Growing: An Update on My Plot

Each week Catherine Dupre contributes Growing, a column about learning to garden in Burien.
Growing Column
As we enter mid July, gardening season is (supposedly) at its peak. Previously, I showed you my plot when it was first planted in May, and since then there have been quite a few changes and I have already learned so much. The lessons I learned mostly consist of no-brainers that could have easily been solved by reading the seed label, but others were not so simple. Read On...
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Sustain: Gear Swap Event

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
Coming up in a couple weekends is Outdoor Gear Swap 2011 hosted by Burien Cooperative Education Project (BCEP). Recently I wrote about a clothes swap that my wife hosted in our living room. It was naturally a pretty cool event seeing as it was a sustainable and free way to improve a wardrobe while hanging out with friends. Right now though, I’m picturing all those clothes morphing into tents and backpacks and boots and fishing poles and snowboards and lanterns and a bunch of other outdoor gear -- and I’m starting to salivate. I don’t know about you, but I can relate to the REI-loving, no-room-in-the-garage-for-all-the-gear Northwest stereotype. But I also love getting things for free. And I love cleaning out my closet. And meeting people in the community is excellent. So I know I’m going to love this gear swap... Read On...
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Perspective: Burien is the King of King County and Other Snazzy Burien Daily Product

Each Week Matt Wendland produces Perspective, a column about Burien Daily’s logos.
Perspective Banner
Have you noticed our posters hanging around Burien businesses? “Burien is the King of King County” is the statement they make. We’ve had a ton of people email us, call us, and ask the business owners what they are for and how they can get one. If you are one of the people who have been asking those questions, it’s fortunate that you are reading this because I am about to tell you how you can get your very own King Burien poster...
Read On...
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Wellness: The Sugar Buzz

Each month Hannah Nelson contributes Wellness, a column about healthy living in Burien.
Wellness Banner
If you’re anything like the 310 million people in America, sugar is a sweet old friend. Having a warm brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup is the perfect way to spend an evening after a long day at work. A candy bar gives you that quick burst of energy when you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. A milk shake is the only thing that makes a bad day better... Read On...
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Sustain: Natural Yard Care Event

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
There’s a free workshop I recommend you check out this coming Tuesday.
Here are three reasons why:
Read On...
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Growing: Self-Watering Container Gardening

Growing Column
This gardening season, I’ve learned quite a bit about things that don’t work. One of the things that I’ve struggled with this gardening season is making sure my plants get enough water. A lot of the time, I’ve been too busy or forgetful to gauge how much water my plants need (luckily this season has been rainy enough that I haven’t had to worry TOO much). But the drier months in Burien are coming up and we’ve already experienced a really nice, warm, rain-free couple of days this week. If the weather and my forgetfulness keep up, my plants are doomed.

This is where this week’s project comes in handy....
Read On...
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Sustain: Native Plants in Burien

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
If our goal is to build a sustainable Burien community - adaptable, inventive and resilient in the face of social, economic, or really any type of change - we must look backwards in time to see what has worked over the long term... Read On...
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Sustain: One Little Hang-Up

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
When I was growing up I always thought every woman’s favorite past-time was a spending spree at the mall. It still might be for some, however, last Sunday I witnessed a much more sustainable and community-minded alternative. My wife Kat hosted a clothing swap for her friends at our house. It was a chance for them to both socialize and reinvigorate their wardrobes without spending any money. Pretty sweet deal, right? Regarding the actual swapping, the point was not to make one-for-one trades. Rather, the idea was to bring clothes they should be getting rid of anyways to see what others may want. After everyone left we had enough piles of clothes in our living room to make any bachelor proud and a long line of lonely-looking hangers on the curtain rod. It seemed that Kat’s friends left behind more clothes than they took, which I suppose was one of the goals... Read On...
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Wellness: Why Organic

Each month Hannah Nelson contributes Wellness, a column about healthy living in Burien.
Wellness Banner
The road to health and wellness can look daunting. It seems like an endless path full of unknown facts and variables. Believe me, I’ve stared down it and felt the same overwhelming pressure. But though it may seem like a challenge, please don’t give up! Don’t stick to what you know just because it’s easier than making good changes in your life. As American writer Mark Twain said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

The road to health and wellness starts with baby steps. One major baby step you can take is easy. Eat Organic. Read On...
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Sustain: Interview with Bill Opfermann and Rebecca Dare

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
For this week’s column I wanted to share the thoughts of a local couple who I very much admire. Bill Opfermann and Rebecca Dare are not the type of sustainability and community activists who would be formally recognized by the city for their leadership, nor are they the type of people who would seek such recognition. While some people know who they are, many many more have been affected by their work without knowing it. They are Sustainable Burien board members and keep an incredibly busy schedule, so it was a real treat to be able to sit in their dining room for a comfortable chat. I’ve transcribed some of the highlights below... Read On...
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Growing: My Plot at the Community Garden

Growing Column
Burien is really starting to heat up and that means it’s prime planting season!

