be sure to set it a few degrees higher (such as 78 degrees) when no one is home, so your cooling system isn’t cooling an empty house. With proper use, you can save almost $180 a year in energy costs by simply programming your thermostat!

2. Remember to run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. But also make sure to remember to turn your ceiling fans off when not in use.

3. Pull the curtains and shades closed before you leave your home to keep the sun’s rays from overheating the interior of your home. Try moving container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to serve as shade.

4. Start using more energy-efficient lighting choices. Swapping you’re your old incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting not only uses less energy, but it also produces about 75 percent less heat. This can reduce your cooling bills as well.

5. Add insulation to your attic to keep cool air in. If every American household did so, Americans would collectively save more than $1.8 billion in yearly energy costs… so start insulating those attics!

6. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with a model that has earned EPA’s Energy Star could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.

7. Start showering with cold water. During the summer, our body temperatures are much more hotter than usual. Therefore, enjoying a nice cold refreshing shower will help you stay cool, while also saving money and energy.

8. Smear on some aloe vera after your shower and get ready for a nice skin-tingling experience. Aloe vera has a cooling effect once it is spread on, so it can definitely help you cool down. For an even chillier experience, store your aloe gel or juice in the fridge before application.

9. Be sure to dress in clothes that are made with breezy organic cotton. It will help your body stay cool and comfortable during the heat. Breathable organic cotton fabric is the absolute key to warm-weather comfort while also staying green!

10. Eat more juicy fruits! The reason fruit becomes so tantalizing to us during those hot summer days is because our body screams for high moisture content foods. So start snacking on some grapes, berries, oranges, and watermelon… but try to keep your fruit selection local in order to reduce your carbon footprint!

For more helpful hints and tips, check out these two websites:

http://www.greenhandsusa.com/tips/page:10250

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/green-ways-summer-cooling.html

New Dinnerware that is Perfect for the Summer!

2010-06-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Summer is here, which means it is almost time for barbecues and backyard parties. What better way to celebrate sustainably than with Leafware dinnerware!

Green Fern Events- "Helping SXSW 2010 Interactive Reduce Environmental Impact"

2010-04-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

Plutopia 2010 "The Science of Music" was held March 15, 2010 at the Mexican American Cultural Center. This year's theme "explored the role of technology, sound and digital media in changing the landscape and narrative of music in the information age". Approximately 1000 people throughout the evening enjoyed a variety of music, art, and interactive technology, with featured performances by DJ Spooky, Bruce Sterling, Xiao He, Black Pick Liberation, Front White, & Dr. Stragevibe.

While there were many GLOBAL performances at this event, the food and beverages served were all LOCAL! "Unique to this and only this event, Edible Austin magazine and Tipsy Texan brought together the heart and soul of Austin’s local foodie scene and cutting edge mixology. Guests enjoyed artisanal cocktails and food and drink samples from handcrafters such as Tito’s and Dripping Springs Vodka, Treaty Oaks Rum, Pepe’s Z and Republic Tequila, Independence and St. Arnold Breweries, Zhi Tea, Rio’s Brazilian, Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, Aurelia’s Chorizo, Buddha’s Brew Kombucha and more! Also on hand were food carts from addictive local eateries Dai Due, Eastside Pies, Kerbey Lane Café, Thai Fresh, and Torchy’s Tacos."

Green Fern Events sponsored the recycling for this event and hired local company, Wandering River Recycling to manage this large task. Below are the results.

Drum roll please..........

-Total of 400 lbs of waste

-200 lbs of recycling

-80 pounds of food waste to local composting facility =

70% diversion rate from landfill.

That's pretty excellent. This means well over HALF of all the waste for Plutopia was either recycled or composted.

When planning your events for 2010 and beyond, please keep Green Fern Events in mind. We can work with any budget to help reduce costs and the environmental impact for your event. Furthermore, Green Fern Events can connect you with the best eco-vendors and venues in Central Texas that practice sustainability.

Emily Kahn is Founder of Green Fern Events - Austin's Premier Eco-Event Planning & Consulting Firm.

Taking a Walk Down One Green Street

2010-02-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

The next time you are in Houston, TX, make sure to add one more place to your must see/visit list: One Green Street. As one of the first of its kind, this store is truly a one stop shop for everything that is eco-chic. Sherry Eichberger founded the boutique with the goal of educating the general public about living a natural, healthy, eco-friendly lifestyle without all the toxins and chemicals found in our everyday lives. The store carries a wide variety of products ranging from environmentally friendly and toxin free furniture to make-up to clothing to everyday household items. Even the building itself is environmentally conscious. It is LEED certified, has energy efficient lighting, takes advantage of the natural sunlight, and was remodeled with the use of recycled materials. The builders even took the materials from the remodeling to reuse on their next project. This boutique is definitely a great place for those looking to live a healthy and organic lifestyle. Make sure to visit One Green Street and bring along your reusable shopping bag! To find out more information about the boutique, please visit http://onegreenstreet.com/index.php .

