Sustainable Ballard

Est. 2003 · Seattle
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Category: Uncategorized

  • Edible Garden Tour – June 28

    Edible Garden Tour – June 28

    Edible Garden Tour

    6th Annual Tour – June 28th, 10 am – 3 pm

    Buy your ticket/map at the start point: Ballard P-Patch / Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church parking lot, NW 85th Street & 25th Avenue NW, on the day of the tour.
    Cost: $10 per person (kids are free)

    egt12 bee

    Now in it’s 6th year, the Edible Garden Tour has been an inspiration to hundreds of gardeners every June. This fun walking / biking tour highlights neighborhood gardens, planting strips, containers, raised beds, chickens, bees and all sorts of creative edibles from fruit trees to berries to veggies galore.

    egt12 bike

    Each year we visit a different quadrant of Ballard. Northwest Ballard will be the area featured in the upcoming 2014 Edible Garden Tour.  In 2013 we covered Central Ballard; 2012 NE Ballard; 2011 SW Ballard; 2010 SE Ballard; and in 2009 we started in NW Ballard, so we are beginning the cycle again.

    Volunteers are still needed for the day before and day of the event.  If you are interested, please email Paula or phone 789-4648.

    Do you like to grow your food?
    Do you do it your ‘hood?
    Would you do it with your hands?
    Would you do it on your lands?

    Would you garden on a boat?
    Would you garden with a goat?
    Would you plant a rutabaga?
    Would you like a ripe tomata?

    Could you do it in a pot?
    Could you do it on your lot?
    Would you, could you in the rain?
    Would you, could you feel no pain?

    Would you garden in a box?
    Would you garden in your crocs?
    Could you grow food here or there?
    Could you garden anywhere?

    What you plant you’ll want to eat!
    You can harvest, what a treat!
    Plant a seed. Oh, gosh, oh gee!
    Try it! Try it! You will see!

    Project Leads: Paula, Jennifer

  • Solstice Parade – Participate with the Green Hat Ensemble

    Solstice Parade – Participate with the Green Hat Ensemble

    If you would enjoy a three-mile walk participating in the manner described below, please join us for the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade on Saturday June 21 as part of the Green Hat Radio Ensemble.  Have fun, get the word out about low power radio stations coming on line and help the parade raise needed funds.

    “The Green Hat” is the historical ensemble that raises money for the parade; this year the theme is radio. There will be a 4′ x 4′ float with a “DJ” sitting at a radio board, and a PA system that will broadcast the message of donating to the parade. Volunteers dressed in green and gold, carrying bamboo poles with green hats on the end go out to the crowd and people drop donations into the hat. This year the theme of the Green Hat is radio.

    Community members involved with the launch of a low powered radio station in our neighborhood are volunteering with the Green Hat Ensemble this year.  In exchange for their help they will have a message about low powered radio broadcast, repeatedly for the three hours of the parade.  Because this float is so important to the parade it gets to move up and down the parade route, filling in any spaces and the only float that is aloud to broadcast words so it will be high profile.  At each of the three announcer platforms along the parade route we will also be announced.
    But first the group will get together to make costumes and build the float. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the making or the parading or both.
    • Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 to 9pm at the Powerhouse: 3940 Fremont Ave N.
    Many hands make fun and interesting work and conversation. Wear clothes that you can get messy in.

    Parade:

    • Date and Time:, Saturday, June 21st; arrive by 1:30, parade starts at 3:00
    • Location: RSVP to get our start of parade ensemble meeting location in downtown Fremont.
    • Be Prepared: Be prepared for fun in the sun with water and sun screen.

    RSVP (very important) and Questions to Pamela Burton: burton5308@comcast.

  • Class: Untangling the Mystery of Vines – June 21

    Class: Untangling the Mystery of Vines – June 21

    Saturday, June 21st, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

    UW Botanic Gardens – Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle, WA 98112
    Cost: $25; $30 after June 14
    Is your wisteria wandering? Not sure where to start with ornamental or edible vines? Part indoor class, part tour, this class offers basic knowledge to identify and care for vines in your landscape.

    Register Online or call 206-685-8033.

    More information.

  • Swansons Seminar: Get Water Smart Gardening – June 16

    Swansons Seminar: Get Water Smart Gardening – June 16

    Monday, June 16, 4:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

    Join Seattle Tilth and local landscape designer Jessi Bloom for an inspirational and educational workshop hosted at Swansons Nursery. Learn how to plan and construct rain gardens, plant buffers, pervious pavements, green roofs, and organic gardens. Conserve water, grow beautiful and edible plants, all while protecting our watershed! Please register online for this June 16th workshop.

    Seminars offered at Swansons are free, unless otherwise noted. Some may require sign-up in advance so materials can be prepared. Please be aware that seminars are often full, so it is recommended that you arrive ten minutes early to be assured of a seat. Due to limited space, please do not bring your pet to seminars.

