DAVE MASON, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
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April 15, 2010 6:52 AM
It takes a sense of community to change the world. So said Michelle Kendall, who's doing her bit by coming to gatherings such as Green Drinks.
"So many environmental problems have arisen because of a lack of community," Mrs. Kendall said on this packed night in March at Carr Vineyards & Winery on Salsipuedes Street.
Having a sense of community instills a feeling of responsibility, Mrs. Kendall, 37, said, explaining the need for Green Drinks Santa Barbara. Held on the third Tuesday evening of each month at restaurants and bars in Santa Barbara, the informal get-togethers bring green-minded residents together to have some drinks, see familiar faces, make new friends and enjoy the camaraderie.
And they talk about going green. Similar Green Drinks gatherings are held in more than 600 cities worldwide.
"We're making small changes," Mrs. Kendall said. "It takes everyone being more responsible for their actions."
Her green lifestyle includes driving less.
"Bruce takes the bus from home, and I try to drive just one day a week for errands," Mrs. Kendall said as her husband, a 45-year-old professor of environmental science at UCSB's Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, and their friend, Laura Franas, listened over drinks. "We buy just the necessities."
Organizers and participants alike say Green Drinks provides a good opportunity for networking.
"People talk about hooking up and finding jobs," said DeAnn Wilson, who coordinates Green Drinks with fellow organizer Elizabeth Wagner. The two EcoBrokers/Green-designated real estate agents operate Village Properties, which has offices in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Santa Ynez and specializes in buying and selling environmentally friendly properties.
They began Green Drinks in Santa Barbara in April 2007.
"We've found it's a good way to learn about doing green things," Mrs. Wagner said as she stood next to Mrs. Wilson in the crowded winery, as Santa Barbara band Spencer the Gardener prepared to perform environmentally-conscious songs.
On this night in March, the Green Drinks gathering marked the upcoming 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday and the anniversary of the Santa Barbara-based Community Environmental Council, which also turned 40. Donations were also taken for CEC, and about $1,000 was raised, Mrs. Wagner said.
Organizations involved with this get-together included Weekend Hippie and LoaTree, Santa Barbara companies promoting green lifestyles.
The special event drew the largest Green Drinks gathering to date, with more than 300 people, Mrs. Wagner said. Usually, she added, the gatherings are around 75 people.
She explained the appeal of the get-togethers. "I feel that Green Drinks gives people very unstructured, organic ways to meet and discuss (the environment), rather than sitting in a boardroom."
Mrs. Wilson explained that the crowd on this night included owners of green businesses, such as contractors and architects.
Ron Milne, a Summerland general contractor, was among them, sitting with his wife, Susan Milne, at a table.
"I came to the first one three years ago. We were doing green remodeling in Montecito," said Mr. Milne.
Mrs. Milne added that they like to use green products and go to Green Drinks to learn more about them.
A table at Carr contained information on being green, such as literature from the Community Environmental Council on fiber-optic lighting and efficient water heating.
"In my own business, we use waterless water heaters and recycled materials," Mr. Milne said. "It's cost-effective to be green. You don't have to search that far to find green products."
Mrs. Milne noted the Green Drinks crowds have grown.
It was a modest gathering as she spoke earlier in the evening, but an hour later, the group grew much larger -- and louder. As the laughter rose, the gathering turned into a party as the crowd spilled out the front door into the front patio area. People raised their voices to be heard over Spencer the Gardener performing songs such as "Don't Eat Genetically Modified Food."
One of the newcomers sat at a table near the Milnes -- Susan Farber, a self-employed family and sports psychology therapist who lives in Santa Barbara. She was there with her Montecito friend, Alexandra Kummer.
"I'm interested in sustainable food and meeting environmentally concerned people who support that," Ms. Farber said. She added she's learning about organic food at the Green Drinks events and noted the presence of Isla Vista Food Co-op and Carpinteria-based Shepherd Farms, which had tables at that night's event with samples of food, including locally grown produce, and information.
There was also Santa Barbara-based Duo Catering & Events, which uses locally grown organic produce in its dishes and provided food at the event. Cadena's Fresh Fish was also there.
All of the vendors rely on local food sources, said Kerry Allen, founder of Weekend Hippie.
"I first found out about (Green Drinks) from a colleague," Ms. Farber said. "She spoke very highly of it. She said it was a good place to meet people and network.
"My colleague told me, I told her (Ms. Kummer). It's word of mouth," Ms. Farber said.
Across the room, Jackie Kane chatted with some friends.
"I love networking and meeting people who are like-minded (about the environment)," said Ms. Kane. This was her seventh Green Drinks event.
"Tonight I learned about the Isla Vista Food Co-op. It is (located) close to me," Ms. Kane, 49, said, noting the business' reliance on locally grown produce.
Environmentalists typically urge people to buy local food to cut down on the carbon footprint of transporting products.
A few tables away, young women were laughing over glasses of wine.
The environment, though, was still on their mind.
Once people learn about living a green lifestyle, it can become a natural habit, something as basic as changing light bulbs to more energy-efficient ones or using a filter on their running water instead of buying water bottles, said Kim Wiseley, 24, a Santa Barbara Web site designer.
"It's easy to make small changes in everyday life."
e-mail: dmason@newspress.com
IF YOU GO
The next Green Drinks Santa Barbara, marking the third anniversary of the local get-together, will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Arnoldi's Cafe, 600 Olive St. Green Drinks gatherings take place the third Tuesday of the month. There is no age restriction for the group, although you must be 21 or older to purchase alcoholic beverages. Those attending tend to be anywhere from college age to 70 years old, said co-organizer Elizabeth Wagner.
The gatherings are free.
Green Drinks will also have a booth at the Santa Barbara Earth Day 40 Festival, set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Alameda Park, 1400 Santa Barbara St.
For more information, go to www.greendrinks.org. To join the e-mail list, send a note to santabarbara@greendrinks.org.
