Work it out!

Staying in shape is definitely important to me, and I find that it really supports my sustainability goals. Working out makes me feel healthier, more relaxed, and motivated to accomplish the many demands of a typical day. I also find chances to overlap simple workouts with sustainable behaviors, like walking to the bus or to meetings.

But, it's easy to get in a rut. Especially as stress skyrockets, or the weather is poor. In the last couple of years I have really benefited from challenges that I can work towards. For 2008, it was Climate Ride. I knew I could ride 50 miles in a day, but I had never come anywhere close to 300 miles in less than a week. I had to do a ton of training, including commute rides to adjust to road conditions, long weekend rides (meaning fiance-with-the-mostest had a big commitment, too), back-to-back rides, and some official rides/races to practice in crowded situations.

This year I have two exciting athletic events: 1) a 4 day kayaking trip with friends and 2) the Danskin triathlon. The kayaking trip is a guided trip, so we need to be in decent shape, have some endurance, and be willing to work hard. I really like multi-day events because they are both intellectually and physically challenging, but also all the more rewarding. Plus, we'll hopefully see some whales and other marine life! The Danksin is a sprint distance triathlon, which means we will do a 1/2 mile swim in Lake Washington, 12 mile bike ride, and 5k (3.1 mile) run. Several girls I know are training. It's great to have a support system!

My other consideration this year is "bridal boot camp." Fiance-with-the-mostest and I want to be looking our best come our wedding in summer 2010. So, while we have over a year, we want to think about things we can do together to get exercise. We especially enjoy biking, walking/hiking, and yoga.

I've added a lot of things to my calendar, including garden reminders and exercise plans. Swimming is by far the scariest part of a triathlon for me, so I have lots of times set for lap swimming, and for an open water swim practice. I also have running/walking and plenty of bike rides. I think we'll basically do yoga when the weather isn't nice or we just don't feel like running. It's a great habit to get into for the cold and wet months.

Will keep you updated on how it all goes!

Etsy and the Ravenna Girls

Today I am wearing a fabulous new headband created by my friend (and bridesmaid). It looks a lot like this. So, it seems the perfect time to blog about two of the craftiest people I know, and the wonders of Etsy.

The Ravenna Girls describe themselves as, "...two budding architects, design nerds, and vintage junkies from Seattle..." I swear, these two have the greatest eye for style and can make just about anything! I like to support local artists, especially when they are two of my best friends, so I regularly buy gifts for family from their shops on Etsy. One focuses on handmade goods, many incorporating upcycled materials. Their second shop features their amazing vintage finds - they really did make things better back then, eh?

Some of my favorite gifts I've ever received are available for sale through their shops. Here are a few highlights (all are available now through their shops):

Vintage picture frame turned into a jewelry hanger

Vintage picnic basket

Felt coasters that look like a tree stump

Silk flower wreath

The best part? These two recently started a blog. Combining great style, incredible craftiness, architecture training, and caring personalities, these two are so fun to read about.

I also wanted to mention a couple of other special people you can find on Etsy. Another good friend of mine runs the shop Ace Quilting. She makes adorable sachets (I gave them out as Mother's Day presents), eye pillows, and more. I think I've ocnvinced her to sew my ring pillow. I'm very excited! In addition to the shop, she is the author of The A-Priori Mommy, a great blog about her life and experiences with her first child.

I happen to be related to the owner of the shop Ms. Bijoux Beads, also available through this website. I can credit my great collection of bead earrings to this shop! This will also be the source for my wedding earrings and accessories.

And, generally, I think Etsy is great. I love that they create a place for non-crafty people (like myself) to find crafty people (like the people mentioned above). Long live the handmade movement!

Weekend in Brinnon

Hello Blogosphere!

My Memorial Day Weekend was spent in Brinnon, WA visiting my parents (dad and stepmom) at their cabin on the Hood Canal. Fiance-with-the-mostest left on Friday morning for his brother's graduation from Hamilton College in New York. Congrats to the grad!

I arrived in Brinnon late on Friday night. After work, I had to pack and water all of our little plant-alopes (yes, my nickname is Jackalope and I have zero qualms about converting any noun to "lope"). They got a long drink, which I hoped would be sufficient until my return today. I was on the road by 8:30pm, and fortunately I made it by 11pm - good time for driving around through Olympia. The Hood Canal bridge is closed, which makes the Olympia route the most efficient. You'd think there would be a better route to a destination only 26 miles away as the crow flies!