  • Hot volunteer opportunity — are you a communicator?

    Hot volunteer opportunity — are you a communicator?

    We are looking for a volunteer to take over assembly of the Sustainable Ballard electronic newsletter.  If you are an organized person with time to give, a willingness to learn and you are not intimidated by learning new computer skills, this may be a great fit for you.

    The newsletter is published approximately every three weeks.  It is created in, and distributed to our mailing list, through MailChimp, using Photoshop to prep the images.  Currently it takes about two hours per newsletter to produce, although we would expect it to take closer to three hours each time until the new producer is comfortable with the process.  We will train you!

    Interested?  Contact Margaret.

  • What does open space mean to you?

    What does open space mean to you?

    Funded by a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Groundswell NW is assessing our community’s open space current capacity and future open space needs.  The Ballard Open Space Plan is a community-driven initiative that will improve livability in the Ballard and Crown Hill areas through fostering an open dialogue about public open space. We’re updating the 1996 inventory, which led to the creation of parks like Thyme Patch Park, Kirke Park, Ballard Commons Park, and Ballard Corners Park.

    Groundswell NW is recruiting people for their Discovery Day on June 14th, where volunteers will hit the pavement throughout Ballard using smartphones and/or maps to identify opportunities for new parks and public spaces. Open space includes parks, trails, rights-of-way, public art, natural areas, spaces for events and festivals, and other green infrastructure .

    Groundswell NW looks forward to hearing what open space means to you!

    http://ballardopenspaceplan.org/

    Questions?  Contact David Folweiler, Groundswell NW president at 206-714-4271.

  • Ballard Rotary Scavenger Hunt – June 7

    Ballard Rotary Scavenger Hunt – June 7

    What is it?
    This scavenger hunt-styled race takes participants on a journey through the Ballard Neighborhood on foot. Teams of up to four people stop at local businesses and other locations while following a clue trail, completing mental and physical tasks and taking pictures in an effort to collect the most points.

    When is it?
    Saturday, June 7, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., followed by a barbecue and live music.

    How much does it cost?
    $100.00 per team of four ($80.00 before June 1). Sign up through Brown Paper Tickets.

    What’s included?
    Team Prizes, barbecue lunch, live music and lots of fun!

    How will it work?
    Teams are asked to report to American West Bank (2237 NW 57th Street) at 10:00 AM. Rules and clue packets will be distributed at that time. The hunt begins at 10:30 AM SHARP and ends at 12:30 PM. Afterwards there will be an awards ceremony, barbecue and music.

    Who will benefit from the proceeds?
    This fun and family-friendly, inaugural event will raise funds for the projects Rotary Club of Ballard supports including the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, scholarships for graduating seniors from Ballard High, the Global Reading Challenge for 4th and 5th grade students from Adams, Loyal Heights and Whittier elementary schools, and many other youth focused programs in our community.

  • Swansons Seminar: All About Berries – June 8

    Swansons Seminar: All About Berries – June 8

    Nursery expert Gabriel Maki discusses the care and culture of blueberries, cane fruit (raspberries, blackberries, and hybrids of), currants, gooseberries, honeyberries, and goji berries. The varieties discussed are available at Swansons and have specifically been chosen because they perform well in our unique climate. This is a lot of information to cover in one hour, so vine fruits like grapes and kiwis will be left for another seminar at a later date.

    Seminars offered at Swansons are free, unless otherwise noted. Some may require sign-up in advance so materials can be prepared. Please be aware that seminars are often full, so it is recommended that you arrive ten minutes early to be assured of a seat. Due to limited space, please do not bring your pet to seminars.

  • Ballard Open Space Plan; Public Open House – May 29

    Ballard Open Space Plan; Public Open House – May 29

    The Future of Open Space in Ballard …
    Improve the quality of life and livability of Ballard by sharing your thoughts and engaging with your neighbors to identify opportunities for new parks, parks improvements, open space and other place making ideas in Ballard. Hear about our Open Space Plan and how you can be involved in updating the 1996 Open Space Inventory and Action Plan. Tell us what open space means to you.

    Join Groundswell Northwest and continue the legacy of open space planning in Ballard.
    When: Thursday May 29th
    Where: Ballard Library
    5614 22nd Ave NW
    This event is not sponsored by The Seattle Public Library
    Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM
    Learn more by visiting www.ballardopenspaceplan.org

  • Free Letters Home – Requesting Cards and Stationery

    Free Letters Home – Requesting Cards and Stationery

    A letter home.  That could be the first small step to reconnecting homeless individuals with their loved ones, to re-establish a relationship long neglected, or simply to say “I’m ok”.  Nyer Urness 10 08 2013

    Once a month, we set up at Nyer Urness House to provide free stationery, stamps and support with letter writing.  Stationary and cards are needed — especially birthday cards for kids.  You can drop them by Nyer Urness House during letter-writing sessions (June 10th, July 8th), or contact Bev to make other arrangements.