Learn at Placer Nature Center

The Placer Nature Center is based in Auburn, CA and dedicated to promoting and educating the public about the environment – helping us all to become environmentally ‘literate’. Through educational programs and events the Placer Nature Center helps to inform the public about issues regarding environmental awareness, scientific debate and literacy and encourages people to take responsibility for our world and to care more for our environment.

The Placer Nature Center gives you, your friends and family a true experiential learning experience. You can explore and learn from the exhibits on offer, hike through scenic nature trails and enjoy picnics by the pond!

The center also provides a fantastic learning environment for school groups – students can experience nature holistically through exploring their environment in the nature trails, and learning more in the Placer Nature Center’s exhibit halls and Watershed Center. Let Placer Nature Center’s 60 acre site become your classroom!

The Center holds exciting events throughout the year. ?If you are looking for activities or things to do with the kids at the weekend then be sure to check out ‘Family Day’. Family Day will be held on Saturday, February 14th from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Your family can have fun exploring the Discovery Hall, Watershed Center and discover a real life bee hive! Guided nature walks through the beautiful nature trails will be held at 11:30am and 12:45pm. Entry for Family Day is free for members and children. For the general public the entry fee is $5 for adults. This is a fantastic opportunity to spend quality family time whilst educating yourself and your children about the environment!

The Placer Nature Center is located at 3700 Christian Valley Road , Auburn, CA, 95602, For more information call (530) 878-6053, email http://us.mc588.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to or visit http://www.placernaturecenter.org/
-Katherine Osgood, Placer Nature Center Volunteer

The Greens Hotel is Open For Business

What could be more green than taking an existing building, renovating it and turning it into a retro hip and green getaway?

The Greens Hotel is an eco-conscious hotel, offering all-natural products in its rooms and maintaining green housekeeping practices. The hotel is an eclectic blend of its 1950's roots and todays vibrant Sacramento art scene.

The Greens is located in the heart of the Arts and Business District of North Sacramento, within 10 minutes of Downtown Sacramento on highway 160, a trip which is slightly longer, but every bit as convenient by direct Light Rail Service, and 15 minutes away from the Sacramento Airport.

Introductory rates start at just $89/night so now is the perfect time to book a room at The Greens Hotel so you can experience this green getaway for yourself. The Greens hotel offers 26 guest rooms and one suite.

Organic Christmas Trees...Start a New Green Tradition

Organic Christmas trees? There are three local growers who are bringing sustainable farming to new heights.

There are only about six organic Christmas tree farmers registered in the state of California and we have three farms that carry organic trees right here in Gold Country.

In Sacramento County, growers used the insecticide dimethoate, one in a class of insecticides known as organophosphates, which target the nervous system and can harm humans, given sufficient exposure; and esfenvalerate, a pyrethroid that’s potentially toxic to aquatic organisms. They also used three kinds of herbicides, including glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup (According to Edie Lau from OGC.org). Conventional tree farmers do point out that they do not use pesticides unless they are needed and many trees are never sprayed. What sets organic farmers apart is they work hard to create an eco system that fights pests and other issues with natural methods. This includes cover crops and other farming methods.

We all know that supporting local farmers is key to creating a sustainable farming base in our community...now we can go one step farther and make our holidays a little greener this year.

Billy's Farm Fresh Christmas Trees

8430 Dillard Road
Wilton
916-987-8354
Open weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Organic certified from CCOF #YO310-produce, fruits and vegetables.
Hay rides, small farm animals and Christmas crafts.

Fudge Factory Farm
2860 High Hill Road
Placerville
866-383-4348
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 14.
Note: The trees are grown organically but have not yet been certified.

With 65 different flavors of fudge, fresh baked cookies, homemade hot fudge and caramel sundaes, fresh peanut brittle and English toffee, a wide variety of chocolates and over 15 different kinds of candy coated apples.

Honey Bear Ranch
2826 Barkley Road
Camino
530-644-3934
Note: Tree farm is closed this season for replanting and maintenance. The ranch is still open for local produce, bakery items, food, candy, crafts, live music and more!

Find Nature at Cosumnes River Preserve

The Cosumnes River Preserve is open year-round...that's 365 days a year from sunrise until sunset.

The Cosumnes River Preserve encompasses and protects thousands of acres of wetlands and adjacent uplands. These lands, once considered insect ridden, unattractive, and even dangerous, today are recognized as beautiful places with important roles in local and global ecology.

