April 16, 2012 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
April 16, 2012
April 16, 2012 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
(Compiled by Shannon Maris/ Garden E-News, Arthur Tenebrae and Jeff Westcott)
April 17th – Tuesday Roving Garden Party 2112 Michigan (off Alabama) 7pm
Tuesday Roving Garden Party April 17th at the home of Vanessa Veit vanessaraeveit@gmail.com 2112 Michigan St.
We will be setting up a compost system, Making above ground potato patches And generally having fun!!
** Where: 2112 Michigan Street 2 blocks south of Alabama 2 blocks east of Yew street
** Map: http://g.co/maps/ejx4x
** When: April 17 6-9ish
** Requested Items to Bring: Bring gloves, shovels, rakes and lots of good cheer!
** Tasks: We will be building above ground potato growing bins, a composting system, and setting up the green house. Oh and if anyone wants to tackle the rain collection system, I have everything to build it.
** Food: For dinner we will be having grilled veggies(vegan) and salmon(local). I will provide wine, water and tea. Feel free to bring cocktails and a big ol smile!
** Host: Vanessa Veit–I am a single mom with a crazy idea about gardening, every year it is something different. I have a small yard that I share with 2 crazy dogs, a cat and my daughter. I like to think that we have a family friendly home, so kids are more than welcome! We compost all winter and graze in the yard in the summer. Call 961-5514 with any questions.
Washington Native Plant Society Meeting: Edible and Medicinal Salish Sea Seaweeds
Wednesday, April 18th, 7pm (starts at 7:30pm, arrive early for seating), RESources Sustainable Living Center/ReStore (entrance to the classroom is off the back alley and upstairs), 2309 Meridian Street Native seaweeds have been consumed regularly by all coastal peoples since the dawn of time. Seaweeds also offer a wide range of therapeutic possibilities. Pre-contact and post-contact human uses of native seaweeds will be presented. Samples will be provided. Dr. Ryan Drum has a B.Sc in Chemical Technology and a Ph.D. in Botany (Phycology) from Iowa State University. For 10 years, he taught Botany at UMASS/Amherst, UCLA, and WWU. Ryan lives in a rustic little hilltop cabin he built 30 years ago on Waldron Island, off the grid, without indoor plumbing or refrigeration.
Essential Remedies for Everyone with Michelle Mahler
Thursday, April 19th, 6:30–8:30pm, Downtown Food Co-op, 1220 North Forest Street
Enjoy a hands-on class on the making and topical use of therapeutic essential oils. These remedies are effective for treating joint, nerve and muscle pain; respiratory congestion, clearing sinuses, headaches, stress relief and insomnia/sleep disturbances. Each student will make a therapy blend to take home. Michelle Mahler teaches and sells aromatherapy products through Circle of Healing Essential Oils. $20 for members and $24 for non-members. Register at the Food Co-op.
Reel Food Festival Culminating Showing
Thursday, April 19th, 6:30pm-9pm, Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay St.
Sustainable Connections presents Sustainable Table: What’s On Your Plate?, a witty and provocative documentary produced and directed by award-winning Catherine Gund about kids and food politics. Filmed over the course of one year, the film follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain, talking to each other, food activists, farmers, new friends, storekeepers, their families, and the viewer, in their quest to understand what’s on all of our plates. For more information, contact Hilary McGowan at AS.EARTH@wwu.edu. $6.25 for Pickford members, $9.50 for adult non-members, and $5 for kids.
Jennifer Hahn: Sea Kayaking Solo Through the Northwest Passage
Thursday, April 19th, 7pm, Room 204, Academic Instructional Center West, WWU Campus Jennifer Hahn author of “Pacific Feast: a cooks guide to West Coast foraging and Cuisine” will be coming to talk and present a slideshow of her solo kayak trip down the Northwest Passage. For more information, contact Sierra Jacobs at AS.OC.Marketing@wwu.edu.
From Extraction to Export: Dirty Lies About Clean Coal
Friday, April 20th, 7pm, YWCA Ballroom, 1026 N. Forest St.