On Saturday morning we walked down to the state park. We had time for a short walk/hike before the belt sander races at Brinnon Days. That sounded too good to pass up!

What, you might ask, and belt sander races? Well, here's a picture of a sample souped-up belt sander:

And how do you race a belt sander? Why I'm so glad you asked!



After the excitement of the races, we decided a relaxing kayak in the canal was warranted. The tandem kayak needed to be transported from the cabin to the water, so we strapped it to the roof of the car and drove down to the marina. My dad and I paddled the mile back to the beach below the cabin, and Cathy came out with her kayak.

We continued down to the state park, this time via water. There are tons of seals along the shore, and they seems to enjoy spying on kayakers. I hope I'll have experiences like that when my friends and I go on a kayaking expedition in the San Juans in late June!

That evening, we packed our dinner (pizza and salad) and went for a hike up Mt. Jupiter to a viewpoint. It was a little steeper and longer than I thought, but once I had my dinner I was happier about it. You can see all the way to Seattle and Bellevue from up there!

This photo of our shadows from the top is one of my favorites...

As is this one of the light at sunset...


Sunday we did a longer hike up a road that has been washed out in several places, and is now a great trail for hikers and mountain bikers. There were cool wood bridges, and waterfalls large and small. It was a 8 mile hike roundtrip, but not a lot of elevation gain. It was definitely a good work out, but a lot of fun.

Now don't think I'm all about my food all the time. I'm really not, I swear. But I have thyroid issues and tend to get low blood sugar, so sustenance after a lot of exertion definitely improves my outlook. I also just thought that our lunch spot on this rock with a huge waterfall to the right was amazing. And how cute is the picture of my parents?

My Sustainable Seattle Masthead Gallery pick for the week was actually a photo I took of my dad's hiking poles on this rock.

This morning I drove back. Again, it only took about 2.5 hours - very good time. I had to get here by 2pm so that I could volunteer at the 7 Hills of Kirkland bike race. Sustainable Kirkland partnered with the organizers (actually, the organizers are members...), so a few of us took shifts staffing the compost station. I have to say, compost monitors make a huge difference in contamination of the bins. I've felt like people just need the time to familiarize themselves with composting, like they did with recycling, but I think that there are just too many things to remember. Most people are so well intended, but with continually changing rules, it's difficult to do it right.

A short time ago I returned from watering at both our gardens. Everything is coming up, including weeds, so we have to find time to tackle those. I also added 3 more bags of topsoil to our potato mound- they are growing like crazy! Later this week I need to plant more lettuces and beans. Gardening is so exciting!

Now I await the triumphant return of fiance-with-the-mostest, who arrives late tonight. I suppose I should entertain myself by cleaning the condo?

Finally, I wish you all a Happy Memorial Day. It's exciting when people come together to think about the lessons we've learned as a country, the people who have given so much for us all, and the value of patriotism as a means of community engagement. There are so many things sustainable about stopping to remember...

Here's to the guerilla gardener!

Remember that Columbia commercial about guerilla gardeners?

Check out this press release below. Way to go, Seattle. In a world of ugly planting strips, we say, "No more!"

For Immediate Release:
May 11, 2009
Contact: Alex Fryer, (206) 684-8358 or (206) 941-5931 (cell), alex.fryer@seattle.gov

Mayor Nickels Announces New Rules for Gardening in Planting Strips
New procedures to encourage more gardening citywide

SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced improvements to make gardening in planting strips easier for Seattles residents. The new planting strip policy, issued by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), eliminates any permit requirements for gardens and ends fees previously required for hardscape improvements, such as planter boxes or pavers.

This change makes it easier to plant flowers and vegetables in the strip between the sidewalk and the street. For many gardeners, thats prime space, said Nickels. Its one of the things that makes Seattle special, and, with planting season upon us, its time to get those green thumbs going.