I’ve had my community garden plot for a couple months now, and I think I was a little over-ambitious back in April...
Read On...
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Sustain: Burien by Bike

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
The month of May was “Bike to Work Month”. In the spirit of this celebration, I was riding my bike to work the other day when I pulled up to a red light next to another cyclist. For the first 20 seconds we just stood there with our bikes, looking straight ahead, waiting for the light to turn green. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Here’s what went through my head: “Wow, beautiful morning; smells good out here...wouldn’t have been able to say the same if I had decided to drive today...I wouldn’t have pulled up to this lady on her bike either. (I glance over). Does she even see me here? Why am I acting like I’m in a car? There aren’t two windows and a bunch of metal between us, just some lovely air - wonderful for transmitting sound. I’m going to say good morning.” So that’s what I did. And she wished me a good morning back, just in time for the light to turn green. And that brief interaction made my day... Read On...
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Community: All American Community

Each month Alexis Braga contributes Community, a column about hospitality and community.
Community
Memorial Day has its roots in the Civil War. It was put to practice to remember the Union and Confederate soldiers. Originally called Decoration Day, this day of remembrance has evolved to not only remember American soldiers of all times but also to celebrate the beginning of summer. With the weather changing (hopefully!) and BBQ’s firing up, this provides a perfect opportunity to build community. Read On...
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Sustain: Burien in One Word

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
At the Annual
Discover Burien Auction Gala a couple months ago, the emcee had attendees give him one-word descriptors of our city. I was struck by the number of negative words being tossed about, particularly since we were at a dinner to celebrate citizens who are doing great things to improve our community. Unfortunately... Read On...
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Sustain: Rain Garden Installation

Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
Sustain
While many Burienites were exploring the many health options at the Burien Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, a small group of neighbors and community members dedicated the better part of a day to install a cluster of eight rain gardens around SW 150th St. and 24th Ave SW, just south of Eagle Landing Park. Rain Gardens are... Read On...
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Wellness: Community Health

Every other week Hannah Nelson contributes Wellness, a column about health in Burien.
Wellness
From a distance, you might think it was some kind of street fair. Upon approach, you realize that this fair revolves around taking care of your body. Welcome to Burien’s Health and Wellness Fair!

The 2011 Burien Health and Wellness Fair took place in Town Square on Saturday the 14th. This windy, yet sunny, afternoon featured a bustle of activity outside the Burien Library...
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Growing: How To Make Newspaper Seed Pots

growing
During my Spring Break gardening kick, I was so excited to start planting, I just couldn't wait. I began researching every gardening blog and book I could to get started. My first frustration: so many gardening books are written to be universal for all climates in the United States. Well, Burien's climate is nothing like prime gardening weather in California or even Eastern Washington. 
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Community: Community for Longevity

In 2004, Dan Beuttner, teamed up with National Geographic to study people groups that, on average, outlived the typical lifespan of the average human being. These studies found nine characteristics among those people who had longer life and greater overall happiness. One of the nine is called, “right tribe.” These people groups made their friendships (healthy friends that impact your life in a beneficial way) and their social circles a priority, which richly influenced their overall physical well being.

In many ways, both big and small, we can have an impact on our longevity and be a positive influence in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and in our city... Read On...
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Growing: Why I Want to Garden

growing
It's been building up all year - I want to grow a vegetable garden! I got seriously interested in doing this when I heard about a new branch of AmeriCorps called FoodCorps. This organization sends workers to low-income, highly-obese cities in America to plant a garden at an elementary school. The FoodCorps member tends to... Read On...
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Wellness: Discovering Wellness

Wellness
“Dessert makes you happy and happy people live longer!” At 18, this was my catchphrase. In college, I was the girl who ate cookies for breakfast. I was young with a high metabolism and I never gave my health a second thought. Yes, I knew that vegetables were good for you and that water was healthier than soda. But with all the great tasting food out there, who cared about being healthy?


Read On...
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