Sustainability

The world is in crisis and many people think we've gone past the tipping point and the planet is doomed. However, there are those who have hope and faith in science that some can survive the polycrisis and get to live in a sustainable society and planet. But there's a problem... **There's no clear vision of what a sustainable society and planet should be**, and without that destination, how can we set out on the journey to get there? Please join like-minded people to discuss this. We'll agree an agenda at the start of the meeting. Bring an open mind, suggestions and perhaps a pad of paper. **Here are some topics to be covered.** Please use the comments/chat to suggest other areas for consideration *Depending on the mood of attendees, the frequency of further meetups can be agreed.* **WHAT DO WE WANT A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY AND PLANET TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE?** · A planet with clean atmosphere, oceans and soil with systems in place to keep them that way · The abolition of poverty and hunger · Equality of opportunity for all to achieve a peaceful and contented life without fear of physical or other violence · Access to healthcare, hygiene and sanitation for all · Access to quality education for all · A more responsible system of financial structures which embraces the best of co-operative production, capitalism and other systems · A safe justice system for all · Societies which respect for the diversity of opinion, ethnicity, sexuality, religion · Respect for the natural resources and fragility of Planet Earth and their finite capacity · Societies where the more fortunate, stronger and healthier help those less strong, less fortunate or less healthy. · Peaceful co-existence between the varying communities of the planet **What Freedoms ?** · Freedom to travel anywhere · Freedom to worship (should there be limitation such as worship should not be based on destroying the existing system…??) · Freedom from violence · Freedom from hate · Freedom from poverty (how define?) · Freedom of speech · Freedom from anxiety about the future · Freedom from concentration of power · Freedom to preserve culture and arts · Freedom to make decisions about one’s body · Freedom to seek representation and to represent others · Freedom to be different · Freedom to be heard

​​*A 'Humans in the Loop' community event with Elastic, Uptime Labs & PagerDuty in collaboration with OOPS!* ​​We’re taking over the Greenwich Design District for an evening dedicated to the unsung heroes of the stack: **The Humans in the Loop.** AI adoption offers a range of benefits, but while our systems get more complex, the role of the human in incident response has never been more critical. ​Come trade your real-time operations stories, share your best 'oops' moments, and learn how to keep the 'human' in your high-availability architecture. 📅 **Date and Time:** Monday, June 1, from 6:00-9:00 PM 📍 **Location:** Design District Address: 19 Soames Walk, London SE10 0AX, UK ​​**What to expect:** * ​​🎤 **Lightning Keynotes** \- short\, sharp and stimulating\, local experts share their takes\. * ​​🍻 **Sip & Savour:** Delicious pizza and refreshing drinks to fuel the conversation. * ​​🤝 **The OOPs Group:** Connect with the outage ops + incident response community, because misery loves company, but resilience loves a party. ​🧠 **Talks** **Many Humans in Many Loops** by **Carly Richmond**, Developer Advocate Lead (Elastic) *Human in the Loop, or HITL, provides us the ability to validate AI output using friendly and knowledgeable humans. But is that the only human loop in AI incident management systems? Join Carly as she covers other human loops, including reinforcement learning with feedback and context engineering, and how loops with a low threshold encourage alert fatigue.* **Incident Response Reimagined: Accelerating Resolution with AI Agents** by **Daniel Afonso**, Senior Developer Advocate (PagerDuty) *Learn how PagerDuty is leveraging Agentic AI to transform the incident lifecycle from reactive firefighting to proactive prevention.* *Daniel demonstrates how new tools like the SRE Agent and Scribe Agent assist engineers during high-pressure outages by autonomously triaging alerts, querying logs in tools like Grafana, and transcribing context directly into incident channels.* *Beyond immediate response, this demo highlights a "shift left" strategy using the new PagerDuty MCP server and Claude Code plugin, which allows developers to assess the risk of code changes against historical incident data before deployment, ultimately aiming to reduce the frequency of on-call.* ✍️ ​​**RSVP now before we reach capacity**

