Growing Conversation Newsletter
Vol. IV, Issue 2 - April 20, 2010

Free plant exchange on May 1
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1
Immanuel Presbyterian Church parking lot, corner of North 9th & I streets, Tacoma
For more information: (253) 759-9348
This annual free plant exchange was created in 2005 to save unwanted plants that
 often found themselves in yard waste containers or the landfill. This part-day 
event offers plants, of all kinds, to anyone looking for something to add to their
yard and gardens. Whether you bring plants that are no longer wanted, or you just
want to find something to take home, here is an opportunity that requires no money,
helps keep the oxygen cycle alive and keeps plants alive for another day.
Master Gardeners will be on hand to provide answers, TAGRO Potting Soil will be 
available for new plantings and new posters from the Pierce Conservation District
will also be on hand. Other groups who plan to be around include: Puget Creek Restoration
Society and PNW Neighborhood Guilds.
Leftover plants will be donated L'Arche [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgoopFvyRclKeWiRcUupXE0x7q1TFknQ47uzbyAW0BMfY_w7mD7Rl_oTF8BPpXnFlluFdYKsGx3_3qe-poTzsSGfH0u5tYVz-QhQw09BgNdPTNYQ==].

Locals in the news
Healthy, Local, Fresh: Farmers Markets & Community Wellness
Hear what some local (Pierce County!) folks have to say about the importance of 
buying local food, of shopping at farmers markets, about what it means for community,
health and so much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96UDOwi9GU&feature=youtube_gdata  [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooqgiwfDBx48m4BXeRgfsbsGOfEJK06TE8XQwVVf40cjUzPMiPVisNG_wFRqFe17wSTEC97Cmo27nLbNfAq8I8ZkMh8yPkO9R--QdnudUNoxMOBtIVFnmcg7VtkuOja8y-SMb6KuIxJ39XDW3YjU_trwJY1cYBQGovCw2m61LY0nrQ==]
School district putting farming back into the farm
By Kathleen Merryman The News Tribune / 4/19/10
When the pigs went away, the rumors started. ... Residents of Midland and Summit
 have worried for a few years that Franklin Pierce School District wanted to sell
the farm. ... There's the money: The 9.76 acres at 9516 Waller Road, are assessed
at nearly $600,000, about 13 times what the district paid in 1970. ... and there's
the change in schooling: Education geared to national testing standards doesn't 
leave much room for raising pigs or sheep, or learning how to use a greenhouse. 
Transportation to a satellite site can eat away at required class time, so the school
district dropped agriculture classes and FFA located its New Pathways program in
 classrooms near the original farm house. ... Well, the pigs aren't coming back,
 but the rumors are settled. The Farm is returning to agriculture. Come fall, its
produce will go straight into school meals.
To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/19/1153971/school-district-putting-farming.html?story_link=email_msg
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooqEWxGTWsADNJihGIloB86_AEtD79nXCVYrxaJDrDeJE_vQ8AXmDB2L2qEJkdCGybXpIUiuc5YpkAE70TCxGrluDQ-K2HcKhAlJwgvqbJVr-KlQZXw-hI7dqVt3hJe6IA1axZxN1_H5oeZ_e95WtlB7WHNvzVR-TzyKLQ2Oc080y0ARRTzuiY2k8hXL45P5TVHZzker_UdmdWCj_edmlZgpF1VcGVdfvsI=]
East Side neighborhoods mobilize to clean up garden sites, get ready for planting
By Kathleen Merryman / The News Tribune / 4/14/10
The East Side is getting two more crime fighters, two more exercise facilities, 
two more gathering places. ... Compliments of Puyallup Tribe of Indians and City
 of Tacoma, it is getting two community gardens that will change the scenery and
 feed the people along Portland Avenue. ... They're scrub lots right now -- weedy,
seedy sites at the corners of East 32nd Street and Wright Street and Portland. Together,
they cover about two-thirds of an acre.
