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UW 40th Annual Pow-wow!

2011-03-30T14:55:00.001-07:00

The Annual First Nations Spring Powwow is the largest student run event on the UW campus. Every year this even draws nearly 8,000 Native people from several different tribes to the Seattle area to celebrate this glorious tradition. The spring powwow is put together by First Nations which is the core Undergraduate Native American Group here on campus. It embodies Native American traditions both past and present, and is an excellent opportunity for UW staff and students as well as the surrounding community to experience a part of our rich and diverse cultures. As Powwow is primarily a plains tradition, to honor the coastal soil on which we celebrate, we are one of the few powwows that host a Coastal Grand Entry. All grand entries involve traditional songs, drumming, dances and protocol, and are a spectacular exhibit of our thriving cultures and legacies. Along with our grand entries, dancing and drumming contests and specials are also held throughout the weekend. To add to the experience several Native vendors will have beautiful crafts and purchasable goods on display throughout the arena. First Nations will also be running a concessions stand at which you can get a taste of our delicious fry bread and Indian tacos!

This year is our 40th annual spring powwow. In honor of this anniversary, our theme is "Our Legacy Thrives."

It will be held April 8th, 9th, & 10th in the Alaska Airlines Arena @ Hec Edmundson Pavillion. Grand Entries will be at 7pm on Friday, 1pm & 7pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday.

This is a free event open to the public and we encourage everyone to come!

If you wish to volunteer you can sign up at: https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/survey/kaigani/96719

For more information please contact us at: fnuw@u.washington.edu or

Contact our Powwow Chair at: brittb6@u.washington.edu

Hope to see you all there!

Free fruit tree pruning workshop in Seattle!

2011-02-19T12:58:00.001-08:00

I get a lot of call about how and when to prune fruit trees. I was glad to see someone responding to the level on interest here in Seattle, with a free seminar. City People's is located on Sandpoint Way, just sound of Magnuson Park on Lake Washington.

SATURDAY, 26 FEBRUARY PRUNING WORKSHOP SEATTLE,WA 2-3 PM
City People's Mercantile and City Fruit offer a free workshop, "Fruit Tree Pruning Basics," Ingela Wanerstrand, Green Darner Garden Designs. See http://citypeoples.com/gardenstore/workshop.html.

More press on the Bertchi School Project

2011-02-17T10:42:00.001-08:00

Hi,

We are excited about the level of press the Living Building collaboration at Bertchi School has received! It is exciting to be a part of the movement towards true sustainability. I will update this entry as more news about the science wing is created.

Building Capacity

http://buildingcapacity.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/students-shout-out-for-the-living-building-challenge-and-the-bertschi-schools-new-science-wing.html

King 5

http://www.king5.com/news/environment/Seattle-private-school-a-living-building-115805209.html

Inhabitat

http://inhabitat.com/green-school-on-track-to-become-washington-states-first-certified-living-building/

DJC

http://www.djc.com/news/en/12026290.html

Greenest Building in Washington State Features Rain Garden, Living Wall and Solar Panels; Opens this Friday

2011-02-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

Community celebration of Bertschi School’s Science Wing to take place on February 11

SEATTLE-Feb. 8, 2011 – Seattle continues to be a leader in the green building movement – now more than ever with the completion of Bertschi School’s Science Wing. The new Science Wing is Washington State’s greenest new building and a project that is on track to be the first certified Living Building in the state.

Bertschi School, an independent elementary school on Capitol Hill, is hosting community festivities to celebrate the opening of its sustainable science classroom on Friday, February 11 at 1:45 p.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony, which will take place in the Bertschi Center, will include remarks by Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, Ciscoe Morris, Head of School Brigitte Bertschi, and Chris Hellstern and Stacy Smedley of KMD Architects. An open house will follow the ceremony.

“With the integration of sustainable practices into our curriculum, our students are empowered to make a difference by learning, synthesizing, and sharing their newfound knowledge with our local and global community. Our students are counting down the days and hours until they can explore and investigate science in new and innovative ways with the opening of our Science Wing,” says Brigitte Bertschi, Head of Bertschi School.

The new building features an ethnobotanical garden to grow food; cisterns for rainwater harvesting; a green moss-mat roof; composting toilet; natural ventilation and radiant floor heating; a living wall of tropical plants to treat grey water; and solar panels, which will produce all of the building’s energy. All of these aspects will provide students with an active learning environment where they’re encouraged to harvest native vegetation in order to gain an understanding of urban agriculture, as well as interact with the building’s water and energy-saving features.

The design of the Science Wing derived from a partnership between Bertschi School and the Restorative Design Collective, a multi-disciplinary team led by KMD Architects and comprised of leading green building professionals from the Pacific Northwest — including general contractor, Skanska USA Building. The Collective contributed their design services pro-bono to gain experience constructing a Living Building. Their donations amount to more than $500,000 in professional time and building materials.

“We were inspired to bring together this creative team to design a Living Building in Seattle after attending the Cascadia Green Building Council's Living Future conference,” says Stacy Smedley of KMD Architects. “We’re excited to return to Living Future this year to share with others the knowledge and experience of what it takes to construct a Living Building,” adds Chris Hellstern of KMD. “We hope the Science Wing will pave the way for more green building and net-zero projects, as well as make sustainability inherent for generations of students”

“We have helped show a new way to approach sustainability in construction,” says Kris Beason, Skanska Project Executive. “The Living Building Challenge not only seeks to demand sustainable building, but to also create a paradigm shift in the building industry. We’ve shown that the right team can make the vision a reality.”

This state-of-the-art facility was designed and built to meet the requirements of version 2.0 of the Living Building Challenge, which is widely regarded as the world’s most rigorous green building performance standard. Version 2.0 broadens the focus of the Living Building Challenge, a standard launched by the Cascadia Green Building Council and managed by the International Living Building Institute, to include new imperatives based on additional societal and site requirements, including urban agriculture and equity. A building must perform as modeled for one full year of occupancy before receiving certification as “living.”

Bertschi School is located at 2227 10^th Ave. East in Seattle. Following the opening celebration, tours will be offered on a regular basis to the community, building professionals and teachers to act as an educational tool encouraging sustainable design and practices. KMD will also lead an education session about the project at this year’s Living Future (April 27-29 in Vancouver, BC). More information about the Science Wing can be found at: www.bertschi.org/campus/science.html.

About Bertschi School:

An independent elementary school known for its integrated, innovative program, Bertschi School has a strong commitment to sustainability and incorporates this focus into both its curriculum and operations. In 2007, the school completed construction on its main building, The Bertschi Center, which is the first LEED Gold certified elementary classroom building in Washington State. www.bertschi.org

About the Restorative Design Collective:

The Restorative Design Collective was founded in 2009 by Stacy Smedley and Chris Hellstern of KMD Architects. KMD’s strong commitment to research-based design and collaboration fostered the opportunity to bring together a group of Seattle-area design professionals who share the desire to push themselves and their firms to the forefront of the sustainable building movement. Members of the Collective recognize and endeavor to further the Living Building Challenge, which plays an essential role in raising green building standards, meeting the 2030 Challenge and creating net-zero buildings. Members of the Restorative Design Collective and its collaborators include; GGLO, 2020 Engineering, GeoEngineers, Quantum Consulting Engineers, Morrison Hershfield, Rushing, O’Brien and Company, Back to Nature Design LLC, Parsons Public Relations and Skanska, as well as the City of Seattle and King County.

About the Living Building Challenge:

Since its inception, the Living Building Challenge has gained global recognition as the most radical and revolutionary green building standard. It was initially launched by the Cascadia Green Building Council and is currently operated by the International Living Building Institute. It serves as a challenge to builders, owners, architects, engineers and design professionals to create buildings that are net-zero energy, net-zero water, and use resources efficiently and for maximum beauty. There are currently more than 70 proposed Living Buildings in the design or construction phase worldwide. The first two Living Buildings were certified in October 2010, along with a residence that received partial certification.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Image credit to KMD Architects.