Under the new rules announced today, residents no longer need to obtain a $225 permit for hardscape improvements, such as raised gardens or stepping stones. Instead, they can obtain a free online permit for these improvements and to plant a tree at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_permits_online.htm

SDOT has updated its Web site with information explaining the rules: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_docs.htm

To ensure public safety and protect city infrastructure, they also provide guidelines for making planting strip improvements.

Get the Nickels Newsletter and the mayors inside view on transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities. Sign up at mayor.seattle.gov

Minh Chau Le
Department of Neighborhoods
P-Patch Program
(206) 233-7112

Volunteer with Sustainable Kirkland and get a free pass to Kirkland Uncorked!

Calling all volunteers!

Sustainable Kirkland, the community group I talked about in this blog and this blog, is partnering with the organizers of Kirkland Uncorked to help "green" this year's festival, July 17-19 on the downtown Kirkland waterfront (Marina Park).

Remember those awesome volunteers at Seattle Green Festival who sorted your compost, recycling, and trash before you could even prove that you knew how to recycle determine which bin was which? Well, Sustainable Kirkland will play a similar role, educating visitors about recycling and minimizing the volume of non-reusable (landfill bound) waste produced by the festival.

We need you! Sustainable Kirkland needs help covering all the shifts of the festival, July 17 - 19. The best part of volunteering? You get a free pass to Kirkland Uncorked! The festival features art, wine, food, and jazz music - what more could you want for a good time on the shore of Lake Washington?

To sign up, e-mail info@sustainablekirkland.org.

A busy weekend: Bike to Work Day, grad school, wedding dresses, venues

I'm exhausted. Dave and I couldn't sleep last night because we were both stressed about venues. What a silly thing to stress about! Worst case scenario, we don't get our first choice. Sure, that's not fun, but we're not getting married for over a year! We'll find something, and ultimately it's about us getting married.

Beyond last night, it's been a busy last few days! Friday was Bike to Work Day, organized by Cascade Bicycle Club. We hosted a station on the waterfront at the Olympic Sculpture Park, and had about 700 riders pass by. The weather wasn't quite as fantastic as last year, but it wasn't raining. I was thrilled to learn that I helped inspire 3 people to ride: my fiance, my co-worker Paul, and a partner at Seattle Parks. Yay! Unfortunately I wasn't busy and tired because I got to do lots of riding, but because I arrived at the park at 5am. That's what happens when Bike to Work Day starts at 6am.

On Friday afternoon I had my first meeting with my grad school advisor. I'm so excited to start classes, and was pleased to learn that with just 6 credits a quarter I'll be on schedule to graduate in 2 years. That will make working and going to school much easier.

After my trip to the UW, I headed to Bellevue for my first wedding dress appointment. I didn't find any winners, but it was good to get through the first appointment.

On Saturday Dave and I helped with a garage sale station for Sustainable Kirkland. We had 2 stalls at the "Junk in Your Trunk" event at Juanita Park (I know, silly name). We raised a lot of money for the group, so it was a huge success. I'm going to be helping with the group's blog, and next Monday will volunteer for a shift at the 7 Hills of Kirkland bike race.

Saturday afternoon I met my mom, Dave's mom, and Dana (my MOH) to look at dresses at Blue Sky Bridal. I loved this shop - all the dresses are sold on consignment, which means they are used dresses that individuals are selling. Pre-owned dresses are so practical financially and in terms of sustainability. I found 8 dresses to try on, and one I really loved. I want to look some more, but that one was a great option!

Then on Sunday we visited Dragonfly Retreat, a potential venue in Bothell. We really liked it - the site is more rustic than Tibbetts Creek Manor, the other site we've seen so far. Dave and I want to see a few more options before we make a decision, so I think we will visit/consider Fall City Farms, Cedar River Education Center, and Sandstrom Farm. If those don't work, we might consider the Golden Gardens Bathhouse. This is way out there, but I did send for some info from Sol Duc Hot Springs.

I am totally jealous of my friend's venue for her July wedding: Treehouse Point. This place looks gorgeous!

Anyways, I complete stressed myself out last night. Not good, and not sustainable. I barely slept, so I feel crummy today. Hopefully some rest will help, and we will work on taking things one step at a time. I'm looking forward to games with friends tonight. Sometimes it's all about the simple things!

And tonight: Sustainable Kirkland

The fiance (Dave) and I are proud to be members of Sustainable Kirkland, our local community group interested in the environment. Tonight we are hosting the monthly group meeting at our condo.

