Event Announcement

This weekend there is an event that will change the way you approach sustainable living in your home.
February 20, 2010
The trailer is here: www.ChemicalReactionMovie.com

Thank you SCALLOPS and Jessica Bloom for bringing this event to our attention. If you have any events that you would like us to share with others contact us at info@sustainableseattle.org or join us on facebook or follow us on twitter.

www.twitter.com/sustainseattle

Sustainable Agriculture Events

A training event on agriculture and personal changes one can make around food in general. These events take place in Tacoma.

Tacoma's First Permaculture Design Course

Free Introductory Event:

“What on Earth is Permaculture? An introduction to sustainable human habitats in Tacoma”

When: January 28th 2010. 6:30-9pm
Where: First Methodist Church of Tacoma, 621 Tacoma Ave S.
It will be in lower level of the church. Enter through Court E (Alley between 6th and 7th)
Cost: Free! Donations accepted

Permaculture Design Course Details:

Dates: 2/20-21, 3/13-14, 4/17-18, 5/8-9, 6/19-20, 7/17-18, 8/21-22, 9/11-12

Cost: $800-$650 sliding scale

Details: http://www.divinearthgp.com/?page_id=360

Friday Evening Lectures, Open to the Public

Dates: 2/19, 3/12, 4/16, 5/7, 6/18, 7/16, 8/20, 9/10

Cost: each talk is $10-$5 sliding scale

Topics Description

Permaculture Ethics & Principles are the basis of the design system.
You'll learn what this foundation is, how these principles are observed in
nature, and how they apply to our lives and designs.

Reading the Landscape, Mapmaking are first steps in understanding the
earth we live on and finding clues to how to best interact with it. We'll
be teaching a plethora of observation techniques that open the senses to
important details and show you how to read a landscape's history. You'll
learn how to visually portray nature's patterns by learning map-making
skills and doing base maps of different areas.

Permaculture Design organizes information into different methodologies
that help you plan, place, and prioritize elements into most efficient
uses. Many playful games teach how to connect resources and expand
creative possibilities within our designs and our lives.

Soils, Compost, Nutrients, Mycology. Broken, contaminated soils are all
around us and affect the food we eat and the abundance of our ecosystems.
You'll learn soil analysis and many soil-building and remediation
strategies that are the first step in building your permaculture
ecosystem. There'll be a strong focus on mycoremediation and in
cultivating mushrooms, as fungi do incredible work in the soil.

Journalism that Matters part three

On Saturday the conference was in full swing and the sessions that were offered were varied and relevant to journalism and to sustainability. The session I choose was not even a choice, but a directive. The session hosted by Michell Ferrier was on the connections and opportunities between local food and journalism. Anything that has food in the title sure is persuasive.

The group was diverse with journalists, professors, new media entrepreneurs, self described citizens, students and techies. The conversation veered from the local food industry into the heart of journalism and its connection to a well informed and healthy public.

The local food phenomenon has made many people aware of the positive benefits to eating local. The cost of transportation, inefficient packaging and the damage to the health and taste of food transported from all corners of the earth have brought the idea of sustainable living from the theoretical to the dinner plate. Local food not only benefits the minds and bodies of those who eat it, but also helps the local community become more strengthened as money stays in the community instead of flowing out of town, or out of state.

The session focused on the use of food and local producers of food and the concept of engagement in the community. Food as a gathering apparatus is well known, and no major human event takes place without someone snacking on pretzels in the background. The session touched upon the need for communities to have their stories told and the need for media to cover what is happening on the local level.

One suggestion that was given was to use Festivals that celebrated the local community's speciality. Festivals could be used as a gathering of social import as well as a celebration of all things local. One participant gave the idea of using Salmon as the focal point for Pacific Northwest Festivals.

After the session was over I stayed to talk about what Sustainable Seattle is planning for this year and I was even interviewed for the Journalism that Matters live stream about how journalism and healthy communities are inextricably linked. Sustainable Seattle also made some connections to local media sources and possible collaborative efforts may be the fruit of this labor.

Event | Presentation from author of 'Living Green' | July 26

Laura Mamo is a professor of sociology at University of Maryland. Along with Jennifer Fosket, she co-wrote 'Living Green: Communities that Sustain'; a book that explores the dynamics of sustainable communities across North America. Mamo and Fosket sought interviews with the developers, builders and residents of these communities, documenting the impact that the pursuit of sustainable living has upon mental and physical health, and it's connection to social justice issues. 'Living Green' has been identified as an uplifting and encouraging book for any individual or group seeking to attain a sustainable lifestyle. Mamo will be holding a reading and discussion of the book at Elliot Bay Book Co. this Sunday.

Date | Sunday July 26th
Time | 2pm
Location | Elliot Bay Book Co., 101 S Main St, Pioneer Sq.
Cost | Free