Earth Share of Washington

Give Back to Your Community at Earth Share's Day in the Park 2006

Bob Baines, Seattle Parks Senior Gardener, commented, "Earth Share's Day in the Park 2005 was the most productive volunteer work project I've ever been a part of."

Bob just witnessed hundreds of volunteers yanking weeds, tearing English ivy from trees, and cleaning junk from trails and beaches. Their work just saved the Seattle Parks & Recreation – and taxpayers - tens of thousands of dollars.

Day in the Park 2006 will take place at five locations in July 29, 2006. The event is presented by Earth Share of Washington and sponsored by IKEA.

The Olmstead brothers, architects of the Seattle Parks system in the early 1900's, visualized a green space stretching from Seward Park to Discovery Park and north to Golden Gardens, with tree-lined boulevards, ball fields & tennis courts, nature trails & picnic areas, neighborhood oases for residents to gather, recreate and rejuvenate. The Olmstead plan defines the very character of Seattle, distinguished by landmarks such as the Washington Park Arboretum and Green Lake, and dozens of neighborhood parks, small and large.

Regrettably, non-native plants such as English ivy have invaded these parks; in some places their aggressiveness has created "ivy deserts" where nothing else grows. As Seattle's burgeoning population seeks places to recreate, relax, and reconnect with nature, some popular parks face being "loved to death." Thus Earth Share of Washington organizes leading conservation groups each year to address these problems head-on.

This year, Day in the Park grows to five area locations: Seahurst Park (Burien), Beaver Lake Preserve (Sammamish), Golden Gardens and Carkeek Parks (Seattle), and PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Lynnwood. Says Dave Manelski, Day in the Park’s coordinator, "Day in the Park now offers several golden opportunities to restore our community assets."

Golden is an apt word, as Manelski points out the work of last year’s Day in the Park at Golden Gardens in Seattle: 750 volunteers removed one ton of invasive English ivy that had overtaken the park's shrubs and trees. With ongoing help from Earth Share organizations, the forests of Golden Gardens Park, once choked with non-native plants, breathe freely once more.

Families, corporate work teams, church organizations, civic clubs, and everyone else are invited to participate in this year's Day in the Park. To learn more, please visit www.dayinthepark.org or call 206-622-9840. Find out information about conservation and other environmental topics at the Earth Share website, www.esw.org.

John Charles Olmstead summed it up best when he said "I do not know of any place where the natural advantages for parks are better than here. They can be made very attractive and will be, in time, one of the things that will make Seattle known all over the world." On Saturday, July 29, Day in the Park welcomes families and kids of all ages to return the many gifts we’ve received from our treasured parks.

Sign-up for a Transportation 101 Workshop

Do you have burning questions about transportation? Then come to a “back-to-basics� Transportation 101, hosted by Transportation Choices Coalition!
- Submitted by Melissa Briody of Earth Share organization Transportation Choices Coalition

As a member of the environmental community, you probably care very much about real transportation solutions – more transit like buses and light rail, more active transportation like bike lanes and sidewalks, and innovative congestion relief like HOT (High Occupancy Transit) lanes. Although you probably know a lot about these issues, when we go out into the community and meet with transportation experts, even they invariably have questions about what’s going on! Transportation issues are very complex and ever changing, so in an effort to simplify things and make these complicated issues a little easier to understand, Transportation Choices Coalition (TCC) created their new "Transportation 101" program. Transportation 101 is essentially a dynamic presentation and question / answer session to discuss who the major players are in transportation, what big decisions can voters expect to see in the next year or two, how all these different agencies are funded and governed, etc. TCC will come out to your business, community group, church group, college class, or political meeting – no group is too large or too small. They’ve done these brown-bag lunches everywhere from Microsoft to Real Change.

They'll answer burning questions like…
* What transportation votes are coming up in 2006 and 2007?
* Is Metro going to put more buses on the streets anytime soon? What about Sound Transit's light rail to the Airport?
* What issues will Transportation Choices Coalition focus on this year?
* Why is Tim Eyman running another anti-transit initiative?
* How can I get involved in the process?

Often these events are done over a "brown-bag" style lunch, but they can also do mornings or evenings. If you think your colleagues or friends want (or need!) a Transportation 101, please contact Transportation Choices Coaltion to set one up -- Rachel Smith – rachel@transportationchoices.org or 206.329.2336.

