Residents in some parts of West Seattle will come home today to find a surprise like that – 2 bags of free Cedar Grove Compost along their curb, maybe leaning against their streetfront garage. It’s the kickoff to a six-week-long giveaway promotion with Cedar Grove and Seattle Public Utilities – even if you don’t find the free compost outside your home, you’ve got another way to pick yours up – more on that shortly. Cedar Grove is made from recycled Seattle yard waste – yes, the stuff you put out on the curb in the big bin, or huge paper bags. Besides the residential dropoff, they also delivered a huge pile to the Delridge P-Patch on 25th SW. Before all this, there was a promotional show-and-tell this morning at the south-of-Admiral home of avid recyclers and gardeners Kirsten, Matt and Harrison Whittemore, who posed for WSB with cat Swaggr (note the nicely mulched garden behind them):
They are avid recyclers and gardeners. If you don’t have free compost bags waiting outside your home, you can get a coupon by going to cgcompost.com, redeemable at locations including the South Transfer Station in nearby South Park; if you don’t want to use your free bags, donate them to the White Center Food Bank, which serves part of West Seattle and can use the compost for edible gardening.
Gene and Patrick from Sustainable West Seattle are showing off two of the tools donated already for the West Seattle Tool Library , part of what’s happening during West Seattle Nursery‘s 27th annual open house (donate a tool, get a 20% off WSN coupon!), which continues till 3 pm. The open house features special, free speakers too – at 1 pm, it’s about urban chicken-raising; at 2 pm, orchids. Full details on the West Seattle Nursery website; WSN is on the northwest corner of California/Brandon (map). ADDED 1:49 PM: The chicken-raising talk got some extra promotional oomph courtesy of Elliott (in the chicken suit) and friend Charlie:
It’s on the WSB Events calendar but an extra shout-out might give you advance warning to go clean out your tool cabinet/garage/etc. – We last updated you in January about the West Seattle Tool Library, a Sustainable West Seattle project that’s getting close to reality. This Saturday, during West Seattle Nursery‘s 11 am-3 pm open house, you can bring a tool to donate, and get a full-day, 20%-off discount coupon for regularly priced WSN items, as long as the tool meets these qualifications: In working order; not gas-powered. (The Tool Library will open soon on the South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor] campus.) The WSN open house features guest speakers too, on topics from orchids to chicken-raising – full details here.
Galen at West Seattle Nursery says they accidentally left a cart like that one outside the gate last night – and this morning, it was gone. “We know it’s our fault for leaving it out, but we would really appreciate it if anyone sees it around town and recognizes it to let us know. Or, if whoever took it would kindly bring it back, we would be eternally grateful – absolutely no questions asked.” (The nursery’s at California/Brandon – map – 935-9276 – and even now on Twitter, @wsnursery.)
PICK UP PRODUCE AT SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Candace Oehler from SSCC (WSB sponsor) sends word that the school’s been chosen as the latest CSA Neighborhood Pickup Site for West Seattle. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and in this case a system in which you sign up with local growers to buy shares of what they grow. SSCC has signed up with Local Choice Food Box, which has its main farm in Redmond. While the program is at its heart for SSCC staff and students, we’re told it’s open to EVERYONE in West Seattle who wants to take part. You can sign up here. And if you sign up by March 1 – next Monday – put “early signup” in the coupon-code box at checkout, and there’s a 5% discount. Questions? erik@growingwashington.org
Sunny, warm, perfect day to think gardening, and that brought so many people out to Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle‘s first-ever Seed Swap ‘n’ Sale, the seeds were gone about halfway through the three-hour event. Community Harvest’s Aviva summarized it in a comment tonight on our morning preview story:
Thank you to those who came out to the Seed Swap ‘N Sale…and apologies to those who came after we were sold out. By 2:30 we had sold ALL of our 650 packets of seeds. Should have known…with it being the year of Urban Agriculture.
