Author: Alona Fisher

March 2022 Update

Started planting seed trays on Feb 14th, Transplanted them on March 4th.

The Sprouts 2022 season started with volunteers planting 20 trays of seeds in the greenhouse. Three days later we had sprouts! We had to keep these trays on the heating pads during the week of cold weather, Feb 20-24th. Then we moved them to the 2nd greenhouse where they grow until they are ready to transplant. Meanwhile we planted another 20 trays of seeds and put them on the heating pads. On March 4th we brought back some of the original trays and started transplanting. We put 5 plants per pot. The transplanted plants are set outside where they are covered with row cloth at night and on cold days.
We will continue planting seeds for the next few weeks. We want 80 flats of seeds or about 20,000 plants. We will continue transplanting all month.

In April the original plants will be ready to go to the Seattle Giving Gardeners who will grow them to maturity and donate the harvest to the Seattle Food Banks.

Ready to start 2022 planting season

Ballard Sprouts is ready to begin the 2022 season on Monday, February 14th. This will be the tenth year of Ballard Sprouts.

We will start by planting 20 trays of seeds and placing them in the greenhouse on heating pads. We have an outdoor tent for preparing the seed trays and filling the soil into the transplanting pots. Once the plants have germinated we will move them to another greenhouse until they are ready to transplant. We transplant 5 plants per pot.

We are planning to grow 20,000 plants: Kale, Chard, lettuce, Asian Greens. These plants are given to the Seattle Giving Gardeners who will grow them to maturity and then donate the harvest to the Seattle Food Banks. The plants will be ready to plant outdoors by the beginning of April. This gives the gardeners a head start on the growing season with small, healthy, organic plants when the weather warms up.

The Sprouts and the Seattle Giving Gardeners are part of the Seattle Giving Garden Network, see SGGN.org for more information.

Donations to the Sprouts Project can be made by specifying SGGN on your contribution to Grow Northwest who is the fiscal sponsor of the Seattle Giving Garden Network (SGGN). https://www.grownorthwest.org

Help us reduce unnecessary vehicle idling for air quality and the climate

Idle Free Ballard is a new project of Sustainable Ballard. Join us to educate neighbors about the costs of unnecessary idling using our cool Idle Free cards. We are working to form community partnerships, get the word out in local media, and table at local events. We would love to hear your ideas, too. Learn more and join us at https://www.sustainableballard.org/idle-free-ballard/

Presented by WM

When: February 22, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
Where: virtual via Zoom

Ever wonder where your recycling goes? Have questions about how to dispose certain items? Come learn and test your knowledge on Seattle’s recycling and compost. Join us for a trivia lunch and learn with WM. Five lucky winners will receive a $25 gift card to the Intentionalist.

We are also excited to share that Sustainable Ballard recently received a ReThink Waste Grant from WM!

by Northwest EcoBuilding Guild

When: Wed, February 23, 2022, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM PST
Where: online
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/embodied-carbon-calculation-tools-tickets-241475659197

About this event
Globally, the building and construction sectors account for nearly 40% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in constructing and operating buildings (including the impacts of upstream power generation). Current building codes address operating energy but do not typically address the impacts of embodied carbon in building materials and products.

This is an online technical training on using the embodied carbon accounting tools: BEAM and EC3. Hear from industry experts and practical skills while using these essential tools in calculating embodied carbon.

Question and answer session will take place following the presentations. The event will be recorded and a link to the recording will be provided to all registrants following the event.

Next Tuesday, February 15th from 11am-1pm PT

When: Tuesday, February 15th from 11am-1pm PT
Where: South Seattle Recology MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)
7 S Idaho St, Seattle, WA 98134
To RSVP: email seattlezerowaste@gmail.com

Space is limited to 10 people.
Parking is available in front of the building but we encourage carpooling when possible, as space can be limited.
Visitors must wear close toed shoes and no loose fitting clothing.
Wearing an N95 mask and proof of vaccination are REQUIRED.

From our friends at Forterra

Forterra is advocating for conservation with an update to the Land Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program or LCLIP (SB 5823/HB 1243), the basis for our regional Transfer of Development Rights Program (TDR). Passage would generate revenue for traditional infrastructure, support growth in cities – while incentivizing wider use of TDR – and achieving greater conservation. The update gives cities greater flexibility in how it’s spent – including affordable housing – and helps conserve private farm and forest land in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. Thirty-five cities are eligible to join the program with the potential to conserve 650,000 acres of land across the region.

Cooperative housing is a tool that can help lower costs of home ownership while centering housing on the needs of residents and their community. Unlike condominium residents who own their unit, co-op residents purchase stock in a corporation that owns the building and land. The nonprofit corporation is owned and governed entirely by the residents, not by outside investors. By establishing a state and local property tax exemption for affordable limited equity cooperatives (SB5713/HB 1350), passage of this legislation will help lower the down payments for co-op homebuyers. Making the dream of homeownership significantly more affordable and attainable for co-op residents such as in our Wadajir and Hilltop projects.

Want to know more? Track these bills here.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/?utm_source=Forterra+Email+List&utm_campaign=f15c6cfcea-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_02_09_12_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9a06812b12-f15c6cfcea-

Applications Due March 1

“We empower and inspire people to reduce their waste through meaningful relationships and collaboration.”

Seattle Zero Waste loves to add talent and diversity to our team! It means an ongoing opportunity to collaborate with others who share values and are passionate about our planet.

They are currently looking for a Programs Director to continue the development of our mentorship program with the opportunity to build additional programs. Interested?

Take a moment to review the job description
https://docs.google.com/document/d/168jLZVh7zXdxNKqYnfvWceCTy9RkIhjbEL6KFRYt9xA/edit

Complete the application form by clicking below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3r45GRGqdxOGWXYUhnif9Qf7vRsX-TxCoPgMSsKW95YwgrA/viewform

WHY DID YOU JOIN SUSTAINABLE BALLARD?
I joined to improve the ability of TRU’s Outreach team to refill propane tanks for encampment residents in Ballard.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF SUSTAINABLE BALLARD?
I just joined!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF SUSTAINABLE BALLARD?
I really appreciate being connected to a group of people taking on different issues in Ballard with their unique solutions.

Sustainable Ballard is joining Transit Riders Union (TRU) members who have been visiting two camps in Ballard and providing survival supplies since the summer of 2020. A few months into that outreach, they added propane refills to help tent residents stay warm during the winter and have continued with weekly gasoline and/or propane refills. We’re looking for folks who can cook for 30-40 people; folks with vehicles to transport propane tanks or water.

Sign up here to join the Solidarity team:

The Ballard Farmers Market is nominated for the top 10 Best Farmers Markets!

The Ballard Farmers Market is nominated for the top 10 Best Farmers Markets! Follow the link and you can vote daily until 2/28!