Viewing entries in
Community Events

GROUNDSWELL NW FALL 2021

Comment

GROUNDSWELL NW FALL 2021

Dear Friends & Supporters, 

During this month of gratitude, Groundswell NW is especially grateful to share such a special community with each of you. We deeply believe that your individual and collective stewardship efforts are helping ensure that the beautiful green space in our city will be enjoyed for generations to come.

In honor of Native American Heritage Monthwe would like to spotlight the voice of Washington state’s first Native American poet laureate, Rena PriestPriest is an ardent environmental advocate who uses her platform to bring attention to issues like climate change: “Washington is such a beautiful place. I've grown up here and spent most of my life here. My reservation where I grew up, my homeland, is beautiful beyond compare. I've seen how the state, the landscapes [surrounding the reservation] have changed. Right now, that's an important discussion to be having, without feelings of guilt or blame around how these beautiful places have been altered, but how we can fix it [and] get back to a healthier ecosystem and environment.”

Please consider celebrating this month by joining one of the many opportunities around the city!

Finally, we are so thankful to King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, pictured below with our board at Salmon Bay Parkwho generously awarded Groundswell NW with a gift of $1,500 to further our activation and care efforts for public spaces. 

Happy Thanksgiving,

The Groundswell NW Board

photo:  Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles

Photo: Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles

SUSTAINABLE BALLARD'S 2021 HOLIDAY BARTER FAIR

Mark Your Calendar for Sustainable Ballard's Holiday Barter Fair – December 3 – in person!! A Sustainable Ballard tradition returns!  The annual Holiday Party and Barter Fair will be held on December 3, 7pm to 9pm, at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church (2400 NW 85th Street).  For all of you who love to barter –a relaxing and enjoyable alternative to the more commercial holiday gift buying experience — save the date and think about what you’ll bring. This event is intended to be COVID safe. Please wear a mask, maintain social distance as much as possible and bring your vaccination card – we will check cards at the door. What do you have to offer?  For ease of trading, items should have a $5-10 or $15-20 value.  Bigger items or services can be traded for multiples of the lower value items. Don’t have something to trade? Cash is also an acceptable option, or just come by to socialize and enjoy some free refreshments! In past years, barter items have included: hand-crafted scarves, hats and aprons home-grown or foraged produce home-made jams, truffles, dried fruit, granola, beer and other delectable goodies holiday swags, candle holders, table toppers services such as yoga classes, sailboat cruises, refrigerator deep clean, massage and more

Contact Jenny for more information. 

Photo: Sustainable Ballard

BALLARD CORNERS PARK WORK PARTY

Please join the work party at Ballard Corners Park, located at 17th Ave NW & NW 63rd St on Saturday, December 4 from 10am - 3pm, rain or shine We'll be weeding, grooming plants, cleaning up debris, and spreading wood chip mulch.  Some tools will be provided, but if you have them, please bring: gloves, a weeding tool, a pair of pruners, and a bucket (or another container) for collecting clean green material. Because of COVID we will NOT have snacks or water to share.  Please come prepared with whatever sustenance you need.  As an added precaution we'll emphasize physical distancing. If you have any questions, please contact Gabriella at gabriella@seanet.com. We look forward to seeing you there!


EDUCATORS:  APPLY FOR A MICROGRANT TODAY!

Dear Northwest Seattle School Teachers,

With the holiday season around the corner, Groundswell NW invites you to consider our 2021 microgrant program as you plan your lessons for next semester.  Thanks to generous donations, Groundswell NW will be awarding up to $500 each to support educational groups and classes that are starting projects that support Groundswell NW’s mission – creating community, parks, and habitat.  Proposals for a new project in NW Seattle are preferred.  

The simple application is found at www.GroundswellNW.org/microgrants.  We accept proposals year-round and review upon receipt.  We anticipate awarding monies immediately.  Funded projects would need to be started before the end of this academic year, but completion dates are flexible.  

Please feel free to forward this invitation to teachers who might be doing something related to our mission.

For questions contact us at info@groundswell.org.

We hope to hear from you soon!


PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORTING GROUNDSWELL NW!

It’s hard to believe that the end of 2021 is just over one month away! From all of us here at Groundswell NW, thank you for all your incredible kindness and support of our work. Every year, we are endlessly grateful for all of your donations. As you may know, many employers allow you to double the impact of your investment through employee match programs. Two we’d like to highlight are:

Please also keep us in mind on Giving Tuesday, which falls on November 30 this year.


THE GROUNDSWELL NW BOARD IS GROWING!

Groundswell NW is actively looking for more board members. Are you passionate about parks, open space and habitat? Do you want to help Groundswell further their mission? We want you! Contact us here for more info!

Comment

GROUNDSWELL 2019 AUGUST NEWS

***VOTE AUGUST 6TH***

With our mission to create, activate and care for open space and habitat, Groundswell NW is endorsing Proposition 1 on the August 6th ballot. Proposition 1 is the King County 2020-2025 Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space replacement Levy. The levy replaces an existing levy passed by 80% of King County Voters in 2014. The levy proposes an increase to those monies, costing property owners $0.1832 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The levy is widely endorsed by the Seattle Times and the Stranger. By voting yes on Proposition 1, you will be doing a part to support and preserve our remaining open spaces, improve trailhead parking, and refurbish play areas, to name a few. To learn more about the levy click here.

2020-2025_King_County_Parks_Recreation_Trails_Open_Space_Levy_Measure.png

Groundswell NW February 2017 Newsletter

Groundswell NW February 2017 Newsletter

David Mizejewski and Cass Turnbull - guest speakers at GNW's 2016 Annual Meeting

David Mizejewski and Cass Turnbull - guest speakers at GNW's 2016 Annual Meeting

THANK-YOU CASS

I am very sorry to start this month's newsletter with some sad news. Cass Turnbull, the founder of PlantAmnesty and long time friend of Groundswell NW, has passed away. It seems just like yesterday when Cass was on stage at our Annual Meeting in February kidding around and teaching us about the delicate balance between making our yards beautiful and attracting nature. We are so grateful for Cass' dedication to the environment and the impact she has made on the Groundswell NW community and throughout Seattle. Thank-you Cass for hosting pruning workshops for our 'Friends of' groups, advocating for substations in Ballard to be preserved for open space, being an advocate for Crown Hill Park, working tirelessly to save our trees through your TreePac advocacy arm, and keeping us in the loop on opportunities to engage and speak out. We will miss you, Cass, and know that your legacy will live on as your community takes on the torch to carry on where you left off. We will share with you plans to honor Cass as we learn more.  

'WILD BY DESIGN:  SETTING THE TABLE FOR HABITAT'

You know spring is coming to the Northwest when you begin to see buds swelling and song birds looking for nesting places. But there is no better place and time for humans to be inspired for spring than at this year's NW Flower and Garden Show 'A Taste of Spring.'  The Northwest Seattle Community Habitat team, a Groundswell NW project, is collaborating with the National Wildlife Federation and Vireo Design Studio, to create a City Living display garden. The display is designed to inspire condominium patios and small backyard habitats, providing a condensed slice of nature to support and attract wildlife. We invite you to visit our wildlife refuge 'Wild by Design:  Setting the Table for Habitat' anytime during the show, February 22-26th.  For more show information visit:  www.gardenshow.com.