UT Sustainable Business Summit

2010-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, February 5, 2010 Emily Kahn, Founder of Green Fern Events had the honor of participating as a panelist for the UT Sustainable Business Summit. The panel session was entitled "Global Recession and its Impact on Sustainability". Other panelists included Amy Page, Chief Ozone Officer, Blue Avacado, Adam Morehead, Principal, Texas Business Group, Kasia Wood, Sales Manager, Handemade Expressions, and Niyanta Spelman, Executive Director, Rainforest Partnerships.

"Not only was it interesting to have interactive discussions with the audience, Kahn said, "it was also great to hear from fellow panelists regarding their perspective".

While the overall events and tourism industry has definitely suffered a few blows, efforts to produce sustainable meetings and events is still on the rise. "It's becoming standard practice for any smart business," Kahn said. "Not only to make your business more sustainable but to apply best green practices and values (efficiency, reducing waste, recycling, managing carbon etc.) towards the events you produce as well."

Solar Santa - Solar Powered Lights & Decorations for the Holiidays

2009-12-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

When decorating your home and garden for the holidays, check out these new solar-powered LED lighting options. Solar Santa sells a variety of products, from solar-powered string lights, to wreaths, to solar tree lights. Be sure to place the solar-cell in the sunniest spot in order to gain the most power for them to remain lit well into the night. If you decide the solar-powered LED's our too expensive for your taste at least purchase LED over incandescent. LEDs are much better for the environment, reduce fire risk, should last longer and eventually save you money. SOLAR SANTA

Green Fern's Top 5 Tips for Planning a Green Event

2009-11-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

Green Business Networking Event of the Season - Huge Success!

2009-10-22T12:11:00.001-07:00

We had a great turnout last evening for "The Green Business Networking Event of the Season" co-hosted by Texas Green Network, Austin EcoNet work and Eco Series. Thank you Roland and Amanda of Eco Series and to Threshold Furniture & Design for donating the space for this special occasion.

Green Fern Events was a sponsor for this event and it was great exposure for us. Everything turned out PERFECT and we couldn't have asked for a better group of people. There are many reasons why I love this city but what I love most is the COMMUNITY. Everyone was connecting and networking and genuinely enjoying each other's company. The music was fabulous. Thank you Fifth Nation - and for your moving environmental lyrics! The food was fabulous. Thank you Spoon & Co. & Dishalicious! The drinks were quite tasty too! Beverages were provided by Live Oak Brewery, Sesa Tea, Texas Water Co., Maine Root, and Habitat Suites Hotel donated the wine. Oh, and my friend and colleague Monique Capanelli of Articulture Designs, raffled one of her incredibly gorgeous and sustainable centerpieces for a lucky guest to take home. It was a fabulous evening and if you couldn't make it this time, we hope to see you next year should we decide to make this an annual affair.

Green Fern Events Sponsors "THE Green Business Networking Event of the Season"

2009-10-13T09:38:00.001-07:00

Green Fern Events is pleased to announce we will be co-sponsoring "The Green Business Networking Event of the Season" next Wednesday, October 21 from 6-9pm at The Monarch Building - downtown Austin. The event is co-hosted by Texas Green Network, Austin EcoNetwork, and Eco Series and will feature LOCAL food catered by Spoon & Co./Dishalicious, LOCAL beverages provided by Maine Root, Sesa Tea, and Live Oak Beer, with live music by Fifth Nation.

For more information and/or to sign up for this event please click on the links below.

DOWNLOADABLE PDF INVITATION

10th Annual Renewable Energy Roundup & Green Living Fair

2009-09-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

I attended the 10th Annual Renewable Energy Roundup & Green Living Fair this past weekend in Fredricksburg, TX. Even though it was an uncomfortably warm weekend weather wise, the event seemed to have a great turnout. My husband (who is starting a renewable energy consulting business) said he got a lot of value networking with exhibitors as well as sitting in on numerous presentations. I too enjoyed networking with the exhibitors although spent most of the day chasing around and playing with my 20-month old son! There was an electric-powered train ride for the young kids that we road once or twice and the older kids enjoyed making solar-powered ovens out of pizza boxes and constructing solar-powered toy cars. I was impressed too with the little amount of waste produced at this fair. Most people brought their personal water bottles to fill at various water stations and to my knowledge none of the vendors sold bottled water. For more information visit the website.