AND THANKS TO THE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN! I’m grateful to all the gardeners who brought in their old seed packets for re-distribution and for the old tools…keep an eye open for their transformation! We will be doing a Veggie Start Sale in mid-April. Will have more seeds then.
Gardening wasn’t the only topic on the table:
(Photo courtesy Karen Berge)
From left, that’s Karen Berge, Deborah Greer and Cindi Barker – they brought along the traveling display of info about the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs (a project that’s an ongoing WSB sponsor – find their ad on the right sidebar to access the hub info at any time). Be sure to go here to find out where your nearest “hub” is, just in case.
And still another sign that what winter we had, appears to be in the rear-view mirror (knock wood): Thanks to Scott for the news that the Garden Centerat South Seattle Community College(WSB sponsor) is scheduled to open for the season today, 11 am-3 pm. It’s on the north side of the campus; here’s a map. (This is also where Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle will have its first annual Seed Swap and Sale a week from Saturday; more info here)
This morning we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, and per our tradition, they get to tell you about their business: Monetti Landscape Design and Construction, LLC, is a full-service landscaping company based out of West Seattle, specializing in the design, construction, and maintenance of residential landscapes in West Seattle and the greater Seattle area. Their specialty is integrating artistic innovation with strong craftsmanship to create aesthetically pleasing and functional outdoor spaces. Founder and Manager Mitchel D. Monetti has been in the horticulture and landscaping business for over 17 years. After earning a degree in Horticulture and Design, and having apprenticed with some of the best in the business, he founded Monetti Landscape Design and Construction, LLC, in 1999. The Company prides itself on its customer service, attention to detail, and its ability to complete almost any job without the use of subcontractors. Whether your taste is contemporary, Mediterranean, classic Northwest, formal, relaxed, drought-tolerant, or anything in between, Mitch sees his role as the ‘facilitator’ of the clients’ wants and needs. While offering innovative ideas, he listens closely to the client in order to create the individualized result sought by all. In addition to design/build services, the company also offers landscape maintenance programs using only chemical-free, eco-friendly practices. Monetti Landscape Design & Construction, LLC, is a member of WALP (Washington Association of Landscape Professionals). To view some of their past projects you can go to their website at www.monettilandscape.com. Please call 206-938-5400 or e-mail monettilandscape@earthlink.net to schedule a free initial consultation.
With the weather so relatively warm this month, many are already in the gardening mood. Here are 2 more reasons to start thinking ahead:
SEED SWAP: Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle‘s Seed Swap ‘n’ Sale is now less than three weeks away — Saturday, February 20, 1-4 pm at South Seattle Community College, near the north entrance. Aviva from Community Harvest says they’ll be selling seed mini-packets for 75 cents each, and there’ll be a table for free seeds, plus “lots of varieties of beans, peas, lettuce, beets, corn, etc. from Territorial, Seed Savers and Fedco.” The full seed list is here; Community Harvest members can pre-order with this form. The college’s Garden Center will be open that day too, Aviva adds, “with Green starts in Jumbo 6 packs: Arugula, Parsley, Red Velvet Lettuce, Mizuma, Kale and more.” E-mail info@gleanit.org with questions.
GARDEN TOUR SPONSOR SEARCH: The West Seattle Garden Tour is looking for 2010 sponsors. Here’s the announcement:
The West Seattle Garden Tour is celebrating its 16th year on Sunday, July 18, 2010. The gardens have been chosen and now it’s time for our annual sponsorship drive. The WSGT is a non-profit organized under section 501 (c) (3) and each year the WSGT donates all net proceeds from the Tour to local educational and horticultural projects and community gardens. We hope to make the 2010 Tour our most successful yet and this success relies heavily upon sponsorship of the Tour and continued community support. Over the next few months our dedicated volunteers will be contacting West Seattle and surrounding community businesses for sponsorship opportunities. There are a variety of sponsorship levels available to choose from, each with its own benefit package. If your business is interested in becoming a 2010 WSGT sponsor, please contact us at: info@westseattlegardentour.com and we will be happy to send you a sponsorship packet.
