There’s something special about taking an empty lot full of rocks, weeds and cigarette butts and turning it into something beautiful, useful and life sustaining. It takes time, energy and patience. But in the end, it’s about more than harvesting fresh fruits, veggies and herbs in community gardens — it’s about growing stronger, better neighborhoods.
In 2008, there were about eight community gardens in Tacoma. Now there are 42 in some stage of development, according to Kristen McIvor, community gardening coordinator for the City of Tacoma and Pierce County. Many of the gardens are on city and metro parks property and some are on private land. “People have a large desire to learn and connect with food,” she said. “They are interested in fresh organic food.”
Read more about the Green Thumb Community Garden in the magazine article, link is provide below.
http://southsoundmag.com/2011/06/01/growing-together
Also, we have another new garden in the neighborhood, the McKinley Hill Community Garden was completed last Saturday. It is located near East 34th and East M Streets, not far from the old Rogers Elementary School.
TEAM (Tacoma Eastside Action Membership) is looking for volunteers to help support their upcoming (July 16th event at Portland Avenue Park). And, be sure to talk to your neighbors and invite friendsand family to this summer event.
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Growing Our Future
TEAM Eastside Event
Celebrate Summer In Tacoma on Saturday July 16th.
This is an annual event on the Eastside of Tacoma in the First Creek Neighborhood. It is sponsored and organized by TEAM (Tacoma Eastside Action Membership), a long standing community group in the Portland Avenue and McKinley Avenue areas.
Enjoy entertainment, try a variety of foods, find arts and crafts, shop, join in games, get a message and generally have a fun day.
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Time is from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Location is the Portland Avenue Community Center and Park.
We still have room for addtional vendors, artists and music groups.
Call 253 627-5718 for additional information.
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This is an annual event on the Eastside of Tacoma in the First Creek Neighborhood. It is sponsored and organized by TEAM (Tacoma Eastside Action Membership), a long standing community group in the Portland Avenue and McKinley Avenue areas.
Enjoy entertainment, try a variety of foods, find arts and crafts, shop, join in games, get a message and generally have a fun day.
.Time is from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Location is the Portland Avenue Community Center and Park.
We still have room for addtional vendors, artists and music groups.
Call 253 627-5718 for additional information.
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
First Creek Neighbors
May 2011 Meeting
First Creek Neighbors
Invites You to Attend Our Monthly Meeting
6:30pm, Wednesday, May 4
The Portland Ave. Community Center
3513 Portland Avenue
TOPIC
Preview of the presentation about First Creek Neighbors and the Green Thumb Garden that will be made at Neighborhoods USA Conference towards the end of May
http://www.nusa.org/
Find out about what's going on in the First Creek Neighborhood, meet your neighbors, learn about the First Creek Watershed and our Community Gardens
Please join us!
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The results are in! First Creek Neighbors came in Third Place nationally.
Very good showing for our community group and for Tacoma.
Friday, March 25, 2011
New Community Garden for the Eastside of Tacoma
Good News for Tacoma! The "Good Medicine Community Garden" will be built this Spring at East 32nd and Portland Avenue. This is a wonderful community effort lead by the Puyallup Tribe, along with First Creek Neighbors, the City of Tacoma and many others working to build a better and healthier community.
We still need some funding to finish this garden project as planned, but we now have enough to get started building it. We'll be having work parties throughout the Spring, so keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities to help, we'll need your help, plus it's fun.
Future home of Good Medicine Community Garden
We still need some funding to finish this garden project as planned, but we now have enough to get started building it. We'll be having work parties throughout the Spring, so keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities to help, we'll need your help, plus it's fun.
A special thanks goes to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians for providing the land and a large portion of the funding. Sustainable Tacoma also provided a small grant for the project.
Learn more about how to get involved at our next garden meeting on Friday evening, April 1st, 6:30 at the Portland Avenue Community Center. Also, we'll talk about it at the First Creek Neighbors monthly meeting on April 6th, time 6:30 same location.
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News article from the Puyallup Tribal News, April 2011:
http://www.puyalluptribalnews.net/news/news/a_second_garden_sprouts_up_for_tribal_use/
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
First Creek Neighbors
February 2011 Meeting
First Creek Neighbors
Invites You to Attend Our Monthly Meeting
6:00pm, Wednesday February 2
at The Portland Ave. Community Center
3513 Portland Ave.
Fund Raiser for the Green Thumb Garden
6:00pm, Chili Feed, $2.00 per person, $5.00 per family. Proceeds from the fund raiser will be used to sponsor the $15.00 garden plots fee for needy gardeners.
Regular Meeting starts at 6:30
Main Topic of the evening:
Economic Development Plans of the Puyallup Tribe
It's always nice to hear from the Puyallup Tribe and to learn about the wonderful things they are doing for Tacoma.
Please join us for this important meeting.
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Invites You to Attend Our Monthly Meeting
6:00pm, Wednesday February 2
at The Portland Ave. Community Center
3513 Portland Ave.
Fund Raiser for the Green Thumb Garden
6:00pm, Chili Feed, $2.00 per person, $5.00 per family. Proceeds from the fund raiser will be used to sponsor the $15.00 garden plots fee for needy gardeners.