Life drawing classes tend to involve short poses which seldom allow time for painters to adjust their paintings sufficiently. In this class we will work with a life model who will take a single pose for the two hours each week, giving us more time to adjust and correct our paintings. Artists of all levels are welcome to attend, but this is a self directed class and no tuition will normally be given. Please bring your own water-based painting material such as acrylics, gouache or watercolours as the room is not equipped for oil-based paints. There is a sink in the kitchen adjoining the studio room where water can be obtained. The two hour session will start at 2.30pm and end at 4.30pm with a 15 minute tea break at 3.30pm. Newington Green Meeting House is an historic Unitarian Chapel situated on the North side of Newington Green. Access to the class will be by the side door; please ring the bell when you arrive. The charge for the class is £12

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/kumiko-coasters-56/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/kumiko-coasters-56/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Course:** Intro to Japanese Joinery – Kumiko Woodwork Lamp **Suitable for:** Absolute beginners. No prior experience in woodworking is required for this course. **About:** This evening course shows you the basics of setting out and cutting the traditional Kumiko woodwork designs to create a lamp. If you haven’t already discovered the Japanese wood craft of Kumiko, you are in for a treat. Kumiko is a technique that uses no nails or hardware, just precise joints to keep furniture and even houses together. It is intricate and functional and a lot of fun to make. Using a small tool set and simple techniques this quiet craft can yield some spectacular pieces. The traditional handicraft has been handed down for centuries but now artisans are taking the age-old concept and applying the designs to more modern-day household items. This is an ideal follow up workshop from the Kumiko coaster one day workshop which introduces you to the basics of setting out and cutting the traditional designs. It is also suitable for confident beginners. The Kumiko lamp uses traditional Japanese tools. The outer frame is created in walnut and the mini Kumiko screen is composed of cleverly cut bass wood to form a modern version of an ancient *Ijutsu* design. The small pieces are cut using an accurate shooting board and a sharp hand plane, then slid into place and backed with *Shoji* paper. The designs for *Kumiko* pieces aren’t chosen randomly. In fact, many of the nearly 200 patterns used today have been around since the Edo era (1603-1868). Each design has a meaning or is mimicking a pattern in nature that is thought to be a good omen. The designs are not just pretty, they also distribute light and wind in a calming and beautiful way. It may look complicated but in reality, like all woodwork – it’s just a series of steps. Give it a try – you may do better than you expect. Auram Desforges, who grew up working on wood frame houses with his father in Canada has devised this elegant lamp. This course is held over 6 evenings and is particularly suitable for those who have completed the one day [Kumiko coaster](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/kumiko-coasters/) workshop. The use of all tools, materials and LED tea light is included. The dimensions of the finished lamp is 132mmH x 132mmD x 132mmW.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-flip-lid-dovetail-box-6-afternoons-52/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-flip-lid-dovetail-box-6-afternoons-52/) ⋆⋆⋆ **Suitable for:** Confident beginners **Course length:** 6 weeks – afternoons **Dates:** See below for individual dates/times **Key tools:** Marking tools, hand saws, chisels, hand planes **Project:** Flip-lid dovetail box **Details:** An absorbing five-week course for confident beginners and an enjoyable learning experience for anyone with a little woodworking experience. Using a fusion of hardwood and softwood, this five-week course will teach you the fundamentals of woodwork and give you an opportunity to use classic hand tools; brass-backed tenon saws, sharp wood chisels and delicately honed vintage wood planes. This well-proportioned flip-lidded box is constructed of European redwood using a single dovetail joint at each corner and the fitted hardwood lid is attached to the base by a handmade ‘dowel’ peg hinge. The project will familiarise learners with many classic woodwork techniques and is taught with patience and enthusiasm by Andy Nicholl, who has devised this informative and challenging project. You will take home a treasure to treasure- and we hope it will enthuse you to learn how to make many handmade woodwork projects in the years to come. If your keyboard-weary hands have been needing the skill to fulfil and satisfy a yearning desire to create something you can hold, come and join us in our well-equipped and inspiring workshops and discover the wonderful world of woodwork. **Key skills:** * Measuring marking and cutting dovetail joints to make an accurate framed box. * Planing and shaping a hardwood lid to fit the softwood frame base. * Making and fitting a hardwood dowel joint to attach the frame base to the lid.

**PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO CONFIRM SESSION DETAILS AND LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THIS IS MANDATORY.** **Want to do something useful with your exercise? GoodGym is no ordinary gym. We're a group of people who get fit by doing good - helping out local charities and community groups with physical jobs like shifting compost and planting trees.** **📍 We meet at** **Glass Mill Leisure Centre, 41 Loampit Vale, Lewisham, SE13 7FT** **at 6:45pm.** **🏃‍♂️ At 7:00pm we'll run, walk or cycle to do a 30-40 minute task.** **🏃‍♂️ Then we'll head back to where we started by 8:45pm, do some stretches and maybe grab a beverage?** It's FREE. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And we're a very friendly bunch. 🍇 — **BOOK ONTO THE SESSION** **To come to the session click here:** https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions **You will need to confirm your attendance on the GoodGym website** (this includes creating an account with us if you haven’t already - it only takes a few mins). The link above takes you to the session listings in your area - if this session doesn’t fit your schedule, you may find something that does so check it out. p.s. GoodGym is a charity and you will be asked whether you’d like to donate when first creating an account. The choice is yours and does not affect your ability to attend a session. — **FAQ** Not sure you'll keep up? GoodGym is for everyone (18+). Whether you've never run before, or are chasing a marathon PB, you are 100% welcome. We always have a back-marker so no one gets left behind. 70% of GoodGym members start as non-runners so if you're new to this kind of thing you will be supported by people who are all on the same journey. 👍 What do I need to wear? Most of us wear gym/running gear. Make sure you're prepared for the weather. Don't feel like you're fit enough? Our tasks are simple and fun. There are easy jobs as well as more challenging things for those who want a workout! The choice is always yours. Do I need to bring anything? Gardening gloves are really useful for a lot of GoodGym tasks. And a head torch too if it’s likely to get dark. Please bring some if you can but there’s no requirement 🧤💡🧤 What is GoodGym? We're a (really lovely) group of people who use our energy to make a difference in our local community (and in communities across the UK!). We often meet on a weeknight, at least once a week, for a session to do good and get fit. We'd love you to come and join us. Any questions, just pop a comment below or send me a message. Find out everything you need to know at goodgym.org

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-monday-eve-21/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-monday-eve-21/) **⋆⋆⋆** KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR. Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners. This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer. We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home. This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery. The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise. **Choosing a suitable chair** If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve. If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand. [Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2r8UvbQtaH5RTVKUjlBdkhDX3c/view?usp=sharing) **Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable**. We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm. The use of tools and machinery is included. All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.

Weekly cycling club open to members of that club only. Membership enquiries to creativewellnesswon@outlook.com

A special community screening: The People’s Emergency Briefing #PEBuk What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it mean for everyday life in the UK? Join us for a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing - an eye-opening film bringing together nine leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like: **🌧** Extreme weather **🍞** Food security **🏥** Health **💷** Cost of living The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK. After the film there will be a short open discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally. We have invited the local MP, **Claire Coutinho**, and are optimistic that they will join with constituents for this important discussion about our future. Seats are free but limited so please book in advance. Bring a friend, neighbour or family member: everyone is welcome. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/planetfox/2134880 Organised by: Sustainable Caterham Contact: Gill Harris Contact email: gill@planetfox.uk Free event. Everybody Welcome. Register your spot so that we have an idea of numbers. Doors open at 7:00pm. The 45 minute film will start at 7:30pm. Refreshments available. 45 minute community discussion on the film will follow. The event will finish at 9:30pm

