Blog
April 29, 2025 A friend said to me, “I am not doing anything for the resistance.” But, when I think of what they spend time and energy on, I think they are! After all, these days it doesn’t take much to be rebellious. What plant-based activities might demonstrate resistance? Which ones might be interpreted as […]
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 […]