The Sharing Backyards Program links people with unused yard space with those looking for a place to grow food. One of the biggest barriers to growing food is access to land - despite the fact that many yards, lawns, and backyards have plenty of room to spare. Sustainable Issaquah is partnering with Sharing Backyards to offer opportunities to Issaquah residents to invite gardeners or find space to garden. If you have a garden and want to share it with someone, or if you are looking for a space to garden, go to the Sharing Backyards website and click on Issaquah in the right margin. The program is featured in the May 13 issue of the Issaquah Reporter.
The Issaquah Flatland Community Garden is entering its third year and gardeners are eager to get back to their plots. We have a full garden this year again, but you can email us if you'd like to be considered for the waiting list or for voluntee
ring opportunity.
Last year, the Garden was awarded a grant from the Issaquah Arts Commission to build a new gate that will be an invitation to enter, explore and participate in this very special place. The project was built, with everyone's help, in June.
The IFCG is located in the central area of Issaquah at 690 NW Juniper Street, adjacent to the nonprofit AtWork! that serves the developmentally delayed community. It serves 18 gardeners and their families, as well as many volunteers.
You learn something every day
It is probably not a surprise to most that, although the U.S. constitutes only 4 percent of the world's population, it accounts for 22 percent of the world's total energy consumption.
Usually when we hear statistics like this we assume the big culprits are industry and big business, or transportation. In fact, the operation of residential housing is responsible for 21 percent of total US energy consumption, things like space heating and cooling, appliances, water heating, and lighting.
Sustainable Seattle continue to support the efforts of the city and others to promote residential energy efficiency and keep you informed of upcoming training and education opportunities.
Buy Local - support Issaquah
Sustainable Issaquah kicked off its Sustainable Economy Initiative in June 2010 with a meeting of the initiative’s Steering Committee. The group selected a set of criteria for identifying local businesses and additional green measures to allow business owners to highlight their environmental credentials.
Sustainable Issaquah intends to identify local ownership via one portion of the survey, while the sustainability portion of the survey explores the businesses efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, their contribution to local charities and community groups, the use of local materials, engagement in recycling and other environmental mitigation programs, and whether it provides additional support and opportunities for employees and their families.
The start of the initiative coincides with the presence in Issaquah of Sustainable Issaquah intern Arzu Yanik, a communications student visiting from Germany who is volunteering to help identify and recognize those businesses. Arzu visited nearly 75 Issaquah businesses during June and July to invite the owners to complete an online survey, answer questions on local ownership ties and describe actions they are taking to be sustainable. Arzu has gotten a friendly and interested reception from busy store owners and managers, and is now starting follow up visits for those businesses that haven’t yet filled out the survey.
The goal for the Sustainable Economy Initiative is to highlight and promote locally-owned businesses and their sustainable actions among community members. Money spent at locally-owned businesses is more likely to stay within the community and stimulate the local economy.
If you know a local business that should be included, please contact us or point them toward the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/issaquah
Partnering for a better Issaquah
Sustainable Issaquah also supports many projects and movements working towards a more livable city:
- The Central Issaquah Task Force is looking at creating policies on the valley floor around Interstate 90 that stimulate a mix of uses, including housing, retail and office space.
- Getting Around Issaquah Together (GAIT) is making Issaquah more convenient for residents and visitors to get where they need to go around the city and the region. City staff and elected officials are working to encourage well-planned development that makes Issaquah an even better place to work, live and raise a family.
- The Cascade Land ConservancyCommunity Stewards discusses community priorities and how to use citizen advocacy to advance them. Nearly everything the city does has opportunities for public input, such as workshops and speaking times at meetings. They will be working with the various groups in Issaquah over the next few months to help bring positive change to Issaquah’s urban areas in order to protect the wild ones.