# # #

Media Contact:

Megan Hilfer, Parsons

206.789.5668 or megan@parsonspr.com

Seattle Expanding Your Horizons

2011-01-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

As you know, BNTD is committed to serving the community and doing outreach on scientific topics for students. On March 12, 2011 Brooke Sullivan of Back To Nature Design will share her work with Sol-Sea Ltd. with a group of 6th-8th grade girls at a conference put on by Seattle University. This will be her first year participating as a presenter. Brooke expects this to be a wonderful experience sharing her work as a woman immersed in science! The goal of the conference is to engage young women in science, medicine, computers, math and engineering. There are nearly 45 different workshops the girls can attend on topics ranging from Statistics and Candy to the Dirt on your Water.

More information about the conference can be found my clicking the link here.

A link to the list of presenters and the registration forms is here.

Please pass information about this workshop to anyone you think may be interested!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

As BTND enters it's 12th year in business, it is nice to reflect onthe challenges and successes we have seen in the company and and in our own personal development over the years. We have been fortunate to be able to serve the Pacific Northwest in providing a holistic approach to design, planning and permitting processes. We have been able to maintain productivity as a small size company, charging only what is needed to keep us going, and taking on project work that we feels accurately matches our skills and professional goals and well as out company ethic. We plan to continue to provide reasonable costs and high quality of care to our projects and the clients we serve.

We were able to contribute to the community through volunteer events at Carkeek Park, Greenwood Elementary School and the University of Washington Wetland Management Program. On the docket for this year is working with the Greenwood School to develop the 1st Annual Greenwood Science Fair. We believe that providing and enhancing education in science and nurturing direct experiences with nature are a priority for enhancing development of our young people.

Thank you all for making 2010 a great year. We look forward to working with you in the future.

Dalai Lama on the environment - Australia 1996

2010-12-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

I am very happy and feel especially honored to be speaking to a group of people who are really dedicated to environmental problems in general and the Tibetan environmental problems in particular. I express my deep appreciation to Senator Bob Brown.

Now, environmental problems are something new to me. When we were in Tibet, we always considered the environment pure. For Tibetans, whenever we saw a stream of water in Tibet, there was no question as to whether it was safe for drinking or not. However, it was different when we reached India and other places. For example, Switzerland is a very beautiful and impressive country, yet, people say "Don't drink the water from this stream, it is polluted!"

Gradually, we Tibetans gained the knowledge and awareness that certain things are polluted and cannot be utilized. Actually, in India when our settlements started in some places, large number of Tibetan fell ill with stomach problems as a result of drinking polluted water. So through our own experience and by meeting scientists we have become better educated about environmental issues.

When we look back at our :own country, Tibet, it is a big country with a Vast land area with high altitude and a cold and dry climate. Perhaps these things provided some kind of natural protection to Tibet's environment - keeping it clean and fresh. In the Northern pastures, the rocky areas, the forested areas and the river valleys there used to be lots of wild animals, fish and birds. As a- Buddhist Country there were. 'Certain traditional laws in Tibet c_ncerned with a complete ban on fishing and hunting.

I remember in Lhasa when I was young, some Nepalese did a little hunting arid fishing because they were not very much concerned with Tibetan laws. Otherwise there was a real safety for animals at that time.

There is a strange story. Chinese farmers and road builders who came to Tibet after 1959 were very fond of meat. They usually went hunting birds, such as ducks, wearing Chinese army uniform or Chinese clothes. These clothes startled the birds and made them immediately flyaway. Eventually these hunters were forced to wear Tibetan dress. This is a true story! Such things happened, especially during the 1970's and 80's, when there were still large numbers of birds.

Recently, a few thousand Tibetans from India went to their native places in Tibet. When they returned, they all told the same story. They said that about forty or fifty years ago there were huge forest covers in their native areas. Now all these richly forested mountains have become bald like a monk's head. No more tall trees. In some cases the roots of the trees are even uprooted and taken away! This is the present situation. In the past, there were big herds of animals to be seen in Tibet, but few remain today. Therefore much has changed.

The large-scale deforestation in Tibet is a matter of great sadness. It is not only sad for the local area, which has lost its beauty, but for the local people, who now find it hard to collect even enough fuel wood. Relatively, these are small problems looking from a wider perspective, deforestation has other extensive negative consequences. Firstly, many parts of Tibet are high and dry. This means that it takes longer for the land to recover compared to lower regions with humid climate, and the negative effects therefore last much longer.

Secondly, many of the rivers which flow through large areas of Asia, through Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, rivers such as the Yellow river, Brahmaputra, Yangtse, Salween and Mekong, all originate in Tibet. It is at the places of origin of these rivers that large-scale deforestation and mining are taking place. The pollution of these rivers has a drastic effect on the down-stream countries.

According to Chinese statistics there are 126 different minerals in Tibet. When these resources were discovered by the Chinese, they were extensively mined without proper environmental safeguards, resulting in devastation of the environment. As a result, deforestation and mining are causing more floods in the lowlands of Tibet.

The deforestation of the Tibetan plateau, according to experts, will change the amount of reflection from snow into space (forested areas absorb more solar radiation) and this affects the monsoon of the next year, not only in Tibet, but in all surrounding areas. Therefore, it becomes even more important to conserve Tibet's environment.

I think the climate change in Tibet will not affect Australia immediately. So your concern for Tibet is a genuine altruistic one. Concern from China and India may not be genuine, as it directly relates to their own future.

The Tibetan environment is very delicate and it is very important. Unfortunately, as you know, in the Communist world, in countries such as the former Soviet Union, Poland and the former East Germany, there were many pollution problems in the past resulting from carelessness, simply because factories are growing bigger and production is rising with little regard to the damage this growth causes to the environment. The situation is the same in the People's Republic of China. In the 1970's and 1980's there was no awareness of pollution, although now I think some awareness is developing. So I think the situation was initially to do with ignorance.

According to some information. It seems that during the Cultural Revolution (1966-l976) temples in China proper suffered less destruction than in other areas. This may not be due to government policy, but rather may be the result of discrimination by local officials. So it seems that Chinese officials have neglected the environment in the places where ethnic groups are living.

Another story comes from the Dingri region of southern Tibet. Five years ago a local Tibetan told me about a river that all the villagers used for drinking. There were also Chinese living in the area. The Chinese residents belonging to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), were informed not to drink the water from the river, but local Tibetans' were not informed. Tibetans still drink the polluted water. This shows that some form of negligence is going on, and obviously is not because of lack of awareness, but due to other reasons. In this light, any concern from other human brothers and sisters for our unfortunate situation, unfortunate people and their environment is very gratefully received and very important.

Then talking about the environment more generally, it comes to mind that one key factor in the future is human population. Look at India and China, there are so many people. The standard of living is very low. It is very difficult to explain or educate the masses about the environment when their most pressing concern is survival.

For example, in our second home in the Kangra Valley, (Himachal Pradesh, India), the local Indian villager's survival depends on cutting wood and slate mining. 'On the eastern side of Dharamsala we have large-scale slate quarries. Some of my Indian friends told me' that I should speak-out about the huge environmental damage that these quarries cause, but it is very difficult. For at least a few hundred families livelihood depend solely on these activities. Unless we show them new ways of earning their livelihood, it is very difficult to stop them. Therefore, the population explosion is ultimately a very serious matter. So family planning is crucial, especially in the developing world.

Then there are industries such as the meat industries, where killing of animals takes place on a large-scale. This is not only cruel, but it has very negative effects on the environment. There are industries which produce constructive machineries. There may be some justification for their existence. But those which produce destructive thing, such as war machines, do great damage.

Some companies and governments actually make profit from these activities, but the nature of their production is a destructive one. For example, a bullet is designed to kill a person, not as a decoration piece! All these war machines look very beautiful When I Was small, these machines seemed beautiful to me, even small toys like tanks and machine guns seemed very beautiful, very smart, don't you think? The whole military establishment: their uniforms, their discipline, everything seems very striking and very impressive, but the very purpose of this organization is to kill. So we must think of these matters if 'we are to be truly concerned about the environment, not only for this generation, but for future generations as well.