You're invited to our next Women in Product London event! As product managers grow in their careers, one skill becomes increasingly important: **strategy**. For this event, we’re bringing together product leaders from a range of industries and company stages to share how they approach product vision and strategy in practice: what it really means to be strategic, how you develop strategic thinking over time, and why it often becomes the defining skill that separates good PMs from great product leaders. Some of the topics will include how to develop stronger strategic thinking as you progress in your career, how to influence organisations through vision and direction, and real-world examples of turning high-level strategy into meaningful product outcomes. The evening will give you the opportunity to network with your peers over drinks and canapés before and after our speakers take the stage. Join us for a mix of insightful presentations where you'll take away practical insights from experienced product leaders and have the chance to ask questions throughout the event. **\-\-\-\-MEET THE SPEAKERS** **\>\> Pooja Naidu – Exec Coach/Advisor \(former VP of Product @ Mews\)** *With over 19 years experience in Product she has worked in Sportstech, Retail, Hospitality, Media, Publishing, E-commerce and Banking. She has developed category defining products across B2C and B2B for SMB/Mid market/Enterprise customers; including M&S Website/Christmas food ordering/In store apps, Tesco clubcard app, Sports analytics solutions for Premier League, NBA and beyond!* **\>\> Laura Dyer – Senior Product Manager @ Wolf&Badger** *Laura Dyer is a Senior Product Manager specialising in marketplace and platform products. At Wolf & Badger, she owns product strategy across supplier tools and platform infrastructure and has led the shift toward a more experimentation-driven & product-led way of working across her org. Before that, she cut her teeth at Ocado Technology in ecommerce and logistics, giving her experience that spans enterprise tech platforms through to early-stage scale-ups. She's passionate about mentoring others in product and tech and you'll usually find her geeking out about UX research, building with AI tools or just finding ways to make work more fun.* **\>\> Christina Cassar – Product Lead @ Just Eat** *Christina Cassar is a Product Lead at Just Eat, driving product strategy to transform the experience for millions of customers across one of Europe’s leading food delivery platforms. With a decade of experience across consumer brands including Sky, Virgin Media O2, and Liberty Global, she has shaped product strategies for diverse markets, turning high-level vision into impactful roadmaps.* We're looking forward to seeing you there! \-\-\- Venue, food and drinks proudly sponsored by [Just Eat](https://www.just-eat.co.uk/). **Special note:** please note the small attendance fee is to cover administrative costs of running Women in Product London. We can only accept payment via PayPal and refunds are not available if you're unable to attend the event. #wiplondon #alwayslearning

