 Covington Community Park
The Covington Community Park project began in 2012 and has been completed in phases. This is the first and only park in Covington and covers 29 acres total. Fifteen acres are a natural area composed of mature conifer and deciduous trees with an understory of native shrubs and ground covers with very few, if any, invasive weed species. The other 14 acres of the park are developed for active recreation and is a welcome amenity for the community.
The city received funding from multiple state and federal sources and contributed its own funds to complete the massive project. A KCD grant of $91,000 paid for interpretive signs and development of trails in the natural area. Eleven interpretive signs installed include educational information about tree snags, laminated root rot, green roofs and more, all of which contribute to the function of the park as an outdoor classroom.
Partner organization Green River Coalition planted several areas, formerly used as ATV roads, with native trees and shrubs to increase the diversity of native plants in the natural area.
Click HERE for more information. |
Envirothon Team
Recruitment Starting Soon!
Do you know a high school student or teacher interested in natural resources? KCD is recruiting teams of high school students to participate in the field-based Northwest Regional Envirothon competition this spring. Learn about wildlife, forestry, aquatics and soils from natural resource experts while competing to win scholarships and other prizes. Click HERE to learn more.
Interested high school students and teachers should email educationIP@kingcd.org for more information on participating. |
Thank You to Our
Service Event Volunteers
Renton Day of Service and Microsoft Day of Caring were huge successes this year. A dozen Renton community members joined KCD staff for vital Native Plant Nursery maintenance tasks, and 40 Microsoft employees helped clear invasive species from a Rural Shorelines project site in North Bend.
If you have a group that would like to volunteer in an urban forest, rural farm, native plant nursery or other KCD-sponsored event, contact volunteer@kingcd.org or visit http://kingcd.org/get-involved/volunteer/ for more details.
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Duwamish Alive
Volunteer Event
October 20, Seattle
Improve habitat for wildlife and water quality in Longfellow Creek by volunteering at the Duwamish Alive! work party on October 20, from 10 AM to 2 PM in Seattle. Volunteers will be working all around the park planting, weeding and mulching to help this urban forest stay healthy. Click HERE for more information and to register. |
Thank You WCC
KCD is saying thank you and sadly, goodbye to our Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews. Since last October, our two crews have been up early and hard at work restoring wetland and stream habitat throughout King County. These dedicated AmeriCorps service members have been braving the elements, removing invasive vegetation and planting ecologically-rich native plant buffers. Their work is critical to our stream habitat restoration efforts and we are thankful for their hard work. Our next WCC crews get started this month. So, keep an eye out as we welcome them to KCD.
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Congratulations to
WCC Member
Stevie Knapp!
At the End of Service Ceremony for Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), Stevie Knapp received the Exemplary Environmental Stewardship Award, presented by the WCC and the Department of Ecology for the work she did during her placement with KCD. Congratulations Stevie!
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 Calendar of Events
October 4: Beautify and Care for Your Streamside Property, Redmond
Learn ways to support wildlife, enhance property and reduce maintenance needs.
October 5: Natural Gardens for Native Pollinators, Richmond Beach
Learn about pollinators and their positive impact on your property and how you can support them.
October 6: Natural Gardens for Native Pollinators, Skyway
Learn about pollinators and their positive impact on your property and how you can support them.
October 6: Salmon SEEson, Seattle
Learn about salmon, healthy habitats and how these connect to your health.
October 6: Planting on the Tolt River, Snoqualmie River Valley
Help sustain restoration efforts by planting native species.
October 6: Green Tukwila Day!, Tukwila
Help remove Himalayan blackberry and English ivy.
October 11: Volunteer Rain Garden Planting Party, Bothell
Learn about rain gardens and help neighbors beautify theirs.
October 13: KCD Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Day, Renton
Help KCD staff maintain trees and plants used in King County projects and earn native plants.
October 13: Fall Planting at Ellis Pond, Mercer Island
Help restore native habitat.
October 11: Volunteer Rain Garden Planting Party, Bothell
Help install a rain garden.
October 17: Growing Groceries 2.0 Series, Issaquah
Learn about growing healthy vegetables and fruit in our maritime climate.
October 17: RainWise Contractor Fair, North Seattle
Learn about rebates for the cost of your rain garden or cistern.
October 18 & 25 and November 1 & 8: Land & Water Stewardship for Horse & Livestock Owners, Redmond
Discover ways you can have less mud, better pastures, manage manure, and care for streams and wetlands.
October 19: KCD Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Day, Renton
Help KCD staff maintain trees and plants used in King County projects and earn native plants.
October 20: Duwamish Alive Volunteer Event at Longfellow Creek, Seattle
Help plant, weed and mulch to keep this urban forest healthy.
October 20: Our Land Our Water, Burien
Learn ways to support wildlife, enhance property and reduce maintenance needs while living along the water.
October 20: Tree Planting Celebration, Seattle
Help plant native trees and shrubs to improve and enhance urban forest habitat.
October 21: Farm Walk: Pollinators on the Farm, Kent
Learn tips and tricks for installing pollinator habitat.
October 21: Reforesting Ron Regis Park, Renton
Help restore healthy forest along the Cedar River.
October 26: Soundkeeper Boat Patrol, Seattle
Help observe, report pollution and remove debris along shorelines and waterways.
