Hello Green Drink Groupies!!

I wanted to let you all know that I am moving away in December. Although I am excited to start a new journey, I am very sad to say goodbye to all the beautiful people that I have come to know and are now part of my life.

Currently, I organize Green Drinks as well as Fair Trade for a Greater Orlando Coalition (FTGOC). I really don't want to see these groups drop off.

Please, if any one is interested in stepping up to organize Green Drinks, speak to myself or Julie. If you want to be an active leader with FTGOC, please contact me or Scott Tess.

October and November Green Drinks are lined up. I'll be speaking for the November Green Drinks. I really want to find an organizer to take over before my last time with Green Drinks in November.

Hope to see all of you on October 18th discussion on Green Building!!! -- Natasha


Thursday, October 18th
Green Building

Rahul Athavale, CEO, Green Earth Building Group, LLC

Rahul is the new CEO of Green Earth Building Group a Green building consulting firm that combines years of Green construction experience new Green roof and energy technologies.

The Two major points he will cover in the presentation are; where is Green construction going from a residential and commercial view and the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and their LEED certification process.
Green construction is having major growth across the country with most new technology coming from the West Coast, Developers of commercial and residential buildings are seeing an increase in profitability with minor construction increases for going Green.
The USGBC is the nationwide voluntary organization which certifies a buildings level of green from light green to dark green so to speak. They have a rigid criterion for evaluating buildings and with thousands of experts have created a system that can be used to evaluate commercial, residential, renovations, and interior design.
Is Florida really going GREEN? Find out!


Thursday, November 15th
Introduction to Permaculture Design

Natasha McIntosh, organizer of Green Drinks, will be the guest speaker for November Green Drinks. She just completed the certification course in Permaculture Design and with a small group of Permies, working on Orlando's first permaculture project. She will be giving an introduction to permaculture design. Permaculture is permanent agriculture - a term coined by Bill Mollison in 1978. Permaculture at is core is Sustainable Living. Some say it's a system for lazy farmers. Permaculture is a method of designing integrated systems that work with each other where there is minimal input and minimal waste. It is the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, sustainable and productive communities.