You’ve probably seen a story about it on the news or heard it mentioned on the radio. Your neighbors may be doing their part, and now your workplace is getting involved.

It’s not just for hippies in OB anymore; “going green” is everyone’s responsibility.

What exactly is “going green?” One online dictionary defined it as “a phrase referring to individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits, behavior and lifestyle.”

So in an earnest attempt to address how we can learn more about this movement and take little steps to improve upon it, participate in some of these green-friendly local activities and events!

On Sept. 13, Henry’s Farmers Market is hosting its 12th Annual Wellness Fair at the Scottish Rite Center and in accordance with this year’s theme of “Sustainable Wellness,” the fair will focus on ways to live a healthier, more natural lifestyle that is healthy for both the body and planet.

More than 50 exhibits will feature free food tastings, natural product samplings, health screenings and fitness demonstrations. Expert presentations and lectures are also on the agenda, including special appearances by local chef/author Sam the Cooking Guy and The New York Times’ bestselling author Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life.

The fair lasts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door on the day of the event.

The Scottish Rite Center is located on 1895 Camino Del Rio South. For more details, check out www.henrysmarket.com/h/Wellness_Fair.

In conjunction with Ray at Night, a monthly art walk in North Park, ZTA Gallery, a local green-minded architecture firm, is producing the Green Scene Gallery ’08 Event: Ecopalooza on Sept. 13.

Green Scene ’08 will showcase a night of sustainable concepts and artwork, a Carnivale of Eco-Couture Fashion Show (clothing made out of recyclable or sustainable goods), entertainment, refreshments and the latest in green-building industry products.

The event is open to the public from 6-10 p.m. And after you check out Ecopalooza, stick around and enjoy the rest of what Ray at Night has to offer. Ray at Night is held the second Saturday of each month, with more than 40 participating galleries, cafes and retail shops in the North Park area.

ZTA Gallery is located on 3956 30th Street.

This semi-annual event returns to San Diego from Sept. 15 – 21, where participating spas offer select treatments for a discounted rate of $50.

So what does pampering yourself have to do with being eco-friendly? Well, the spa industry has been a longtime proponent of the green trend and more and more spas are doing their part to lighten their carbon footprint on the environment, in part by offering green spa treatments.

20/20 Skin is offering a 50-minute organic full-body aromatherapy massage. Balensi’s Institute of Skin Care in Chula Vista has a 45-minute pumpkin body masque. You can indulge in an organic massage, chamomile and midnight honey body scrub, giving calendula body wrap, or organic foot treatment all lasting 45 minutes at Blue Marble Spa. The Catamaran Spa has a 50-minute lychee body exfoliation. Cinnabar Acupuncture Clinic & Spa is offering a 60-minute Cinnabar signature massage and a 70-minute organic microdermabrasion using baking soda. You can also try an aromatherapy hot towel compress massage or organic eminence facial at Ocean Day Spa in Carlsbad.

For a complete list of participating spas and available treatments, visit www.spaweek.org.

The two-day Body Mind Spirit Expo, whose mission is to bring together the latest information in the areas of natural health, personal growth, and metaphysics, comes to the Scottish Rite Center on Sept. 20-21.

There is a plethora of exhibitors and sponsors scheduled to be at the event, including animal consultations by pet psychic Karen Anderson and greaseless, waterless health cooking demonstrations by Shannon Miller of The Healthy Gourmet. The expo also highlights lectures by Christopher Valentine, Christian von Lahr and Dave Markowitz. “Nature Spirits Surround You” by Valentine and von Lahr will teach you how to recognize gnomes, leprechauns, faeries and elves and how to improve upon your home and garden to attract them. Markowitz’s “A Radical Approach to Healing” will explain “the underlying causes of pain or illness and suggest easy-to-follow transformational steps toward optimal health.”

The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12.

Visit www.bmse.net for a complete list of exhibitors and more details.

Even though a famous frog once said, “It’s not easy being green,” it seems eating green has become a lot easier.

The Green Restaurant Association (GRA) a national non-profit organization providing services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing to aid all sectors of the restaurant industry to become more environmentally sustainable, has listed several local restaurants as Certified Green Restaurants.

To be a Certified Green Restaurant by the GRA, the restaurant must use a comprehensive recycling system for all products that are accepted by local recycling companies; be free of polystyrene foam products; commit to completing four GRA Environmental Steps per year of membership; and complete at least one GRA Environmental Step after joining the GRA.

Currently, there are six Certified Green Restaurants in the area. Burger Lounge in Kensington, Caffe Bella Italia in Pacific Beach, and Croce’s Restaurants & Bars in Downtown have completed more than 10 GRA Environmental Steps. Ranchos Cocina in Ocean Beach and Ranchos North Park have completed more than 20 steps. George’s at the Cove in La Jolla tops the list with more than 30 steps completed.

Keep in mind there are many local establishments which may not be a part of the GRA but are still doing their part to protect the environment, so be sure to support them as well!

To find out more about the GRA and what it takes to be a Certified Green Restaurant, check out www.dinegreen.com.