April 22, 2013 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
April 22, 2013
(Compiled by Jeffrey Westcott)
Happy Earth Day on this beautiful spring day. We are lucky to be amongst such awareness for our fragile planet in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Although our individual actions may seem insignificant, together they create a huge positive change that is being embraced globally. Ride your bike, eat low on the food chain, reduce consumption, conserve precious resources, learn to produce your own food…all things that can improve your overall quality and fulfillment of life . Make every day Earth Day.
But on to some other notes…
We still have a few slots remaining for the Roving Garden Parties through the remainder of May and June. A few in the upcoming weeks will be on the fringes of Bellingham. If you do not have a vehicle, we will be meeting at the Public Market at 5:30 to carpool out to these sites. If you do not have a ride, show up prior to 5:30 and we will find room for you.
Also, I was told that there may have been a problem with the e-mails sent to rgp@sustainablebellingham.org reaching us, so if you e-mailed us and didn’t get a reply, we apologize; please try again.
Roving Garden Party – Agate Bay, Lake Whatcom
This week’s Roving Garden Party will be on the north shore of Lake Whatcom on Agate Bay to create an ’Edible-Medicinal Pollinator Forest Garden-Sanctuary’.Weather is predicted to be nice, but Lake Whatcom has its own microclimate, so the north shore might be chilly and damp. Bring an extra layer or two of clothing. We’ll be right on the lake in a beautiful garden setting (so any children attending will require adult accompaniment). The hosts are very active in the gardening community and tend a beautiful garden. To be among these wondrous plants in this garden is magical.
Bring shovels, edging tools, hand weeding tools, buckets and wheelbarrows for weeding, trim and planting. Some help will be needed for food preparation and clean-up too. After the work, there will be a vegan Mexican corn/bean soup, or rice/bean meal. A bonfire will follow, so bring a blanket or chair if you feel inclined to sit by the fire in the twilight.
Here is a link to the location of the property; or you can meet us at the Public Market to carpool for a 5:30 departure; or e-mail rgp@sustainablebellingham.org for details.
Here are some other events this week…
Appliance Depot Presents Trashed…
Monday, April 22nd, 6pm, Pickford Film Center, Bay Street.
If you read this e-mail as soon as I send it, that will give you about an hour to get to the Pickford. Recycling is not enough! On Earth Day, April 22nd, Appliance Depot will recognize three local business for sustainability efforts beyond recycling. Prior to the showing of the film Trashed at the Pickford Film Center, A-1 Builders, Willows Retirement Center, and Bellingham Whatcom County Housing Authority will be honored for their leadership in saving old appliances for local reuse. A presentation of awards and reception takes place at 6pm, followed by the movie at 6:30pm. Here is a trailer on the film.
Future of Business Conference- Sustainable Strategies for 2013
Join us at Sustainable Connections’ Future of Business Conference April 25th and 26th for useful information about achieving resource and operational efficiencies; increasing access to customers; accessing financial resources and overall better business management. Overall this conference is an excellent investment in time and resources for such valuable information.
** Thursday, April 25th, 5:30-8pm, Downtown at Depot Market Square
Meet, greet, and eat, a Localicious Opening Reception
** Friday, April 26th, 8:30am-5pm, Downtown at Depot Market Square
8:30am registration, 9am conference open, 4pm conference closing reception
Whatcom Farm-to-School Celebration
Friday, April 26th, 7-9pm, Squalicum High School, 3773 E. Mcleod Rd, B’ham
An evening of festivities and fun, to celebrate Farm-to-School in Whatcom County! We invite you to and your friends and family to come and sample four new school lunch menus featuring locally-grown ingredients, and cast your vote for the winner! Meet farmers, watch jugglers, see winning student video clips, and more! We hope you will join us for this exciting event, and appreciate your help in spreading the word. Questions or to volunteer, email whatcomfarm2schoolevents@gmail.com
Saturday Spark Lab – Electronic Games
Saturday, April 27th, 11am, Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, 1312 Bay Street, B’ham
Come visit the Spark Museum and join the Saturday SPARK Lab exploring electronic circuits and building a game to test your dexterity. This lab is appropriate for ages 8-14, costs $7 plus admission to the Museum, and open for walk-ins between 11am-2pm (plan on spending 20-30 minutes in the lab.) For more information, contact 738-3886 or anne@sparkmuseum.org.
