Kim Smith

This is my third year participating in the EcoChallenge. I have focused on water reduction and plastic packaging in the past. This year, I am going to focus on food. In addition to familiarizing myself with our local food co-op, Food Front, I am committing to work on my permaculture project in my yard. I am going to use the two-week deadline of the EcoChallenge as motivation to plant the newly graded and bioswaled yard with edibles, natives, and habitat plants, as well as seed the front and back with an Ecolawn. I also will do research on installing rain barrels and start making contacts on building a little green house and chicken coop.

My EcoChallenge Blog

October 15th, 2011

10/15: The deadline. I made so much progress and I am sooo thankful! I spent another 4 hours outside today planting all of the riches of plant life in my front yard. Tomorrow, I will meet with my greenhouse designer and will plant my backyard. There will come a point where I will put the garden to bed for the winter and just enjoy the down time, but there is still much to do. The EcoChallenge has really helped me get my momentum going, so my commitment to permaculture will be an ongoing project for many years to come.

October 14th, 2011

What a productive day! Thank you, EcoChallenge, for keeping me on track. I have a car full of plants from Dennis 7 Dees to plant tomorrow and I met with Portland Purple Water about rain water systems. Does anyone have recommendations? There are many options and varying costs. I may well have one installed by the end of this month.

October 13th, 2011

More permaculture supplies today. Bags of organic compost and potting soil from Whitney Farms, some perennials, and rooting compound. More exercise to come this weekend. And now enjoying more treats from my garden: fresh tomatoes, lemon cucumber, and kale.

October 12th, 2011

While I have not heard back from Organics to You (my gift certificate isn't working), I did get a note from a chicken coop designer, so I am going to have him come over this weekend and look at the possibility of designing a chicken coop and little greenhouse. I am really excited about these possibilities and hope to reuse a lot of materials, like sinks, windows, and doors from the Rebuilding Center.

October 11th, 2011

Darn it! I missed the midnight deadline to enter my update and be eligible for Monday. Well, I am not asleep yet, so it counts for me. This is a good example of why the second part of my EcoChallenge- to shop at Food Front is a challenge. My hours tend to be off from the mainstream and I can never get to the store in time. I traditionally shop at Winco because it is open late into the night. I did eat at a local restaurant tonight though that specializes in local ingredients. I have my Organics to You gift certificate out and ready to order as well.

October 9th, 2011

Back in the yard today. 4 hours this round. The big project was working on the front lawn, which included taking up the tarps and wood, composting the cardboard that hadn't broken down in the sheet mulching, digging in the remaining decomposed cardboard (lots of happy worms!), raking and smoothing the soil, and seeding with the Fleur de Lawn. Who needs a gym?! I also planted some grasses and ground cover and berries in the expanding berry patch: boysenberries, tayberries, and a vertical blackberry. Next year, there will surely be jam.

October 8th, 2011

I discovered Portland Nursery yesterday (can't believe it's taken me so long!) and came out with a car full of plants. I'm going to be sore tonight. 7 hours in the yard weeding, planting, prepping, and seeding. Now on to eating some fresh fruit and veggies from my yard. Very rewarding.

October 7th, 2011

Whoo hoo! Research has paid off. I called the Tualatin Water District, where they have an awesome water conservation demonstration garden. I remember taking a tour there and being very impressed with their Eco Lawn. Steve Carper, their conservation technician, shared about the different seeds they use. Their favorite is Fleur de Lawn, by local company Hobbs & Hopkins. It is an herbaceous, flowering lawn alternative and a longtime favorite in the northwest. This mix makes it possible to enjoy a bit of the countryside in your own outdoor living space. Fleur de Lawn is very drought tolerant and stays green with little care. The nitrogen fixating clover naturally self-feeds the lawn and the low growing flowers give it beautiful blooming color. The blend was based on trail research at Oregon State University on eco friendly landscapes. This mix includes: * PR8820 Dwarf Perennial Ryegrass, Lolium perenne * O’Connor’s Strawberry Clover, Trifolium fragiferum * Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia maritimaand * Dwarf Yarrow, Achillea millefolium * Wild English Daisy, Bellis perennis * Baby Blue Eyes, Nemophila menziesi http://www.protimelawnseed.com/collections/eco-and-alternative-lawns I know what I will be doing this weekend.

October 5th, 2011

Exciting news today! I offered the EcoChallenge as a project option in my Environmental Sociology class and 18 people chose to do it! Really proud of them. They came up with some pretty clever actions related to water, transportation, garbage, energy, and food too. Nice.... On my own project, I checked in with Jadene Mayla, my permaculturalist, to find out about recommended Ecolawn seeds and mushroom spores. We're going to innoculate some stumps and logs with oyster mushrooms. Yum! To learn more about her work with Eco-Logic Permaculture and Landscape Design, check out her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6066452940/?id=10150355786012941&ref=notif¬if_t=group_activity#!/EcoLogicPermacultureDesign or http://www.ecologiclandscape.com You can reach her at: jadene@ecologiclandscape.com

October 4th, 2011

Tuesdays are long work days, so besides some composting, I did not get to work in the yard. The big EcoChallenge contribution though was getting to speak on OPB's Think Out Loud show this morning with Rich Bruer, on behalf of the Northwest Earth Institute. To hear the broadcast, go to: http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/ There are many people doing amazing things!

October 3rd, 2011

My permaculture project is in full swing! Five hours of planting on Saturday and another two on Sunday are helping establish my new front and back yard. All of the old lawn has been removed or sheet mulched to convert the land into edibles, habitat, and native plants. Pictures will follow of the grading and bioswale work in the backyard. It now looks like a small river, with ajuga, ferns, and wild violets along its banks. I am doing research on the best seeds for the Eco-lawn and hope to seed this coming weekend. The front yard is awash with life. Paths wind through my herbs, squash plants, and tomatoes. Certainly an alternative design for a traditional front yard, Jadene Mayla brought in a sensitivity to my needs and the needs of supporting a variety of life, from pollinators and birds to newts and mushrooms. It is an exciting project and I am thrilled to have the structure of the EcoChallenge to help me make progress.

Comments

From: Steven Fritz

anything to support your bioswale!

From: Linda A Smith

Excellent job! So proud of you! Really love the garden. Anxious to see the backyard.

From: Kim Smith

My bioswale thanks you, Steve!! As does the Northwest Earth Institute, of course. ;)

From: Kristen Gabrielsen

Good luck, Kim! I can't wait to tour your new yard!

From: April Ann Fong

Kim! Can't wait to see the new permaculture! So exciting! Loved hearing you on Think Out Loud!!! I made a general donation for you, my class (Team Environmental Studies 171) and myself, sorry it didn't show up on your page!! xoxo

From: Conan Harmon-Walker

Call me sometime mi'Lady

From: Kimberley Smith

You achieved your EcoChallenge and your goal! Good job!

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My EcoChallenge(s)

Sustainable Food Options

My Fundraising Goal

$300

My Pledge Tally

$305

My Pledgers

• Steven Fritz
• Linda A Smith
• Kristen Gabrielsen
• Conan Harmon-Walker
• Kimberley Smith