**\*\*Just 2 spaces available!\*\*** *Current group: 4 female. All solo travellers* 2-days in The Scottish Highlands. We will hike two for two full days including the ascent of Ben Nevis - The highest mountain in The UK! **INCLUDES RETURN TRAVEL ON THE CALEDONIAN SLEEPER TRAIN!** ***Bed in single-sex, en suite twin room*** \*\*\* Join an exclusive club to reach the highest point on the British mainland in a single weekend without taking a single day off work! A weekend hiking in The Scottish Highlands - A perfect break from the busy city! - You will be guided to the summit of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in The UK! **A bed in a single-sex, ensuite, twin room on the sleeper train from London to Fort William (return) included! - NO DAYS OFF WORK!** We will sort out the logistics, travel and accommodation - You just need to turn up at the meeting point and enjoy :) You don't need to have any prior experience (although reasonable fitness is expected as it is a mountain after all) and the small group size will enable us to give you our full attention throughout the weekend, ensuring your safety and enjoyment is our number one priority. \*\*\* **ITINERARY** *Please note that exact timings and order of activities are subject to change, based on the local conditions at the time. We will always pick the best weather day for the Ben Nevis ascent.* **Day 0 - Friday evening** * ***Meeting outside London Euston train station at 8pm***, you will board the Caledonian Sleeper train for an overnight journey to Fort William (bed in a single-sex, twin room with one of your fellow adventurers) **Day 1 - Saturday: Climb Ben Nevis** * **Arrival in Fort William:** Meet you guide in Fort William at 10am for a trip briefing on the day’s climb, including safety instructions and what to expect. * **Begin the Ascent:** Start the climb from sea level, taking the well-trodden Mountain Track. * **Lunch on the Trail:** Enjoy a packed lunch while taking in the stunning mountain scenery. * **Reach the Summit:** Celebrate your achievement as you reach the summit of Ben Nevis, with time to take photos and enjoy the panoramic views. * **Descent:** Begin the descent back to Glen Nevis, reflecting on the accomplishment. * **Evening:** Check-in to the accommodation for a well-deserved rest and a group dinner at a local pub to share stories of the day’s climb. **Day 2 - Sunda**y: Explore Fort William and Departure * **Breakfast:** Start the day with a nutritious breakfast. * **Exploration:** After a briefing for the days activities, you will head out on a hike in the local area. Where you hike will depend on the weather. It could be a local hill, or it could be exploring the Glen Nevis valley or surrounding areas. **\*\*\*** **DIFFICULTY:** This trip is designed to be a **moderate** 2-days in Scotland. The routes are straight forward but some steep uphill and downhill hiking is unavoidable. A reasonable level of fitness is expected, but you don't need to be a super-athlete to join this trip. Your **qualified guide** is highly experienced enough to keep the pace slow and everyone happy, safe and motivated throughout the trip **TRANSPORT:** Overnight return Sleeper Train train journey (bed in single-sex, twin cabins) from London and short distance minibus transfers in Scotland **ACCOMMODATION:** Single-sex, twin rooms in a warm and comfy hotel \*\*\* **Join us for a memorable weekend climbing Ben Nevis and experiencing the beauty of the Scottish Highlands! Reserve your spot now and get ready to conquer the UK’s highest peak.** **Cost:** £485. *To join, simply RSVP and pay the £100 deposit. We'll then be in contact with more details* *Included in the price:* * Bed in single-sex, ensuite twin share room on sleeper train (return) from London to Fort William * Transport and logistical support in Scotland * 1 night accommodation in Fort William * 2-days instruction and guidance by a highly experienced and qualified mountain leader *Not included in the price:* * All food/drink * Personal hiking kit * Personal travel insurance \*\*\* *All City Mountaineering trips are compliant with the 2018 Package Travel regulations (including financial protection)* ***Please be aware of our [Participation Statement](https://www.citymountaineering.com/participation-statement) and [Terms & Conditions](https://www.citymountaineering.com/terms-and-conditions) prior to joining***

**Looking for a business networking event in London for professionals across the built environment and property development sectors?** Join us in Canary Wharf for a business networking evening. Hosted by GMax Card - a digital business card app helping professionals share all their contact details with just one simple link. ### What to Expect A **relaxed yet professional networking evening** designed for meaningful **business conversations and valuable connections**. Meet professionals in an atmosphere that feels **social, productive, and well-organised** \- not an overcrowded\, stiff conference nor a random pub meetup\. Our hosts are there from the start to **help make introductions**. ### Who You'll Meet * Property developers and development professionals * Investors, landlords, and asset managers * Architects, planners, and urban design professionals * Construction professionals, contractors, and consultants * Surveyors, engineers, and project managers * Property management professionals and estate agencies * Suppliers and service providers supporting the built environment * Finance, mortgage, insurance, and property investment professionals * International property and built environment professionals visiting London for business ## Schedule 18:30 - Arrival & welcome 19:00 - Short introductions 19:30 - Open networking 21:30 - Close Hosts are there from the beginning to help facilitate introductions and conversations. ## Venue: Market Halls, Canary Wharf, Upper Floor Bar A modern and spacious venue in the heart of Canary Wharf with a relaxed professional atmosphere - ideal for quality networking and business conversations. Located right beside the Elizabeth and Jubilee line stations. ## Entry & GMax Cards Free RSVP: Event access only Paid ticket (when available): Includes a contactless GMax Card (please ask the host to claim your card) ## Dress Code Business/Smart casual ## Hosted by [GMax Card - a digital business card platform](www.gmaxcard.com) helping professionals and businesses share all their contact details through one simple link. ## Important Info * 18+ (ID may be required) * Photos/video may be captured by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio](www.cineeye.co.uk) * Attendance is at your own risk **Limited spots available - early registration recommended!**

