Groundswell NW Events

Sun, 06/26: Salmon Bay Natural Area Workparty

Please join us for a clean-up of the overlook area and adjacent stretches of NW 54th St., Seaview Ave NW and the Burke Gilman Trail. We'll provide tools, food and drink - just bring work clothes and gloves. All ages welcome.

Mon, 07/18: Sunset Hill - Shilshole Gateway Community Workshop

Please join us for the Kick-Off design workshop to begin developing plans to improve this important connection between Sunset Hill and Shilshole. Our design consultant, Barker Landscape Architects, will present their site analysis and solicit ideas for an overall concept plan as well as some initial landscaping improvements.

Thu, 07/28: Sunset Hill - Shilshole Gateway Workparty

Please join us to smother the weeds on the north end of the 36th Ave NW median, clearing sight lines at this dangerous pedestrian crossing. Tasks will depend a bit on whether we can get the City to mow, but could include mowing and/or weed-whacking, so let us know if you have a weed whacker, brush clearer or weed-whacking mower you could bring or lend. We'll then lay down rolls of cardboard to smother the weeds, and if we can get wood chips delivered, spread them over the cardboard. If you have any major pruning or tree removal, we could use any wood chips!

Bring work gloves and any hand tools that could be useful - shovels, pitchforks, wheelbarrows, etc. We plan to order pizza for the crew toward the end of the workparty!

Sun, 07/31: Summer Field Day at Ballard Commons

Remember field day when you were a kid?  Well, this year Groundswell and Ballard On The Park Apartments are co-hosting a fun Summer Field Day for the whole community at Ballard Commons. Ballard Commons is the beautiful large park kitty-corner from the library (corner of NW 57th & 22nd Ave NW). Built with citizen input from Groundswell NW and Ballard's open space and neighborhood planning efforts, this park has been a community asset ever since its dedication in March 2006. We're celebrating it as the Park of the Month for July.

We'll have games for all ages, lots of time to chat with the neighbors, and cooling refreshments.  A big thank you goes to On The Park apartments which is generously collaborating in putting on this event.  Come one, come all, and bring your neighbors!

Other Events

Sat, 06/04: Northwest Lawn & Garden Pesticide Summit

The Northwest Lawn and Garden Pesticide summit is being presented by the Coalition of Organic Landscape Professionals (COOL) and SafeLawns Foundation on Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 9am-2:30pm at the University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115.

The goal of the summit is to create awareness of the health hazards and environmental degradation associated with pesticides, and to strategize ways to reduce their use, including changes in policy and legislation. Our message: take action to reduce the cosmetic use of pesticides in our environment - especially where children are most at risk. Our primary focus will be on lawn and garden pesticides - weed killers, insect killers and fungicides - used around homes, public parks and school grounds.

Fee: $15 (includes lunch)

For more information please visit: www.organiclandscapers.org.

Wed, 06/08: 2011 Seattle Watersheds Forum

2011 Seattle Watersheds Forum, Partnerships in Action, Wednesday Evening, June 8, 2011, 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Join the effort to improve and protect our waters and aquatic habitat. Come and be inspired by community leaders representing neighborhoods, business, non profits and government. Learn from their stories about successful partnerships and projects.

Our theme, Partnerships in Action, is explored in the overarching question for our panelists - How do we make it happen? One panel will discuss building partnerships for neighborhood scale projects; and the other will explore more personalized approaches to rainwater management - like rain gardens, cisterns and other techniques to let the rain soak in.

The 2011 Seattle Watersheds Forum will inform and connect you to better engage Seattle residents to take action at home, at work, and in the community.

Program Overview:

5:30 Refreshments and networking

6:00 Program begins

• Meet Gerry O'Keefe, Puget Sound Partnership's Executive Director

• Learn more about Seattle's developing Urban Watershed Strategy

6:30 Panel - Building Partnerships for Neighborhood Scale Projects

7:30 Panel - Managing Rainwater at Home and in the Community

Where: Seattle REI - Conference Room, 222 Yale Ave N Seattle, WA 98109, (206) 223-1944. Parking is available in the Garage for $2. Map is online

Please RSVP to restoreourwaters@seattle.gov

For questions contact: Susan Harper susan.harper@seattle.gov (206) 386-9139

Wed, 06/08: Kirke Park P-Patch Meeting

Please join us in the garden to look at the space dedicated to the Kirke Park P-Patch, what the design looks like and what comes next, including reaching out to community members, how P-Patch works and how you can become involved in this new P-Patch Community Garden. There will be two opportunities, on the 8th and the 18th of June. See this KOMO Ballard article for more info.

Please note that we do not have a back up venue, so please dress for the weather! Thanks.

Thu, 06/09: Board of Park Commissioners Public Hearing

On Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 7 p.m., the Board of Park Commissioners will hold a briefing and a public hearing to get your comments on the proposed Seattle Parks and Recreation 2011 Development Plan.

Written testimony is treated the same as speaking at the public hearing. The meeting will be held at: Seattle Parks and Recreation Administration Building, 100 Dexter Avenue North,Seattle, WA 98109.

Sat, 06/11: Golden Gardens Work Party

Hello everyone,

Saturday, June 11, Golden Gardens Park will host its monthly Golden Gardens Reforestation and Trails (GGREAT) work party from 9 AM to 12 PM. We will be working on removing invasives (ivy and blackberry) and mulching. In order to prevent soil erosion, we will be laying down burlap in some areas, and covering the burlap with mulch. All are welcome and no RSVP is required for this event.

Please bring sturdy work shoes, long sleeves, long pants, water and any snacks you may want. We will provide gloves and tools. We will meet near the off-leash area and upper parking lot (outside of the restrooms).