I think all these things are inter-related. As I mentioned earlier, family planning should be encouraged. From a Buddhist perspective it is quite simple. Each human life is very precious. From this perspective it is better to avoid or control birth, but today there are 1.5 billion precious lives - too many precious lives! As a result it is not only one or two precious human lives that are at stake, but the question is of the survival of humanity at large. So therefore the conclusion we arrive at is that we must take family _planning very seriously, if we are to save the prosperity of the entire humanity, preferably through non-violent means, not through abortion or killing, but by some other means. I often half j0kingly say... more monks and nuns. That is the most non-violent arid effective method. So if you can't become a monk or a nun, then practice other non-violent methods of birth control.
Then there is the question of how to reduce military establishments. The groundwork we must do is to promote non-violence. But this is not enough because we have so many conflicts in this world. So long as humanity remains, so will conflict.

One way of promoting non-violence against warfare and the production of weapons is to promote ideas of dialogue and compromise, and the spirit of reconciliation. I think we must promote these ideas at the family and community level. It is much more practical to solve problems through dialogue rather than through confrontation.

So the concept of dialogue must begin at the family level. As individuals we must look within, investigate, analyze and then try to overcome contradictory ideas. We must not lose hope or despair of the irritating conflict we find inside ourselves. So these are some of the ways in which we can ultimately solve environmental problems.

Finally, I want to tell you that self-confidence and enthusiasm are the key to a successful life, and co success in any activity one is engaged in. We must be determined and must have an optimistic outlook, then even if we fail we will have no regrets. On the other hand, lack of determination and effort will cause double regret. Firstly because the objectives were not realized, and secondly because you feel guilty and regret at not having made full effort in the realization of the objectives.

So therefore, whether we commit ourselves or not it is an individual choice. Once you have made up your mind, you must go forward with a single-minded devotion in spite of the obstacles. This is very important.

Finally I would like to express my deep appreciation to all participants and those who organized this conference. I very much appreciate it. I would also like to express my deep appreciation on behalf of the six million Tibetan people whose lives are very much in danger due to pollution. Some children are already suffering from illness because of air pollution. There is tremendous anxiety and suffering, and their voices may not be heard widely. They simply express their grievances within the confines of their small homes. I would like to express my deep appreciation on behalf of all these innocent people.

Thank you!

Harry's Ridge

2010-09-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

The annual hike will happen this weekend at Harry's Ridge, Mt. Saint Helens. Please call me ASAP if you would like to join me!

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/harrys-ridge

Back To Nature Design Annual Hike

2010-09-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Annual Hike This Year : Mount Saint Helens!

It may be said that this year marks the closing of one journey for me, that began more than 12 years ago as a flight over Grand Canyon, and transitioned into the beginning of a lifelong pursuit in my own life to make peace with the earth. Since the eruption of St. Helens on May 18, I have litterally gone through the air, into the forest, across the urban, near wetlands, crossed shoreline, prairies, lake and now SCUBA into the seagrasses... what the next 12 years will hold, who knows!

30 years ago when Mount Saint Helens erupted, I was barely one day old! Since that time, I have grown in my devotion to land stewardship and attaining peace in my life and in the world. I became a better person the day I realized that I can do the important work of repairing ecological function and restoring balance to a troubled world. I feel lucky to be working as a restoration ecologist, and to have Back To Nature Design in my care. I am also fortunate to have wonderful friends and family to guide me through.

To celebrate my thirty years here in Seattle with you all, and the mountains, I would like to hike Mt. St. Helens thsi month to explore the forest, the streams, the sky... and the for the first time in my life, make acquaintance with this living mountain. I hope you can join me!

UW Sustainability Summit - October 20

2010-09-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Nearshore species identification guide and more!

2010-05-27T23:19:00.001-07:00

The world of marine organisms is a wonderful study to undertake: this identification guide is a great place to start (click on title above).

Tree Hazards Following Storms

2010-04-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

As a word of caution, please be careful during and after the storm events tonight! Do not go walking in the woods, and steer clear of older or dying trees generally.

After a few days of heavy rains, the soils in many parts of our region have become highly saturated. This can lead to increased occurrence of soil failures. As it relates to trees, a soil failure occurs when the soil around a tree's roots becomes so saturated with water that the soil loses its structural strength. In effect the soil is no longer able to anchor the tree under the lateral forces of the wind. Entire trees, plus the roots, are at a greater risk of tipping over in heavy winds if they are sitting in saturated soils.

Storms can also do a great deal of damage to trees, even damage that is not readily visible. Following any storm it is advisable to monitor your trees for any changes including the presence of new or expanded cracks and broken branches (hangers).

It is always a good idea to stay on top of tree care, and have tree risk assessments done on any trees that you worry about. If you are concerned about a tree on your property give us a call at 206.789.1851. Our Back to Nature Design staff arborist would be happy to conduct an inspection for you.

UW Scientist Thinks Global Warming Could be Worse!

2010-03-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

March Rainwise Update

2010-03-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

We are beginning to meet with interested clients in Ballard this week to explore the process of site analysis and incentive credits available with SPU's newly unveiled residential Rainwise program. If you have any questions about how to design, install and get credit for installing a rain garden in your yard this year, give us a call to set up a consultation (206.789.1851) or explore their online resource on your own here.

This is a unique opportunity to transform your home garden from a high maintenance lawn and shrub 1950's landscape into a low-maintenance natural wildlife sanctuary and get paid for doing it!

Climate Change and Food Sovereinty

2010-02-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

Feb. 11, 2010 | Science | Law and Policy
Radical new directions needed in food production to deal with climate change
Vince Stricherz
vinces@u.washington.edu

Yields from some of the most important crops begin to decline sharply when average temperatures exceed about 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 Fahrenheit. Projections are that by the end of this century much of the tropics and subtropics will regularly see growing season temperatures above that level, hotter than the hottest summers now on record.

An international panel of scientists writing in the Feb. 12 edition of the journal Science is urging world leaders to dramatically alter their notions about sustainable agriculture to prevent a major starvation catastrophe by the end of this century among the more than 3 billion people who live relatively close to the equator.

Specifically they urge world leaders to "get beyond popular biases against the use of agricultural biotechnology," particularly crops genetically modified to produce greater yields in harsher conditions, and to base the regulations of such crops on the best available science.

"You're looking at a 20 percent to 30 percent decline in production yields in the next 50 years for major crops between the latitudes of southern California or southern Europe to South Africa," said David Battisti, a University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor.

He is a coauthor of a Perspectives article in Science that urges food production experts, scientists and world leaders to begin thinking in dramatically different ways to meet food needs in a significantly warmer world. Lead author is Nina Federoff, science and technology adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I grow increasingly concerned that we have not yet understood what it will take to feed a growing population on a warming planet," said Federoff, who also is a biology professor at Pennsylvania State University.

The challenge is becoming more difficult, the scientists said, because the world's population is likely to have increased more than 30 percent, to 9 billion people, by 2050.

Even without climate change, feeding all of these people will require doubling the grain production in the tropics, Battisti said, but a warmer climate will reduce yields because the temperature will be too high to achieve the most efficient photosynthesis. That factor, combined with less rainfall in major food-producing regions and increasing pressure from pests and pathogens, is likely to cut major food crop yields a minimum of 20 percent to 30 percent.

The authors advocate developing systems that have the potential to decrease the land, energy and fresh water needed for agriculture and at the same time reducing the pollution associated with agricultural chemicals and animal waste.

Battisti noted that the so-called green revolution in agriculture produced a 2 percent increase in yields per year for 20 years, primarily through development of new grain varieties and use of fertilizer and irrigation. But there is little, if any, new land available for farming, and such yield increases cannot be sustained without further innovation. In addition, there already are 1 billion people, mostly in the tropics, who do not have enough food for a healthy life.

"We're really asking for yield gains comparable to those at the peak of the green revolution, but sustained for an unprecedented length of time, 40 years, and at a time when climate change is acting against us," he said.

A major obstacle is that many of the institutions involved do not work together closely enough to succeed and, despite years of safe production and consumption, there is continued resistance to crops such as corn and soybeans that have been genetically modified to be insect resistant and tolerant of herbicides.

"There has to be a lot of creative thinking, a greater blending of biotechnology and agriculture and better coordination between private and public research efforts throughout the world for us to keep pace with the increasing demand for food," Battisti said. "We need to be thinking about the long-term demands for food and the environmental and social ramifications of how we will produce it."

The Science article represents the views of the authors and stems from a workshop they presented for the State Department last September in Washington, D.C.

