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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
My fiance and I are learning to garden. When I say this, I mean it in the most basic sense. We don't have a clue what we are doing.
Alright, perhaps that is a little bit of an exaggeration. I know that I like plants. I've taken many Biology classes, and I can explain to you in detail the process of photosynthesis, so I can tell you roughly what a plant needs from it's surroundings. As an environmental educator, I also have a basic knowledge of native plants. Now I can't fairly speak to Dave's level of comfort, but I can tell you that he was fascinated by a lesson from Seattle Tilth regarding how nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium help plant growth. He is also far superior when it comes to watering (while I exist in a permanent state of dehydration).
I've been contemplating the pea patch idea for a while, and decided to ask Dave to garden with me this winter. So, we got on the waiting list for the Marymoor and Kirkland programs. We were offered a plot at Marymoor, which was great, since most Seattle waiting lists take years. Then we visited the plot...it was more overgrown than I would have expected. I wish we had taken photos - there were old corn stalks, weeds, and piles of compost covering the entire 10'x40' space. Oh, how stupid naive we were!
We have since learned that the entire Marymoor Community Garden suffers from an infestation of comfrey. While the Wikipedia article may make it appear harmless, make sure you note the comments on eradication. Dave refers to the weed as "Devil's root." And with good reason! The roots of comfrey can be 2" in diameter, go 8' deep, and snap off with the slightest tug. What's worse, the plants can regrow from a 1" hunk left in the ground. And our plot hasn't been gardened in a couple of years. Hello infestation.
To make matters more complicated, after accepting the Marymoor plot, Dave and I were offered a space at a Kirkland pea patch, which is much closer to home. The garden is adorable, and our plot was nearly weed free when we went to visit. It took me all of 10 minutes to weed the whole thing. This has not helped with motiviation at Marymoor. But, we had already put in a couple of days' work at Marymoor, so we decided to keep both.
This past Sunday Dave and I (finally) finished weeding out all the comfrey (for the second time), formed mounds, and planted. While it's been a huge challenge (read: pain in the neck), it was incredibly gratifying to see a space that formerly looked like an abandoned lot converted to a tended garden. Cross your fingers the comfrey doesn't give us too much more trouble...
Now our Kirkland plot has been a joy. Dave and his dad built new raised beds, we added compost and turned the soil, and we have planted all the beds. Our lettuces, broccoli, cauliflowers, leeks, chives, onions, potatoes, and beans seem to be thriving. The only sore spot has been the warm weather plants - our cucumber, zucchini, and basil has not been very happy. A few days ago we started covering the plants with plastic containers at night to try insulate from the cold. It looks pretty funny having a garden bed with salad containers, half a milk jug, and green plastic cups! Just wait 'til we add the pinwheels to our Marymoor plot!
Our tomato and pumpkin starts are still living at home with mom and dad (yes, we refer to the plants as "the kids"). Soon we hope to send them off to the pea patch. Thank goodness I just bought some plants for container on the balcony, to help me fight empty nest sadness!
I feel like we've already learned a lot from the gardens. I wonder how I'll feel about eating these little plants I've cared for?
On Wednesday night I attended Sustainable Seattle's first Leadership Lab. The session was the first in a series of three. I met a number of interesting people from diverse backgrounds - many of the attendees also participate in their neighborhood sustainability group (part of SCALLOPS). Antioch University students took on teaching/leading of the labs as a project.
During introductions we were asked to share something interesting or strange that happened to us in the last week (I think I won). Forgive the shameless mention of my engagement in this entry...
For our first activity we were asked to list three qualities of a leader in the sustainability realm - noting that leadership qualities in this sector might vary from general leadership. I chose 1) leading by example, 2) re-envisioning, and 3) community-building. Then we were asked to work in a group, share our choices and try to clump those that are similar. The three people sitting next to me all wrote "leading by example," too. Clearly practicing what you preach is important! There were also a number of qualities clumped around community involvement, and individual health. Finally, we saw the need to think outside the box to solve the problem we face today. After comparing with the other group, I would add passion to the list of essential components. You need something to keep you going and help overcome burnout. My group also saw the need for flexibility and identification of small steps to success.
They second activity involved dividing into pairs and asking questions about leadership experiences, road blocks, and what you needed to overcome those barriers. For me, we decided that I am organized, comfortable taking the lead, and good at coordinating. I need help when it comes to over-committing and keeping balance.
I'm really looking forward to the next session at the end of May!
I guess it's official when you announce something to the blogosphere - I'm engaged! That means I'm asking for forgiveness with regards to my inconsistent blogging this past week.
This does mean that I will do some writing about green wedding research, but I also don't intend to let that topic take over my life the blog (really, I promise).
But, because it has been less than a week since "the question," I think I'm still allowed to be more girly than normal. Here's an update on my green wedding considerations thus far (in no particular order):
1) Keep the numbers limited. More people equals more travel, stuff, costs...
2) Pick a venue that I feel good about supporting, i.e. a park. Ideally it should be close for most guests to travel to.
3) Encourage guests to purchase carbon offsets for their travel.
4) Use a caterer who sources locally, has organic options, and is veggie-friendly (a must for the vegetarian bride and groom!).
5) Find a natural materials, second-hand wedding dress. Donate or sell after the big day.
6) Minimize waste and materials - i.e. paper for invitations, favors, etc.
7) Keep gifts under control. That doesn't necessarily mean don't register, but only ask for things we can really use to get started. Try an alternative registery to include second hand and handmade items. Include donations and carbon credits as registry "asks."
8) Green the honeymoon. I know we will want to travel, so we will plan to purchase offsets. Look into ecotourism options that support local communities and preservation of biodiversity.
9) Pick reusable items whenever possible. This includes rewearable bridesmaids' dresses, rentals for the guys, centerpieces, etc.
10) Try to grow our own flowers.
11) Minimize electrical use - perhaps a green DJ?
12) Maintain a balanced life and don't let the wedding take over!
I'm sure I will figure out many more things along the way. Wish me luck!
I am a twenty-something female, and I've lived in Seattle almost all my life. Currently I am an environmental professional for a nonprofit, and soon I will begin graduate study in Education. Follow my experiences designing public programs, networking in the Seattle environmental community, navigating public transit, finding affordable green solutions, learning to garden, planning a wedding, and working towards a sustainable lifestyle.
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