Soji Solar Lanterns

2009-09-28T09:58:00.001-07:00

Check out these modern solar-powered LED lanterns. They collect power from the sun all day and then turn themselves on at night to cast a beautiful shimmering glow. Because each lantern is hand-made and constructed with a silk-like material they are a little more expensive than your typical paper lantern. They are great for any outdoor wedding or special event. According to the company, each lantern (if set in direct sunlight all day) should glow up to 4-6 hours at night. I haven't had a chance to check this out personally yet but hopefully they last as long as they say. To learn more about LED solar-powered lanterns please visit here.

Go Green - Go Organic Cotton!

2009-07-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

You may not know this but conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop and accounts for 16% of the world's pesticides. Organic cotton is one of the fastest growing markets in the textile industry. Mod Green Pod is an Austin-based textile company that sells certified organic cotton fabric for upholstery as well as PVC-free wallpaper. I love their fabrics and designs! They also sell tote bags which make great eco-friendly gifts.

SolaRover: Mobile Solar Power For Events

2009-07-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

SolaRover is a new start-up based in Austin that provides mobile solar power systems for all types of commercial, industrial, and emergency applications (YES, this means for the events industry as well - weddings, corporate, and special events). There are zero operating costs and the power, of course, is 100% green! The systems are silent and take only minutes to plug in. Rental costs are reasonable as well. Very cool…check it out! www.SolaRover.com

Kerville Folk Festival 2009 - Bring Your Own Cup!

2009-05-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

How simple of an idea yet what a profound positive impact it has at major festivals across the US and globe - when event organizers and producers mandate that you bring and use your own cup! This eliminates literally thousands of plastic bottles and cups, and thousands of pounds of waste. Kerville Folk Festival has been doing this for years and was one of the first festivalss nationwide to adopt this new policy. At first, people complained because change is always hard. But once folks got used to it, it was easy. I carried my reusable cup around all weekend. I used it for water when I was thirsty, beer when I was thirsty and coffee when I needed to wake up in the morning after sleepless nights of great campfire music.

Green Fern event produces 1 bag of trash!

2009-05-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Green Fern Events helped produce an event for 150+ guests that resulted in only 1 bag of trash! If I remember correctly, the garbage bag wasn't even completely full. Kudos goes to Whole Foods Market Culinary Center for managing the food waste portion of the event and to the family for making smart yet sustainable purchasing decisions from day 1 of planning. In addition, there were only 2 bags of recyclables remaining post event- mainly plastic and glass.

Many individuals have the misconception that an event is green based on the amount of materials recycled post event, or that they used eco-friendly products. But this is not true in its entirety. A truly sustainable event reduces first and recycles last. There is a reason why the 3 R's are listed in that particular order: 1-Reduce, 2-Reuse, 3-Recycle. If you reduce as much as possible initially, purchase or rent reusable items and recylce last...you are more likely to have less waste at the conclusion of your wedding, special or corporate event. Thus resulting in a truly GREEN event! Imagine the positive environmental impact this would have on earth if every 150 person event across the globe only produced 1 bag of trash. We have a long way to go.

Community Supported Agriculture in Austin - Johnson's Backyard Garden

2009-05-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

We just recently joined Austin's CSA - Johnson's Backyard Garden! Over the last 20 years "Community Supported Agriculture" has grown increasingly popular. It is a great way to buy ultra-fresh local and seasonal vegetables and it helps support your local farmers. Each week we drive to one of the drop-off locations and stuff our reusable shopping bags with an entire box of the most beautiful and vibrant vegetables. We also opted to purchase a dozen eggs once a week which are fresh and delicious! The only problem we've occurred so far is eating all the vegetables. It's forced us to be more creative in preparing meals. Maybe we should start having veggie parties?

Green Fern Events Donates Organic Herbs for Dell Children's Medical Center Fundraiser

2009-04-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, April 26, 2009, Green Fern Events proudly donated 80 herb plants for the Dell Children's Medical Center fundraiser: "Life + Medical Miracles + Hope". The event was held at Heller Hall on 8th and Congress and was sponsored by Andrew and Mary Ann Heller of Heller Records. Green Bistro Catering sponsored the gourmet dinner.

Each organic herb was individually wrapped in 100% organic cotton cloth and tied with natural rafia. Not only do herbs make great centerpieces and/or give-aways for events, they are sustainable. Instead of discarding flower arrangements post event, guests can take the herbs home to plant in their gardens and use for culinary purposes.

Green Fern Events Official Launch! News Release

2009-04-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREEN FERN EVENTS, LLC OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE ENVIRONMENTALLY PROGRESSIVE AUSTIN COMMUNITY

Austin, Texas - April 2009 – In honor of Earth Day, Green Fern Events is proud to announce the debut of their green event planning and consulting services to the community of Austin. Green Fern Events, Austin’s premier green event planner assists clients in planning and producing high quality events that minimize the negative environmental impact.

In recognizing the increased demand for green event specialists in the Austin area, Green Fern Events has carved their niche. “Our goal is to connect clients to the best local vendors and venues that practice sustainability,” explained Green Fern Events founder, Emily Kahn. The company also aims to be the central resource for all things green related to events in Austin and Central Texas.