Other authors are Roger Beachy of the U.S. Agriculture Department; Peter Cooper of the India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics; David Fischhoff of Monsanto Co.; Carl Hodges of The Seawater Foundation; Vic Knauf of Arcadia Biosciences; David Lobell of Stanford University; Barbara Mazur of the DuPont Experimental Station; David Molden of the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute; Matthew Reynolds of the Mexico City-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center; Pamela Ronald of the University of California, Davis, and the Joint Bioenergy Institute; Mark Rosegrant of the International Food Policy Research Institute; Pedro Sanchez of Columbia University; Avigad Vonshak of Ben-Gurion University in Israel; and Jian-Kang Zhu of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and the University of California, Riverside.

###

For more information, contact Battisti at 206-543-2019 or david@atmos.washington.edu

Note: Copied From http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=55636

Upcoming Food for Thought Panel at UW

2010-02-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

A Friendly Resource for Puget Sound

2010-02-07T11:22:00.001-08:00

This is newer resource that has been developed by the Puget Sound Partnership for people who are not interested in reading long scientific papers! Yay for you! It highlights what everyone can do to start making a difference in Puget Sound. I am especially excited about the region-wide photoshare of shocking environmental findings, notifications for local events and news highlights. The site is really very fun. I hope you take a moment to look around!

http://www.pugetsoundstartshere.org/in-your-local-area/local-resources/

Another exciting thing on this site are coupons for car washes, compost and doggy bags!

Together we really can make a difference!

Garden's Alive!

2010-02-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

Hello garden friends,

This week I took a risk and tilled some areas for seeding. The weather is unusually warm, and I think a trial at jump starting the gardening this year is in order. I will let you know as it progresses.

Tasks today:

1) Clean out the garden shed- The shed has been stuffed with many things this winter that don't belong, and some old things that are no longer being used. I set aside a pile of tools I no longer use and readied them for craigslist. The money I make will go into renting a tiller for the backyard. We are finally going to get rid of the large patch of grass in the backyard and make way for veggies!

2) I moved some native roses I bought as bare-roots last year. I bought so many I just plopped and planted them where I could. Now they are out of control, and the pricks are keeping me from wanting to weed the garden! So I cleared them out of one area which will become the herb bed, and also moved out some strawberries to a new sunny location where I hope they will continue to thrive. The roses are in isolation, at least for now...

3) I also took the time to plan what I wanted to grow this year. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the plan. My goals for the garden this year are to produce 1/2 of what we eat from June-October, and 1/4 of what we eat from November-May. I has similar goals last year, but since we weren't sure if we were going to stay in Seattle, or move to San Juan, I didn't till the grass patch I spoke of earlier and since we were gone for three weeks after the wedding... well, I didn't get there. Not to fret. I am going to keep trying. Growing even 1/4 of what you eat all year is valuable, not just to your own pocketbook, but to the planet, and your own spirit. So this, year- I try again!

4) Sharpened tools. This is really important for saving your back, and getting the most out of your efforts. Sharpen then like a knife. Get a large file and starting at the tip, pull the file back to the handle. Repeat until sufficiently sharp.

5) Pull weeds. Everyday... It's cathartic.

Then, 6) Plant.

Yesterday I risked spinach, cabbage, swiss chard, and pea seeds. I transplanted garlic sprouts and green onions that had not been harvested last year. I think this week I will also start a window herb garden for transplanting later in the season. More on that later!

Puget Sound Marine Restoration- Focus on Non-Planting Solutions

2010-02-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

Marine restoration appears to be a fairly difficult process in the coastal and inland waters of the Pacific Northwest. Many attempts have been made to increase the success of out-planting of both kelp and eelgrass. At this time, transplant success is marginal at best. Due to this fact, it appears the best practice is to develop conservation measures that protect marine water quality, reduce turbidity, prevent acute loss of marine life, reduce toxicity and repair failing infrastructure. Terrestrial restoration and mitigation are difficult at times, but the marine environment is much less forgiving to disturbance and less likely to be successfully mitigated once disturbances occur.

Somethings that homeowners on waterfront properties can do to improve our sound are to ensure septic systems are working properly, support the installation of rain water treatment swales and facilities in your community, plant native trees and shrubs appropriate for coastal land, eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers, control erosion of upland soils, anchor boats to existing buoys and docks, remove bulkheads, and eliminate or reduce the size of boat docks.

Another great task is to inventory the shoreline environment of your site. For instance, keep records of birds and other wildlife you spot on your land. Conduct snorkel surveys to understand the marine environment offshore of your own property. Surveys can reveal additional conservation measures you can take an individual to strengthen the ecological systems in your care.

The Puget Sound Nearshore Ecological Restoration Project is one group aimed at looking at some of these larger critical issues in the context of our Puget Sound environment. They have published many helpful studies developing a variety of essential resources for marine conservation and restoration planning.

Back To Nature Design staff are able to assist homeowners in preparing permits, plans for development and ecological restoration of coastal shorelines that beautify the land while contributing to positively to the health of our sound. If you would like to naturalize your landscape or are looking to expand your home and require permit and mitigation assistance we are able to provide a full range of services to help you reach your goals.

Half the Sky

2010-01-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

Even after enduring a long and hard year myself, I am humbled by the mass of suffering that occurs around the world, largely unnoticed. Half the Sky is a gift and a call to action in the name of equality and happiness. While it is not a great piece of literature by any stretch, it does bear critical witness to real women, in real situations and offers us a path to understanding and overcoming the oppression of women globally, while concurrently celebreating the achievements of women leaders. It reveals the incredible work that women are doing helping other women. It is easy to forget about women's issues since they are not at the forefront of American politics today. Half the Sky is a quick and painless read (2-3 days) and it can really change your life. It is changing mine. This book describes how elevating the status of women globally can elevate us all.

Pick up this book!

Here is a link to more information: http://www.halftheskymovement.org/

Team of Seattle Green Building Professionals Forms to Make an Ultra Sustainable Building a Reality – For Free

2009-12-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

The Restorative Design Collective to Create New Science Building for the Bertschi School

SEATTLE –December 15, 2009– A team comprised of some of the region’s leading green building professionals have formed The Restorative Design Collective to build a cutting-edge green science building for the Bertschi School, an independent elementary school on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Working pro bono, the team is designing the new science building to meet the standards of the Living Building Challenge, a deep-green building program which encourages projects to achieve self-sufficiency by generating all of their own energy with renewable resources, harvesting and treating all of their own water on site, and operating at maximum levels of efficiency with a healthy indoor environment.

The Restorative Design Collective was founded by Stacy Smedley and Chris Hellstern of KMD Architects. “We were inspired at Cascadia’s Living Future Conference last May and saw an opportunity to use our collective brainpower to gain valuable experience working on a Living Building project while making a difference,” said Smedley. “With The Restorative Design Collective, the team gets to strengthen our skills and build our knowledge, while the next generation of leaders at this local school can learn how sustainable systems work through observation and first-hand experience in their new classroom.”

With only a handful of local construction projects following the Living Building Challenge’s guidelines, Bertschi School’s new science building – slated for completion in November of 2010 – has the potential to be the first Living Building finished in the State of Washington.

“With the integration of sustainability into our curriculum, we encourage students to become engaged as thoughtful stewards of local and global communities,” said Founder and Head of School Brigitte Bertschi. “This science building will truly bring learning to life, offering an unparalleled educational experience to not only our students but the greater community in Seattle and beyond.”

The Restorative Design Collective:

Project Team
Architectural Design: KMD Architects
Landscape Architecture: GGLO
Civil Engineering: 2020 Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering: GeoEngineers
Structural Engineering: Quantum Consulting Engineers
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing: Rushing
Sustainability Consultant: O’Brien and Company
Food Systems Consultant: Back To Nature Design LLC
Public Relations Services: Parsons Public Relations
Preconstruction/Construction Services: Skanska

Key Collaborators
Organizational: Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Jurisdictional: King County GreenTools
Jurisdictional: City of Seattle Department of Planning and
Development Green Building Program

The Living Building Challenge:
Since its inception three years ago, the Living Building Challenge has gained global recognition as the most radical and revolutionary green building standard. The Living Building Challenge is a program initially launched and currently operated by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council. It serves as a challenge to builders, owners, architects, engineers, and design professionals to create buildings that are net-zero energy, net-zero water, and use resources efficiently and for maximum beauty. There are currently more than 70 proposed Living Buildings in the design or construction phase, as well as three completed projects in the one year verification phase, awaiting certification.

