Category: In the Community

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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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CRT Television Preservation

CRT Televisions should be donated instead of being thrown away or recycled. They are extremely difficult to recycle because the leaded glass they contain has essentially no profit value and it can cause environmental contamination. They should be donated instead because many people still love CRTs and there are many communities that like to preserve these old technologies for use with old video games, VHS, LaserDisc, and more. A video game’s look and feel can be highly dependent on specific hardware setups like CRTs. Old video games often perform better on CRTs and even some games like the original Duck Hunt only work on CRTs. So instead of throwing away an old television, give it a new home! Read more about CRT preservation here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/2/6/16973914/tvs-crt-restoration-led-gaming-vintage

CRTs are the main way to play Super Smash Bros Melee competitively. You will find lots of them at esports tournaments



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Ways to Reduce Stormwater Runoff

What is stormwater runoff? On a forest floor, the rain is absorbed by the soil, but when rainwater falls on the mainly non-permeable surfaces we use like asphalt, gravel and concrete; this rain can mix with harmful substances on the ground like oil. This runoff ends up polluting our waterways and hurting wildlife.

There are many ways to reduce and combat stormwater runoff such as never dumping anything down a storm drain, avoiding pesticides, picking up pet waste, rerouting water from a downspout to help rain soak into the soil, repairing leaky side sewers, and much more. Check out a local stormwater or stream group like SnoKing Watershed Council (http://snokingwatershedcouncil.org/) to learn more and find stream and habitat restoration volunteer opportunities.

Visit this link to learn more about ways to reduce stormwater: https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/water-and-land/stormwater/introduction/stormwater-runoff.aspx

See if you can get a rebate for installing a rain garden or cistern: https://www.700milliongallons.org/

Check out the Tulalip Tribes resources and virtual library about climate change, salmon, stormwater, and much more here: https://nr.tulaliptribes.com/Topics/ClimateChange

North Creek Park is not just a fun trail to visit, but also is a storm water retention facility. Wetlands like the one in this park act as filters for urban environments. When water reaches the wetland, gravity slowly pulls the water through the soil and plants, which removes fine pollutants like fertilizers and oil.

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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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Eat Local First and WA Farm Finder

Visit the WA Farm Finder on https://eatlocalfirst.org/. This is a great application that can be used to find local farms, growers, and producers in Washington State to support. They have online portals for other kinds of farms as well, such as CSA’s. A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a style of farming where customers can buy a plot of farmland or shares of a farm’s harvest in advance.

The Snohomish Beet Field during a Food Bank Farm volunteer beet harvest

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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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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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A Look At The Skagit Valley Food Co-op

Skagit Valley is famous for its beautiful tulip fields and lovely produce. The Skagit Valley Food Cooperative helps local farmers and vendors in the area by selling organic local produce, cheese, grain, seeds, baked goods, meat, seafood, and more from places like Samish Bay Cheese, Sunseed Farm, Bow Hill Blueberries, and many more. They have a very large variety of produce such as lettuce, potatoes, apples, burdock root, nettle, heirloom tomatoes, herbs, and more. As this is a cooperative business, Skagit Valley Food Co-op is collectively owned and managed by over 13,000 members. They also give back to the community by donating to local organizations like Skagit Animals in Need and Skagit Valley Farmers Market Coalition. This is a great way to support the Skagit community and discover tasty food! Visit their website at http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com/ to find out more.