Behind the Green Drinks movement

In 1989 at a pub called the Slug and Lettuce in North London, Edwin Datschefski was sitting with his green design colleagues when he noticed an acquaintance at nearby table. As it turned out, the friend was sitting with a few of his own eco-conscious mates, so they pulled some tables together.

Datschefski and a bunch of people working in the environmental field continued to meet up for a beer in London once a month. And so a movement was born.

“It was a nice gathering and we always encouraged people to invite others, so you never knew who would be there,” Datschefski said. “Great connections were made and cool ideas were had, so in 1990 Green Drinks was created.”

The movement has spread around the world. Sonoma is one of 600 Green Drinks chapters in 62 countries.

There is a widespread desire among people to connect and act, and Green Drinks is a particularly valuable resource because it is agenda free and inclusively welcoming.

The environment sector has always been very fragmented, with thousands of different groups and issues and an overwhelming amount of data and complexity. So the random coming-together of people can actually be a very effective way for people to reach into the topic and to use the magic of face-to-face discussion and networking to connect and be inspired.

Here in Sonoma, we have our very own Green Drinks, which was founded in 2007 by Michele Tovar. Michele has always been an advocate of sustainability and her respect to our environment, including the land we live on and our, most important natural resource, water, led her to the creation of Green Living Sonoma.

When Ms. Tovar heard about Green Drinks International, she thought this would be a wonderful format to share thoughts and ideas with others who had the same interest and also wanted to learn about local businesses in the County who offered services in the environmental field.

Sonoma County, being at the forefront in the United States regarding issues concerning the environment, was the perfect place to begin Green Drinks.

Green Drinks has recently collaborated with organizations, including Sonoma Valley Transitions and the Earth Club of Sonoma Valley High School. This has proven to be a great way to support one another, but also to be more proactive. Having the information and solutions to many of our challenges, it is now the time to act and plan and work with local government and schools to focus on what we can do now.

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, and often feature a gust speaker. Experts have included solar leaders, builders, architects and a diverse group of other business owners, educators and motivational speakers and politicians, including Assemblymember Jared Huffman, members of the Sonoma Valley City Council and Supervisor Valerie Brown.

Brown will return for the next meeting, on Thursday, March 1, as the group thanks her for outstanding service and support, for both the county and city of Sonoma. The informal 6 p.m. gathering takes place at The Lodge at Sonoma, 1325 Broadway.

Find out more about Green Drink Sonoma and the meeting at Greendrinks.org or 249.3748.

By Stephen Dale | Special to The Sun