The Bertschi School:
An independent elementary school known for its integrated, innovative program, Bertschi School has a strong commitment to sustainability and incorporates this focus into both its curriculum and operations. In 2007, the school completed construction on its main building, The Bertschi Center, which is the first LEED Gold certified elementary classroom building in Washington State.

The Restorative Design Collective:
Founded in 2009 by Stacy Smedley and Chris Hellstern of KMD Architects, The Restorative Design Collective is a group of Seattle-area design professionals who share the desire to push themselves and their firms to the forefront of the sustainable building movement. Members of the Collective recognize and endeavor to further the Living Building Challenge which plays an essential role in raising green building standards, meeting the 2030 Challenge and creating net zero buildings.

###

Media Contact:
Sarah Blanchard, Parsons Public Relations
206.789.5668 or sarah@parsonspr.com

Green Building Collective: Making Progress Towards Meeting the Green Building Challenge Locally

2009-11-12T00:19:00.001-08:00

The Living Building revised guidelines were recently updated to Version 2. The new challenge includes credits for sites that are able to grow their own foods! The credit is determined by meeting a percent-of-square foot calculation.

On a similar note, I am pleased to announce that a local group of architects, landscape architects, engineers, etc. have been working on a project with the Bertchi School to bring the first living building to Seattle! I will be working with them over the winter to provide some guidance on ideas for gorwing food inside and outside the school. At this point, the actual square footage of 'farmland' required for the building is pretty small, but the team seems eager to find out what is possible.

Here are a couple of links to the international program, the local (and very active) Green Building Council and the school.

SPU Unveils a Rain Garden Incentive Program in Ballard

2009-11-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

SPU is beginning a pilot program right now to reimburse homeowners who choose to install rain gardens on their lots. Rain gardens provide many important ecosystem services in the urban framwork, including reduced stormwater flow, increased infiltration, wildlife habitat, beautification and more. The project will start in the combined-overflow sewer areas in Ballard, and will likely be expanded city wide once they establish that the program is working.

Back To Nature Design has experience in this field, and is registered with the city to provide design and build services for the Rain Wise program. If you, or someone you know is interested in installing a rain garden- give us a call! This is a win-win for the city and the homeowners. Back To Nature Design would love to provide assistance in planning, design, incentive request, meeting with the City, and installation services.

A link to the program can be found here.

Edible Native Planting Design in Seattle

2009-11-02T12:40:00.001-08:00

Edible and native gardens are the perfect gardens for the urban ecological enthusiast! The first edible native planting plan I prepared was for a parking strip at the Hillside garden P-Patch in the central district of Seattle in 2001. It was a great way for the community to experience native plants and procure edibles from the garden.

Since that time, interest in native plants and vegetable gardens have grown tremendously in Seattle. Back To Nature Design has developed plans for three P-Patch gardens, private cleints and one school garden. We have also donated coutless hours to educating kids, teachers, gardeners and parents about vegetable gardening in Seattle. We also provide designs for garden architecture and hardscape as needed.

Back To Nature Design is focussed on developing ecologically sound plans and designs for all landscape types in the Pacific Northwest region. If you, your school, or anyone else is looking to enhance their own garden with fresh produce, please feel free to give us a call for a free consultation to find out if we can help you with your vision. We are able to provide garden to kitchen planning, design, build and maintenance/harvest services as needed.

Happy gardening!

Washington Native Plant Society

2009-10-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

Clink of the title to find a link to the species for sale!

Restoration Design

2009-10-20T17:02:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading Eric Higgs’ book, Design by Nature (2003). It provides some thought provoking ideas about the role of humans in nature, the role of design in ecological restoration, and some important work in researching the definition of ecological restoration through time. This work, though basic in its purpose, attempts to define the practice and work in a way that I have not seen addressed before.

I also recently attended a climate change and adaptation discussion sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration here in Seattle. The keynote speaker, Jean raised the issue that due to the extent of ecosystem destruction globally and the threats associated with a drastic global climate adjustment, humanity cannot wait for all of the science needed to prove that a process or outcome is ideal- we must get to work and then measure the success or failure. We are at a critical point in losing many environmental services that we rely on ecosystems to provide to us. Although the field of restoration ecology is young, and may not have been successful in solidifying all of it terms, or it place in the field of ecosystem and environmental regeneration, the work is critical to ensuring habitat degradation is slowed and eventually restored. This is work that needs to happen right now. In this endeavor, she warned we are likely to make mistakes, but since our work is still more likely to provide some benefit, we must proceed without empirical evidence of magnanimous success. We simply do not have the time. We have exceeded the threshold.

Higgs does some of the hard work in researching terms, definitions and their connotations in Nature by Design. He argues that as restoration ecologists, we are essentially in the business of ‘wild’ design. Landscape design vs. wild design may be conceived of in context of the vegetable garden vs. wilderness. Although ‘wilderness’ has many different meanings and connotations in our culture- it can be thought of as the place where human interference appears miniscule or obsolete. It is a place where humans do not dominate the character of the land or the functional integrity of the ecosystem. A vegetable garden in highly manipulated and requires a great deal of care and resources to maintain. A tended garden cannot continue to produce vegetables without the assistance of the willing gardener.

For reasons of economics, sustainability, human health and a variety of other things, having ecological systems that can continue to provide ecological services to humans and other species, and yet do not require human intervention, is a benefit and a need globally.

Our role as designers of this process and possibly the outcomes should not be forgotten. “Wild’ design attempts to give the landscape back to the wild at some point. It is different from traditional design models in this way. Traditional design develops a plan. One plan that contains all of the information needed to build the project. A restoration plan cannot ever achieve this. Restoration is inherently fluid, changing and complex- as the systems within and around it can justify. There is usually more than one way to do it right, and the meaning of ‘right’ or ‘good’ can change as the ecosystem changes.

The process for restoration design is not clear, the outcomes may change, and the framework or goals may become obsolete. How then do we begin to conceptualize the role of design in restoration? How is restoration design separate from other design professions? Higgs is able to address some of these topics- and opens the door for more research on these topics.

There are many professions who incorporate a bit of ecology into their design projects. In restoration ecology, I would argue that design strategies can be incorporated a bit into ecology, but traditional design models do not serve to meet all the ends of a restoration project. Monitoring and maintenance may identify needs not addressed previously or may reveal the obsolescence of other items that were designed but no longer are needed. An approach to design that allows for adaptive management may be required. Higgs calls the preferred approach to design ‘Restoration conversations’, where continual feedback from the system is gathered and decisions are made by taking the feedback into account.

Since restoration ecology inherently requires human involvement, humankind cannot be left out of its definition, yet the heart of restoration ecology could be argued to be restoring ecosystem functions regardless of human needs and wellbeing. Hence, the ecological integrity takes presence over historical context, social wellbeing and human use.

This is invariably a difficult topic, to which I will be devoting a great deal of time exploring over the next couple of years. My hope is that in the end, I may contribute some information that can guide ecological planners and designers to more successful ‘design’ frameworks and subsequently, successful restoration projects.

People for Puget Sound

2009-10-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

This is a great overview of the mission, purpose and actions of the People for Puget Sound. I hope you will watch it and do at least one thing each day that contributes to a healthier sound for us, for the fish and the wildlife.

Community Gardens- New Local Book

2009-10-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Two previous professors of mine have released and published a new book:

Hou, Jeffrey, Julie Johnson and Laura Lawson. 2009 (forthcoming). Greening Cities, Growing Communities: Urban Community Gardens the Seattle Way. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

There will be a reading tomorrow night, Wednesday October 14, at 7 pm, in the University bookstore.

I made some contributions to this book, though not having read it yet, I cannot say what they are, or if I felt I was accurately quoted. As you may know I worked as an Americorps volunteer for the Seattle P-Patch from 2002-2003 with the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. It is my hope and belief that this book will show the amazing work done by Rich McDonald, his fabulous group of dedicated garden managers, and various other dedicated gardeners who have made such important contributions to the Seattle productive garden scene.

I look forward to reading it.

Congratulations Jeff and Julie!