Backyard Goat Keeping
Saturday, April 27th, 7pm, Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Fairhaven
Ennie Grant, City Goats: The Goat Justice League’s Guide to Backyard Goat Keeping
Goats, chickens and cows were common in cities until the early 1900s, at which time, all across America, they were banished to the rural outlands. Today, the idea of keeping chickens and goats in an urban environment is just beginning to be accepted. How did these changes in attitude come to pass? Jennie Grant, author of City Goats, will discuss how keeping goats led her to ask these questions and how living with her two goats, Snowflake and Eloise, has enriched her life.
Bellingham Residents’ Input Sought for Bicycle Routes, Facilities and More
Tuesday, April 23 from 5:30-8:30pm, Whatcom Middle School Auditorium, 810 Halleck Street
This was posted last week, but is worth repeating…
People throughout Bellingham are invited to participate in an upcoming Open House and online survey. Public participation is critical to shaping the City’s plan to improve bicycling and provide more support for “active,” city-wide modes of transportation. If you cannot make this event, please click here to complete the online survey.
Click here to submit an event to our calendar.
And some other interesting tidbits from both near and far…
What to Plant in April – Pacific Northwest Region
And it never hurts to read another article on what you should be sowing indoors or out, or transplanting. April is coming to an end, but this is a great time to get seeds or starts in the ground.
The Cost of Owning Your Car? $9,000 a Year
A new AAA reports shows, on average, the cost of driving 15,000 miles a year rose 1.17 cents to 60.8 cents per mile, or $9,122 per year. Overall, that’s a roughly 2% increase on the cost of operating a car last year. And I doubt that this article addresses the environmental or health costs associated with driving. One more reason to get on your bike.
What’s All the Buzz About?
From corporate high-rises to urban back yards—and even city hall—beekeeping is all the rage.
Keeping Mason Bees: 10 Expert Beekeeping Tips for Families
And although it’s a bit late this year for building or purchasing mason bee boxes, here’s an interesting article on non-stinging, solitary pollinators. And native, no less – the unsung heroes of the bee world.
From Wild Birds to Beet Seeds, the Skagit Valley’s Riches Are Being Kept Safe
The Lower Skagit Valley, a lingering teardrop of tillable soil in a swelling asphalt sea, is still decidedly “wild.” This is partly due to luck, but a great deal due to human design.
New Federal Report Shows Solar Achieved History in March
For the first time, solar energy accounted for all new utility electricity generation capacity added to the U.S. grid last month, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) March 2013 “Energy Infrastructure Update.” More than 44 megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity was brought online from seven projects in California, Nevada, New Jersey, Hawaii, Arizona, and North Carolina. All other energy sources combined added no new generation.
Lettuce Lib
Think outside the salad bowl—try leafy greens in soups, pickles & more.
Sorrel, dandelions, kale, chard, even last year’s lettuce made it through the winter in cold frames in my yard. Time to get creative.
Roving Garden Party – Tuesday 5/14, 6pm – Ferndale
April 20, 2013
Where: 1260 Paradise Way, Ferndale WA 98248. Take I-5 to Ex. 262 Ferndale. Turn L. on Main St. – Take the 1st Left onto Barrett Rd. – Take 1st R. onto Paradise Rd. – Turn R. onto Paradise Way (first house on the right).
When: Tuesday May 14th 6pm to 9pm. (working for 90 min, eating for 90 min).
What to Bring: Wheel barrows, pitch forks, shovels and any small hand held weeding tools
Tasks: We will likely be weeding, moving mulch and maybe gravel
Food: Vegetarian and meat lazania, large green salad. There will also be some small snacks for vegans and gluten free peeps. No alcohol or special beverages available unless you bring it. There will likely be some small desert. :)
We will carpool from the Public Market around 5:30pm. Look for a white pickup truck (Ford Ranger). We;ll be closer to the south side of the lot near the bank.
E-mail rgp@sustainablebellingham.org if you have any questions. There are seven more remaining through the end of June.
April 15, 2013 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
April 15, 2013
| (Compiled by Shannon Maris/Garden E-News and Jeffrey Westcott)Thanks everyone for coming out to last week’s Roving Garden Party. It’s amazing what a group of people can accomplish in a short time, followed by a warm, delicious meal with both old and new friends.
