Looking for green ways to spend the weekend?

Organic Gardening

The University of Hawaii Urban Garden Center in Pearl City is offering a free organic gardening demonstration from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday (July 9). Volunteers and UH master gardeners will talk about organic gardening methods. Visit www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc for details and directions or call 453-6050 or 453-6055.

Beach Cleanup

Love the ocean? Here's your opportunity to give back by participating in the next beach cleanup, from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, July 10, at Kailua Beach Park. The cleanup is organized by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. Afterwards, enjoy a potluck BBQ, some fun games, and races. The whole family is welcome.

The mission of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is to inspire local communities to care for their coastlines through hands-on beach cleanups of the Hawaiian Islands. Last month, at the Makapuu Beach Cleanup, 123 volunteers picked up nearly 1,600 pounds of trash, with the tally including: 2,964 cigarette butts, 1,047 bottle caps and lids, 1,610 pieces of plastic, 713 bottles and can, 592 food wrappers and containers, 280 polystyrene foam items, 271 fishing related items, and 229 cigarette box wrappers.

What's fun about this beach cleanup is that there's a game included — if you find hidden glass bottles during the cleanup, you may win some prizes, including hand boards, clothes, art, and surfing lessons (There's a Grand Prize, too, but it's a surprise).

More than 100 volunteers helped clean Makapuu beach in June, clearing it of nearly 1,600 pounds of trash . Photo courtesy Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.