How and When to Hire an ISA Certified Arborist

2009-10-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

Back To Nature Design is dedicated to providing tree consulting services for federal, state and city-owned natural areas, jurisdictionally sensitive areas, individual home owners and commercial properties. Our focus is on the preservation of trees when possible, and the removal of trees that pose a serious hazard to human health and property. We are certified tree risk assessors and and certified arborists, capable of providing top of line studies and assessments to assist you in the development of landscape plans, tree removal and retention planning and treatment prescriptions that are consistent with regulatory agencies and policy.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a 'worldwide professional organization dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology and the professional practice of arboriculture'. They have a great website devoted to these causes. Becoming an arborist involves many years of education and experience, as well as completing the required exam and maintaining annual continuing education requirements. Many arborists specialize in various areas of arboriculture and consulting. In the Pacific Northwest our chapter publishes and maintains a list of various arborists by city. Click here for a link to some great information about why you should hire an arborist to complete work on and involving your trees, and how to reach an arborist near you!

Trip Report- Martin Peak

2009-10-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Martin Peak was beautiful and inspirational. We had a total of five people.
We started by taking the 9:30 Lady of the Lake ferry from Field's Point near Lake Chelan to Lucerne. In Lucerne the Holden Village bus took us up the hillside for $15 where we ate a BLT lunch ($7 each) and then hit the trailhead. The first part of the hike is the steepest, and in the blazing heat of late summer I admit I was slow and pained at first. Still, we pressed on, reaching the campground in a few hours, but could have been much faster if I was in better shape!

Instead of stopping there and camping for the night, we decided to press on to the part of the trail that was the least defined. We pretty much bushwhacked for a couple of hours with the little bit of daylight left and found a place to camp in a forest between avalanche chutes (I don't recommend it). There we set up tents, ate a quick dinner and fell asleep. The blueberries and huckleberries were in full fruit for a great breakfast. Yummy!

The next day we took off to find the plants we were scouting. From where we camped we were a short 20 minutes from the basin. The hike into the basin was magical. We saw Hoary marmot, mountain goats, bees, butterflies, deer and mice. There were no bear sightings, but we did see scat and a well used daybed. The hike from the basin to the wet cliff and waterfalls above was extremely difficult and I only made it half way (again in the blazing heat), though three others in our group climbed to the cirque and enjoyed a view of the glacier and the melt pool below it.

We looked in both of our locations and were unable to find the rare ferns we were looking for, but did find many species of less common species and habitat. The view was incredible!

From there we played a bit in the waterfalls, then headed back down the mountain and camped at the first campsite. There is water all along the trails, so no fear in the water drying up late in summer.
The next morning we headed back to Holden, a much more agreeable down hill trip and relaxed a little in the Railroad River until it was time for the bus back to the ferry at 2:30.

I will be planning another trip next year to try and locate these ferns. I think we will hike to the first campground the first night, the basin the second night, then we can climb around the cirque all day, return to the first campground the third night and head into the Holden the next day. It will be a longer trip, but it will give us more time to explore the cirque- and next year I want to go all the way up!

Thanks to Steve, Laura, Kim and Tim for another amazing adventure- oh, and thanks for dealing with my paranoid bear awareness... Sorry we didn't see any. I love you guys!

By the way: My 'official' recorded start of fall this year will be Sunday, September 27 this year.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you
like the leaves of Autumn.

by John Muir

Northwest Fall and Winter Garden Planning

2009-09-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

After a summer of drought, and heat waves, the rain has come, and my has it! A lighter, lush green is appearing in my garden and the kale and spinach is a happy 2.5 inches high already.

In the northwest, fall is a great time to plant many hardy greens for enjoyment through the winter, and rain is great weather to direct seed into. Places in your garden with waning peas, summer lettuce, and beans can be tilled and reseeded with fall crops. A great way to think about what to plant where is to grow a plant that you will harvest for a different part than you previously grew. For instance, if you grew carrots (for their root tuber), then try to grow something like broccoli for its flower head. This is called "crop rotation".

Crop rotation promotes healthy soil by fooling garden soil pests (which develop in the soil for the specific crop you are growing). It also changes the nutrient content that is being translocated into the plants. It is also a good idea to lay out a heavy mulch of fallen leaves, and fresh compost to let the soil rest if it has been growing vegetables for 3 seasons or more. Another great idea is to plant a cover crop of legumes (clover for instance), which restores nitrogen to the soil, replenishing this nutrient that is essential for photosynthesis. Nothing beats a homemade compost that can be nearly guaranteed to be weed seed free, but Cedar Grove provides reliably medium-quality compost, available locally. Seattle Public Utilities provides a great composting resource website that I highly recommend reviewing.

Lastly consider adding other nutrients and soil builders such as lime, bone meal, kelp meal and guano. A careful review of the product and it's intended use may help you achieve optimum soil conditions for young plant starts. With a healthy soil base, the use of synthetic fertilizers and pest controls becomes unnecessary, and you are on your way to organic gardening in your own yard!

Try planting new food varieties from our semi-local Territorial Seed Company (available at many retailers). When Steve Solomon owned the company, he did many, many trials on varieties and chose to sell species that performed optimally in our hardiness zone. When he sold the company, the new owners have maintained their zeal to provide the best.

So... to the next round of lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli, mustards, endive, chard and many more!

Good Question- What is Ecological Design?

2009-08-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

Back To Nature Design is committed to sustainable landscape design that supports our native northwest flora and fauna. Our mission is to incorporate and encourage natural ecological processes and events to occur in gardens and other green spaces in order to develop healthier urban ecosystems for all beings to enjoy.

Natural Processes
Decomposition
Vegetation
Heating and cooling
Sediment and soil building
Habitat creation
Weather

Urban environments are known to make a significant impact on the earth. Unfortunately many of our living environments today lack primary connection to the natural world. Nature is something that we go to, not that we are in. Urban areas are known to pollute waterways, increase flooding, reduce vegetative establishment and destroying habitat- not only in the urban areas, but adjacent to them, and beyond. At BTND, our belief is that by restoring infrastructure, housing, gardens and open spaces to places where 'nature' can happen right where we are, we can transform the health of humankind and all beings on the planet. We believe humankind can reduce the impact of urban environments on the larger processes of our planet, and that in doing so, we create a sustainable approach to development that ceases to threaten, but to enhance, the natural world.

Ecological design considerations
Native plants
Rain gardens
Trees
Erosion
Habitat
Material selection
Maintenance strategies
Cost effectiveness

Holden Village - Three Day Hike and Rare Plant Identification

2009-08-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Friday September 11 - Sunday September 13

Join us as we identify two species of rare Washington native ferns on a mountain peak hike in Chelan County. We will take the 9:45am Lady of the Lake ferry (round trip $34.50) from Field's Point, off of Hwy 97A, arriving in Lucerne at 11:45am where we catch the bus to Holden Village. I think the bus is free. The village has food and lodging, though we intend to camp out both nights.

The general plan for the plant monitoring is to hike out Friday afternoon to the camp ground near the peak. This involves 3/4 mile of mild hiking followed by a mile of steep, difficult hiking. Then Saturday morning a difficult 1/2 mile hike from the camp ground up to the trail which follows the ridge line (mild hiking) towards the plant locations. We have two occurrences to locate, measure and identify, and then hike back down to the campground. Sunday morning we can hike back into the village for lunch and to catch the bus back to the 2:30 ferry back to Fields Point, arriving at 4:45pm on Sunday evening. The forest service suggested we bring warm hats and gloves as it can get chilly at night during September. She also said the fall colors are incredible in September.

We are hoping to have at least two and up to four more people join us, as black bears are common (though not known to be aggressive) in the area and a larger group is the safest way to hike and camp in bear country. If you are interested in joining us on the trip, we can drive up to three more people to the ferry. Please call me as soon as you can. No need to be plant savvy. It is sure to be a rewarding and beautiful trip... I hope you can join us!

Summer Rain

2009-08-11T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hello garden friends! Just a quick note:

It is raining outside today... great weather for planting summer greens.

On my list this week: Lettuces, spinach and kale. Plant outside for fall and winter greens.

Poem by Joyce Kilmer

2009-08-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Summer Luvin!