Tomorrow’s RGP will be held at 1322 Humboldt Street in York, one block north of Lakeway. Sunny, sixty and zero percent chance of rain. Plan to attend! We’ll work from 6-ish and then sit for a meal around 7:30pm. Bring gloves, shovels and rakes. We’ll be setting up beds, planting, moving some established plants. The meal will be gluten-free (the house is completely gluten-free), including something for vegans and omnivores: soup, bread and a couple of salads with plant proteins. oh and (non-vegan) brownies Contact Jean with any question at GFDoctor@gmail.com, or you can call my cell beforehand at 927-8735. Here are some other events this week… Using Tunnels and Hoop Houses for Productive Gardening Saturday SPARK Lab – Creating Insects! Whatcom Conservation District Millionth CREP Tree Celebration Building Tunnels and Cold Frames |
Bellingham Residents’ Input Sought for Bicycle Routes, Facilities and More
Tuesday, April 23rd, 5:30-8:30pm, Whatcom Middle School Auditorium, 810 Halleck St.
People throughout Bellingham are invited to participate in an upcoming Open House and online survey. Public participation is critical to shaping the City’s plan to improve bicycling and provide more support for “active,” city-wide modes of transportation.
And some other interesting tidbits from both near and far…
12-Year-Old Girl’s Letter to Mayor Helps Save a Surrey City Forest
A 12-Year-Old Girl’s Letter to Mayor Helps Save a City Forest in Canada. It makes you realize that every letter to City or County Council matters.
Drying Clothes on the Clothesline
Save money, cut carbon emissions, and extend the life of your clothing—all with a few bucks’ worth of rope. Be the envy of all your friends with your new solar dryer!
Chemical-Free Fixes for Common Lawn Problems
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that Americans apply 90 million pounds of pesticides and herbicides every year in order to get lush green yards, and surveys have found that because their use is so heavy, those chemicals can drift into our homes—even if they started out on a neighbor’s lawn and not our own. The good news is that most of your lawn’s problems can be fixed with simple maintenance, not floods of expensive chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
TED is Coming to Bellingham!
If you don’t know what TED is, then “get with it” and click here. Beware, you just might get hooked!
We Build Green Cities
This is an interesting short video from the city of Portland, Oregon showing how they’re making their city more liveable while saving energy. People could forward it to city councils and county commissions all around the state. At the end, it says they’ll be happy to help other cities with plans. (Thanks Pat R. for submitting this!)
Portland Urban Forager Becky Lerner’s ‘Dandelion Hunter’ Explores City’s Edible Weeds
Since we’re talking about Portland, here’s an interesting read that piqued my interest. So much so, that I ordered her book after reading the article: “Lerner loves plants, but her relationship with the botanical world is far different from that of the avid gardener or arborist. The Portland-based urban forager’s interest is in the wild plants that choke out neglected lawns and creep up chain link fences in vacant lots.”
Carrot Greens – Article & Recipe
Carrots’ leafy green tops usually end up in the trash. Not so fast, says cookbook author Diane Morgan, who uses the frilly leaves to make a pesto.
| Tuscan Pie A Sweet Springtime Take On Spinach Easter brings with it many predictable foods: chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, ham, and hard-boiled eggs. But some Italians use the season to feature a surprisingly sweet vegetable dish on their tables. |
April 8, 2013 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
April 8, 2013
(Compiled by Jeffrey Westcott)
Tuesday’s Roving Garden Party!
Thanks for coming out to last week’s Roving Garden Party! It’s great to be getting out hands in the dirt and seeing familiar faces emerge with the sunshine. This week’s RGP will begin a bit later…at 6:30pm.
1349 Franklin Street, corner of Potter. The path to the left of the house takes you to the garden. Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 till 9pm-ish. Bring shovels, pitchforks, rakes, gloves and any other tools since there are few tools on site. We will be turning soil, flipping compost, planting, pruning, etc. This is a community house with garden space that had been lovingly taken care of in the past, but has been dormant for one year. It needs attention and TLC to get it back up to speed.
For more information on RGPs (hosting, attending or other questions), please e-mail rgp@sustainablebellingham.org. Or you can call/text tomorrow before the event at 927.8735 with any questions. Meet you in the garden!
Here are some other events this week…
Gardening with Northwest Native Plants Workshop
Saturday, April 13th, 10:30am-Noon, Cloud Mountain Farm, 6906 Goodwin Rd, Everson
Using our rich variety of plants native to the Northwest can enhance your enjoyment of the garden. Learn which plants to use to encourage wildlife, beautify problem areas, and take the work out of gardening. Free; no registration required. Donations gladly accepted to support community workshops and farmer education.
