All events are free unless otherwise indicated.

Coming up

FREE GARDEN MULCH, available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Halawa Xeriscape Garden, 99-1269 Iwaena St.; self-service, bring containers and shovel; 748-5041, www.boardofwatersupply.com.

"GARDEN GREEN HOUR," outdoor green activities for families, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 29-Dec. 10, Wahiawa Botanical Garden; free; 621-5463.

"ENERGY ALTERNATIVES IN HAWAI'I," the Windward Community College Fall 2008 Community Forum in Chemistry discusses renewable energy sources — solar, wind, ocean, geothermal, biomass with engineer Maria Tome, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Oct. 29, WCC, Kane'ohe, Science Complex, Hale 'Imiloa 111; free; 236-9120.

"OUR OCEAN DUMPING GROUNDS: CONSEQUENCES AND REPERCUSSIONS FOR SEA TURTLES," lecture by Regina Woodrom Rudrud, UH-Manoa, Maritime and Fisheries anthropologist, part of the monthlong Marine Debris Awareness Month lecture/film series; 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 30; Hanauma Bay theater; free; 393-2168 or www.b-e-a-c-h.org.

"MALAMA 96744," a community graffiti cleanup day for Kane'ohe, 8-11:30 a.m. Nov. 1, Kane'ohe District Park, 45-660 Kea'ahala Road; paint and some supplies available; rollers, brushes, etc. requested; free; 235-7747.

ALOHA 'AINA EARTH DAY, monthly schools fundraising project, a disposal of recyclable waste, from scrap metal to beverage containers and computers; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 1; McKinley High School parking lot, Pensacola Street; Rene Mansho, 306-1876.

LEILEIHUA HIGH SCHOOL HI-5¢ RECYCLING DRIVE, a Project Graduation collection of recyclable cans and bottles, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 1 and 15, front parking lot; 542-1793.

"USING STAR POWER! SOLAR OVEN EXPERIENCE," a Keiki Explorer Club event, making and using a simple solar oven to make brownies and "cookie" crayons (for ages 7 and older) 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 1, The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $12; required registration, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

SECOND ANNUAL BIG ISLAND HEALING GARDEN, Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethno-Botanical Garden, Captain Cook; most events free. Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., is free Hawaiian Tree Giveaway and plant sale (8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.), and presentations on a variety of subjects, including food as medicine, vog remedies, kalo, noni, Amazon Jungle medicine and cooking classes. Nov. 2 is Workshop and Tour Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with a "healthy tennis" workshop ($25), a community kalo-planting workshop, and an Amazon Jungle medicinal discussion ($15); 638-0888:

be a greenie

HAWAIIAN ISLAND HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, is accepting applications for seats on its advisory council; applications accepted from various public sectors, including business/commerce, citizens, commercial shipping, conservation, ocean recreation, tourism, whale watching, fishing and Native Hawaiian interests; Christine Brammer, 397-2651, ext. 252; www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education.

WAIMEA VALLEY GREETER: Volunteers needed one day a week for 2 1/2 hours; 638-7733.

WEED AND POT CLUB: Maui Nui Botanical Garden's Weed & Pot Club meets 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului, Maui, to do beautification and maintenance work; tools, gloves, drinking water provided; wear shoes; 249-2798.

NATIONAL GARDEN HELP: Protect rare plants and ecosystems by volunteering at National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua'i; help needed in administration, conservation, education, development and more; 808-332-7324, ext. 228, or volunteer@ntbg.org.

Niaulani nature walk, guided tour through an old-growth forest; 9:30 a.m. Mondays; from Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Niaulani Forest Work Day: Volunteer to preserve the beauty and diversity of the rainforest; 9 a.m.-12 p.m., third Sunday of each month; Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; free; 808-967-8222.

TUESDAYS AT KANAHA, weekly beach cleanup and plant maintenance, coordinated by Community Pride at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays, at the park; Valerie Vines Magee, 808-264-1454.

MAKIKI FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT, volunteers needed to weed, pick up branches, plant, water and fertilize native plants as part of Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative forest restoration project. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., fourth Saturday of each month; call 973-9782 for information.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to: For the Environment, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "For the Environment" in the subject line. Deadline is 10 days before the event.