2009-08-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

What an amazing and gorgeous summer we are having! I am sure all of your veggies have been extra thirsty as mine have! Also, keep an eye on your hydrangeas- drooping leaves mean "Water Please!".

I am sorry to have left off without a note for two months. I took some time off to get married and honeymoon, and restore myself. I just returned from a three week trip to Alaska where I traveled from Kodiak to Dutch Harbor, Anchorage to Homer and Whittier into Bellingham aboard the Alaska Marine Ferry System. It was an amazing voyage... If I could be so lucky to be able to expand my work into Alaska! We saw many whales, bear, otter and many birds.

The most incredible thing about the trip was being out on the Aleutian chain and feeling that I may really find the end of the world. It was so peaceful and dreamy. I hope the pictures can do it some justice!

Enjoy!

Organic Solutions to Garden Problems

2009-05-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Organic Fertilizer and Soil Amendment Guide
Some information below adapted from The Chemical-Free Lawn by Warren Schultz.

Promote large blooms and fruits

Bat guano (4-13-1)

Condition soil

Alfalfa meal (great for roses, quick release).

Pro-Gro (5-3-4)Bio-Magic 0-0-12

Compost

Build plant hardiness and resistance to disease, pests and drought
Stress-X liquid seaweed biostimulant (great for lawns)

Promote root growth in transplants and seedlings
Phosphate rock

Pro-Start Myco-Magic

Bone meal

Bat guano

Add balance blend of main macro-nutrients

(nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur)

plus greensand to provide important micronutrients
Pro-Gro (5-3-4)

Winterize plants
Pro-Start

Enhance composting process
Crab meal Alfalfa meal (breaks down carbonaceous material)

Blood meal

Bind sandy soil
Colloidal rock phosphate

Loosen clay soil
Greensand

Sphagnum peat moss

Pale leaves, turning yellow
Iron (chelated 10%) Fertrell CaFe 9-1-4

Iron sulfate

Reduce phosphorus fertilization

Yellow stripes on leaves, turning red
Epsom salt (for alkaline soils)

Sul-Po-Mag

Dolomitic limestone (for acid soils)
Manganese

Yellow spots on leaves, withered at tips
Manganese sulfate
Molybdenum
Yellow and withered leaves
Dolomitic limestone (for acid soils)

Light green or yellow-green leaves, may start dying at tips
Blood meal (quick release)

Cotton seed meal (advisory:acidifies soil)

Corn gluten meal 10-0-0

Cottonseed meal 6-1-1

Crab meal (slow release)

Feather meal (slow release)

Leather meal (slow release)

Thin sod, thin curled leaves, dusky blue-green with purple tint in cool weather
Raise pH (reduce acidity)

Bone meal (slow release - good for new plants/transplants)

Phosphate rock

Bat guano

Yellow tips on leaves, may turn brown and die at tips
Kelp meal (quick release, good for fruit/flower production)

Sul-Po-Mag Granite meal

Greensand

Greensand Plus (0-0-17)for faster availability

Wood ashes (caution: too much can raise the pH level too high)

Sulfate of potash (0-0-52)

Yellow leaves
Phosphate rock

Gypsum

Elemental sulfur

Small and yellow leaves
Zinc sulfate

Zinc chelates

Companion Vegetables

2009-04-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

As seen on the Organic Gardening website:

Organic gardeners know that a diverse mix of plants makes for a healthy and beautiful garden. Many also believe that certain plant combinations have extraordinary (some even believe mysterious) powers for helping each other grow. Scientific study of companion planting has confirmed that some combinations have real benefits unique to those combinations. And practical experience has demonstrated to many gardeners how to mate certain plants for their mutual benefit.

Roses and chives: Gardeners have been planting garlic with roses for eons, because garlic is said to repel rose pests. Garlic chives probably are just as repellent, and their small purple or white flowers in late spring looks great with rose flowers and foliage.

Tomatoes and cabbage: Tomatoes are repellent to diamondback moth larvae, which are caterpillars that chew large holes in cabbage leaves.

Cucumbers and nasturtiums: The nasturtium's vining stems make them a great companion rambling among the cucumbers and squash, suggests Sally Jean Cunningham, master gardener and author of Great Garden Companions. Nasturtiums "are reputed to repel cucumber beetles, but I depend on them more as habitat for predatory insects," such as spiders and ground beetles.

Peppers and pigweed or ragweed: Leafminers preferred the weeds to pepper plants in a study at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia. Just be careful to remove the weeds' flowers before they set seed or you'll have trouble controlling the weeds.

Cabbage and dill: "Dill is a great companion for cabbage family plants, such as broccoli and brussels sprouts," Cunningham says. "The cabbages support the floppy dill," while the dill attracts the tiny beneficial wasps that control imported cabbageworms and other cabbage pests.

Corn and beans: The beans attract beneficial insects that prey on corn pests such as leafhoppers, fall armyworms and leaf beetles. And bean vinesclimb up the corn stalks.

Lettuce and tall flowers: Nicotiana (flowering tobacco) and cleome (spider flower) give lettuce the light shade it grows best in.

Radishes and spinach: Radishes attract leafminers away from the spinach. The damage the leafminers do to radish leaves doesn't prevent the radishes from growing nicely underground.

Potatoes and sweet alyssum: The sweet alyssum has tiny flowers that attract delicate beneficial insects, such as predatory wasps. Plant sweet alyssum alongside bushy crops like potatoes, or let it spread to form a living ground cover under arching plants like broccoli. Bonus: The alyssum's sweet fragrance will scent your garden all summer.

Cauliflower and dwarf zinnias: The nectar from the dwarf zinnias lures ladybugs and otherpredators that help protect cauliflower.

Collards and catnip: Studies have found that planting catnip alongside collards reduces flea-beetle damage on the collards.

Strawberries and love-in-a-mist: Tall, blue-flowered "love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) looks wonderful planted in the center of a wide row of strawberries," Cunningham says.

How does companion planting work?

Companions help each other grow—Tall plants, for example, provide shade for sun-sensitive shorter plants.
Companions use garden space efficiently—Vining plants cover the ground, upright plants grow up. Two plants in one patch.
Companions prevent pest problems—Plants like onions repel some pests. Other plants can lure pests away from more desirable plants.
Companions attract beneficial insects—Every successful garden needs plants that attract the predators of pests.

Organic Damping-Off Treatment

2009-04-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

To treat seedling which have contracted dampening-off (fungus) boil 6 cups of water and add 3 tbsp. of camomile. Once the mixture has cooled- water seedlings as you would regularly. It may take up to three treatments to cure.

I am not starting seedlings indoors this year and haven't tried this approach. If you try it, please comment on its affectiveness!

Finally, Really... Spring!

2009-04-20T08:27:00.001-07:00

The weather is finally matching the season, and it is bringing out the pollinators- Bumble and honey bees are everywhere! Maples have set their pendulums, alder, cottenwood, birch have bright green leaf starts, snowberry and rose are leafing out, Ribes are in full splender and attracting hummingbirds! The tulips have buds, and the daffodils are bright! The garden is looking a little fuller with all this green, and the sun- has sent us all awash in optimism after this long and colder winter.

In case you are new to this blog, my vegetable garden is going the route of supplementing my kitchen needs this year. My goal is to raise 50% of my own vegetables through next spring. This is a lofty goal I know. I hope to share what I accomplish and fail in this blog so others may be inspired and learn from my experiments. I also bought seed in bulk from the Territorial Seed Company, whose founder, Steve Solomon, has written a number of excellent books on organic gardening in the Pacific Northwest. I plan to test and report on the methods presented in his books.

I am planting out a little later this spring, still focussed on hardy greens and vegetables- carrots, peas, chard, onion, cabbage, and spinach. The plantings are being balanced by our desire to let the chickens roam free as much as possible- surely there will be some loss. Anyhow, thanks for checking back in- I hope to be more frequent in my blogging as the spring and summer progress!

Lingering winter...

2009-03-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

What a cold and colder winter this has been!

Perhaps I have been too optimistic of late. I have heard that this is the driest year on record (117 years). The Cascade Mountains are shamefully bare and have been nearly all season. The spring buds I spoke of last week... darn, perhaps they will try again tomorrow. Winter cannot stay forever. Can it?

