2010 marks a year since “Ours To Keep” the 75th anniversary celebration of the East Bay Regional Parks District – one of the finest cures for Nature Deficit Disorder.

Established in 1934, the East Bay Regional Parks District became the first regional parks agency in the United States. It consists of 65 parks with more than 100,000 acres and remains the largest in the country. Once home to the Ohlone and Miwok people until the “Mission Era” of the late 1700s to the early 1800s, the area became a territory of Spain, Mexico and finally the United States. Contained within Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the parks are open to everyone with many activities to enjoy.  Parks are fairly easy to access.  Several parks are accessible via public transportation. Here are 7 reasons why I truly like East Bay Regional Parks.

1. Tilden National Park is one of the oldest of the 65 parks. Located in Berkeley, it features the Little Farm with cows, sheep, pigs, rabbits and chickens. Of course the animals love to eat! So please bring lettuce or celery to feed them. Some other notable features are the famous Jewel Lake Nature trail, the Brazilian Room for weddings and banquets, a Merry-Go-Round, the Botanical Garden and the Steam Train.

2. Meet the Naturalists. Many of the parks have Naturalists who teach classes and guide tours. Are you into sailing, swimming, archery, golfing or hiking? Good! Try these activities at various parks. Chabot and Tilden Regional Parks are known for having beautiful golf courses. Del Valle Regional Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline are popular for boating.

3. Lake Chabot was once a primary source of water for the East Bay.  It is still used an emergency source for water.  Mainly built by Chinese laborers, the park is now popular with boaters, hikers, picnickers and bicyclists.  Did you know that many of the trees were originally transported from several foreign countries?

4. Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. You guessed it! Until the end of the 1800s, it was a coal “black diamonds” mine. It then became a sand mine for glass production until the 1940s. Today this preserve is a favorite among wildlife lovers. In addition to lush vegetation, coyotes and snakes, some mountain lions, foxes and over 100 bird species can be seen here. Be sure to visit this beautiful 6,286 acre stretch of wilderness located in Antioch.

5. Alameda Creek Trail opened in 1973 however, much of the area’s history dates back to centuries earlier.  Once home to the Ohlone people, this area became part of Mission San Jose de Guadalupe in the late 1700s.   After the “Mission Era” ended, it became private territory. One time the governor sold the land to private owners. U.S. courts declared this sale to be illegal in 1858 and designated the land for public use. Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson made films in the town of Niles near here before the film industry settled in Hollywood. Athletic types come by now to enjoy running and cycling.

6. What has 978 acres of marshland and grass-covered hills and was once home to elk and condors?  What has a rich history and was once a quarry, a settler ranch and a missile site? Where is a stretch of Alameda Trail Creek located?  Coyote Hills Regional Park. Visit the 2,000-year old Ohlone shellmounds site. Check out the birds and butterflies at the Nectar Garden. Visit the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Marsh Boardwalk. Sightseers and nature lovers won’t be bored!

7. The Regional Parks Foundation provides a vital function for the park district. Environmental restoration, camping programs and low cost group transportation are among the projects that the foundation supports. Interested in staying fit? or getting fit? Take the self-paced Trails Challenge and explore what the parks have to offer!

Extra: Bob “4 Wheel Bob” Coomber. Complications from diabetes eventually caused Bob Coomber to be confined to a wheelchair. Yet, the optimistic “4 Wheel Bob” thought of the wheelchair as a challenge rather than a limitation. He’s the first person in a wheelchair to climb California’s 3rd highest peak, the 14,000 ft. White Mountain. He’s also one of 27 Americans to receive the President’s Council on Physical Fitness Community Leadership Award in 2008. What’s next for him? Plans are in the works to climb Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro and to distribute over 200 wheelchairs in Tanzania via the Wheelchair Foundation. Find out more about “4 Wheel Bob” here.

The end of the month is here, and it’s time for some rest and relaxation. A facial and detox is a great way to unwind. You can go to your favorite spa or you stay at home. Take a few tips from Remede Spa in San Francisco. Next month I will return with more posts and ideas. Until then, relax and enjoy.