The garden also ranked second in the number of pounds of food donated by gardener, 51. Overall, P-Patches around the city gave more than 13 tons of fresh food to people in need; see the full report here.
WEST SEATTLE HELP FOR HAITI:West Seattle Christian Church (42nd/Genesee) is collecting donations for Haiti at its services (9 and 10:45 am) today and next Sunday; West Seattle Unitarian Universalists will raise money with a soup lunch after today’s service (10:30 am, so lunch around 11:45), Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds); in Morgan Junction, Beveridge Place Pub hosts Dogs for Docs, raising money with sausages, hot dogs and veggie dogs plus a silent auction and raffle, benefiting Doctors Without Borders, 4-7 pm, 6413 California SW; in White Center, Full Tilt Ice Cream donates all of today’s profits (Columbia City and U-District locations too). Ongoing drives are listed here (let us know if something’s missing!).
ORCHARD MEETING: As mentioned here yesterday, everyone interested in a potential Community Orchard for West Seattle is invited to a meeting at 4 pm at Duwamish Cohousing, 6000 17th SW.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: A new item debuts today: Wild Alaskan Spot Prawns (frozen) from fishing vessel Hat Trick ($22 for 2 pounds). Market managers say this’ll be offered every other week through the winter. Read on for today’s full Ripe and Ready list of what’s new:Read More
Another invitation from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle: Tomorrow night, you’re invited to the first meeting to discuss a potential Community Orchard in West Seattle. Community Harvest’s Aviva says they got about 50 positive responses to the survey they did recently (linked in this WSB story), so they’re moving ahead with pursuing the idea. Bring your ideas – or just come to listen and learn. The meeting’s at 4 pm tomorrow (Sunday) at Duwamish Cohousing, 6000 17th SW (map). Questions in the meantime? info@gleanit.org
Aviva from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle answers the question …. “PLAN!” Which leads to these announcements she wanted to share (including a survey for you to take, even if you’re NOT a gardener):
Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle has been very busy planning. Based on the 180 responses to a recent WSBlog survey, CH will be partnering with Seattle Tilth to bring some favorite hands-on gardening classes to West Seattle. Other classes will be offered as well in cooking from the garden and tree pruning. In the next few months:
Several spaces will be reserved in each class for participants who would like to volunteer in place of paying the class fee.
View the entire list. Tilth’s Comprehensive Organic Gardening Class will be offered in West Seattle as well.
[second announcement] A Community Orchard in West Seattle…Just Imagine!
Abundant fruit trees and native edibles…a diverse habitat for wildlife… a pleasant place for people to gather…a demonstration garden of trees and vines which thrive in our climate… classes on fruit tree horticulture and preserving foods…Yes, this could be possible in West Seattle. Does this interest you? Give CH your feedback by answering this quick survey (go here).
On Sunday, we shared news of two language courses in West Seattle starting early in the New Year – Spanish and Lushootseed. This morning, 2 more announcements of chances to learn something new:
GREEN CLEANING: On January 6, CoolMom invites you to a Green Cleaning Demonstration event at Bridge Park in High Point. From the flyer: “Make, get recipes, and take home a few Green Cleaning products and other tips to use with peace of mind – all while saving money and the planet! Please bring empty glass jars with lids and spray bottles for yourself or to share!” Suggested materials fee is $5; RSVPs are requested – you can do it via Evite.
LEARN BASIC FRUIT TREE PRUNING:City Fruit sends word that John Reardon (left), vice president of the Seattle Tree Fruit Society, will lead a class “at his home orchard in the Delridge neighborhood on Saturday, January 9, 10 am to noon. This is a rare chance to learn pruning techniques on well-maintained fruit trees and (fuzzless) kiwi vines.” In the City Fruit announcement, he is quoted as saying, “My goals are to encourage easy picking and to create productive plants. I encourage lots of questions and believe in learning by doing.” The class is $15 for City Fruit members, $20 for nonmembers. You can register by following this link to Brown Paper Tickets.