***They*** *say there's no such thing as a free lunch, but they're wrong!* **[FoodCycle](https://foodcycle.org.uk/who-we-are/)**'s lovely volunteers use [unwanted food](https://cityharvest.org.uk/about-city-harvest) to produce three course, [meat-free recipe](https://foodcycle.org.uk/recipes/) (tell them you're vegan) **[community meals](https://foodcycle.org.uk/community-meals/)** across [England](https://foodcycle.org.uk/find-a-meal/), that are free to all. [FoodCycle Woolwich](https://foodcycle.org.uk/location/foodcycle-woolwich/) ([map](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVEi9poq68YRxQX86)\|[video](https://youtu.be/5VEIsN1aCk4)) is every Friday (with rare exception; I'm notified by text), at **[Woolwich Common Community Centre](https://www.wccc.org.uk/)**'s accessible [main hall](https://www.wccc.org.uk/gallery?pgid=l3le3lp7-1daa7232-8086-4a0d-82cb-1c2a7887d105). I sometimes help the Hosting team, and have met a few other vegan [volunteers](https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/opportunity/a1dQs000000fmvPIAQ), inc. chef and fellow [SE18 Vegans](https://www.facebook.com/groups/SE18Vegans) member John, who has a vegan daughter like me :-) P.S. You can bring food containers, in case of leftovers.

***N.B. Please pre-order any food in the Meetup question when RSVPing; see [menu](https://www.soulbowl.cafe/menu/#cat_37).*** Join us ([again](https://www.meetup.com/lhcveg/events/314358452)!) for board/card games at popular (4.9 stars on [Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Soul+Bowl+in+Leyton)) vegan restaurant **[Soul Bowl](https://happycow.net/reviews/soul-bowl-bistro-london-487469)** ([map](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7259623473078538957)). Whether you're new to gaming, or a seasoned player, come along for a relaxed afternoon of fun, great food, and meeting new people. Everyone's welcome — just bring yourself, and your game face! **Games Available** *(do bring any you'd like to play)* * Bank Heist * Carcassonne * Catan * Codenames * Crystal Maze * Exploding Kittens * Monopoly * [Terraforming Mars](https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming_Mars_(board_game)) * Uno Flip * Uno No Mercy

Garden to the Max Join the Inniswood Garden Society for their annual meeting and garden reception. Featured speaker, Teresa Woodard, will discuss maximalist gardening Having a maximalist garden is a bold aesthetic choice—yet it also brings vitality back to the earth, in an abundant expression of more. Garden to the Max celebrates gardens across the US that embrace maximalism through joy and wonder, nonstop blooms, and abundant layers 06/07/2026 Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Days: Sun Inniswood Metro Gardens 940 S Hempstead Rd Westerville, OH, 43081 (614)508-8111 Location Map: Innis House.

June 17, 2026: Worthington Library. Wild Ohio: The Best of Our Natural Heritage. Jim McCormac. Worthington, Ohio. 7 pm.

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Stop by the Licking County Master Gardener Volunteers’ (MGVs) table at the Farmers Market to pick up your free Veggie plant of the month to add (or start!) your vegetable garden. The little plants come with instructions and tips. Have other garden related questions? Bring your questions to one of the MGVs in the green shirts. ******************* Newark Grows 1st & 3rd Friday, May 1-Oct. 2 Our Booth at the Canal Farmers Market 4pm- 7pm 36 E. Canal Street, Newark JOIN US AT THE CANAL MARKET DISTRICT FARMERS MARKET IN NEWARK, May – October (First and third Fridays of the month) Free plants, seeds, and gardening information! May 1 Buttercrunch Lettuce May 15 Double Curled Parsley June 5 Mark Twain Tomato June 19 Aconcagua Elongated Sweet Pepper July 3 Market Closed for 4th of July Weekend July 17 Silver Slicer Cucumber August 7 Wizard Coleus August 21 German Thyme September 4 Sweet Bunch non heading Broccoli September 18 Strike Shell Pea October 2 Garlic No RSVP needed- just show up and enjoy the market! See you there!

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)