Monthly Archives: October 2011

Fun, Gross, Informative: Sewage!

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Seattle performing artist Stokley Towles is bringing his performance piece “Stormwater: Life in the Gutter” to West Seattle.  The West Seattle Herald has called the piece: “fun, gross, and informative” (see article).  The one-hour act is designed to shed light on our city’s sewer system.  Stokley will explore where the water from our toilets, showers, sinks and storm drains goes.

The two FREE performances in West Seattle will be held:

SAT. Oct. 29th, 12-1PM at the High Point Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 3411 SW Raymond Street

THUR. Nov. 3rd. 6:30-7:30PM at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW

 

Sustainable West Seattle puts challenge to community

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Sustainable West Seattle puts challenge to community  

$1,000 donation to Pathfinder K-8 School’s Earth Project at stake

WEST SEATTLE — Help Pathfinder K-8 School win $1,000 toward a rainwater harvesting system for its Earth Project!

Sustainable West Seattle will be giving its “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster” presentation at Pathfinder K-8 School Monday, Oct. 10 from 7-8 p.m. and is challenging Pathfinder to bring a crowd.

The challenge: If 40 or more adults show up to learn about protecting Puget Sound, then Sustainable West Seattle will donate $1,000 toward the school’s Earth Project. To help encourage turnout even further, free pizza will be provided. Pathfinder K-8 School is located at 1901 SW Genesee St.

Pathfinder K-8 School’s Earth Project aims to “empower students to discover their connections to the Earth, themselves, and one another” and is a collaboration between Pathfinder and the Nature Consortium — a nonprofit organization also based in West Seattle.

The School Garden is the most significant part of the Earth Project and has become an integral component of many of Pathfinder’s classrooms.  The garden affords opportunities to teach students about natural resources and healthy food. The rainwater harvesting system will help teachers educate students about the importance of conservation and the water cycle.

“This is a great opportunity to advance the school’s efforts to teach students about healthy foods and ecology,” said Bill Reiswig, parent of a Pathfinder student and a founder of Sustainable West Seattle. “All people have to do is show up for an hour and the school will get a gift toward a rainwater harvesting system. We’re trying hard to get the word out so that 40-plus adult community members show up.”

All West Seattle community members are invited to attend the hour-long event and enjoy free pizza. Sustainable West Seattle’s presentation will focus on actions each of us can commit to that help protect and restore Puget Sound. Audience members will learn about things like natural yard care, water retention systems, community volunteer opportunities, and more.  To learn more about the project, visit tox-ick.org.

About Sustainable West Seattle
Sustainable West Seattle is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that educates and advocates for urban sustainability in our local community.

SOURCES: http://www.tox-ick.org         http://www.sustainablewestseattle.org

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Contact: Cate White
cate@sustainablewestseattle.org  |  (646) 957-6225

Department of Ecology needs to hear from YOU!

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When we think of pollution we often think of some monolithic corporation driven mad by its pursuit of profit – belching smoke and slime into our air and water – robbing the community of a healthful environment.

When we hear that Puget Sound is sick with pollution, how many of us think of our homes, our lawns and our roads?

Today, our communities are the number one source of toxins entering Puget Sound.

Heavy metals from our tires and brakes; fertilizers and pesticides from our lawns; soap from the charity car wash… these are the things silently flowing down our storm drains and into Puget Sound.  This toxic mix is strangling Puget Sound.

You can help staunch this flow of toxins.  You can help save Puget Sound.

The Washington State Department of Ecology is now accepting public comments on its standards for “Low Impact Development” and its stormwater pollution permits.  If we help convince the state to adopt stronger standards, then we can abate the massive transfer of toxins from our communities into Puget Sound.

Low Impact Development (aka LID or Green Stormwater Infrastructure) is a method of development that enhances the ability of the earth to absorb polluted runoff from our streets, sidewalks and lawns.  It involves using things like rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, permeable pavement and trees to absorb the flow of rainwater.

Communities that act like sponges for rainwater slow the flow of toxins.  Once in the earth, soil bacteria and fungi can help degrade many of the toxins that are now flowing directly into our water and into our food chain.

Please ask the Department of Ecology to adopt strong standards to protect our region’s greatest resource – Puget Sound.

You can sign an online petition developed by People for Puget Sound.

You can also participate in the Department of Ecology’s public comment period.  Learn more at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/2012Reissuance.html

Cate White