I got this today in an email. Nehrling Gardens is one of the non-profits the Green Team is supporting this year. Every little bit helps, so even if you can’t attend the party, check out the Nehrling’s website on how to help preserve this Florida treasure!

WHAT: “Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament, Casino Party & Silent Auction”

BENEFICIARY: Historic Nehrling Palm Cottage Gardens

WHEN: Friday, August 8, 2008 at 7 PM

WHERE: Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere, FL 34786

DETAILS:

Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament & Casino Party provided by Fun Planners, Inc., Silent Auction,

wine selections from Tim’s Wine Market, beer, complimentary hors d’oeuvres by Metro West Catering. Reservations available.

Requested donation $75/person. Please specify Poker Tournament OR Casino Party tickets.

All proceeds benefit The Henry Nehrling Society for Acquisition of Historic Nehrling Palm Cottage Gardens.

The Henry Nehrling Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, Fed EIN #59-3617338.
No purchase necessary to participate. Go to “Events” at the website to register.

For more information contact Theresa Myers at 407-876-4524

Has your child waited until the last minute to start looking for books on his summer reading list? Are you looking for books to fill out your homeschool curriculum for the beginning of the school year? Have you been looking for a favorite book, a book long out of print, or an old record album to play on your turn table?  Are you tired of paying top dollar for your books?  Then it is time to visit Maya Books in Historic Downtown Sanford!

Maya Books. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Holt.

Maya Books is a warm, cozy, used bookshop located in the Historic District of Sanford. You might be greeted by one of the feline or canine shop tenders (Maya, Miss Mouse, and Tiggerroo fall into the feline category while Layla the lab/sharpei mix fills the canine description!), but you will definitely be welcomed by bibliophile and store owner Yvette Comeau! A quick glance around the store tells you that you are not in a corporate box bookstore! Bookshelves are filled to capacity (and then some) and stacks of books cover every flat surface. Over 20,000 titles are crammed into this literary jungle, and Yvette knows exactly where each and every one is located in the store.

Maya Books carries every genre, including homeschool curriculums (depending on availability).  These books are priced affordably too:  paperback books run from $1-$4 and hardcover copies range from $2-$8.  Only books in good, clean condition are available for sale.  Books that Yvette doesn’t find in good enough quality to sell are placed in a community “FREE” box.  ”Books never get thrown out.  Everyone deserves a chance to read,” Yvette explains.  

“I never buy new.  Even my furniture here in the store was purchased second-hand.  I live by the principals of pre-cycle, recycle, and reuse.  Pre-cycle means to choose something that doesn’t need to be recycled in the first place.  I believe in living lightly,”  Yvette Comeau.

In addition to a huge selection of used books, the Maya Books also offers a selection of new books written by local authors including environmental author Bill Belleville and historical novelist Judge Hitt.  You just might run into an author at a book signing!  Posters, postcards, record albums, CDs, DVDs, VHS, and a selection of incense rounds out the inventory at this eclectic shop.

Yvette and the Maya Books are also supporters of the Cat Protection Society.  Make a contribution at the register, and they’ll match your contribution!

Maya Books is open daily:

M-W 10 “ish” to 5 “ish”
Th-Sat 10 “ish” to 8 “ish”
Sun 12 “ish” to 5 “ish”

Maya Books * 205 A. E. 1st Street * Sanford * Florida * 32771

407-321-6504

mayabooks@earthlink.net

Be sure to mention that you read this article on the Central Florida Green Guide and you’ll receive a 20% discount off of your purchase!

Round Chair

What child wouldn’t love to hear that phrase! With cardboardesign, they can! I stumbled across Cardboardesign  (yes, that is how it is spelled) and was immediately drawn into their website. They make furniture completely out of recycled cardboard! They also make kid-friendly products such as dollhouses, playhouses, chairs, etc., that are made from recycled cardboard and chemical-free, cornstarched-based glue. There are no leftovers from production of their furniture, housewares, or toys — any leftover materials are recycled into paper. If you are wondering how sturdy these products are, the chairs alone can hold up to 600 pounds! All products are shipped in plastic-free packing and stuffed with organic corn-based peanuts.

Kids Rocket

Although the products are made from recycled cardboard, they can be kind of pricey. But, looking through their website, you may just get inspired to try your hand at making something creative with leftover boxes in your home!

I wanted to take a moment to draw attention to a wonderful site for parents who are interested in natural family living.  We’ve featured the RSS feeds of Nature Moms Blog for quite some time now on this site because the content is really fantastic.   She does a great job of reviewing natural products, but that’s not all you’ll find on her site. My only complaint is that I find the font color a bit hard to read.  I’ve been meaning to email her about that.  Here are a few of the natural parenting sites Tiffany, author of Nature Moms, recommends:

Green Baby Guide

Natural Moms Talk Radio

Instead of TV

What websites do you rely on most for natural parenting information? Please leave a comment so other CFGG readers will benefit from your experience.  Thanks!

Most of you probably don’t know that right here in Central Florida a major water bottling company is wanting to tap into one of our aquifers. Why is this a problem? The water table is already low and they are approving California based Niagara Water Bottling Company to take 177 million gallons of water. Also, the production of plastic at this site will produce waste that will take hundreds of years to decompose.

What can you do about it? You can come to the next meeting, or write a letter to the St. Johns River Water Management District telling them of your concern.

The next meeting will be Tuesday night, July 29th, 7:00 PM., at 2210 Dogwood Circle, Mount Dora, FL

If you would like to know who to send your letters to, or get one of the form letters that have already been written please e-mail me at heidicrawford@gmail.com

Here is a link to an Orlando Sentinel article on the subject.