TIME TO BE OUT AND ABOUT

I don’t think anyone will be at home this weekend to turn the lights our for “Earth Hour.” Remember, across the world, people are turning out all non-essential lights from 8 to 9 pm to make a statement about climate change. If you want to know more, check out www8.earthhourus.org.

If you haven’t made your weekend plans yet, you do not need to pre-register to join the 15th Annual River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayou Trash Bash on Saturday morning. There are 17 Trash Bash locations in the Houston–Galveston area. Stop the trash that ends up in our storm drain system, eventually emptying into Galveston Bay! Go to the Trash Bash website to choose your site. Registration and check-in starts at 8:30 am.

Also on Saturday, you could go out to Mercer Arboretum for its March Mart plant sale (from 8 am to 4 pm) or you could do the plant sale at Mandel Park, 1500 Richmond, from 9 am to 1 pm.

The Bayou City Farmers Market, behind 3000 Richmond, will have Kids’ Day at the regular Saturday morning market, 8 am to noon. Kids from after school programs will be selling produce they have grown and there will be animals to pet, free tomato plants for kids, face painting, fire engines, tractors, demonstration beehives, and solar ovens.

Rice Environmental Club is hosting “What a Waterful World: Blueprints for Sustainable Water Management” all day Saturday at the Wiess College Commons.

The Rice Design Alliance tour of John F. Staub houses is Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30. The tour is from 1 to 6 pm. Tickets may be purchased at the house on Parkway Drive, at the east end of North and South Blvds; at 3452 Del Monte or 1912 Larchmont. For more information about the tour, please visit the organization’s website.