I joined my neighbors on Saturday at Hands Around Green Lake, "a peaceful gathering to honor our community, our resilience as a nation, and the values we stand for: unity, freedom, equality, justice, kindness, love, resilience, compassion, and community." The event was inspired by a similar event held at Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA. While it looks like our California neighbors enjoyed some sun on their day, consistent drizzle and a chill in the air didn't stop a reported 2700+ folks…
Seattle Tilth's annual Harvest Fair can be described as a country fair in the city. It started as the only neighborhood farmers market back in the 1988, connecting city folks to the bounty of food from local farmers. Today it brings together some of Seattle's best qualities: tasty local food, live music, a bustling organic farmers market, urban farm activities and a chance to enjoy one of Seattle's great parks in our own neighborhood with lush gardens managed by Seattle Tilth.…
Lower Wallingford is going through quite a change. As we reported in April, the new transfer station is slated to open some time in 2016. In fact, Wallyhood has been reporting on this since 2009. You can trace the development of this project just by looking at those old posts.
Facing South toward N 34th St. This area used to be a business and parking lot.
Now that I can actually see the space in person rather than on a map or drawing, I’m really impressed. It’s far beyond what I expected.
I think this new transfer station is an example of how the neighborhood community can both advocate for its preservation while also being a proponent for the change that is inevitable in a growing city. My belief is that change is coming and along with that is greater density. What we can do as neighbors is to advocate for smart change. More density means the need for more open space, not less, as we try to serve the needs of all the additional people joining the neighborhood.
I would like to commend the Wallingford Community Council for a job well done on this project. If there is anyone else who deserves credit, please let me know in the comments and I will update the post. Given that Mayor Murray has officially cut ties with all Seattle Neighborhood Councils, it makes you wonder what these photos would look like without the neighborhood input.
Additional pictures below include the new Tableau World Headquarters at N 34th Street and Woodlawn, a picture of the kids playground and more.
On Sunday, October 4, visit Seattle's historic orchards throughout the city. Each orchard is planning special activities, including cider pressings, historical tours, and more. Your self-guided tour will take you throughout Seattle's neighborhoods to a hidden orchard, a former homestead, and other beautiful community sites. Two orchards are in Wallingford: Good Shepherd Center / Meridian Playground and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Look for the pink balloons along the Burke-Gilman between the University Bridge and Northlake Place west of Gasworks. Get your map of the…
If you like to eat, tend or learn about plants, this weekend's Wallingford activities should be right up your alley! Invasive Plants Class 10 to 11:30 Saturday: The community gardeners at the Freeway Estates Community Orchard (FECO) invite you to participate in their invasive plants class on Saturday from 10:00- 11:30 am at the Freeway Estates Community Orchard: 6th Ave NE, just north of NE 60th St (on the west side of I-5, next to the sound wall). This class will be taught by a representative…
Last week, after reading this piece about Wallingford's sewage ending up in Lake Union and the new incentive program for building rain gardens, I contacted the RainWise program through the City of Seattle. My children attend school in the Lincoln High building, which I learned is eligible for the rain garden program due to its proximity to Stone Way N. So, imagine my surprise when I walked past this a few days later: This sign was posted in the shrubbery that…
Each year for countless generations in England, Morris dancers and other good-hearted folks who want to ensure a fine apple crop have wassailed the apple orchards. They bring song, dance and Important Rituals to the orchard, thereby scaring off evil spirits and creating the optimum growing environment for the blessed apple. Ten years ago, Seattle’s own Sound and Fury Morris Dancers introduced this tradition to Wallingford, starting an annual wassail tradition at Meridian Park’s old orchard. This year, the Morris dancers…
