Juanita Bay’s work party was a resounding success, as reported in last week’s Kirkland Reporter. A large area on the edge of the wetland has been reclaimed from the Himalayan blackberries for future restoration work. There was also much work completed around the parking area and the restroom area.
New bloomers in Juanita Bay include cherry trees, serviceberry, twinberry (a hummingbird favorite), violets, bleeding heart, and elderberry. By the time this reaches print, the Pacific dogwoods in the park will be laden with flowers. (Many dogwood trees along 405 between 520 and NE 116th Street are already in full bloom). Warblers are coming through the park, and the first ducklings and goslings are out and about. The purple martins are back, checking out the hanging gourds from the old ferry pole and the Osprey nesting platform pole. Red-breasted sapsuckers, downy woodpeckers, and hummingbirds have been investigating nesting sites and collecting nesting materials along the West Boardwalk, where several redwing nests are also visible. A bushtit nest is easily observed off the East Boardwalk. Young beaver can be seen out swimming around dusk.
Green Economics: What is a CSA?
This acronym stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Individuals can contract with a CSA farmer to purchase a share of his crop throughout the harvest season. This contract gives the farmer a steady, established base market and income, usually supplemented by other sales outlets/markets such as farmers’ markets, and gives you fresh produce every week for much of the year. Many of the farms in PCC Farmland Trust are CSAs.
Two local CSAs are The Root Connection on Redmond-Woodinville Road, and Full Circle Farm in Carnation. The Root Connection is associated with the South 47 Farm’s pick-your-own farm and farm market, with box pick at The Root Connection. Full Circle Farm has at least one box drop-point in Kirkland. Many CSA’s offer a half-box weekly option for smaller households.
For a list of CSA’s, and information on local farmers’ markets, farm markets, and pick your own fruit and vegetable farms, go to www.pugetsoundfresh.org.
Green Calendar
* Washington Park Arboretum has many planted azaleas and rhododendrons. This is the season to pay them a visit! Or see www.arboretumfoundation.org/events_programs.cfm for guided tour information.
Weekly Saturday wetland walks at Mercer Slough with a Bellevue Park Ranger. Free, no pre-registration required, 1 to 2 p.m.. Weekly Thursday Sip and Stroll walk in Mercer Slough 11-noon. Both depart from the Visitor Center, 1625 118th Ave SE.. http://www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/Parks/mseec_spring_2009_prorams.pdf
* Thursday May 14, 2009, Sustainable Kirkland Community, 6:30. www.sustainableKirkland.org for information on meeting place and agenda.
* Saturday May 16, Green Kirkland volunteer work event at Carillon Woods Park, 5429 106th Ave. NE. http://www.greenkirkland.org/
* Green Kirkland Partnerhsip Events: May 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at Carillon Woods Park. Join the Green Kirkland Partnership for a native tree planting project. Sign up through EarthCorps.
Janice Johnson is a Juanita resident and a volunteer ranger at Juanita Bay Park.
