Author: Rain Gilman

Please join us to find out how YOU can help Sustainable Ballard thrive! We’ve got a number of active SB Projects seeking new volunteers and would love to introduce you to the fun & meaningful work we do. Hear from our Executive Director and this time we are featuring our Tool Library Manager and Market Gleaning Project Lead. Talk with our volunteer coordinator about one-time and on-going volunteer options. From apple picking to zero-waste projects we’ve got something for everyone! For more info or to rsvp for the meet up please contact us.

The deadline to register your business or non-profit to exhibit and sponsor our Sustainability Festival September 30th at Loyal Heights is fast approaching. There’s only one week until registration closes on August 31st. If you’ve been meaning to sign up to join us you better hurry before it fills up. At time of writing there were only 15 sponsor/exhibitor spots left! REGISTER HERE!

So far we have some AMAZING sponsors who will be joining us this year to demonstrate ways in which we can bring More Life to: our under-used items, community efforts, local eco-systems and more . Check them out HERE! With generous support from our many community partners we are able to keep this fun event free for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Looking to volunteer at this year’s Festival or pre-Festival work parties? Please email Rain for ways you can help. There’s a variety of opportunities and tasks to fit almost everyone’s skill set. This is a very fun way to meet neighbors, help your community and make new friends.

Our friends at the Ballard Food Bank are hosting their 2nd Ballard Bites & Brews this Sunday. Join in the fun while celebrating the fantastic breweries of Ballard and delicious flavors from Seattle’s top restaurants and chefs. C’mon down to this neighborhood 21+ festival to raise a glass, try some great food, and enjoy music on the mainstage! 

Get your TICKETS for this street festival outside the food bank Sunday, August 27th from 4-7pm.

Proceeds from this neighborhood festival support the mission of Ballard Food Bank, bringing food and hope to our neighbors because there can be enough for everyone.

Free Letters Home occurs Tuesdays at the Ballard Food Bank. Clients at the food bank are able to participate in this Sustainable Ballard community building project with the help of two VERY dedicated SB volunteers. While patrons shop the food bank they can stop by our table and send letters/cards home to friends & family at no cost. There is also help with writing for those who could use a hand.

Big thanks to all who gave at GIVING SUNDAY last weekend in Commons Park. Animal cards, stamps and $40 in cash to buy more stamps were gratefully received at our community donation drive event. $40 might not seem like a lot but this enables 60 people to send a letter home and connect with loved ones.

We will be resuming our Tuesday presence between 11am – 1 pm on September 5th. If you think you might like to take a turn at this activity or if you would like to make a donation towards postage, please contact volunteer@sustainableballard.org.

It’s back to school time! This year, let’s return to school, church, work, shopping, etc. – WITHOUT idling our cars. Unnecessary vehicle idling wastes four million gallons of fuel in the US every day and harms air quality, human health, and climate stability.

Turn off your engine – outside school, waiting for the bridge to open, or in the drive through! Pro tip: check your phone before you turn your car on.

Want to help Idle Free Ballard?
Contact your local school to educate parents and students. We have a sample article for newsletters. And a link to signage!
Hand out cards and posters to your friends, neighbors, local shops, businesses, etc. We deliver!
Sew or print an Idle Free banner!
To get cards or posters, or learn more, visit our project page.

Remember, idling gets you nowhere!

Join our volunteer-driven initiative to strengthen the community and foster a culture of sharing and learning. At the Ballard Tool Library, we provide access to tools that might otherwise be costly and underutilized, promoting sustainability and building a stronger, more connected neighborhood. 

We’re seeking enthusiastic Volunteer Librarians for shifts on Thursdays (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM), Fridays (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, and Saturdays (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM).

To learn more and to volunteer, email Mackenzie at manager@ballardtoollibrary.org. Let’s build something great together!”

The next gathering of the SB Knitters (and Crocheters) for the Homeless will be on Tuesday, September 12th, from 7-9 at Pour Decisions, 8000 – 15th Ave NW, as usual.  While we can enjoy the diminishing odds of hot weather, we need to think ahead to the colder winter that is forecast and keep producing hats and scarves to provide help and comfort for our unhoused neighbors.  Yarn, needles, instruction, and knitting buddies available as usual – as well as food and beer and cider.  For more info, to join our mailing list, or for an appointment to pick up yarn or drop off finished warmies, call Jody at 206-718-1529.

Our friends at Ground Swell are hosting a Ballard Corners Park re-Dedication on Saturday August 19th from 1:30-3:30 PM. They will be celebrating the new interpretive panels in the corner store.  Funding was procured by King County Council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles for the new panels.

There will be a family parade at 1:30pm followed by brief remarks at 2:00pm and a pup parade at 2:30pm. Sustainable Ballard will be on-site with our Idle Free Ballard Project and Free Letters Home Project leads. Please mark your calendars and we hope to see you there!

For more details click here

Sustainable Ballard Knitters for the Homeless continues our enjoyable and productive gatherings

the second Tuesday of each month at Pour Decisions at NW 80th and 15th NW from 7 – 9.  Instruction

and supplies always available. We can always use yarn so if you or someone you know is down sizing, 

keep us in mind! You can bring yarn donation to Pour Decisions or to our Giving Sunday August 13th at Commons Park from 10am-1pm.

Our SB Bakery Gleaning team lead Christine is happy to report that the SB Bakery Gleaning team has many new members, and are a great team. Long time members- Barrie Arliss, Marcia Cote and Julia Cain have been joined over this past year by 12 other bakery gleaners that help move unsold bread and pastries from Tall Grass Bakery and Mighty-O donuts to St. Luke’s Edible Hope program and a few tiny house villages. Thanks to everyone on this team!