Sustainable Kirkland is part of the parent organization SCALLOPS (Sustainable Communities All Over Puget Sound). These groups just keep popping up, and there is amazing energy for community organizing (gObama!). Dave and I decided last summer/fall to join the groups in our respective neighborhoods (at that point I lived in Ravenna). Sustainable Kirkland was just getting started at that time, and we attended what I believe was the second official meeting. It's nice to get in on the groud floor!

Our group meets on the second Thursday of each month. Currently we meet at a member's home, and we eat a potluck dinner (tonight Dave and I are offering vegan chili - yum). We talk about our interests in sustainability, our ideas for the local area, and ways to engage (and change) the Kirkland community. So far the group has built a website, created business cards and t-shirts, organized a speaker event on green home remodeling, and identified other events for the future (greening Kirkland Uncorked, Seven Hills of Kirkland).

My personal goals in the group are: 1) provide educational and fellowship opportunities to Kirkland residents interested in the environment and 2) create a public demonstration garden in the Kirkland area. At our last meeting I brought up the idea of a sustainability tour of Kirkland. We brianstormed and thought of biking between sites, seeing green homes and businesses, and going out for a drink and discussion after - who wouldn't want to do that? As to the garden, I think we can partner with the city and build off the P-Patch program in place (since Dave and I are a part of it).

As a side note related to gardening, I'm thinking of volunteering at 21 Acres. Don't tell my fiance. He'll say I don't have time. That's totally accurate and a reasonable point silly!

Anyways, we're looking forward to having the group over tonight. It's always a good time, and a nice way to get to know like-minded folks in our part of town.

350 artists

Adding to the list of things I think are great...check out 350.org and in particular their section on artists.

Finding connection between art and environment is a key part of my job. Typically when I see environmental groups try to involve art in their programs, it takes the form of an art contest. These contests tend to be vaguely worded calls to "demonstrate what the environment/Puget Sound/trees/climate/fill-in-the-blank mean to you." For that reason, I'm always impressed with groups who go beyond.

There are a number of local Seattle artists who explore environmental issues and recycled materials in their work; Buster Simpson, Susan Robb, SuttonBeresCuller, and Mandy Greer are just a few who I happen to be familiar with. I like to think of the arts broadly, and feel inspired by the work of groups like Sustainable Style Foundation, Urban Wilderness Project, and FareStart. I also know a couple of super-crafty, LEED-certified architects...more on them later...

I am involved in the early planning stages for the Imagine Tomorrow competition, a program of Sustainable Seattle. This summer I will also serve as a judge for aLIVe: a Low Impact Vehicle exhibit. Both of these programs will challenge artists and designers to think differently about our cityscapes and the changes needed to build a more sustainable future.

So, calling all designers! I know you are out there. Take up the challenge, I implore invite you!

Climate Ride

My family and friends are already familiar with my experience biking from New York City to Washington, D.C. last September as part of the first annual Climate Ride. For those who are new, I invite you to view my Climate Ride blog. I am not one of those crazy people who rides 200 miles every week in all weather conditions a "gearhead," so this ride was something I trained for. I am still so proud of myself for doing it - fundraising, training, traveling, and riding - all on my own. It is an experience I will never forget.

Climate Ride is recruiting new riders for 2009, and I would encourage anyone who cares about environmental issues to consider joining. The ride is all about coming together with others who care about climate change to build synergy, spread the word, and show commitment for powerful climate change legislation.

Along the way I met amazing people. Two girls I rode with the entire 320 miles! We came to depend on each other as hills loomed ahead, the miles dragged on, we lost feeling in our limbs. For the three of us, the ride was truly pushing our physical limits. Finishing (without the dreaded sag wagon) was a huge personal victory, as well as statement about our commitment to the climate. I can pretty much guarantee that more than half of my waking hours are devoted to thinking about how to make a greener choice, and to find a group of people that inspire me to keep at that work is invaluable.

