| Release Date:
09/05/2012
The Seattle Public Library hosts 'Urban Self-Reliance' workshops in October
The Seattle Public Library will host the Urban Self-Reliance workshop series in October at several Library locations. Learn how to live a more practical, sustainable life by growing your own food, using a bike as a healthy and economical means of transportation and more.
The workshops are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, except where noted below. Seating may be limited based on room capacity. Free parking is available at the branches; parking is available in the Central Library garage at the regular rates.
See below for the workshop schedule and descriptions.
Backyard Composting - Learn how to successfully compost food and yard trimmings at home and determine which system will work best for you. Presented in partnership with CleanScapes as part of the Neighborhood Waste Reduction Rewards program.
Bicycle Maintenance - Get an introduction to basic bicycle parts and maintenance. Presented in partnership with volunteers from the Bikery Collective.
Can You Eat Your Lawn? Using Permaculture Tools to Create Edible Landscapes - Laura Sweany of Sustainable Seattle will discuss easy, practical, low-maintenance options for home food production, including guilds, polycultures, food forests, edible hedgerows, herb spirals, sheet composting and more.
Community Disaster Hub Workshop - This workshop will discuss what neighborhoods just like yours are doing to build their hubs and a safety net that can be used in the event of any emergency - whether it is a Cascadia quake or a winter storm. Learn about the many different ways an Emergency Communications Hub can function depending on your community needs and available human resources, and find out about resources to get started organizing your own neighborhood or join up with hubs already in your area. Presented in partnership with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management.
Costume Repair and Swap - Join SewUpSeattle to trade, repair, or remake existing costumes (and costume-worthy clothing items). Get tips and secrets for easy, reusable, cost-effective ideas to get ready for Halloween.
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 206-684-4711
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518
- 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089
Earthquake Home Retrofitting - Experienced retrofit contractors and experts will show participants how to assess and retrofit their homes using the City of Seattle's free pre-engineered plans. This workshop is presented in partnership with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management and Seattle Department of Planning and Development. Registration is required; call the Seattle Office of Emergency Management at 206-233-5076 to register.
Edible Mushrooms - This program will help you become familiar with wild mushrooms and provide practical knowledge you can use, including how to gather wild mushrooms safely, mushroom guides, regional mycological organizations, preservation techniques, and mushroom recipes.
Going Solar in Seattle - Learn how you can harness the power of solar energy in your home and community. Seattle City Light and Northwest SEED will present options to generate your own solar electricity or join with neighbors in community-based solar projects.
Home Energy Upgrades with Community Power Works - Learn more about the City of Seattle's home energy upgrade program, Community Power Works. Homeowners who participate can save thousands of dollars off the cost of their energy efficiency upgrades through a combination of local utility rebates and limited time cash incentives.
On the Mushroom Trail - Forager-author Langdon Cook will present a slide lecture on the lively informal economy that has grown up around wild edible fungi in the Pacific Northwest.
Putting Together a Disaster Kit - Learn how to put together your own disaster supply kit during this hands-on workshop. Offered in partnership with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management.
Rain Gardens in Seattle: Work With What You've Got - Learn what happens to the rain after it hits your roof, how and why it is responsible for 75% of the pollution that enters Puget Sound, and what you can do about it. We will cover the topic of rain gardens: what they are, how they work, when they don't work, and the basics of how to build one.
Reuse It! - Learn some creative ways to reuse or repurpose commonly tossed items keeping materials that still have value out of the landfill. Presented in partnership with CleanScapes as part of the Neighborhood Waste Reduction Rewards program.
Shop Smarter to Reduce Waste - Learn how to shop smarter by choosing products with recyclable or reusable packaging, and with as little packaging as possible, to reduce waste and conserve resources - including your dollars! Presented in partnership with CleanScapes as part of the Neighborhood Waste Reduction Rewards program.
Urban Self-Reliance Fair - Join us for the premiere Urban Self-Reliance Fair with some of Seattle's best DIY resources, all in one place! Learn about food foraging, composting, biking, sustainable gardening, simple sewing, reducing waste, disaster preparedness, and making your home more non-toxic and energy efficient. This event will include information and representatives from the Bikery, Sustainable Seattle, CleanScapes, the Seattle Office of Emergency Management, SewUpSeattle, Rainwise, Powerworks, and more.
We've Gotta Be Clean (Non-Toxic Home Cleaners) - This workshop offered in partnership with the Washington Toxics Coalition will teach you how to whip up basic cleaners for your home with safer ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
Zero Waste Workshop - Stop waste before it happens and save money, conserve natural resources, and create a more sustainable household, Learn how to audit your own waste to identify categories where you can shrink your "waste-line." Join CleanScapes' waste zero specialist for this workshop and find out what happens to your stuff after it is collected, what goes where, and how you can help the City of Seattle reach its 2012 recycling goals and 2050 zero waste goal.
For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or Ask a Librarian.
For more information contact:
Andra Addison, communications director
206-386-4103
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