Events are by nature transient and wasteful, yet are a part of every culture in every country in the world. During Emily’s studies abroad, she was exposed first hand to humanity’s impact on the environment. Through these experiences, she knew she wanted to ultimately combine her love for the environment with her career and passion for the events industry. "Planning a green event does not only leave a good impression, but a legacy for future generations," said Kahn.

Whether you are an event planner, business, or bride-to-be, Green Fern Events welcomes the opportunity to assist clients with eco-friendly product purchasing, recycling, composting, and waste management solutions for their event. Green Fern Events services range from hourly consultations to full-service event coordination.

For additional information please contact Emily Kahn (512) 712-4833 or visit: http://www.greenfernevents.com.

ABOUT GREEN FERN EVENTS –Green Fern Events is Austin’s premier green event planning company and eco-event consulting firm. The company was created in 2008 for those individuals interested in becoming a leader of this progressive movement. Green Fern Events is dedicated to raising awareness of environmental practices for the social and economic benefit of the community.

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TerraBurger "Fast Food for the 21st Century!"

2009-04-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I love a good burger and fries. But THIS locally owned and operated "All Natural and Organic" fast food joint located on the Drag tops them all! TerraBurger is a truly sustainable business from top to bottom. Not only do they use all natural and organic ingredients for the food & bevs they serve, TerraBurger converts their cooking oil into biofuel, uses compostable coffee cups, utensils and packaging materials, and much much more. Got a craving for an all-natural, organic juicy burger? Head out to TerraBurger today! You won't be dissapointed. To learn more about TerraBurger visit their website: http://www.terraburgeraustin.com

Million Tons of Trash Challenge!

2009-03-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the latest news? The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) has set a million ton target for waste diversion, recycling in 2009. The goal is for a million tons of waste to be diverted, recycled, or composted via the travel, meetings and hospitality industries. According to GMIC Board President Amy Spatrisano, "The Million Tons of Trash Challenge is a fun, competitive way to inspire the industry to measure and reduce the waste it produces, cut its carbon emissions, and save money along the way". I think this is a phenomenal idea and that this challenge will definitely inspire folks in the industry to "go the extra mile" for reducing waste. Green Fern Events embraces this challenge and aims to be a leader of this exciting movement. For more information on the "Million Tons of Trash Challenge" please visit GMIC's website.

Shimmer & Bliss, Eco-friendly Accessories

2009-03-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

"Shimmer & Bliss, Accessories for Life" was featured in the Eco-Fashion show held Saturday, February 28 at the Austin Convention Center as part of the Austin Green Living & Home Products Expo. Shimmer & Bliss is locally-owned and operated by My-Cherie Haley and Mary McBride. They have great accessories for men, women, and little ones, and the company strives to be as sustainable as possible. Not only do they use soy, organic cotton, and bamboo materials whenever possible, they also donate 10% of their proceeds to charity every year. I love scarves and think they make fabulous accessories. For more information about Shimmer & Bliss, please visit their website: http://www.shimmerandbliss.com. Happy "eco-friendly" accessory shopping!

The Lazy Environmentalist is anything but LAZY

2009-02-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

Josh Dorfman, green entrepreneur, media personality, and author of The Lazy Environmentalist is anything but lazy. He's website is full of the latest and greatest trends for discovering stylish and convenient ways to green your lifestyle. Check out his "50 Best Green Products". I LOVE this site and refer to it daily.

Click here: THE LAZY ENVIRONMENTALIST

Proposed Green Events Ordinance in Austin

2009-02-04T19:54:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Green Fern Events, LLC participated in the Green Events Ordinance stakeholder meeting at City Hall. In case some of you didn't read the Statesman article a while back, the City of Austin is working on a proposed green events ordinance that will mandate green standards for events with 500 attendees or more, OR occur on City property or at a City facility. The goal of this regulation is to "reduce greenhouse gas and other harmful pollutant emissions, and to help Austin maintain compliance with Federal Air Quality standards, promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling; promote water and energy conservation; and encourage use of transportation alternatives at events".

I'm proud to live in a city that recognizes the importance of creating "greener" standards for meetings, events and festivals which according to the EPA are "second to the homebuilding industry as far as waste and environmental concern". Austin is a HUGE events town and has been declared one of the most eco-friendly cities in the U.S. This is great, really great. Green Fern Events, LLC hopes to work with as many of these companies/groups as possible to help them reach their sustainability goals. Go green events!

Blue Avocado: "Cool Products for a Hot Planet!"

2009-02-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

Blue Avocado has developed the first of its kind "gro-pak". The gro-pak is a collapsible, reusable grocery bag system and it's very compact. I think they have a great product(s) and their commitment to sustainability is authentic.