With interest in edible gardening growing like mad, Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle, sponsors of the West Seattle Edible Garden Fair and Edible Garden Tour (among other things), is looking tonight for your opinion: They’re exploring partnering withSeattle Tilth to offer some classes in West Seattle next year. Aviva from Community Harvest says, “The location would be at the St. James Annex, close to Westwood Village (map). The Community and Food Bank Garden which is forming at this location would provide the space for hands-on learning. In addition to Tilth classes, there is a possibility for classes in food preservation, cooking, and fruit-tree care.” Take a quick survey to let them know if you’d be interested: Go here.
We published the West Seattle Weekend Lineup earlier than usual yesterday – so in case you missed it once all the other big news of the day started sweeping in, check it out here. A few highlights:
GREEN SEATTLE DAY: Volunteers will converge on greenspaces in West Seattle and elsewhere to do planting, restoration and pre-winter cleanup. Full list here.
DELRIDGE ADOPT-A-STREET: Join the North Delridge Neighborhood Council at Delridge Community Center, 9:45 am, for this quarterly cleanup – all gear/supplies provided.
GREEN UP YOUR OWN YARD WITH NATIVE PLANTS: The West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project‘s selling native plants to continue raising money for the demonstration garden at Seacrest. 3223 47th SW (map), 10 am-4 pm.
DON’T LET IT SLIDE: Timely, to say the least. Lots of information on landslide prevention is available — and answers to your questions — at a city-sponsored meeting at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) with engineers, geologists, arborists and more expertise, 10 am-noon at the Judge Warren & Nobie Chan Education Center near the Arboretum (park in the northeast lot).
SOUTHWEST LIBRARY ART AND ANNUAL MEETING: The annual community art show is under way at Southwest Branch Library (map) – today, meet the artists at an afternoon reception with refreshments, 2-3 pm, including a sculpture demonstration by Heidi Henry. Then you’re welcome to stay for the Friends of Southwest Library‘s annual meeting, 3-5 pm.
OPERATION CHANO: The Westenders Scooter Club folks are sending out one more reminder – tonight’s the pasta/movie/raffle fundraiser for the family of Cafe Revo‘s Chef Sean “Chano” Goff – full details at westenders.org.
First, that Google Map from greenseattle.org shows the West Seattle spots where you can join in GREEN SEATTLE DAY – which means special Saturday work parties in parks and green spaces all over the city – lots of info here, including how to volunteer! Second, it’s NORTH DELRIDGE ADOPT-A-STREET — meet North Delridge Neighborhood Council reps and neighbors at Delridge Community Centerby 10 am Saturday, have a cup of coffee, get equipment and head out to clean up the area. As Nancy Folsom put it, “The city supplies bags, gloves, reachers, and safety vests (very fashionable!), we supply the civic pride.” Third, WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE HABITAT PROJECT fundraising plant sale! 3223 47th Ave SW (map), 10 am-3 pm Saturday, selling native plants to raise money for the project’s demonstration garden at Seacrest. P.S. You can join the WSWHP’s group on Facebookby going here.
At The Kenney‘s celebration this afternoon of the 100th anniversary of its grand opening, Kaia Hlavacek portrayed the senior-living center’s co-founder Jessie Kenney, in turn-of-the-20th-century garb. Meantime, just blocks away, the Solstice Park P-Patch hosted young gardeners and their adult assistants:
A group of students from the Fauntleroy Children’s Center before-and-after-school-care program – headquartered at the old schoolhouse – have a plot at the P-Patch where they are growing produce to donate to food-bank clients. Today, they were “winterizing” the plot, as FCC’s Kim Sheridan put it – with the help of a generous donation of soil-amending material from Burien Bark.