I have planted a few peas, spinach, garlic cloves, and carrots in case they take. It will be spring! I will try a few more when it thaws. By the way, I purchased depression quantities of vegetables seeds at a reduced cost. If you would like some, please call me. I will give you some for free for reading the blog.

A short poem to ponder from Howard Moss, found in the New Yorker 1952:

Winter's End

Once in a wood at winter's end,
The withered sun, becoming young,
Turned the white silence into sound:
Bird after bird rose up in song.
The skeletons of snow-blocked trees
Linked thinning shadows here and there,
And those made mummy by the freeze
Spangled their mirrors on cold air.
Whether they moved — perhaps they spun,
Caught in a new but known delight —
Was hard to tell, since shade and sun
Mingled to hear the birds recite.
No body of this sound I saw,
So glassed and shining was the world
That swung on a sun-and-ice seesaw
And fought to have its leaves unfurled.
Hanging its harvest in between
Two worlds, one lost, one yet to come,
The wood's remoteness, like a drum,
Beat the oncoming season in.
Then every snow bird on white wings
Became its tropic counterpart,
And, in a renaissance of rings,
I saw the heart of summer start.

Marching on!

2009-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

Okay garden friends! We have spent the last couple of months planning what we want in the garden this year, now it is time to move!!

Winter is nearly over, and it is time to start really prepping the beds for the new seeds and transplants! Right now, while it is still wet and rainy, let's till under the cover crops, hoe out remaining weeds, and add soil amendments.

Be sure when you are weeding to dispose of all the noxious weeds into the garbage, not the compost, the garbage. Common noxious weeds in Seattle include knotweeds, knapweeds, thistles, morning glory, scot's broom and ivy. A full list of noxious weeds in our county can be found here: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification.aspx. City compost/yard waste.

Do not put noxious weeds in your compost!

Nuisance weeds such as dandelion can be chopped finely and added to compost, but the seed heads should be disposed of in the garbage to prevent sprouting later.

Amendments are a very important part of a vegetable garden. Vegetable plants are not by nature adaptable. They need loving care, and they take nutrients out of the soil so that you can eat them later at the harvest. What you put in, you take out. I really believe that the healthiest and most nutrient-rich foods are grown by watchful gardeners and farmers who invest in their soil.

For a complete discussion on this topic of garden prep and amendment, I recommend reading "Gardening When it Counts" by Steve Solomon. Solomon was the founder of the Territorial Seed Company in Oregon. He has written the book to educate the home gardener about what he learned in the years he was developing his company and testing seeds, and more importantly, he shares a philosophy of vegetable gardening that is most pertinent at this time in history. In his book, he shares a wonderful garden amendment as follows:

4 parts fish or seed meal;
1 part dolomite limestone;
1 part rock phosphate, or 1/2 part bonemeal; and
1 part kelp meal.

If you compost at home now is a good time to empty your bin in the areas you plan to garden, and till it in. Even if it isn't perfect compost, it will likely be beneficial addition to the soil after a short time.

Once the garden is cleared and amended... we are ready to plant!

First Bloom

2009-02-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

Activities in the garden this week:

1) Decide what vegetables you want to plant in the garden beds. This year I am planting a smaller palette of vegetables that I can count on for harvest this year. It is a back-to-basics sort of plan. It will not be without: Kale, peas, beans, potatoes and tomatoes. I also plan to grow lemon cucumber, spinach, and lettuce;

2) Figure out what garden structures you will want or need this year for the vegetables or other earthly delights;

3) continue to turn up turf grasses where you want it removed (while it is cold and wet- its easier). I like to do a round of edging at this time also. I start around the concrete sidewalks, and existing garden beds- then I move onto expanding beds and reducing other grass areas.

This week I saw many trees and shrubs beginning to bloom for spring. The western beaked hazelnut hung pale golden catkins, Ribes have burst their buds, and old faithful Forsynthia displays her golden petals... The new year has truely begun.

Signs of Spring

2009-02-21T20:47:00.000-08:00

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human nature feels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noons report away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

EMILY DICKINSON

Getting Grounded

2009-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Activities This Week:

1. Start a garden journal. I can’t emphasize this enough. Starting a journal of where plants are, what time of year they are blooming, what you like and don’t like in your beds, what the weather has been like and funny poems that come into your head- this is a great time of year to begin a journal;

2. Create or review your plan for your garden. Will you plant vegetables, trees, or flowers this year? Is it time to finally get rid of your lawn to make room for some native plants? Do you want more structure in your garden? More freedom? Even if you plan to tackle one small piece of your property that is overwhelming you, having a plan is a great place to start; and

3. Begin to research and create a list of all the tools, materials, plants, seeds, and amendments you may need this year to accomplish your plan. Keep your eye open for sales, mail order seed catalogs, and free compost or mulch.

It was a hard year last year, and this year they say will be harder...
The snows have been especially limited this year, and our glaciers look less full from afar. The winter thaw we had in December this year, caused massive flooding and the banks are barren and worn. Then, the chill, the falling NASDAQ and the presidential inauguration kept us inside more than usual this winter. Still, late winter is such a wonderful time to garden in the Northwest that it was easy to turn off the radio and head out into the garden this weekend. In winter, there is time for deep meditation and rest in our mind, and in our body. The earth rests some in our hemisphere.

Then, the new year begins revealing itself and we can be surprised and delighted by the gifts of winter. Then the days get a little longer, and we start to feel the schemes and plans arouse within us for the next year. Just outside window now, the little spring bulbs are beginning to burst forth. The daffodils and blue bells are coming first, but I also see the beginnings of tulips. The migratory birds such as ducks, hummingbirds, and finches are searching around for a bite to eat and drink, and the crows have begun their mating dances.

All of these amazing things happen in the world without or effort, and without our direction. This is the perfection and beauty of nature.

Happy Winter Diggings!

Year of the Bull!

2009-02-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

This will be a wonderful year for our little company. It marks the tenth anniversary of our commitment to ecological sustainability in the Northwest! What started as a college freshman’s pipe dream to bring organic gardening to my closest friends and family, has become a growing business opportunity reaching out to a variety of conscious clients with various environmental and sustainability needs.

This year, I am excited to be adding a new member to my management staff. Steven Krueger joins us as a senior level scientist with over 15 years experience covering a broad range of disciplines. Steve received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University in 1993 and has worked with several consulting firms, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For the past five years, Steve has worked closely with private landowners, local governments, and other federal and state agencies on a wide variety of habitat, transportation, construction, and infrastructure related projects. In particular, his focus has centered on developing the environmental documentation necessary for compliance with the Growth Management Act, Endangered Species Act, local critical area ordinances, Shoreline Master Program Updates and other local, state, and federal regulations. Steve is committed to working with clients to provide a sustainable future for the following generations, in addition to the preservation of the natural resources that surround us.

BTND has been providing landscape planning, design, education and construction services on a wide range of projects including:

∑ Organic vegetable gardening
∑ Root-cellering
∑ Raising chickens and building chicken coups
∑ Rain-water harvest and reuse
∑ Sustainable materials
∑ Native planting design
∑ Landscape installation
∑ Garden maintenance
∑ Arborist services
∑ Environmental permitting and consultation
∑ Fish, wetland and stream studies
∑ Ecological restoration

We are so grateful for the support you have given us over the last decade in helping us grow into an amazing firm grounded in and driven by our mission. We would like to show our gratitude by providing you with a free native tree or shrub for your garden. I will deliver the plants in the first week of March, and can also help you select a suitable species. Part of our goal this year is to provide education to our clients, regarding our expanded services. If you would like to know more about any of our services, or to reserve your free tree or shrub, please call 206.789.1851 or email brooke@backtonaturedesign.com.

Our mission into the next year continues to be strongly centered on providing sustainable solutions to a variety of landscape related issues at a reasonable cost to our clients. We hope you will think of us, and pass on our name to others you know in the coming year for all of your landscape needs.

Our focus this spring is to get back to the basics of what we started in 1999 by designing and installing vegetable gardens to supplement the supply of food to our clients. In these hard times, even a small garden can contribute substantially to the quality of your meals and reduce the cost of fresh vegetables. In the Pacific Northwest, we have the ability to eat from our gardens year round. Let us know if that is something you would like to get started on.

Wishing you a peaceful new year,