Category: News and Events

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Sustainable Podcasts!

Everyone loves a good podcast. Here are some good ones themed around sustainable topics.

Treehugger’s podcast: https://treehugger.libsyn.com/. This is a podcast about ecological restoration

Gravy Podcast: https://www.southernfoodways.org/gravy-format/gravy-podcast/. A podcast from the Southern Foodways Alliance about foodways in the American south and sustainable food topics.

One to Grow on Podcast: https://www.onetogrowonpod.com/. This is a podcast about how food production impacts us and our world as well as agriculture. Topics like Navajo food sovereignty are covered.

Beyond Waste Podcast: https://www.postlandfill.org/beyond-waste-podcast-episode-1/?doing_wp_cron=1614284782.6526749134063720703125 This podcast is made by Post Action Landfill Network about the systemic impacts of various kinds of waste and what we can do about it.

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Hydroponics and Aquaponics

Hydroponics is a way of cultivating plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics with aquaculture( raising fish and other aquatic animals). These create self-sustainable and symbiotic systems which are capable of producing a wide variety of crops from lettuce, herbs, melons, berries, beans, peas, and much more.

This graph briefly explains the symbiotic and self sustaining aquaponics system.

Farmer Frog in Woodinville has a great aquaponics system. There are lots of kinds of fish used such as trout but the main fish are koi. To learn more about Farmer Frog and their aquaponics system, visit their website: https://farmerfrog.org/

To learn more about hydroponics and aquaponics check out these resources: https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/hydroponics and https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/aquaponics. Also make sure to check out the Everett Clippers Aquaponics article by Crystin Clouser: https://everettclipper.com/13156/showcase/aquaponics-a-solution-for-self-sustainability/

Peppers growing in the Farmer Frog Aquaponics System
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Sustainable Gardening Classes

On Saturday, February 6th from 10:30-11:30 am PST, Snohomish Conservation District and King County Waste Treatment Division will be hosting a free webinar about easy ways to start a sustainable food garden. Learn the benefits of sustainable gardening and discover a wide variety of resources to help get started in the spring. To learn more about this event and register visit this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-gardening-growing-food-with-ease-and-minimal-impact-tickets-134430550395. Stay tuned for more sustainable landscaping and gardening classes from the Sustainable Yard Care series. You can find the course list on the King County Events Page: https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/wastewater/education/events.aspx

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ORCA Sensors and Student Green Fee

The EvCC ORCA (Ocean Research Academy) program uses a variety of sensors and equipment to monitor ocean temperatures, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and more. This important data is not only used in the ORCA program, but is also shared with other classes, the scientific community, and the general public. To view live data from the sensors visit this link: http://www.wqdatalive.com/public/609

Mount Baker Terminal Sensor data is represented in this graph.

ORCA recently purchased two new Seabird CTD 16 plus sensors that monitor dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH. ORCA was able to purchase these through the Student Green Fee. The Green Fee is an exciting opportunity for students to propose and fund sustainable ideas on campus through college funding. Students can submit proposals but keep in mind that proposals will stop being accepted after January 31st. More information can be found at this link: https://www.everettcc.edu/administration/college-services/facilities/sustainability/evcc-green-fee

A seal next to a sensor
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Everett Wind Team

The Everett Wind Team is a combined effort from Washington State University Everett and Everett Community College that’s working on exciting new turbine designs and projects for an upcoming interdisciplinary wind energy competition. They need help from students pursuing a wide variety of majors. This is a great opportunity to learn, network, and add some community service to a resume.