To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/14/1147046/east-side-neighborhoods-mobilize.html?story_link=email_msg
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooomDe8_pjXvk43SIRFRbZ_iJ4aFY3QY-oESy90-4RoEJkTJxvMcE6FcPeUqJD4NoAJl48UWN3JaDHk4ryIKIUk6jF9eJaIH59A6GuzRjQnsotR2AsSg6qCBg6Mt10RmyLpUuvu9vCOZ_YAZXATCcwvpRrz1r7M4yfB2C6td_qKch0Bufwx8357Y0XsVIwMNNQLEabgf7D6fhip1-cMb4uLiJl9sNvvfgK2p6j664MYcLw==]
Creating a healthier America, one community at a time
By Anthony L-T Chen / The News Tribune, opinion / 4/13/10

Sincerely,

Alicia Lawver
Growing Conversation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Growing Conversation Newsletter Vol. IV, Issue 2 - April 20, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The GrowingConversationnewsletter is about anything related to local food, local farms, community gardens, kitchen gardens, or even growinga few herbs on that sunny spot on your patio -- especially in and around Pierce County.We won't sell your e-mail, we'll try not to nag you too much, and please know that we're just working hard for a sustainable (and yummy!) tomorrow. Send events, articles and announcements to growingconversation@gmail.com [mailto:growingconversation@gmail.com]. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seven new community gardens coming to Tacoma Kickoff: 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 21 Evergreen Tacoma campus, 1210 Sixth Ave., Tacoma The Neighbor's Park garden at 10th & M in Tacoma is a good example of how a community garden can benefit a neighborhood. The City of Tacoma is inviting citizens to help shape the future of Tacoma's new community garden program by attending the Community Gardens Kickoff on Wednesday. More than 150 people attended the Community Gardens Summit on March 20, where Mayor Marilyn Strickland announced that the City of Tacoma is supporting the growing interest in community gardening in a very tangible way: by creating seven new community gardens. "Community gardens are neighborhood spaces where people can come together to grow both food and relationships with each other," said Kristi Lynett, City of Tacoma sustainability manager. The Community Gardens Kickoff on April 21 will be an opportunity for neighbors and community members to learn more about the new community garden efforts, as well as give input on the vision and management for each garden location. Each group of gardeners will be encouraged to create the type of gathering space they'd like to have in their neighborhoods. Topics to be addressed: * Purpose/vision for each neighborhood's garden * Garden design * Organizational structure * Timeline and plan for constructionIf you can't make the meeting, have no fear -- just send in your ideas, interest and input! For more information go to www.cityoftacoma.org/communitygardens [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgoopEXHHE8CFXFaB8J-aXwvujbkExl5l_cuJv16NjzNeovtbbvkNjOSEhlGVgSw5kMPOo5GOje_QAUVR3rT0Fo1o-IJ6zuy92okvL7phT42rbZKo6dl69fsNFZsiROPNogKQ0zy1vqCZ5vg==]. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free plant exchange on May 1 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1 Immanuel Presbyterian Church parking lot, corner of North 9th & I streets, Tacoma For more information: (253) 759-9348 This annual free plant exchange was created in 2005 to save unwanted plants that often found themselves in yard waste containers or the landfill. This part-day event offers plants, of all kinds, to anyone looking for something to add to their yard and gardens. Whether you bring plants that are no longer wanted, or you just want to find something to take home, here is an opportunity that requires no money, helps keep the oxygen cycle alive and keeps plants alive for another day. Master Gardeners will be on hand to provide answers, TAGRO Potting Soil will be available for new plantings and new posters from the Pierce Conservation District will also be on hand. Other groups who plan to be around include: Puget Creek Restoration Society and PNW Neighborhood Guilds. Leftover plants will be donated L'Arche [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgoopFvyRclKeWiRcUupXE0x7q1TFknQ47uzbyAW0BMfY_w7mD7Rl_oTF8BPpXnFlluFdYKsGx3_3qe-poTzsSGfH0u5tYVz-QhQw09BgNdPTNYQ==]. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tacoma Farmers Market celebrates 20 years Urban Rodeo Barn Dance event a fabulously fun fundraiser! Urban Rodeo Barn Dance(farmers market fundraiser) 6 to 10 p.m. May 8 Freighthouse Square, Rainier Room, Tacoma Ages 16 and over only Tickets: $25 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100991 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgoorU5Nh4IVz-PXmBqM3eC0Ky1EmEMZORTirmt4N4N59yonkVeTVptB41ZIgow5trDTeNs3-5fAmgkg7dylvO1ZqSdvggKsDXZfnedgF37WdVPVP77h0XvtKHIuWvL9Yi4kSOrscnadcA9Q==] Come join the Tacoma Farmers Market for its first-ever market-themed Rodeo Ho-down complete with a Blue Grass Band, fresh market food and an all-night mechanical bull. Admission includes a free adult beverage ticket, incredible live entertainment and unlimited access to our mechanical bull. Local food will be plentiful and served a la carte, farmers market vending style. Later in the night - go check out an auction with outstanding items for bid, amazing desserts and the chance to support the Tacoma Farmers Market in their mission to bring local farmers and community together. Food booths will be set up mini-market style for a real market feel, and a live band and country DJ will keep the rodeo vibe going the whole night with music and square dancing. Come support the market and connect with people in your community who are working to make healthy and natural produce a major part of Tacoma. VIP tables are available for groups of 8 or more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Locals in the news Healthy, Local, Fresh: Farmers Markets & Community Wellness Hear what some local (Pierce County!) folks have to say about the importance of buying local food, of shopping at farmers markets, about what it means for community, health and so much more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96UDOwi9GU&feature=youtube_gdata [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooqgiwfDBx48m4BXeRgfsbsGOfEJK06TE8XQwVVf40cjUzPMiPVisNG_wFRqFe17wSTEC97Cmo27nLbNfAq8I8ZkMh8yPkO9R--QdnudUNoxMOBtIVFnmcg7VtkuOja8y-SMb6KuIxJ39XDW3YjU_trwJY1cYBQGovCw2m61LY0nrQ==] School district putting farming back into the farm By Kathleen Merryman The News Tribune / 4/19/10 When the pigs went away, the rumors started. ... Residents of Midland and Summit have worried for a few years that Franklin Pierce School District wanted to sell the farm. ... There's the money: The 9.76 acres at 9516 Waller Road, are assessed at nearly $600,000, about 13 times what the district paid in 1970. ... and there's the change in schooling: Education geared to national testing standards doesn't leave much room for raising pigs or sheep, or learning how to use a greenhouse. Transportation to a satellite site can eat away at required class time, so the school district dropped agriculture classes and FFA located its New Pathways program in classrooms near the original farm house. ... Well, the pigs aren't coming back, but the rumors are settled. The Farm is returning to agriculture. Come fall, its produce will go straight into school meals. To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/19/1153971/school-district-putting-farming.html?story_link=email_msg [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooqEWxGTWsADNJihGIloB86_AEtD79nXCVYrxaJDrDeJE_vQ8AXmDB2L2qEJkdCGybXpIUiuc5YpkAE70TCxGrluDQ-K2HcKhAlJwgvqbJVr-KlQZXw-hI7dqVt3hJe6IA1axZxN1_H5oeZ_e95WtlB7WHNvzVR-TzyKLQ2Oc080y0ARRTzuiY2k8hXL45P5TVHZzker_UdmdWCj_edmlZgpF1VcGVdfvsI=] East Side neighborhoods mobilize to clean up garden sites, get ready for planting By Kathleen Merryman / The News Tribune / 4/14/10 The East Side is getting two more crime fighters, two more exercise facilities, two more gathering places. ... Compliments of Puyallup Tribe of Indians and City of Tacoma, it is getting two community gardens that will change the scenery and feed the people along Portland Avenue. ... They're scrub lots right now -- weedy, seedy sites at the corners of East 32nd Street and Wright Street and Portland. Together, they cover about two-thirds of an acre. To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/14/1147046/east-side-neighborhoods-mobilize.html?story_link=email_msg [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooomDe8_pjXvk43SIRFRbZ_iJ4aFY3QY-oESy90-4RoEJkTJxvMcE6FcPeUqJD4NoAJl48UWN3JaDHk4ryIKIUk6jF9eJaIH59A6GuzRjQnsotR2AsSg6qCBg6Mt10RmyLpUuvu9vCOZ_YAZXATCcwvpRrz1r7M4yfB2C6td_qKch0Bufwx8357Y0XsVIwMNNQLEabgf7D6fhip1-cMb4uLiJl9sNvvfgK2p6j664MYcLw==] Creating