Wetlands provide a diverse habitat critical to the survival of many kinds of plant and animal life. The Cosumnes River Preserve is recognized as one of California's most significant natural areas.

The 46,000-acre preserve—with its riparian forests, wetlands and free-flowing river—houses more than 40 fish species, 250 bird species and 230 plant species.

Want to see it for yourself? On Saturday, December 6 the Preserve is hosting a Guided Nature Walk at 9:00 A.M. Meet at the Visitor Center and make sure to bring water and dress in layers as the weather does change this time of year.

The Consumnes River Preserve is located at

13501 Franklin Blvd.

Galt, CA 95632

Come See Our Holiday Lights

Sacramento knows how to celebrate!

My neighborhood decorates for the holidays the day after Thanksgiving every year...neighbors who don't comply get a gentle "reminder" or a bag of lights dropped off on the front porch as a less suble "nudge" to get going on decorating.

Did you know that many Sacramento residents are now going green for the holidays with energy efficient decorations?

Now low-wat bulbs like LED and other energy efficient solutions make Sacramento festive and green!

Energy efficient holiday lights are brighter and more vibrant than traditional lights and use over 85% less energy. LED bulbs are sturdier than traditional holiday bulbs and stay cool to the touch...a great safety feature. Sacramento residents also know to turn off lights before going to bed to save energy.

Want to know where the best light displays are? Each year the Sacramento Bee posts the Sacramento Holiday Lights Map for this purpose.

Spending the holidays in Sacramento? Remember to recycle your tree (no charge) at the Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station.

Stay Warm in Sacramento

Visiting Sacramento for the holidays this year?

Here are some tips for keeping warm...and staying green. If you are visiting relatives or staying in one of our local hotels. It's easy to keep warm without wasting energy.

Dress for the Season

Sacramento has a chill in the air that is definitely putting everyone in the holiday spirit. Make sure to pack warm clothes this winter. Choose clothing made of recycled, organic and fair-trade products. Organic fabrics are soft and warm and perfectly natural for a holiday trip to Sacramento.

Monitor Your Thermostat

Turn it off during the day while you are away and turn it off again before bed. If you have a programmable thermostat, program it for when you know you need a little warmth and let the room cool down when you aren't there.

Get Cozy

No need to turn the thermostat up too high even when you are in your room. Bring your favorite blanket and cuddle up to stay warm. Light eco-friendly candles, like the soy candles I love from Taylor's Art & Soul in Old Sacramento, to create ambience and a general warmth in the room...make sure to follow safety rules with candles.

Let the Warmth In

Open drapes and curtains during the day to let the sun's warmth in your room. Close drapes and curtains at night to keep the cold air out.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Opens First CA "Green Branch" In Sacramento

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has designated its first "Green Branch" in the state of California, right here in Sacramento (12th and E). This new location allows rental customers to choose from a green fleet of cars. 70% of the downtown Sacramento "Green Branch" fleet will be comprised of fuel-efficient options like hybrid gas/electric vehicles and fuel-efficient vehicles.

"For the past 50 years, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has steadily grown its business by consistently talking and listening to its customers", said Susie Irwin, vice president and general manager for Enterprise in Sacramento. "Customers of Enterprise's downtown branches have expressed great interest in renting environmentally friendly vehicles, and we are responding by concentrating the largest number of hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles at a specific, convenient rental location."

This is the first Enterprise "Green Branch" in CA, although the company has 4 more in the United States along with 8 E85/Flex Fuel stations across the country.

Enterprise (along with sister companies National and Alamo) offer customers the opportunity to benefit the environment by offsetting the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of their rental cars. Customers can opt in to pay $1.25 per rental, and will fund certified offset projects through TerraPass that work to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Then the company's charitable foundation will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million per year. One more way to make your trip to Sacramento carbon neutral.

The company's charitable foundation is also funding $50 million worth of trees...that works out to 50 million trees in the next 50 years! They are working with the Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service to plant the trees on public lands across the United States.

A big thanks goes out to Enterprise Rent-A-Car for giving visitors (and locals) in the Sacramento area a greener option for their rental car choices. We are honored that Sacramento was chosen as the place to kick off greener rentals in the state of California!

Call 800-736-8222 or visit Enterprise online at enterprise.com for more information and reservations.