It’s Monday, and I could sure use a drink. What about you? Well you won’t be left out because there are not one, but two drinks – with a twist – on tap. One is alcoholic; one is not. You decide which you prefer. If you are like me, you will take both of them! The first drink contains Moscato, and it’s a little on the bubbly side. Moscato d’Asti G D Vajra, Moscato d’Asti Spumante, Moscati d’Asti Mario Torrelli and Makulu Moscato are all vegan. A vegan Muscadet such as Muscadet des Coteaux de la Loire and le Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine are some other choices. Drink number two is apple cider. Trader Joe’s makes an organic, vegan apple juice. Salud!

The National Anti-Vivisection Society campaigns to eliminate animal testing in product development, education and biomedical research.  The Oceanic Society is as well known for whale watching expeditions as it is for conservation.  Animal Legal Defense Fund educates future animal rights lawyers and defends animal rights in court.  Amazon Conservation Team focuses on the cultural aspects of conservation.  International Vegetarian Union is over 100 years old.  Founded in Dresden, Germany in 1908, it’s an international group dedicated to vegetarianism.  Charity Water brings drinking water to developing nations that is clean and safe.

American Forests protects our forests and plants trees – the site is worth visiting for the personal climate change calculator and the air quality calculator alone.  American Bird Conservancy protects wild birds and their habitats in the Americas. Project Blue is a cause with a plan to save and restore the world’s oceans.  African Wildlife Foundation has been around since 1961 and takes a unique approach to protecting and conserving the landscape and wildlife.  World Resources Institute is a think tank that uses practical means to balance human needs with environmental concerns.  Food Not Bombs serves vegan and vegetarian meals in over 1,000 cities worldwide.

Interested in making a more informed choice about which charity to choose?  Try Charity Navigator or  American Institute of Philanthropy.  Go to either of these sites to evaluate a number of causes.  Another fairly new site that supports the charity of your choice is social vibe.  It’s currently in beta and works as follows: choose from more than 20 charities; promote sponsors to your social media friends; earn points that result in money for your chosen cause.

There are vegetarians who go to food banks. Why not donate some vegan food items or money earmarked specifically for vegetarian meals?  Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest) could use your help.  Operation Blessings assists with a variety of programs including clean water, medical aid and hunger relief.

Short on money? Get together a group of friends, neighbors, etc. and each donate $2-$10 to the organization of your choice.

Really short on money? Volunteer some time (even if it’s two hours) at your favorite organization.

Really short on money and time? Make a techie contribution via sites that donate based on a daily visits to a page with a list of sponsors or puzzles and trivia games.  Some of my favorites are:  Greater Good, Help Thirst, Free Poverty and Free Kibble.

Rather than going to retailers, visit your favorite museum. You can also support them by taking out a membership or making a purchase at the gift shop. Many museums have one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly and fair trade items.

Some retailers have the option of making a donation to charities or even donating part of your purchase.

Purchase one special gift for you; buy one gift for someone special; make one donation to charity.

Most importantly, have a conscious and enjoyable holiday season!

What are your conscious shopping plans?

Three of my favorite farmer’s markets are the at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, the Lake Merritt market in Oakland and the Downtown Berkeley market. So many tasty treats! For a list of local food sources go here. If you would like to add a farmer’s market to your area, go to Growing for Market for advice and resources. For management resources and seller locations go to Manage My Market. To find out more:

Farmer’s Market Hotline: 1-800-384-8704
Farmer’s Market Coalition: http://www.farmersmarketcoalition.org
American Farmland Trust: http://www.farmland.org/
Center for Urban Education and Sustainable Agriculture: http://www.cuesa.org/
The Inadvertent Gardener’s blog: http://www.theinadvertentgardener.com/
Food Routes: http://www.foodroutes.org/
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service: http://www.ams.usda.gov/WholesaleFarmersMarkets

Hooked on Nature is a non-profit that does encourages people – particularly children – to have as much time in nature as is possible. This is the group’s mission along with a three phase plan: raising awareness, meaningful action, and supporting cultural change. Enjoy the video:

QUEST on KQED Public Media.