Conservation Group Works Protect Old Growth Trees in Umatilla National Forest

- Submitted by Earth Share of Washington member Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics

On June 1, 2006, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) submitted extensive comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement [DEIS] for the School Fire logging project. This timber sale covers more than 10,000 acres in southern Washington’s Umatilla National Forest.

The Forest Service is relying on the Scott Guidelines, a tree-marking guide that, in part, attempts to predict the post-fire death rate of trees. These guidelines are being used to claim that a large portion of the trees in the area of the fire are "dying." The 5,000 acres of old-growth ponderosa pine trees proposed for logging in the Umatilla National Forest, however, are well adapted to fire, and are not dying. Ponderosa pine bark is very thick and heat resistant, and fires rarely damage the trees through the bark. The only way fires kill mature pines is through scorching their canopies or by heating the soil and burning their roots. Since pine roots are usually 4 or 5 feet under ground, this second possibility is very unusual.

FSEEE disputes using the Scott Guidelines, and has worked with two whistleblowers to halt logging of old-growth ponderosa pines on the edge of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Area in Oregon's Malheur National Forest. A fire had burned through that forest as well, and the largest and most valuable trees for timber were protected by a Clinton-era rule called the Eastside Screens. (The Northwest Forest Plan's protections do not cover eastern Washington and eastern Oregon). That Eastside Screens state that no live ponderosa pine trees greater than 21" in diameter in eastern Washington and eastern Oregon can be cut down. In citing the Scott Guidelines, the Forest Service concluded it could proceed with logging most of the old-growth in that area. FSEEE filed suit and won a preliminary injunction that prevented the trees from being cut.

FSEEE's goal on the School Fire project in Washington is to convince the Forest Service that its reliance on the Scott Guidelines is misplaced and to change the way the agency looks at post-fire tree mortality, especially for old-growth.

Get Outside This Summer! TrailsFest 2006

TrailsFest offers a whole summer of outdoor adventure – all in one day

The great outdoors of Washington is calling you! And for one whole day at TrailsFest, you can be outside and sample it all – from hiking to rock climbing to paddling - as much as you can fit in one day.

This outdoor extravaganza features clinics on everything from the best hikes of Washington, to hiking with kids, to ultra-lite trekking. Take a guided hike, paddle a kayak, try out a new S’mores recipe, or climb a rock wall. Visit the dozens of exhibitors, including gear companies and outdoor groups. It's all at TrailsFest - Saturday July 22, 9am-4pm along the shore of Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend.
Presented by Washington Trails Association, TrailsFest is a hands-on event for all ages, providing families and other adventurers with a fun and safe environment to explore the outdoors.

The outdoor celebration features activities like guided hikes, fly-fishing, kayaking and canoeing. A variety of clinics run periodically throughout the day on everything from hiking with kids to high-tech gear and gadgets to ultralite hiking. And, dozens of exhibitors from gear companies to non-profit outdoor organizations are on hand to talk with you and answer your questions.

"TrailsFest gets you and your family outside exploring and enjoying the many wonderful opportunities in Washington's great outdoors," said Lauren Braden, Communications Director for Washington Trails Association. "The day is jam-packed with fun things to do, and the activities are designed to be fun and informative for everyone – from kids and families, to novice adventurers, to experienced hikers."

Have you always wanted to try backpacking? Learn about gear and get trail-tested advice with Backpacker Magazine. Got a terrific backcountry recipe you’re dying to share? Enter it in the Backcountry Cookoff. Learn hands-on how hiking with poles can improve your strength and endurance. There will be a climbing wall for you to try, kayaks for you to paddle, and llamas for you to hike with!

Wind down with a tasty s'mores by the campfire, and then hike a small mountain to a beautiful viewpoint. Learn to identify mountain wildflowers, songbirds and stars. Brush up on your Leave no Trace techniques. Check out the season's hottest outdoor gear, and talk to forest rangers and experts about where to camp and hike. Learn from local activists what you can do to protect our wild places.

If you’ve got kids, don’t leave them at home! They can paddle an adaptive canoe, take a hike with llamas or goats, and sing songs around the campfire. Attend a talk with Goldie Silverman, author of Camping with Kids about where to hike and camp with your children. Take your toddler on a hike with Joan Burton, author of Best Hikes with Kids and learn her top tips for hiking with the little ones. There will also be a treasure hunt for kids, and lots of kid-friendly booths and activities.

