If you've read all this stuff you can jump right to the upcoming events section.

Please be sure to check this page for updated information before the meeting in case we've had to make any changes. Room reservations are only available on a first come, first served basis. Starting in March of 2010 rooms can only be reserved a maximum of 30 days in advance instead of 3 months like it used to be, so there may be times we have to meet somewhere else. A reminder email is usually sent out the week before each Gathering and includes a proposed agenda and confirmation of the meeting location. If you're not already getting it you can sign up for that email on our Newsletters page.

The Sustainable Burien Ning is now on the Scallops Ning site. Check it out for event information, classifieds, news about members and their activities, photos and more. SuBu is also on Facebook and there s a B-Patch Blog.

At our meetings we collect burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargeable and alkaline batteries. Please keep the two battery types separate, they go to different places. We will consolidate them and turn them in for recycling. Small batteries only. Undamaged CFL bulbs only: no broken bulbs and no fluorescent tubes please. Check our FAQ page for where to take these yourself, and ways to recycle more items.

People are also welcome to bring any extra food items they have and barter with others. If you have lots of apples from your tree you may be able to swap with someone who has too much garlic from their garden. Any leftovers can be donated to the Food Bank.

Feel free to invite friends, family, neighbors and business people who have an interest in helping create Sustainable Burien. You can pass out this PDF flyer.

If you have questions, please ask and we'll do our best to respond.

Sunday, September 12, 2010 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Sustainable Burien gathering, Burien Public Library. 4th Ave SW and SW 152nd St, room reservation confirmed.

Thursday, September 30th, 2010 6-9:30 PM
2010 Eat Local Now! Dinner

Eat Local Now! Dinner will celebrate it’s seventh year running on September 30th, 2010! Always a sell-out, this year Sustainable West Seattle, West Seattle CoolMom, Seattle Good Business Network (formerly BALLE Seattle), and Herban Feast are co-presenting this fundraising dinner. This year’s event is focused not only on promoting and educating about local food systems - but also turning local food systems into local food economies and development of green jobs. For information about tickets and more, see the Eat Local Now! website.

Sunday, October 10, 2010 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Sustainable Burien gathering, Burien Public Library. 4th Ave SW and SW 152nd St, room reservation pending.

Sunday, November 14, 2010 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Sustainable Burien gathering, Burien Public Library. 4th Ave SW and SW 152nd St, room reservation pending.

Sunday, December 12, 2010 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Sustainable Burien gathering, Burien Public Library. 4th Ave SW and SW 152nd St, room reservation pending.

Movie Nights are temporarily suspended due to some scheduling issues. We'll post a notice when they resume.

We've been helping set up the Burien Community Garden and with the exception of a few small items, it's finished and the gardeners have taken over. This section will be updated anytime there's new information. Last updated July 31, 2010.

• We prepared the one raised and 3 ground level beds.
• Spread and compacted a lot of gravel.
• Built a grape arbor in the NW corner and planted grapes and other plants around it.
• Built compost bins near the house.
• Built a privacy screen along the west fence.
• Prepared and planted the landscaping areas around the fence line.
• Laid down a lot of cardboard and spread wood chips.
• Landscaped the NE corner of the lot, leaving room for a sign.

Overall we moved about 40 yards of compost, gravel, top soil and wood chips and hauled in almost 300 cinder blocks to build the raised beds. A lot of material moved from one part of the site to another, sometimes more than once. For instance we scraped off a lot of sod and piled it up in two areas. Some of it was replaced with compost and tilled in, other areas had gravel laid down. After we built the raised bed most of the old sod was moved again to fill the lower part of the beds, topped off with compost and soil.

Support for this project, in the form of donations, time and materials comes from members of Sustainable Burien, the Burien Parks Department, Burien Bark, Cedar Grove Composting, CalPortland, Roger's Spray and Tree Service, and Big Fish Concrete. Burien Bark has donated the delivery of 15 yards of Cedar Grove Compost, and delivery of a load of gravel from CalPortland. Cedar Grove donated 5 yards of compost and sold us the rest at a big discount. CalPortland gave us a discounted price for gravel. The Parks Department has done a lot of the planning and will be doing the administration for the garden. Members of Sustainable Burien helped with the planning, and have been providing tools and equipment, and doing the physical work of preparing the garden. Roger's Spray and Tree Service delivered a load of good quality maple and alder wood chips and later a large load of mixed cedar and pine wood chips. Ben from Big Fish Concrete helped level and compact the gravel pathways, and donated the use of his mechanical compactor.

The notes from some of our past gatherings are available as PDF files.

• October 26, 2008
• November 23, 2008
• January 11, 2009
• February 8, 2009
• March 8, 2009
• May 10, 2009
• July 12, 2009
• March 14, 2010

Sunday, July 11, 2010 Sustainable Burien gathering.

Saving Urban Forests and the Health of Puget Sound-Personal Steps and Brainstorming a Broader Strategy. Our speaker was Steve Richmond of Garden Cycles

Steve provided some background on invasive plant issues as it relates to ecosystem health, outlined best practices for invasive removal, and brainstormed strategies to address this regional problem.  There were hand outs on Restoration Tips with resources for do-it-yourself native plant restoration.

Steve also talked about the advantages of gardening with native plants, and listed some resources that are available. To quote from his website:

Native plants are adapted to our dry summers and wet winters here in the Pacific Northwest. They are 10-15 times more effective at attracting wildlife than introduced species, particularly for the beneficial birds, bees, and butterflies we can expect in our city environment. A well-designed native landscape can be more than beautiful; it can help insulate your home from harsh weather, reduce noise, filter the air, and reduce watering and maintenance.

Remember that almost all invasive plants spreading through our forests started in someone's yard. You can help limit the source of future invasive plants.

December 12, 2008 and January 10, 2009
Moonlight Beach Walk at Seahurst Park.

In spite of temperatures hovering right around freezing, occasional heavy rain and a wind storm, nearly 50 people showed up for the December 12th Beach Walk. Kids, parents and interested citizens spent about an hour and a half exploring the beach with flashlights, finding the creatures that are normally hidden. They learned about beach etiquette, marine life and much more. People for Puget Sound set up an awning at the top of the ramp so there would be a reasonably dry place to sign in and get oriented. And where coffee and hot chocolate were available to help warm people up.

The weather was better for the January 10, 2009 beachwalk. Over 60 people participated and had a great time. There are photos from these and the two previous beachwalks on the Environmental Science Center web site.

People For Puget Sound and various partners are also sponsoring several others, including on Vashon Island, on Bainbridge Island, in Olympia and Anacortes. See their Events page for details.

This event was sponsored by the Environmental Science Center, People for Puget Sound, the City of Burien and the Seattle Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the Environmental Science Center and Erica Nomura