Join Appalachian Voices and RE Sources for Sustainable Communities for a powerful and compelling presentation on the impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia and the proposed coal export facilities here in the Pacific Northwest. Meet the people who are fighting to protect their homes, their families, and the mountains themselves from irreversible destruction on the East Coast of our country and your local advocates who are working hard to prevent the West Coast from becoming a high volume coal corridor. For more information on this event, visit Re-Sources.org or call 733-8307.
Earth Day Events this Weekend – Thanks for celebrating this delightful holiday! There are plenty of events so get out and enjoy the day!!
Celebrate Earth-Weekend with Food Not Bombs Co-founder, Keith McHenry!
Food Not Bombs co-founder, Keith McHenry, will give many presentations about the history, principles and Food Not Bombs global campaign to end the criminalization of poverty, the movement’s participation in the occupations and how our community can participate in the global protest movement against austerity and systemic wastefulness!
Schedule of Events:
* Friday Afternoon, April 20th, 3:30-6pm, Free meal w\ Keith at the Peace Vigil (Cornwall and Magnolia)
* Friday Evening, 7:15-9pm, Evening talk by Keith (The Majestic 1027 N. Forest St.)
* Saturday, April 21st, 11am-3pm, Keith will table at WWU EarthDay event (MPR) * Saturday, April 21st, 3pm, Participate in a Skill Share at the Bell. Alt. Library, 717 N. Forest
* 7:00pm Keith will speak at the Bellingham 12 (Stop Resource Rape) Benefit Concert (100 E Maple)
This schedule is packed and subject to change. Please contact Zac at: Be_the_rock@hotmail.com or 509-679-4194 (during the weekend) for questions, comments, and updates! These events are sponsored by the Student Homeless Outreach Team (S.H.O.T.), Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, The Majestic, The Foundry, The WWU Environmental Center, The Bellingham Alternative Library, and our local Food Not Bombs.
Earth Day Celebration Work Party at Landingstrip Creek
Saturday, April 21st, 9am-12pm, Landingstrip Creek
Come join NSEA, The Whatcom Land Trust and REI as we work to plant hundreds of native trees and shrubs along the banks of the South Fork Nooksack River tributary stream located at the Catalyst site in Acme. The first 100 volunteers will receive a FREE Earth Day T-shirt! REI will also be raffling off a tent to one lucky volunteer! All tools, gloves and refreshments provided! Sponsored by Starbucks Coffee – Take a trip to the mountains and do your part for Earth Day and wild salmon! From Bellingham, head east on WA-542 E/Mt. Baker Highway for about 15 miles. Turn right onto Highway 9, just outside of Deming, and follow for about 7 miles. Look for the NSEA signs and shuttle.
WWU Earth Day 5K Run and Walk
Sunday, April 22nd, 10am, WWU Campus Track
It’s the 5th Annual Earth Day 5K Walk and Alumni Run! This event is open to everyone and anyone. The start and finish area is located on the WWU campus track with a scenic course going throughout Western’s campus and by every major sculpture. New for 2012, a Free Kids Dash. One lap around the track, so bring on the kids! Register online.
Earth Day Festival
Saturday. April 21st, 11am-3pm, WWU MPR
The AS Environmental Center presents an on-campus festival to celebrate Earth Day! Tie Dye, Scavenger hunt, potting plants, environmental organizations, environmental clubs, live music, and more! Win a city/mountain hybrid BIKE! Win prizes! For more information, contact Hilary McGowan at AS.EARTH@wwu.edu
Earth Day Celebration and Work Part
Sunday, April 22th, 10am-2pm, The Outback, south end of Fairhaven College
Come celebrate Earth Day by visiting The Outback Gardens, whether it’s tending to the veggies or checking out the chickens. Be sure to bring your friends, family, and glee for gardening! For more information, contact Hilary McGowan at AS.EARTH@wwu.edu
Rain Barrel Construction & Installation
Saturday, April 21st, 1-3:30pm, RE Sources Sustainable Living Center/ReStore (entrance to the classroom is off the back alley and upstairs), 2309 Meridian Street
Summertime watering costs more than you think. Join us for an informative presentation on local water use and conservation options, plus a hands-on demonstration of rain barrel installation and construction of your own 55-gallon rain barrel. Instructed by Andrea Hood, City of Bellingham Public Works Water Conservation Program. Pre-registration is required. Register online, or call Hannah at 733-8307. $30 for members and $35 for non-members (including rain barrel and parts).
