Sustainable Ballard

Est. 2003 · Seattle
Get Involved

Author: Margaret Wetter

  • Vandana Shiva September 12 — YES!

    Vandana Shiva September 12 — YES!

    YES! Magazine‘s 3rd Annual Celebration at Town Hall Seattle

    Vandana Shiva: The Future of Food

    vandana shiva

    Don’t miss this rare Seattle visit by Vandana Shiva, world-renowned biodiversity and global-justice activist. Her “Future of Food” discussion comes as Washingtonians are preparing to vote on Initiative 522, which would require labeling of genetically engineered foods. Dr. Shiva will share her insights on world developments in genetic engineering, biodiversity, and living in tune – rather than at war – with nature.

    When: Thursday, September 12, 2013, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., general seating.  (Pre-event drinks will be available for sale in the Town Hall Seattle cafe).

    Where: Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave (at 8th & Seneca).  Convention Center parking $4 with Town Hall validation..

    What to expect: A full house of more than 800 people representing a vibrant cross-section of the Seattle community. A dessert reception will follow in the lobby, with live music from Mercy Crow, book signing, and locally sourced refreshments. All proceeds from this evening will benefit YES! Magazine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations made that night will be matched and are
    tax-deductible.

    Tickets: Are on sale now and going fast.  $20 tickets include a one-year subscription to YES! Magazine for non-subscribers. If you already subscribe, your subscriber number is your “member code” to get a special $15 ticket price.  A limited number of tickets are also available for a dinner with Vandana Shiva, the board of YES! Magazine, and other YES! supporters.

    Sponsors:

    Visionaries: Antioch University, Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Domini Social Investments, Equal Exchange, Maven Meals, MaxEn Capital Advisors, Nature’s Path, One PacificCoast Bank, PCC Natural Markets, Personal Safety Nets, Port Madison Enterprises, Proletariat Wine Company, and the Snoqualmie Tribe.

    Changemakers: The Elliott Bay Book Company, Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Fremont Brewing, Girlie Press, Portfolio 21.

    Contact: Email Elizabeth Coplan with questions, or to volunteer, or  call 206-842-5009 x213.

    About YES! Magazine:
    YES! Magazine, 2013 winner of the Utne Media Award for General Excellence, reframes the biggest problems of our time in terms of their solutions. Online and in print, YES! outlines a path forward with in-depth analysis, tools for citizen engagement, and stories about real people working for a better world. Project Censored calls YES! “the standard for solutions journalism.” Amy Goodman, founder of Democracy Now!, calls YES! a “vital voice of independent journalism.” Treehugger.com named YES! the best green business and politics website of 2011. YES! has covered food justice and environmental issues since its founding in 1996. YES! Daily coverage of these topics and other sustainability stories here.

  • Applications for Nyer Urness House Open Through August 12

    Applications for Nyer Urness House Open Through August 12

    Nyer Urness House is now accepting applications from the public for apartments. These are studio apartments for homeless adults. One adult per unit.

    The public application process will run from August 2nd though August 12th, 2013.

    Applications are available at:

    Nyer Urness House
    1753 – NW 56th Street
    Seattle, WA 98107
    9:00am – 9:00pm

    Compass Housing Alliance Client Services Office (CSO)
    77 South Washington
    Seattle, WA 98104
    Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm

    Or on their website: Nyer Urness House Application – Public Process

    Applications can be mailed, faxed or dropped off in person and must be received by
    August 12th, 2013. If you have already submitted an application, it will
    automatically be entered into our public process

    The phone number for Nyer Urness House applications (applicants) is: (206)
    357-3298.The Nyer Urness House fax number is: (206) 903-4895.

  • Community Fruit Tree Harvest

    Community Fruit Tree Harvest

    fruit tree harvestLoved apple picking as a kid? Here’s your chance to do it again and serve your community at the same time!

    The Community Fruit Tree Harvest, a program of Lettuce Link at Solid Ground, serves our community by gleaning fresh fruit from backyard trees to donate to food banks and free meal programs. Fruit Tree owners put their trees on a list to be harvested by teams of volunteers. The volunteers then take the fruit directly to the people who need it.