While we love them, please be sure to leave pets at home. Please email us with any questions or concerns, and visit our website:https://sites.google.com/site/goldengardensseattle/ to stay posted on park activities. You will find a calendar of events on our website to know exactly what's going on at the Park.

Hope to see you in June!

Sat, 06/11: Passive Energy Mini-Bungalow Tour

Sunset Hill Community Association and Phinney Neighborhood Association will co-sponsor a two-hour presentation/tour of the"MiniB" passive energy mini-bungalow on Saturday, June 11. This event will be a great chance for a personal guided tour and detailed power-point presentation with architect Joe Giampietro, Mini-B designer, prior to relocation of the mini-home to a permanent location.

The Mini-B features high vaulted ceilings, a sleeping loft, living room, dining area, kitchen, and a bathroom with shower.

All these amenities are built into a 300 sq.ft.footprint, just the right size for a vacation cabin or backyard cottage.

Although the house will have a solar hot water system, it is so airtight and well-insulated that it can be warmed by the occupants' body heat, according to Joe Giampietro. Fresh filter air provides excellent indoor air quality.

Joe will host the tour of his super energy-efficient mini-home on Saturday, June 11, 2011, from 10:00 am-noon. Meet at Phinney Neighborhood Association, Blue Building, Room #3, for lecture at 10:00; tour to follow at 11:00-noon at PNA, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.

Admission $4 SHCA/PNA members, $8 non-members.

Wed, 06/15: Community Center Operations Forum

Seattle Parks and Recreation is working on developing new ways to operate community centers, and the department now wants to hear from the public on several options suggested by a citizen advisory team. Please attend this community meeting to hear about the latest options and weigh in.

The draft options for changing community center operations will be available June 8 at all community centers and on this Seattle Parks and Recreation web page. Those who are unable to attend the meeting are invited to complete an online survey that will be posted on the web (same site as above) beginning June 8.

Sat, 06/18: Woodland Park Restoration

Join EarthCorps and the Green Seattle Partnership as we restore the upland forest area of Woodland Park. At just over 90 acres Woodland Park is an exciting, multipurpose park and recreation space just southwest of Green Lake and north of the Fremont district. It is separated into two parts by Aurora Avenue.

East of Aurora, just south of Green Lake Park, the park is an ideal spot for picnics with picnic areas, barbecues, woods, pleasant grassy hills and pathways. It is also one of the city's most active hubs for sports and recreation, including walkway paths, several playfields, tennis courts, lawn bowling, horseshoe pits, a skatepark, and a large, wooded dog off-leash area.

Directions: From I-5, take the 50th St exit. Follow 50th St west. You will pass straight through a large intersection with Stone Way. Just after this intersection, turn RIGHT onto Woodland Park Ave N. Drive a few hundred feet and look for the EarthCorps volunteer registration table on your right.

For more information, contact Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager, (206) 322-9296, ext. 217, chris@earthcorps.org.

Sign up at: http://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php?dateId=923.

Sat, 06/18: Kirke Park P-Patch Meeting

Please join us in the garden to look at the space dedicated to the Kirke Park P-Patch, what the design looks like and what comes next, including reaching out to community members, how P-Patch works and how you can become involved in this new P-Patch Community Garden. There will be two opportunities, on the 8th and the 18th of June. See this KOMO Ballard article for more info.

Please note that we do not have a back up venue, so please dress for the weather! Thanks.

Sat, 06/25: 3rd Annual Edible Garden Tour

Features gardens in SW Ballard, starting at the Ballard Community Center 6020 28th Ave. NW  pick up a map for a $10 donation to Sustainable Ballard. All proceeds benefit Sustainable Ballard.

Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 10 - 3 PM

Sun, 06/26: Golden Gardens Native Plant Walk

Sat, 07/09: Golden Gardens - Green Seattle Partnership Work Party

Join us for a restoration work party at Golden Gardens - See our website for important details on what to bring and where to meet.

Sun, 07/10: Llandover Woods 2nd Sunday Work Party

Llandover Woods is a pristine serene urban forest with abundant native plants and wildlife- we work on restoration every month.

Please RSVP each month by email so we can plan our work sessions.

Wear sturdy clothes and bring water, coffee, or snacks. We provide gloves and tools.

Meet 9am sharp at end of the parking lot just west of the white brick pillars at the end of 145th.

Sat, 07/16: Carkeek Park - Green Seattle Partnership Work Party

Join other enthusiastic volunteers for a fun morning of forest restoration and trails maintenance. We have a wide variety of tasks you can help with. We provide gloves and water. Please wear sturdy shoes. Follow the STARS signs to our meeting place. We're here the third Saturday of every month. Welcome!

Sat, 07/16: Work party at Crown Hill Glen Park

NW 89th Street and 19th Avenue NW

Saturday, July 16th, 2011

From 10 AM until 6 PM
Removal of invasive, non-native plants, and trail maintenance. For more information, please contact Joyce Ford, Friends of Crown Hill Glen, (206) 789-1394

Sat, 07/16: 8th annual renewable Energy & Sustainability Fair

This is an invitation for you to participate at NW SolarFest 2011, the 8th Annual Renewable Energy & Sustainability Fair.

For the second year the Fair will be in the West parking lot of Shoreline Community College. Connecting green programs such as the highly acclaimed Clean Energy Technology program and nationally recognized Alternative Fuel Vehicle program was a major reason for the move to campus.

Graham Kerr, aka the Galloping Gourmet is confirmed. Graham is an advocate of the local, sustainable food movement and will bring his enthusiasm and excitement to the Solar Cooking area at the Fair. Sunshine means solar ovens work. Even in Washington State.