Keith McHenry presents Not Bombs
Sunday, April 22th, 2–3:30pm, Room 210, Academic Instructional Center West, WWU Campus
Keith McHenry (see above) will present the film Not Bombs and describe his role as the co-founder of Food Not Bombs. He has travelled around the globe promoting community interdepence and the act of sharing nutritious foods and basic resources to those in need. For more information, contact Hilary McGowan at AS.EARTH@wwu.edu (also, see above).
Skill Share: Car-Free Lifestyles and Urban Planning
Saturday, April 21st, 3pm, Bellingham Alternative Library, 717 N. Forest St.
Car free lifestyles and urban planning. Discuss some of the politics of how to live and build cities more sustainability. Explore some new ideas in zoning, transportation and how our lifestyles and living environments can change for the better. Embracing the city, rather than necessarily escaping to a most likely car dependent rural environment. Robert’s lived his whole life without a car and has a big interest in planning/zoning issues. This skill share may be followed by one led by the co-founder of the international Food Not Bombs movement, Keith McHenry. There are a range of subjects Keith could cover. So come curious to both skill shares!
B12 Earth Day Benefit
Sunday April 22nd, 5:30-11pm, The Old Foundry 100 E. Maple
Come to this Earth Day show to support the Bellingham 12. Twelve locals are facing legal fees and potential jail time for having stood up against the proposed coal port in December. Come show your support for a coal free Bellingham, by supporting those who take personal risks to speak out on coal!
5:30pm – Documentary Screening Presented by Whatcom Action Coalition
7:30pm – Speakers
8:00pm – Music and Firespinning
$5-$15 donation requested to support the legal defense fund.
Raw Food Essentials with Bruce Horowitz
Monday, April 23th, 6-8:30pm, Cordata Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Road
Learn inspiring raw-food recipes to enjoy and improvise on. We’ll create fresh tasty nut milk, creamy salad dressing, a vegan “tuna fish” pate, and a crispy, dehydrated flax cracker. We’ll discuss the equipment, core ingredients, and basic techniques of the raw food kitchen. All recipes are free of gluten, wheat, dairy, sugar, and soy. Generous samples provided.
$39 for members and non-members alike. Call the WCC at 383-3200 for registration.
Whatcom County Urban Garden Share
Yearning to Garden? Have space – will garden? Check out the Urban Garden Share website for Whatcom County. Create a garden profile, gardener profile, or just dig into the listings.
U.S. Biochar Initiative
A not-for-profit organization promoting the sustainable production and use of biochar through research, policy, technology and utilization. Our Mission: to decarbonize life! Re:char’s Climate Kiln is a small pyrolysis system capable of generating biochar or fuel charcoal. We are currently engaged in a pilot in East Africa to evaluate biochar for use with 1-2 acre farmers. Check out this video of New England’s Bio-Char burner and reference to new compendium book on Bio-Char from Cornell University. Learn about the basics of biochar and its success in Kenya.
Eat Your Weeds!
One gardener’s bane becomes another gardener’s meal!
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A lovely poem courtesy of the REStore/RESources Newsletter:
Ode to the Reel Mower
by Jim Daniels
When you stop pushing
it stops exactly there
absorbing the grace
of cut-grass silence.
It always starts. It never runs
out of gas. It does not
shoot your eye out
with a rock or glass shard.
It runs on dew and pollen
and sweat. It has never
woken one sleeping person.
It is never new and improved.
Grass falls gentle
onto itself like pages
of a favorite book.
If the blades need sharpening
a 150-year-old man with a large stone
in a damp basement will send up
faint sparks, accept no payment.
At night it trims
the moon’s beard.