October 27: Farm Tour: Horses and Salmon, Redmond
Learn how Two Horse Ranch cares for horses and the salmon spawning stream flowing through their property.
October 27: Solstice Park Pollinator Planting, West Seattle
Help create habitat for pollinators (birds, bees, and other bugs).
October 28: Project Learning Tree (PLT) Teacher Training, Auburn
Gain professional skills and become a certified PLT educator.
October 31: Lake Union Kayak Patrol, Seattle
monitor pollution and prevent debris from contaminating our waterways.
November 1: Become a Better Ground Ambassador, Seattle
Train to represent KCD at events like the King County Fair, Vashon Sheepdog Classic or CHOMP! food festival (training held monthly).
November 6: Beautify and Care for Your Streamside Property, Renton
Learn ways to support wildlife, enhance property and reduce maintenance needs.
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Beautify and Care for
Your Streamside Property
October 4, Redmond
November 6, Renton
Join us for a FREE evening workshop with a KCD resource specialist to learn how to steward your stream, lake or wetland.
Topics include minimizing pollution runoff on your property; controlling invasive weeds; utilizing native plants for wildlife habitat and erosion control; adding value and beauty to your yard naturally; and learning about environmental regulations that impact your property.
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Natural Gardens for
Native Pollinators
October 5, Richmond Beach
October 6, Skyway
Join KCD for one of these FREE classes to learn about pollinators and their positive impact on your property and how you can support them.
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Volunteer Rain Garden
Planting Party
October 11, Bothell
Join KCD and the Snohomish Conservation District on Thursday, October 11, from 4 to 6 PM, for a volunteer rain garden planting party in Bothell. Learn about rain gardens and help your neighbors beautify theirs! Click HERE for more information and to register. |
Land and Water
Stewardship Series
October / November,
Redmond
This fall, join KCD Farm Planners and other regional experts to learn how to live sustainably with horses and livestock on your property. Attend all of this 4-part series or pick-and-choose those that meet your needs.
- October 18 – Streams and Wetlands: Living with Livestock near Water, 6:15 to 8:45 PM
- October 25 – Mud Management: Record Rainfall, 6:15 to 8:45 PM
- November 1 – Manure Management: Got Livestock? Got Manure!, 6:15 to 8:45 PM
- November 8 – Pasture Management: Becoming a Grass Farmer, 6:15 to 8:45 PM.
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New Workshop!
Our Land Our Water
October 20, Burien
Come together for a FREE hands-on workshop on Saturday, October 20, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, at the Burien Community Center. Learn about actions you can take at home to protect clean water and beautify your property with native plants. Click HERE for more information and to register. |
Farm Walk:
Pollinators on the Farm
October 21, Kent
Join KCD and the Xerces Society on Sunday, October 21, from Noon to 2 PM, in Kent for this special fall farm walk focused on pollinator recovery! Learn tips and tricks for installing pollinator habitat, see a pollinator strip as it is installed, and walk around the farm with Eric Lee-Mader to discuss the pollinator-friendly projects that Mary Olson Farm is implementing. Click HERE for more information and to register.
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Farm Tour:
Horses & Salmon
October 27, Redmond
Join King Conservation District at this FREE Farm Tour on October 27, from 10 AM to Noon in Redmond (RSVP for directions) to see how local landowners care for horses and Bear Creek, a salmon spawning stream, that flows through their property. See examples of happy and healthy horses, excellent mud management, manure composting and more! Click HERE for more information and to register. |
Project Learning Tree Teacher Training with KCD & Pacific Education Institute
October 28, Auburn
Are you a formal or informal educator looking for opportunities to gain professional development skills, hear ideas on incorporating science lessons into your classroom and become a certified Project Learning Tree (PLT) educator? Then Join KCD and Pacific Education Institute (PEI) on Sunday, October 28, from 9 AM to 4 PM, at Green River Community College in Auburn. Cost is $25 and clock hours will be provided. Space is limited— click HERE to register today! |
Become a
Better Ground Ambassador
November 1, Renton
Help KCD promote local food, healthy forests and clean waters by becoming a Better Ground Ambassador. Join us for the next orientation on Thursday, November 1, from 6 to 7 PM at KCD in Renton. As an ambassador, you'll help educate the public about local conservation at farmers markets, the NW Flower and Garden Show, and across King County. Click HERE for more information and to register. |
Welcome Gwen Vernon
Gwen joined KCD in September to manage our education programs and team. She has over 20 years of experience as a sustainability professional, educator and manager in the non-profit, private consulting, government and school sectors. Her expertise is in sustainable landscaping, stormwater, recycling and materials management, agriculture, and behavior change. She holds a BA in Spanish and a Masters in Education, and speaks fluent Spanish.
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New Class Series:
Growing Groceries 2.0
Begins October 17, Issaquah
Join King County Master Gardeners for Growing Groceries 2.0, a series of classes about growing healthy vegetables and fruits. The series begins October 17 and runs through May 2019 at The Grange in Issaquah. Cost is $50 for the entire series or $5 for each individual class.
Topics include soil preparation, garden design, variety selection for our maritime climate, seed starting, main edible plant families (alliums, brassicas, legumes and nightshades), disease and pest management, and more.
Click HERE for more information and to register.
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