This year I really focused more on learning what I want to learn, not just learning things that I think others will be interested in. I spent a long time talking to someone about recycled ink cartridges for my home printer, making soda water at home to reduce use of bottles and can (called SodaStream) Gar Lic It, garlic prepared so that is does not burn or make you stink (and comes in flavors like Thai Peanut – just stir it in to rice), scented play clay purchased to save for a Christmas gift for my niece, a neat scarf my husband picked out (probably Guatamala), and lots more.

We visited with our friend Steve Richmond, owner of Garden Cycles, and shot a short video. I really wanted to know what drew him to having a booth at greenfest since his business is pretty busy and has limited bandwidth. His mission was to explain "seed rain", essentially what happens when birds eat berries of invasives in your yard and then poo the seeds out whole somewhere else. This is how ivy, holly, laurel and similar plants spread into the urban parks – even the suburbs. Shoot, the shores of the Green River  just hang with intense invasives – not like a healthy river at all. I should probably talk more about this some time. We also shot a short video with him that I will post shortly.

Pictures highlighting today’s activities!

Educational materials about invasive plants effect on our city’s park space 

Steve Richmond of West Seattle 

There is a bike and trailer in among all these plants. This is how Steve works – by bike and trailer. He doesn’t even own a vehicle. He is in a amazing shape! (He used to play pro beach volleyball.)