Mar/Apr Newsletter
It's Earth Month!
Every month is Earth Month at Spokane Zero Waste, but this is the time of year we get to celebrate all the beauty and abundance the Earth provides and inspire others to live more gently and harmoniously with the planet.
How will we be doing that? Glad you asked! We'll be co-hosting the 2nd Annual Earth Day Block Party with River City Youth at West Central Abbey and you're invited. Join us for this free, family friendly event!
Event Details:
When: April 25, 11am to 3pm
Where: West Central Abbey, 1832 W. Dean Ave
What's happening: Food trucks, live music, the Mend-It Cafe, a native plant giveaway, a bike giveaway, a bike rodeo for the kids and a community art project! whew
Heads up: Elm Street will be closed! You might have to walk a block or two, or use the drop-off point at the Abbey before you go find parking.
Our work focuses on reducing and eliminating waste; specifically textile and food waste. Why do we work on both? Because they play a significant role in the climate crisis and are inextricably linked to planetary health.
Community Art Project: We are so excited to announce Urban Shade Project!
This is more than just an art project, it's a way to cool down the neighborhoods that feel the increasing temperatures of Summer heat the most. The first shade structure will go up in the River City Youth Garden and will celebrate one of Earth's greatest pollinators, the Monarch butterfly!
Led by SZW, Urban Shade aims to reduce the impacts of direct and radiating heat in communities most affected, as identified in the Beat the Heat study study produced by the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment. These structures will also help pull textile waste out of our local waste stream by giving old materials a new purpose.
Guests attending the 2nd Annual Earth Day Block Party will be invited to create fabric butterflies under the guidance of one of our volunteer menders, and each one will be woven into the larger structure.
Interested in being a part of this project? We’re seeking artists, engineers and craftspeople to form a team or teams to help design, engineer and install these structures. Use this form to get in touch, we look forward to hearing from you!
Spokane Zero Waste would like to thank Better Health Together for supporting our 2nd Annual Earth Day Event with River city Youth! THANK YOU!!
Black Earth Day, Seed To Soul
Planting Seeds of Resilience in Our Community
Other places to find us during Earth Month
Black Earth Day, Seed To Soul|
When : April 18th, 10am-3pm
Where: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 500 S Stone St, Spokane, WA 99202
What’s Happening: We'll be showcasing wool pellets, a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers that retain water, release nutrients slowly and repel slugs. This is part of our work using what nature already provides to do the work of manufactured materials while supporting hardworking farmers.
We'll also be giving away sample pellet packs to those interested in joining our Citizen Scientist project!
How does it work? You'll use the pellets as directed in garden plants while growing the same plants without pellets alongside them. Once a month you'll check in by filling out a short form to help us collect data on the effectiveness of wool pellets in home gardens,fruit orchards, vineyards or small acre farms. Come by and talk with us to learn more.
Wool pellets provided by Hop’n Ridge Ranch, Deer Park, Shane and Stacey Carpenter
Hop’n Ridge Ranch is a small family-owned and operated farm with a pellet mill.
Facebook Hop’n Ridge Ranch
Instagram: sheep_of_5048
April 25th Arbor Day Celebration
When: April 25, 11am to 2pm
Where: Finch Arboretum
What's happening: Wool Pellets and Citizen Scientist Project, see details under Black Earth Day, Seed to Soul event above
Learn to Mend, Make and Upcycle - Take a Class!
“Love the class! The instructors were so patient and kind. The class was super informative!”
SZW Launches Open Sewing Lab!
Practice makes perfect, but you don’t all have the space for a sewing room. Now you can come to the SZW Studio for your personal projects.
Need some extra space to cut out a pattern? Have questions about your own machine? Maybe you don't have a sewing machine at home and need to use one? No problem! During Open Sewing Lab you will have access to our knowledgeable sewists, sewing machines and all basic supplies including:
Cutting mats
Counter height cutting table
Rotary cutters
Iron
Pins
Scissors
Seam rippers.
With the help of our skilled sewists and access to equipment, what can’t you make?
Bring your own project and materials.
FAQ:
Can I bring my own machine? Yes! We have machines here that you're welcome to use, but if you'd rather use your own that's just fine. We'll even do our best to help troubleshoot and answer questions about your machine to the best of our abilities.
