Sustain: Blackberry Season
Twice a month Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
I enjoy living just three blocks from the Burien library. However, walking those three blocks yesterday took me fifteen minutes longer than it normally does. I didn’t pull a hamstring or have a stop-and-chat with a neighbor - instead, I ate blackberries...
Read On...
I enjoy living just three blocks from the Burien library. However, walking those three blocks yesterday took me fifteen minutes longer than it normally does. I didn’t pull a hamstring or have a stop-and-chat with a neighbor - instead, I ate blackberries...
Read On...
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Sustain: Family Garden Camp
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability.
Word on the street (SW 152nd, of course) is that some B-towners have been asking about Family Garden Camp. Since my wife Kat and I are the instructors, and the camp is run according to the cooperative education model, I’m going to work with her on this column.
Read On...
Word on the street (SW 152nd, of course) is that some B-towners have been asking about Family Garden Camp. Since my wife Kat and I are the instructors, and the camp is run according to the cooperative education model, I’m going to work with her on this column.
Read On...
Sustain: Gear Swap Event
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
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...
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...
Sustain: Natural Yard Care Event
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
There’s a free workshop I recommend you check out this coming Tuesday.
Here are three reasons why: Read On...
There’s a free workshop I recommend you check out this coming Tuesday.
Here are three reasons why: Read On...
Sustain: Native Plants in Burien
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
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...
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...
Sustain: One Little Hang-Up
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
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...
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...
Sustain: Interview with Bill Opfermann and Rebecca Dare
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
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...
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...
Sustain: Burien by Bike
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
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...
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...
Sustain: Rain Garden Installation
Each week Michael Stein-Ross contributes Sustain, a column about community & sustainability in Burien.
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...
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...