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Lake Stevens Rain Barrel Sale and Stillaguamish Waterways Webinar

A rain barrel is a container used to catch rainwater(often from rooftop runoff via pipes), which can be used for watering plants and other outdoor uses. It’s a great way to conserve water while saving money on water bills! Visit the included link to preorder a rain barrel(for $55 plus tax) from the Snohomish Conservation District. They will be available to pick up on November 14th from 10am to 12pm at the Lake Stevens City Hall. Please wear a mask! https://snohomishcd.org/events-workshops/2020/11/14/rain-barrel-sale-in-lake-stevens

Snohomish Conservation District’s Habitat and Floodplains team will also be holding a webinar on November 14th from 3:30-5:00pm about waterways such as rivers, streams, and creeks and the do’s and don’ts of living next to one. This will be very informative for those who live next to a waterway; particularly those who live in the Stillaguamish Watershed. Topics that will be covered in this webinar include water quality, local wildlife, river processes, waterway regulations, and resources like free site visits and financial assistance programs. Visit this link to sign up: https://snohomishcd.org/events-workshops/2020/11/14/streamside-landowner-webinar-stillaguamish-watershed. This webinar will also be posted on their Youtube channel at a later date.

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From the Field to Families: The Food Bank Farm

Chinook Farms shares acreage with several partner farms, and ten acres of this area belong to the Food Bank Farm. This farm is run by the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Redmond and they grow a wide variety of foods such as beets, carrots, squash, potatoes, corn, and green beans which are all sent to local food banks. With the help of many volunteers and groups like Food Lifeline(https://foodlifeline.org/), the Food Bank Farm is making a big difference for food banks and families in need. Visit this link to sign up and attend upcoming beet harvests  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4ba8a92cabfe3-food. Visit the Food Bank Farm Facebook page for up to date information: https://www.facebook.com/VeggiesforFoodBanks

An acorn squash. Squash is one of the primary crops at the Food Bank Farm and several varieties are cultivated.

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Volunteer Opportunity: Become a Salmon Watcher

Dr. Jeffery Jensen is an ichthyologist (ichthyology is the study of fish) from University of Washington Bothell and he needs volunteer salmon watchers to help view and work with salmon on streams that flow into the Sammamish River such as Bear, Lyon, Swamp, and North Creek. Dr. Jensen is studying kokanee salmon (a landlocked variation of sockeye salmon) as well as other types of salmon and fish.

If you would like to take part; visit Dr. Jensen’s blog to find all the information needed to sign up: https://jsjensenblog.wordpress.com/north-lake-washington-salmon-sightings/.

And if you ever happen to see a salmon in a local stream, fill out this survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJAJAhW6MqHYtAveCXJAGAwJCwjMM9cZ7vUC7MCd7mNqVP-w/viewform

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EastWest Food Rescue

This nonprofit organization’s mission is to purchase surplus food from Northwest farmers (such as Terra Gold Farms who grow potatoes) and distribute it to people in need. These rescued crops that otherwise would’ve gone to waste are helping feed people as well as helping farmers. East West Food Rescue serves over 230 food banks, community kitchens, senior centers, native tribes, school food programs, and many other helping organizations. Visit their website at https://eastwestfoodrescue.org/ to learn more about East West Food Rescue and discover opportunities to help out by becoming a volunteer.

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2018 EvCC Sustainability Pledge

We all know that its important to start your New Year off right. So, for January’s monthly Sustainability Outreach event, we decided to help students and staff with their New Years Resolution and encouraged them to pledge to reduce their consumption of disposable water bottles and plastic grocery bags. We even provided a reusable water bottle or reusable bag as an incentive. Thanks to all 47 students and staff who signed the pledge!

Now you may be wondering why this is important. Here are a few facts about the problems associated with the consumption of bottled drinks:

  • In the US, we use enough plastic bottles to circle the globe…twice…each week.
  • More water is wasted during the production process than ends up in the final product. The Pacific Institute estimates that for every liter sold, it represents 3 liters of water.
  • The plastic used for bottling in the US uses about 17 million barrels of crude oil. That’s enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a full year.
  • The energy used to produce plastic bottles in the US is enough to power almost 200,000 homes.
  • The entire process of bottling and transporting the product produces about 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming)  annually, as estimated by the Pacific Institute.

We encourage you to do some research of your own and learn more about the dangers of using so much plastic, and maybe even find some great alternatives to purchasing bottled water.

If you are interested in signing this pledge but were not able to attend the event, click on the image below. We appreciate your support for sustainability!