Saturday SPARK Lab – Creating Insects!
Saturday, April 13th, 11am-2pm, Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, 1312 Bay Street, B-ham
Come visit the Spark Museum and join the Saturday SPARK Lab creating insects out of recycled telephone wire. This lab is appropriate for ages 8 and up, costs $7 plus admission to the Museum, and open for walk-ins between 11am-2pm (plan on spending 20-30 minutes in the lab.) Call or email Anne Bargetz, the Spark Director of Education, for more information, 360-738-3886 or anne@sparkmuseum.org.
Organic Fruit Growing
Saturday, April 13th ,1:30-3pm, Cloud Mountain Farm, 6906 Goodwin Rd, Everson
You can grow tree fruits and berries using organic practices, even in our challenging climate. Learn how to keep your trees and berry plants healthy and productive. We’ll discuss the common pest and disease issues of our area and how to deal with them effectively. Other topics will include soil and weed management and use of compost and mulches in fruit growing. Free; no registration required. Donations gladly accepted to support community workshops and farmer education.
(Click here to submit an event to our calendar.)
And some other interesting tidbits…
How Nature Resets Our Minds and Bodies
The research behind an understanding that natural environments refocus our attention, lessening stress and hastening healing Hiking Raptor Ridge yesterday, we talked about how grateful we were to have such beauty and wilderness at our doorstep, and how getting iinto the woods refreshes the body and spirit. Thanks Cyndy S. for sending this on to me.
Seattle’s First Urban Food Forest Will Be Open To Foragers
Seattle’s working-class neighborhood of Beacon Hill will have the chance to pick plants scattered throughout the park – dubbed the Beacon Food Forest. It will feature fruit-bearing perennials — apples, pears, plums, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and more. Why not Bellingham?
Pacific Northwest Gardening – April
Here’s a quick idea of what we should be doing in the garden this month
Street-smart seeds: How to grow a garden that feels at home in the city
So New York is a bit more urban than Bellingham, but it’s heartening to see these people at work promoting food sovereignty.(Thanks to Sighline Daily for this link.)
Seattle Guerrilla Road Safety Group ‘Politely’ Installs Illegal Bike Lane Protectors
An extremely polite group of anonymous guerrilla road safety activists armed with $350 worth of reflective plastic pylons turned the painted Cherry Street bike lane under I-5 into a protected bike lane Monday morning.
Fruit Flies Fed Organic Diets Are Healthier Than Flies Fed Nonorganic Diets, Study Finds
A new study looking at the potential health benefits of organic versus non-organic food found that fruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet.
Asparagus Quesadillas
Asparagus in crispy tortilla “sandwiches”
For a really hearty meal, serve with side dishes of beans and rice. Or make the quesadillas an accompaniment to grilled fish, such as halibut or flounder.
Ingredients – Asparagus Filling:
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 large red onion, diced
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
* 1 pound asparagus spears, trimmed, cut into 2″ pieces, and lightly steamed
* 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered
* 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
Quesdadilla:
* 6 flour tortillas
* 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
* 1 cup green or red salsa
* 6 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
* 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
Directions:
1. To make the asparagus filling: In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, and pepper. Stir for 1 minute.
2. Add the asparagus, tomatoes, and cilantro. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until the flavors are blended. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
3. To assemble the quesadillas: Divide the asparagus filling among the tortillas, positioning it on one half of each. Sprinkle with the Monterey Jack. Fold the tortillas in half.
4. Clean the skillet and coat it with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add 2 tortillas and cook for 2 minutes per side, or until golden. Press with a spatula to flatten slightly. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
5. To serve, cut each quesadilla in half and top with the salsa, tomatoes, and cilantro.
April 1, 2013 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
April 1, 2013
(Compiled by Jeffrey Westcott)
The Tuesday Roving Garden Parties officially begin tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 2nd, at 6pm, 926 Newell Street on Sehome Hill (a block and a half up from McKay’s Tap House. If you attended our seed swap and had some of the incredible hummus, the host is the person that made the many yummy flavors that we all enjoyed.
We will build raised beds, compost pile and get the back yard turned into a garden. We will also be laying cardboard to sheet mulch. Bring shovels and gloves. And a cordless screwdriver would be a big help. It will be a beautiful night to garden! Work in the garden for ninety minutes and share a meal for the other ninety. See you tomorrow!