    There is an abundance of fruit in Seattle, and the Community Fruit Tree Harvest cuts down on waste while ensuring that members of the community living on low incomes and otherwise struggling to feed their families have access to fresh, organically grown fruit!

    Become a Volunteer!

    • Scout for fruit trees to see if they’re ready to harvest
    • Harvest fruit with new friends
    • Deliver fruit to food banks, meal programs, shelters, etc.
    • Plan and lead harvests

    Harvests occur July – October. We are particularly looking for people to become Harvest Leads. Leads will help schedule harvests, and will lead small teams of volunteers to harvest fruit.

    A Volunteer Orientation will take place on Thursday, July 25th from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Location TBD in Wallingford.  Contact Mariah at fruitharvest@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6751.

  • Backyard Restoration

    Saturday, July 27, 2013, 9:30am – 2pm
UW Botanic Gardens, Center for Urban Horticulture, Douglas Classroom 
3501 NE 41st, Seattle, WA 98195

Want to stop your yard from being swallowed up by unsightly ivy? Tired of being
scratched by thorny blackberries? Join this workshop to jump start your backyard
restoration efforts.

Learn the common invasive species in Seattle, how to remove and dispose of them,
and how to keep them from coming back. We will also touch on good plants to
replace invasive species with and how to work safely on steep slopes.

Instructor: Rodney Pond

Fee: $50; $60 after July 20

Register online or call (206) 685-8033 to register over the phone.
For more information: University of Washington Botanic Gardens Website.

  • Livable Streets Candidate Forum

    On July 1st, from 7:00-8:30 PM at the MLK F.A.M.E Community Center eight of the candidates for Seattle mayor will discuss their plans for making Seattle’s streets great places for walking, playing, using transit, shopping, biking, getting to school, and raising a family. Eight of the candidates for mayor have confirmed and are expected to attend.

    The Livable Streets candidate forum is hosted by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and the Park Shore Retirement Community with support from the Seattle Parks Foundation, Safe Kids Seattle, Commute Seattle, Sustainable Seattle, Senior Services, Seattle Subway, Feet First, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Cascade Bicycle Club, 12th Ave Stewards, Seattle Bike Blog, Futurewise, Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, the Madison Park Community Council, West Seattle Bike Connections, and Bike Works.

    Details:
    When: July 1st, 7:00-8:30 PM
    Where: Madison Valley at the MLK Family, Arts, Mentoring, and Enrichment Community Center, 3201 E Republican Seattle, WA 98112
    Cost/RSVP: Free. RSVP requested. Register online here:

    Transportation: The community center is served by nearby bus routes 8 and 11 and is on the Lake Washington Loop bike route. A by-donation bike valet will be available. There is no off-street car parking.

    Anticipated attendance: Mike McGinn, Peter Steinbrueck, Bruce Harrell, Ed Murray, Charlie Staadecker, Kate Martin, Joey Gray, and Mary Martin.

    Childcare will be provided (please register for childcare when you RSVP).

  • Family Bikes in Salmon Bay Park

    Family Bikes in Salmon Bay Park

    Interested in riding bikes with your kids, but don’t know how to get started? Local biking families will be in Salmon Bay Park on Saturday, June 29th at 10:30 am, with different family and cargo bikes to try out.  More info here.
    family bike

  • Sound Transit and SDOT Open House: Ballard Transit Expansion Study

    Thursday, June 27, 2013
    5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
    Ballard High School Commons (1418 NW 65th St., Seattle)

    The discussion will include preliminary route options for public consideration and output.

    More information is available here.

  • June 27 – Feet First at Reuben s Brews

    June 27 – Feet First at Reuben s Brews

    Reubens-Thank-You-Thursday_Photo-Credit-Suzi-PrattStop by Reuben’s Brews on Thursday, June 27th, any time between 3pm and 8pm and $1 of every pint will go to Feet First. If you would like to join us for a stroll to learn about walkable Ballard, meet us at the brewery at 6pm. We are joining forces with the East Ballard Community Association to take you on a free, short (a little over 1 mile) stroll around some neighborhood features making Ballard an even more walkable and vibrant community: More details and RSVP here.