TrailsFest is presented every summer by Washington Trails Association. Sponsors for TrailsFest 2006 include Hilleberg the Tentmakers, Thorlos, Green Trails Maps, Puget Sound Energy, KPLU 88.5, REI, CLIF Bar, Seattle Public Utilities, Outdoor Research, Therm-A-Rest, Chaco, Tiger Mountain Gear, MSR, Gregory, Leki, and Backpacker.

To get to TrailsFest, take I-90 east to exit 32, then turn right on 436th Ave SE. Follow this road 2.7 miles to Rattlesnake Lake.

TrailsFest is your passport to the great outdoors this summer, and admission is free! For more information on TrailsFest: (206) 625-1367 / www.wta.org.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities

• July 8 - Puget Creek Habitat Restoration - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Puget Creek - Off W. Marginal Way SW, close to SW Edmunds St., Seattle - Join People For Puget Sound and Sound Stewards at our Puget Creek restoration site on the Duwamish River. Volunteers will be removing invasive weeds such as Himalayan blackberry, Scot’s broom, butterfly bush and reed canary grass where they threaten to overtake native plantings. No experience necessary. Children 10 and under must have one to one adult supervision. Bring sturdy footwear, dress for the weather (event takes place rain or shine). Bring your own sack lunch and plenty of water. If you have tools and work gloves, bring them along, but if you don’t they will have some to spare. Sign-up today! Please email the contact below with your email address and an evening phone number where you can be reached. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Joy Wood at joykwood@msn.com or by calling 206-382-7007 ext. 220.
• July 15 - Mountain Stewards Volunteer Training - The North Cascades Institute seeks volunteers to help educate day hikers, backpackers and climbers on three of the busiest trails in the Mt. Baker Ranger District—Heliotrope Ridge, Park Butte/Railroad Grade and Heather Meadows. Mountain Stewards volunteers receive specialized training in low-impact recreation skills, natural history and backcountry management issues and work under the supervision of professional staff from the Institute and the Forest Service. Volunteers also receive a free Northwest Forest Pass. Applicants must be over 18 years of age, skilled in hiking and outdoor recreation and able to commit to three days of volunteer service along the trail on weekends from July 15 through September 16, 2006. Volunteering can be done as day trips or overnight trips. Mountain Stewards volunteer training will take place on July 15 and 22. For an application form, visit
http://www.ncascades.org/programs/stewardship/apply.html or for more information contact 360-856-5700 ext 209.
• July 15 - Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park Restoration Work Party - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park, located along the shoreline of West Seattle, offers gorgeous views of the Olympic Mountains. Meaning shaped like a bears head, Mee-Kwa-Mooks was the original name of the West Seattle peninsula. Work with EarthCorps, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Green Seattle Partnership as we work to keep this urban forest happy and healthy! You can be part of the action - by removing damaging invasive plant species, planting native plants, and taking care of past forest restoration sites, they help preserve our natural areas for generations to come! For more information, contact Elizabeth White, Outreach Project Manager at (206) 255-4160 or email elizabeth@earthcorps.org
• July 22 - Cheasty Greenspace Restoration Work Party - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership and Seattle Parks and Recreation in an effort to free Cheasty’s trees of English ivy. Volunteers will be creating “survival ringsâ€? around trees in this 43 acre south Seattle greenspace. Other work may include non-native plant removal, past restoration site stewardship, or woodchip application. For more information, contact Elizabeth White, Outreach Project Manager at (206) 255-4160, ext. 221 or email elizabeth@earthcorps.org
• July 22 – TrailsFest 2006 – Please see the above description for more information.
• July 27 - Photography Exhibit - Northwest Wild Places – 7:00 PM - REI, 222 Yale Ave North, Seattle - Join talented nature photographers Scott Church and Ross Hamilton for an intimate look at some of the Northwest’s most wild places — including some great tips on outdoor photography This free event is hosted by American Rivers and Olympic Park Institute.
• July 29 – Earth Share’s Day in the Park 2006 - Please see story on page 1 for more information or go to dayinthepark.org .
• August 5 - Golden Gardens Restoration Work Party - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Join EarthCorps and the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation Department as we work to restore Golden Gardens. Located in Ballard on Puget Sound, this popular park offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Volunteers will remove ivy and other invasive plants that are detrimental to the native habitat. Other possible activities include spreading woodchips and planting native trees to restore the native tree canopy. For more information, contact Elizabeth White, Outreach Project Manager at (206) 255-4160, ext. 221 or email elizabeth@earthcorps.org