Next week’s RGP will be in the York Neighborhood.
Here are some other events this week…
Gestalt as a Way of Life: Awareness Practices
Tuesday, April 2nd, 7-8:15pm, Village Books (Downstairs), 1200 11th St, Fairhaven
A book reading by Cyndy Sheldon. Cyndy has taken some of the more powerful practices in Gestalt therapy and put them together in this charming little book, which is attracting the general public as well as many in the world of psychotherapy. She includes descriptions from founder Fritz Perls, her own experiences of doing this work for over 50 years, and she shows similarities to Buddhism, Eckhart Tolle’s teachings, and the Navajo way of life.
Spring Break Soldering Workshop
Wed/Thurs, April 3rd/4th, 1:30-3:30pm, Spark Museum of Electrical Invention, 1312 Bay Street
Come down to the Spark Museum to learn the basics and safety of soldering, then practice precision soldering for electronics. Put it all together by constructing a simple Flashing LED kit to impress your friends and family. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. Call or email Anne at 738-3886 or anne@sparkmuseum.org.
Horticulture Presentation with Birchwood Garden Club
Wednesday April 3rd, 7pm, Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, 2nd floor, 121 Prospect St.
This month’s guest is Ryan Carpenter, Ground Covers and Lawn Alternatives. This is their monthly meeting but is open to guests.
And other items of interest…
WHATCOM CREEK PEDESTRIAN & BIKE BRIDGE
It saddens me to say that the pedestrian/bicycle commuter bridge over Whatcom Creek will not be back in operation for many months. I use(d) this bridge on my daily commute (sometimes multiple times per day) along with hundreds of other Bellinghamsters. Although Bellingham Parks and Recreation is moving ahead with design, permitting and funding for its replacement, my guess is that it will be another year until we see this bridge reopened. In the mean time, be extra careful, as there is no signed detour, and the roadways that we are forced onto contain some of the most dangerous intersections in downtown Bellingham. I will post in the future on any action items that we can take in hopes of speeding this process up. Contact me if you are interested in building some momentum on this.
Here are some other events this week…
RECYCLE YOUR CYCLE – USED BICYCLE RECYCLING PROJECT
SSC now accepts used bicycles through its Recycle your Cycle program at no charge. Collected bikes are donated to The Hub Community Bike Shop. To donate your used bicycle, visit SSC’s Bellingham Recycling Center & Transfer Station at 1001 Roeder Avenue for drop-off. Hours are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Check in at front and press buzzer to left of door for assistance. Donated bikes must be able to be repaired and ridden, while bikes beyond repair can be recycled as scrap metal. SSC is a great bike-friendly company, and supports many community events in Bellingham, including Whatcom SmartTrips and Bike to Work and School Day. For questions, contact them at ssc@ssc-inc.com or 734-3490.
FIVE RAISED BEDS IDEAS
There’s more than one way to lift your loam. So some of these aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing, but hey, they’re functional.
SEVEN SECRETS FOR A HIGH–YIELD VEGATABLE GARDEN
Imagine harvesting nearly half a ton of tasty, beautiful, organically grown vegetables from a 15-by-20-foot plot, 100 pounds of tomatoes from just 100 square feet (a 4-by-25-foot bed), or 20 pounds of carrots from just 24 square feet.
2013 PLANTING DATES
Here’s a useful reference tool that I use when I am uncertain about when to put something in the ground. It also has the moon-favorable dates. Looks like I need to plant potatoes.
Washington State Rep. Matt Shea (R) has introduced H.B. 1888, to permit the development of an industrial hemp industry in the state. This seems to be an idea whose time has come. Hemp is a low-resource crop and its qualities for use in oils (for food and biofuels), clothing, construction, etc. are highly valued. It is yet one another product that presently needs to be imported into this country due to archaic legal and regulatory limitations. (Did you know that the 3:1 ratio of hemp oil’s omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids matches the balance of the human body?)
THE REAL STORY OF PUGET SOUND’S DISAPPEARING HERRING
Okay, so I try to remain positive in this newsletter and tell of the good things happening in the region and beyond, but here is one article that keeps coming to mind – especially the graph. The Cherry Point herring were once the largest stock in Puget Sound, but the population has been in a near freefall for decades. The herring stock future does not look too promising, and even worse with the proposed SSA Marine Terminal.