Will you be able to help me with my project? Our sewists will be around to answer basic questions, provide inspiration, and give advice but if you need help learning how to use a machine or have more in-depth project questions, check out one of our monthly classes instead.
Do I have to bring my own thread? Yes you’ll need thread to match your fabric.
Sign up for our First Open Lab on Saturday, May 2 from 12:30-3pm (right after The Get to Know Your Sewing Machine class) Cost: $25
Legislative Round Up
It was a tough legislative session for waste and plastics bills in Washington state this year. All of our priority bills failed to reach the governor's desk, including:
The Bottle Bill: or Bottle and can recycling refund act SB 5502 / HB 1607
Post consumer recycled content in additional products/packaging SB 6156 / HB 2271
We are disappointed but not deterred. In May we will be reorganizing to build grassroots support for these important bills. If you would like to be part of that work, reach out at
volunteerszw@spokanezerowaste.org, subject line: waste reduction policy.
Silver Lining
However, this session wasn’t a total loss. Through intense collaboration between west side environmental groups, east side environmental organizations, Sen. Riccelli and Rep. Hill, the City of Spokane HB 2416 was passed.
This bill lays the groundwork for the Waste to Energy plant to come into compliance with the Climate Commitment Act by reducing the plants GHG emissions over time. This represents a win for rate-payers who won’t see a huge spike in their bills and a win for the Spokane environment as the City will now begin the work of drafting a waste reduction plan that also reduces emissions.
Kris Layh
Steller Volunteer!
From Dissonance to Discovery: A Conversation with SZW Volunteer Kris Layh
Interviewed and written by Brandie Otter
Kris Layh describes the shift as a kind of "cognitive dissonance." We all know the cycle, the buying, the tossing, the endless boxes within boxes. But for Kris, the break in the pattern started with a handful of screws. He found himself holding them, feeling the weight of the metal, sitting near the trash was a can of mixed nuts. Instead of seeing leftover screws and empty can of mixed nuts, he saw a resource. "They are still good," he thought. "Why am I throwing these away?" That’s the question that led him to Spokane Zero Waste. It wasn't a grand political statement; it was a fascination with the "more to it" that most of us miss.
The New Light
When I asked Kris what finally cracked the lens open, he spoke about fatherhood. "When I became a Father I started looking at the world around me and I started to see everything in a different light”. For Kris becoming a father really made him think about the imprint he was leaving on the world. “It makes you think about how you can maybe do things a little differently. “It’s about the world that we leave behind for our children and what we are teaching them about it.” After learning about the Mend it Cafe Kris decided to take sewing classes with SZW to bridge the gap between knowing and doing. He brought that skill home to his eight year old daughter and now, they’re building something together that isn't on a screen. "She is sewing straight lines better than I can right off the bat," he laughed.
From Skeptic to Supporter
Kris is a builder by nature, but building with 'trash' is a different kind of challenge. Usually, you go to the store for straight, new lumber. Working with a salvaged door and old bookshelves for the SZW studio cutting table felt 'a little off' while they were in the thick of it. There’s a real tension in trying to make mismatched pieces fit together. But Kris stuck with the friction. He told me that when they finally flipped the table over, it was perfectly level.
There’s something to be said for that, how the work can feel messy and lopsided until you finally stand back and see the whole thing holding weight. Kris isn't trying to be a guru or a 'zero-waste' poster child. He’s just a guy who stopped at the rim of a trash can with a handful of hardware and realized he didn't want to let go. He saw the quality in those old screws and bolts and decided they were still worth something.
A Moment to Support Spokane Zero Waste
We’re thrilled that so many people are showing up for Spokane Zero Waste.
More of our community is choosing to repair instead of replace, learn new skills, and take part in building a more sustainable, connected Spokane. From Mend-It Cafe to Sustainable Sewing Lab to ReCraftLAB, it’s inspiring to see this work resonate and grow.
And with that growth comes a need for more support to keep these programs accessible and thriving.
If you’re in a position to give, we’d be grateful for your support right now:
$25 helps keep our classes and events stocked with essential sewing supplies
$50 supports the development of our ReCraftLAB sales platform
$100 contributes to training for refugee and immigrant women
$500 helps us host a Mend-It Cafe
$1,000 supports our teaching and training studio
Every gift—of any size—helps us continue meeting this moment and growing alongside our community.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