a healthier America, one community at a time By Anthony L-T Chen / The News Tribune, opinion / 4/13/10 >From the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier to the shores of the Key Peninsula, public health is a part of each Pierce County resident's everyday life. ... We make sure there is clean drinking water; clean air; safe food in our restaurants; protection from infectious outbreaks; and access to medical, dental and social services. We also make long-term investments to promote learning; prevent violence; and develop healthy, productive children, families and communities. ... Nationwide, our goal is to become the healthiest country in one generation. Take a moment and watch teh short, thought-provoking video online at www.generationhealth.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgoopA1Cp8U_F_pY1pYXAHUXn-4uaF46uMagi8cdNbYVXPpwxYcOwye-0WwLVZbsu_vgklqiz2V2YzOHwH7OfbuGviu9-hBGhn3jzfMZjX0z634A==]. Starting with each person and every community, Pierce County can help America become a place where we embrace healthy lifestyles, where everyone has access to health care and preventative services, and where our communities and neighborhoods make it easy for us to make healthy choices. To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/13/1145851/creating-a-healthier-america-one.html [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9Zgoopye8Jcw74ZFHy3dTqikyE-DPWANu2gu7AGlpuzlbiS9ixdEw3yytsIL9D7XdQR8LFcLT9tVdIi40AQ2W8UXYoRDdpSQ1AII4ixZ9cHWuhcmeRQ6ywDJ_ZxbeeEpZuGgThtTE2FgEmMDeNvmwNw9CP2qKDZGuiw4KduYdBA4dMwvyHbwmRER-JFghlOK_6qbLg=] Pierce County's first mobile slaughterhouse: A dreamer brings solution to farmers C.R. Roberts / The News Tribune / 4/7/10 Cheryl Ouellette has a dream about meat -- real meat, local meat, and how meat can save the family farm. Known as "The Pig Lady" for the swine she nurtures at her Summit-area farm, Ouellette is the source and the force for the first mobile meat-processing unit in Pierce County. ... She is project manager for the Puget Sound meat Producers Cooperative, which runs the traveling slaughterhouse. To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/07/1138248/from-field-to-table.html [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgoophUbO5rDFRe9cAa0f0ZO9S2yEIBpnrlyRXWgnIy2I8znVXTXiNP2C0JJwEnKKWBSxv35JFde1NPFhIbEzNTQjQFpUUvSdnVvnSksjYhxNROdzn_yRFxtKXvBpSa_9ktQCRGa4QpeIz71G2fuyhqPiOHhNbBia_54KQOdRWfJO7AZYN1IRK33TF] In the garden: all the scoop on poop: Using manure in the garden By Sue Goetz / The News Tribune, Guest Columnist / 3/9/10 Compost: that earthy, lovely byproduct of decay that makes gardeners swoon (but only when it smells good and doesn't have weed seeds). ... First of all, what is compost? It's the material that remains from the decay process that is similar to soil. When it's used as an amendment, it will help to make native soil easy to dig, have better water movement and microbial action. ... OK, technically, all biodegradable things will "compost" over time; it is nature's cycle of growth and decay. What we want for our garden is the biodegraded mix of materials that will nourish and give beneficial elements back to the soil in which we grow plants. Think along the notion "from the earth, back to the earth." To read the entire article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/09/1103010/in-the-garden-all-the-scoop-on.html?story_link=email_msg [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103329945202&s=278&e=001fBOYi9ZgooqE98peVtKz-h7-lx-CtTpMTxaLWAXYmuTM2KXBU-l0AcNClSupkp9nA5WC5FgpUGNdeXIZw8IO5EmdDYvaxUgUzG-2MKucl7qG5EmxmYW_WNQUmN80nL5j0jq-aaUt28LwxbhFLCnoOqixL2ru71xVI3RPca7HbL2iLjXlrKGBerK-uFyOgQQhMQ-EyGz5QD961H29j8EStpvW_jfXJ5Y4LBAMZb2xSRg=] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sincerely, Alicia Lawver Growing Conversation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Share this email http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=ctctproductstrategy&url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs036/1103032892187/archive/1103329945202.html Forward email http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1103032892187&ea=tacoma-environews@cityoftacoma.org&a=1103329945202 This email was sent to tacoma-environews@cityoftacoma.org by growingconversation@gmail.com. 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