Blog
November 16, 2023 Thanks to Lee who, in April of 2022, kicked off the conversation about FECO’s relationship to Native American people, whose homes were on this land before European settlers arrived. A six-member FECO Coast Salish Solidarity Group emerged and met monthly to wrestle with steps we could take to better understand the history […]
Heed the Mayor’s Advice – Call 911
June 14, 2013 The conveniences that make our neighborhood desirable also make it vulnerable: easy freeway access, many buses and the ability to walk to most everything you need. A package was recently stolen off a neighbor’s porch. We had a similar experience and now have a sign on our door: Do Not Leave Packages […]
State of the Orchard Address
June 6, 2013 We had .4 inches of rain last week. We are now watering trees and shrubs. (Water courtesy of Mylinda.) Anyone can take a turn at watering. Let us know if you are interested. The City is behind in mowing. They promise to mow the south half of the orchard very soon. (We […]
Our First Financial Contribution is Anonymous
May 27, 2013 Friday night, May 17, there was a party at the Orchard. We noticed the evidence the next day: a branch was torn off the Early Fuji, there were strewn beer bottles and cans, and a small fire was started (luckily, in the wet grass). Also at the scene, there was also a […]
You Meet the Nicest People …
May 18, 2013 I am scything away at the Orchard, readying it for special guests. We will soon host three landscape architects, all of whom want the chance to design our space. Why use a scythe? There are several advantages: You relate intimately with the earth It’s meditative and peaceful Scythe maintenance is easy Noise […]
Did we Strike Oil?
April 26, 2013 Three weeks ago, Nancy noticed a sheen over the standing water at the Orchard. We call this our wetland feature (though it’s very dry in the summer). It’s near the blueberries that Justin planted and it’s one of the reasons we always wear boots and roll up our pant legs up. The […]
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Provides Financial Support
April 15, 2013 We just heard that we have been awarded a grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON). This grant is for a design/community engagement process and will take about ten months to implement. Now, more than ever, we need volunteers! The Steering Committee is planning a Grant kick-off meeting in […]
A snippit from the pruning pro
March 16, 2013 Ingela decided that the William’s Pride would be an Open Center fruit tree. To counter the current characteristic of apical dominance (note the tall skyward branch in the Before photo), she bent the tall, central branch to about a 45-degree angle and then tied it down. She kept some small branches on […]
Enlisting Nature to Stem Climate Change
March 16, 2013 On February 27 I attended a panel discussion on, Enlisting Nature to Stem Climate Change: Capturing carbon in our NW cities, farms and forests, co-sponsored by the Sustainable Path Foundation and Climate Solutions. Speakers discussed ways in which forest, urban, and agricultural landscapes can be managed to increase their ability to capture […]