Dear VCCoolers,

News, Action, and and way interesting films. Keep your eyes peeled for seriously important national policy decisions in the Senate (Climate Change and Clean Energy bill HR 02454).

Have a cool summer - stay local. <grin>

-From the folks of VCCool
www.vccool.org

"Fuel" - Film, Food, Fund Raiser

Saturday, July 18th
3pm and 7pm (two screenings)
5pm - dinner
Bell Arts Factory - 432 N. Ventura Ave, Ventura
Film $10/Dinner $10
A benefit for VCCool and VC Bio diesel Coop

(for pre-event ticket sales, email earthworks_works@yahoo.com or phone: 805-419-0623)

-An inspiring film about alternative fuel and energy sources
-Winner at Sundance for “Audience Favorite”. 11 standing ovations!
-Considered the “most hopeful film of the year”

Giant thanks to Kendra (and friends) for another inspired community event!

Beneficial Bug Farm Tour

Saturday, July 18
1:00 pm
108 Orchard Dr , Ventura, CA 93001
Right off the Ventura River bicycle path

Rincon Vitova Insectories (it's not a scary as it sounds)

"We will have a tour of our rearing facilities, insectary plantings, D-Vac vacuum insect demonstration, and a display of fly traps. Our experts will be available to answer questions about controlling pests and disease from a biological perspective. We can also identify mystery insects. We compost our waste products and will have some feed bags for you to take some compost home with you if you like. We are in the process of getting a solar heating system set up so we will heat with 100% solar/biofuel. We hope to be a model for other businesses to function more sustainably."

First Friday Art Ride : Animal Fair

Friday, August 7
5:30 pm - Meet Ventura Promenade
6:00 pm - Ride to First Friday Art Shows
8:00 pm - After Party music, food, water, beer
9:30 pm - Ride to see fair fireworks

It's bicycles, it's costume, it's art enjoyment and fun. Also - it's building bicycle culture - so be sure to bring lights, follow traffic laws, and be courteous to the other animals sharing the road. Kids of all ages welcome! (Unsponsored Ride)

More coolness at: Facebook

Mad City Chickens

Saturday, July 25
4:30 p.m.
Ojai Theatre
145 Ojai St, Ojai, CA
$10 suggested donation

A wacky and wonderful documentary about one Wisconsin city's "chicken underground" fighting city hall to make their poultry passion legal.

After the film we'll be having a chat with Garm Beall, founder of the website backyardchickens.com about how to get started raising chickens with Q&A at the Village Jester pub next door.

This is a fundraiser for the Food & Agriculture Committee of the Ojai Valley Green Coalition.

If you are interested in helping to improve the chicken policy in the City of Ventura, please send us an e-mail.

Food Co-op Notes

The first gathering for a local food co-op was held June 14th. There was excellent discussion, and a decision to have three initial research groups: setting up field-trips to local co-ops, talking with local farmers, and looking for a location.

Here are some of the things people would like to accomplish with a food co-op:

(Webpages and facebook coming soon.) E-mail us if you'd like to be involved.

Good Local food
Sustainable
Good feelings about serving a diverse community
Competitive prices
Well paid staff/ well paid farmers
A successful business
Local control of where we get our food
A community center - the social aspect
Possible barter aspects
An outlet for urban gardens too
Indoor/Outdoor sale space

Ventura Bicycle Union Updates

The Ventura Bicycle Union is hard at work with both bicycle advocacy and a Ventura bicycle co-op for tool sharing and education.

Currently we're looking for volunteers who want to work on bicycles and learn more about repair. Please let us know if you're interested!

Watch out for Food Marked "Local" at Von's

Many people are trying to buy more local foods so they can cut shipping, storing, and packaging, while supporting local agriculture. We have to be a little careful not to buy a bill of goods in the process. If you see out-of-season food marked "local" that's a red flag. Another rule of thumb is to get to know the farmers and merchants so you build up trust. After a while it gets easier to figure out where to get real local food.

"Puzzled, I approached the produce manager, who was wearing a badge that read, “I’m local,” and asked where all this local product was coming from. He quickly responded, “California,” and then added, “some of it is coming from Texas and other states, so I guess, it would be the USA.” It's loco, not local by Larry Yee of Ojai -
VC Star, July 12, 2009

Ventura Bike Union meeting
Tuesday July 14th
Second Tuesdays of the month
6:30pm to 8:30pm
345 West Center St, Ventura

The purpose of the Bike Pod is to create a bike culture in our community.

If you received this message from a friend, and you'd like to be on Ventura's Global Warming email list, send a note to the action@vccool.org with instructions to add you to the global warming e-mail list.

To remove yourself from our list, simply send a note to action@vccool.org with a request to remove you from the global warming list..