Xmas Without China
Thursday, November 14 – 7:00 pm
Film and discussion

Armory Center for The Arts
145 N Raymond Ave
Pasadena

Free

As Thanksgiving draws near along with the Black Friday launch of the holiday shopping season, Conscientious Projector offers this new documentary by local filmmakers who ask us to reconsider our gift-giving choices and their impact on our economy, both local and global. Director Alicia Dwyer’s captivating film follows young Chinese immigrant Tom Xia, who challenges his Arcadia, California neighbors to refrain from purchasing gifts or products made in China. The neighboring Joneses take up the challenge, resulting in an examination of the American Dream and international relations that is both serious-minded and light-hearted.

A community discussion led by the film’s principals Alicia Dwyer and Tom Xia follows the film (also featuring Alicia’s brothers, Michael and Jesse, who worked on cinematography and sound, respectively.)

Sundays and Wednesdays, 8:30 – 10:30 am

Throop Memorial Church
300 S Los Robles Av, Pasadena


Notes from the Garden
Late last month, Lindsey, Steffan, Therese, and Meredith harvested two bushels of sweet potatoes! This was our first sweet potato crop, so it was something of an experiment. The harvest seemed like a treasure hunt; fun and delicious!
 
We are doing fall planting in stages. Last week we put in beets, red potatoes, and arugula. We are still harvesting kale, collards, squash, and tomatoes. Thanks to all our volunteers, including Shirlee, Jacob, Sylvia, Wafic, and Michael.

Fruit Tree Pruning with Steve Hofvendahl
Saturday, October 26 — 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 

Steve Hofvendahl, arborist for TreePeople and Master Gardener, teaches how to optimally care for our fruit trees through pruning; workshop uses discussion, demonstration, and hands-on experience. Steve also discusses proper usage and care of tools, as well as safety tips. Workshop is limited to 15 participants. $10.00 fee.
RSVP by email to: January Nordman.

And save the date for these future events:
November 16, Cancelled, Olive Brining Workshop with Leslie Aiken
December 14, 11am-3pm, Holiday Cookie Party at Throop Hall

Last Call
Thursday, October 10 — 7:00 pm
Film and discussion

Armory Center for the Arts
145 North Raymond Av
Pasadena

Free

Four decades ago, the futurist think tank, The Club of Rome, commissioned a group of young MIT scientists to create the first computer model to analyze the impact of unlimited growth on Earth’s finite natural resources. The result was the controversial best seller The Limits to Growth. Its central thesis: that human activity, if left unchecked, will eventually surpass the carrying capacity of the planet, and that this overshoot could lead to the collapse of global life support systems. How far we have traveled down this path is the subject of Last Call.

Filmmaker Enrico Cerasuolo details the original report with vintage footage and gathers its surviving authors and their mentors to assess where we are now and what we must do immediately to forestall the ultimate ecological crash they originally predicted.

A community discussion follows the film, facilitated by Morey Wolfson. Morey organized the inaugural Earth Day celebration in Denver, and served two Colorado governors as an energy policy advisor. He is a member of Pasadena’s Environmental Advisory Commission.

More info.

Source: Conscientious Projector