Wow – how time flies! I can’t believe it was nearly five years ago that the seed for BAGT was planted and it has been quite a journey! We launched BAGT in November 2008, just as the economy was tanking, but we’ve held on to our vision through the trials and tribulations of these financially unstable times – because we knew we had a great idea.
An unexpected benefit (of which I’m extremely proud) is that we’ve become a veritable training ground for interns who appreciate the values we share and want to become part of our close-knit team. We’ve hosted college and high school students from all around the country and international interns from Germany, Austria, France, Sweden and Finland.
We give them a platform to learn new skills and research topics that they’re passionate about while providing a crash course on local resources and innovations that could impact their future.
We’ve planted many seeds throughout the Bay Area and have connected numerous people and organizations. We are poised and ready to finally reap the benefits of all our hard work. This is a pivotal time for us as we assess and prepare for the next five years and realize BAGT’s own financial sustainability.
Our current task is to raise funds for under-funded Bay Area schools to offer field trips through our crowdfunding campaign (see below) – and we are asking for your help!
With gratitude for your past and continued support,
Marissa
PS This next Saturday (9/28) is our only open to the public Farm Tour – we hope you can join us and get to know us up close and personal!
BAGT NEWS
Launch of our Crowdfunding Campaign!
It's here! Recently we have been exploring more effective ways to expand our programming to low income schools in order to keep field trips alive. We have been successful in securing grants for several Zero Waste tours for local schools but the need – and the opportunity – remains.
One of the solutions is to utilize crowdfunding as a way to connect our network and yours to build a solid foundation for our educational tours. Today marks the much-anticipated official launch of our crowdfunding campaign on Fundly.com which will help BAGT to reach another level! Please take a look and help us expand our reach. We will be updating the effort frequently, so bookmark it yourself and share with your community. Thank you very much for your consideration!
Countdown: 3 days left till Farm Tour on the San Mateo Coast
"Why don't we pay more attention to who our farmers are? We would never be as careless choosing an auto mechanic or babysitter as we are about who grows our food." Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire: A plant's-eye view of the world.
Meet your host: Dee Harley
Don't miss this Saturday's fabulous day of discovery along the spectacular San Mateo Coast. Experience local farming, historic treasures and our beautiful coastline.
DATE: This Saturday, September 28th, 2013
TIME: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (Depending on pick up and drop off)
PICKUP POINTS: Berkeley, San Francisco, Half Moon Bay
STOPS:Harley Goat Farm. A cheese lovers paradise! Dee Harley is a colorful and articulate presenter. Besides a behind the scenes tour and tasting you'll get to check out the goat paint, luxurious range of goat milk lotions and soaps, and other mercantile treasures!
Pie Ranch A sustainable farming experience emphasizing biological diversity, growing for local markets, and creating a relationship-based food system
LUNCH: Delicious catered buffet prepared by Pie Ranch chef
Pescadero Lighthouse & beach (bring a blanket to relax on the sand, tour the lighthouse, or take a walk down the coast!)
COST: $99.00 Includes transportation, tour, full lunch & additional tasting session with great like-minded locavores (Children 12 and under: $68)
It's not a joke: if you go solar by October 31st and mention that Bay Area Green Tours referred you, you will receive a $1,000 discount & Sungevity will donate $1,000 to Bay Area Green Tours! How’s that for a win-win?
Building Resilient Communities Conference
• WHO: Permaculture Designers, Transition Initiative Organizers, Sustainability Activists, COmmunity Organizers, Students, Farmers, Ecovillagers, Green Business Pioneers, Social Architects, and others
• WHAT: The Convergence features a number of workshops, speakers, skill-shares, collaborative discussions, children's activities, educational displays, and vendors. It will also generate physical outcomes, strategies, and implementation plans to contribute to this year’s theme and intentions.
• WHY: A weekend of intensive focus on a common goal: to design sustainable habitats and support systems, in accordance with nature, for humans, plants, animals, our greater bioregion, and the Earth.
• HOW: Practitioners across a wide-spectrum of skill-sets exchange ideas through concurrent workshops and discussions ranging from organic agriculture and wild-crafting to natural building and appropriate technologies, environmental remediation and disaster preparedness to community dynamics and global justice. Participants will have opportunities to learn, socialize, network, form new collaborations, and birth new projects.
The David Brower Center's 5th Anniversary Extravaganza Party!
Friday September 27th
8pm - Midnight
The David Brower Center, Berkeley
General admission: $30
Celebrating five years as the Bay Area's destination for environmental and social action, The Brower Center is excited to present SUPERNOVA! For one night only, the Center will be transformed into an intergalactic wonderland with celestial sights, sounds and tastes that will transport partygoers to another realm.
Bay Area Green Tours Mission
We provide educational tours and events that demonstrate the sustainable economy in action, inspire support of local green businesses, and empower people to incorporate environmental responsibility and social justice into their personal and professional lives.