Concerned about fundraising? If you work for a nonprofit or have something to contribute to the program, consider applying for a fellowship. Going the fundraising route? Keep in mind that Clean Air-Cool Planet and Focus the Nation are truly worthwhile beneficiaries. I am particularly impressed with this portion of CA-CP's mission: "We partner with companies, campuses, communities and science centers to help reduce their carbon emissions." The closest model we have in the Seattle area is the mayor's Seattle Climate Partnership and Seattle Climate Action Now program. Seattle Art Museum has taken the lead in the world of green museums, but SAM and our peer organizations would greatly benefit from the work of a group like CA-CP.

What's life without a challenge? I know that having an event in mind helps me to reach my personal fitness goals. Add in a love for the environment, and every turn of the pedals has new meaning.

Here are a few photo highlights of my experience:

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

From Climate Ride 2008

Mark your calendar: Celebrating Wildflowers on June 6 at the Olympic Sculpture Park

Celebrating Wildflowers

Saturday, June 6

Noon – 4 p.m.

Olympic Sculpture Park, PACCAR Pavilion

SAM teams up with Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation to celebrate native plants and the role that they play in nature and in our lives. Create green art using recycled materials, and explore games and displays from SAM partners. Discover the world of mosses, flowers, pollinators, natural dyes and more!

Performances and Tours

1:00 p.m. – Urban Wilderness Project's Griot Youth Troupe

Tales from the Urban Wilderness. Stories that connect us to the world within us and around us. A youth performance suitable for all ages. Approximately 30 minutes. Performance will be held in the Alvord Art Lab inside the PACCAR Pavilion.

1:30 and 3:00 p.m. – Guided Native Plant Tours

Explore the native plants of the Olympic Sculpture Park with experts from Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation. Tours leave from the Trust for Public Land Terrace (north end of the PACCAR Pavilion).

Activity Stations – Open All Day, Located in and around the PACCAR Pavilion

Activities by Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation

Pollinator Game

Put on some wings, fly around, and help the flowers get pollinated! Designed for ages 3 – 5.

Painting with Plants

Create your own work of art by painting with a variety of plants. Designed for ages 4 and up.

Moss Madness

Get up close to a wide variety of native mosses. Designed for ages 6 and up.

Mystery Flower

Can you name the mystery plant as you explore plants with your hands, not your eyes? Designed for ages 7 and up.

Microscopy!

Discover the secrets of plants with a surprising look through microscopes. Designed for ages 7 and up.

Plant Pressing

Pick up this activity to take home or start your project at the park. Designed for ages 7 and up.

Rare Care

Learn about Washington’s rare native plants and receive a Celebrating Wildflowers temporary tattoo!

Community Crocheting with Artist Mandy Greer- Mater Matrix Mother and Medium

Join artist Mandy Greer, and with your fellow Seattleites, crochet, knot and twist recycled fabrics into a 200-foot long fiber river.

Creation Station: Shrinky Plants – Seattle Art Museum

Use recycled materials to create a do-it-yourself shrinky dink based on the native plants of the Olympic Sculpture Park. Then wear your charm to show your appreciation for plants and our environment!

Gardening with Native Plants – Washington Native Plant Society

Learn how to bring our regional natives into your yard, creating habitat for wildlife and saving water. Make your garden carefree with the right plant in the right place.

Invasive Plants in the Pacific Northwest – King County Noxious Weed Board

Take the Native vs. Noxious Quiz to test your knowledge about which plants are native and which are invasive species. You might be surprised - you can't always judge a plant by its colorful flowers.

People, Plants and Pollination – University of Washington Botanic Gardens Education

Discover the amazing life cycle of plants by examining flowers and seeds with magnifiers, be a bee and pollinate flowers, and find out how native plants can be used for survival!

Sustainable Foods – TASTE Café

Examine TASTE Cafés compostable packaging program and learn more about TASTE’s commitment to sustainability featuring local, fresh, organic foods.

Where Do Plants Live? – Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Explore four ECOSYSTEMS of Washington. Examine museum specimens of plants – and animals, too! – that live in those ecosystems. For older visitors, try out an incredible Web resource on plants: the UW Herbarium Image Collection.

Traditional Uses of Native Plants – Skokomish Tribe

Expand your knowledge of native plants as you learn about traditional gathering techniques and the many medicinal and culinary uses of Western Washington plant species.

Carpooling and alternative transportation encouraged! Event will be held indoors in the event of inclement weather.

For more information visit seattleartmuseum.org