(August photo courtesy of Margaret, taken as a TV crew videotaped a harvest at her house)
The “donated tree” harvesting is over for the year, and Aviva from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is sending thanks today to tree donors and volunteers for what she describes as “the bountiful harvest of 2009,” exceeding the goals they set earlier in the year:
6639 pounds of plums, grapes, pears, apples and figs (were) harvested and donated to the White Center and West Seattle food banks. This wonderful local fruit, instead of spoiling in backyards and sidewalks, was distributed to those who could benefit and enjoy it. Community Harvest will not be harvesting any more trees in 2009, but will be continuing activities through the winter.
What’s next?
Monthly meetings of the West Seattle Urban Crop Circle – a group which meets to learn and share about food gardening. Next meeting: Sunday, November 1 – Native Edibles – Kimberly Leeper (Mariposa Naturescapes), 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Duwamish Cohousing Common House, 6000 17th Ave SW.
*Planning for a Community Garden in West Seattle
*Planning for next year’s fruit harvest
Please contact info@gleanit.org if you would like more information, or would like to participate in our projects.
The new community edible garden behind C & P Coffee – built today by CoolMom– and Sustainable West Seattle-organized volunteers as part of the worldwide 350 Day of Action – was taking shape in a big way when we stopped by around noon – four raised beds behind the coffeehouse. And lots of help, including the very young:
If you see this before 3 pm or so, there’s still time for you to get to Seattle Center and be in the big “350” photo by the International Fountain. A SWS contingent planned to bicycle there; here’s the bicycle that SWS president Bill Reiswig was going to ride:
If you don’t know what the “350” is about – it’s explained here.ADDED 7:02 PM: We got to Seattle Center just as those gathered for the photo finished counting down to 3:50 pm — here’s the group finishing the countdown and cheering/waving:
Here’s how it looked from above (the people we video’d were at the bottom of the photo, just before the big blue banner on the ground). ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: We’ve received one of the aerial photos, and permission to use it, from Terri Glaberson of CoolMom (who was among the speakers at, and organizers of, Saturday’s big event):
NATIVE PLANT SALE: Fall is the perfect time to plant – and natives are the perfect choice. You can buy some 10 am-4 pm today at a plant sale that the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project is helping to host, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the group’s purchase of plants for the wildlife garden at Seacrest. The sale site is near West Seattle PCC (WSB sponsor), at 3223 47th SW (map).
(WSB photo from 10/1, by Kathy Mulady)
The folks at High Point Market Garden (32nd and Juneau; map) had said that their Tuesday farm stand might be open a little later into the fall than first planned – and indeed, Wendy Hughes-Jelen e-mailed to share the news that the farmers told her the stand will be open today, 3-7 pm.
We’re still more than nine months away from next year’s West Seattle Garden Tour, but the gardens for next year are chosen much sooner – and organizers are inviting more people to apply right now, since they tour prospects during October. (The photo above is used by permission of WSGT, showing one of last year’s highlighted gardens.) This page on the WSGT website has more info on the tour and how to find out if your garden might qualify.
Their specialty is integrating artistic innovation with strong craftsmanship to create aesthetically pleasing and functional outdoor spaces. Founder and Manager Mitchel D. Monetti has been in the horticulture and landscaping business for over 17 years. After earning a degree in Horticulture and Design, and having apprenticed with some of the best in the business, he founded Monetti Landscape Design and Construction, LLC, in 1999. The Company prides itself on its customer service, attention to detail, and its ability to complete almost any job without the use of subcontractors. Whether your taste is contemporary, Mediterranean, classic Northwest, formal, relaxed, drought-tolerant, or anything in between, Mitch sees his role as the ‘facilitator’ of the clients’ wants and needs. While offering innovative ideas, he listens closely to the client in order to create the individualized result sought by all. In addition to design/build services, the company also offers landscape maintenance programs using only chemical-free, eco-friendly practices. Monetti Landscape Design & Construction, LLC, is a member of 
SEED SWAP: Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle‘s 
Another invitation from 
LEARN BASIC FRUIT TREE PRUNING: 
They’re exploring partnering with 
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, today and every Sunday, 44th/Alaska. 
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