Regular Meeting starts at 6:30
Main Topic of the evening:
Economic Development Plans of the Puyallup Tribe
It's always nice to hear from the Puyallup Tribe and to learn about the wonderful things they are doing for Tacoma.
Please join us for this important meeting.
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Building Healthy Communities
from the Ground Up
Cascade Land Conservancy and the City of Tacoma invite you to a free evening workshop:
Building Healthy Communities from the Ground Up:
How to make your neighborhoods safer, cleaner and greener!
Join us at the Portland Ave community center, Wednesday at 6pm to 8:30.
Share in a potluck meal and gathering (bring something to share with four if you can).
Hear from a panel of community members from South Tacoma and the Eastside who have made their neighborhoods healthier:
o Dan Fear & David Whited, First Creek Neighbors & Puyallup Tribe – neighborhood restoration and crime reduction
o Carol Ramm-Gramenz & students, McCarver Elementary – safe routes to school and the Zina Linnik Park
o Octavia Hathaway, Caffeteria Octavia – starting a local business
Learn from Cascade Land Conservancy and Tacoma’s Community-Based Services about how you can effectively make change.
Brainstorm and plan concrete actions in your neighborhoods.
WHEN: 6-8:30pm, Wednesday January 26th
WHERE: Portland Ave Community Center (3513 East Portland Ave)
More information? Skye Schell at (206) 905-6891
RSVP Online:
http://www.cascadeland.org/events/healthy
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Building Healthy Communities from the Ground Up:
How to make your neighborhoods safer, cleaner and greener!
Join us at the Portland Ave community center, Wednesday at 6pm to 8:30.
Share in a potluck meal and gathering (bring something to share with four if you can).
Hear from a panel of community members from South Tacoma and the Eastside who have made their neighborhoods healthier:
o Dan Fear & David Whited, First Creek Neighbors & Puyallup Tribe – neighborhood restoration and crime reduction
o Carol Ramm-Gramenz & students, McCarver Elementary – safe routes to school and the Zina Linnik Park
o Octavia Hathaway, Caffeteria Octavia – starting a local business
Learn from Cascade Land Conservancy and Tacoma’s Community-Based Services about how you can effectively make change.
Brainstorm and plan concrete actions in your neighborhoods.
WHEN: 6-8:30pm, Wednesday January 26th
WHERE: Portland Ave Community Center (3513 East Portland Ave)
More information? Skye Schell at (206) 905-6891
RSVP Online:
http://www.cascadeland.org/events/healthy
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Martin Luther King Day - Day of Service
First Creek Watershed Cleanup, January 17, Tacoma, WA., Martin Luther King Day of Service - Participates: First Creek Middle School, University of Washington Tacoma (Environmental Sciences Dept), University of Puget Sound (Football Team), First Creek Church, Grace Methodist Church, TEAM (Tacoma Eastside Action Membership), First Creek Neighbors, Green Tacoma Partnership and Pierce County Stream Team, and other friends. This is a yearly event, join us next year and help make our environment better.
More than 125 volunteers participated on this Day of Service. Thank you everyone who helped make this day a success.
You'll find additional pictures on our First Creek Watershed Blog:
http://firstcreekwatershed.blogspot.com/
More than 125 volunteers participated on this Day of Service. Thank you everyone who helped make this day a success.
You'll find additional pictures on our First Creek Watershed Blog:
http://firstcreekwatershed.blogspot.com/
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Tuesday, January 4, 2011
First Creek Neighbors - January Meeting
First Creek Neighbors
Monthly meeting
6:30 - 8:00 pm, Wednesday January 5th
The Portland Avenue Community Center
3513 Portland Avenue
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Agenda for January 5, 2011
* Welcome and Introductions
* News from the Puyallup Tribe
* First Creek Restoration Work Party in celebration of MLK day which is planned for January 17th at Fairbanks and First Creek, from 10:00 - 1:00.
* New boards for the garden painted by First Creek Middle School Students
* News from the City
* News from the Community Garden and Garden Fund Raiser
* Other community business: Pot Holes and Swan Creek Library
* Announcements
Next Garden meeting will be February 4 at 6:30 at the Portland Ave. Community Center. A $15.00 fee to rent a plot is due on or before February 4th.
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Find information about our neighborhood as well as community resources by visiting our blog. This is the primary information site for our community garden.
http://firstcreek.blogspot.com/
First Creek Watershed blog features additional information primarily about the creek and habitat area. Contact Dan Fear at 253 304-2808 if you have any questions.
http://firstcreekwatershed.blogspot.com/
Green Thumb Community Garden now on Facebook, information and pictures.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129893867033700
For more information call Edwina at 474-7083
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Monthly meeting
6:30 - 8:00 pm, Wednesday January 5th
The Portland Avenue Community Center
3513 Portland Avenue
-----------------------------------------
Agenda for January 5, 2011
* Welcome and Introductions
* News from the Puyallup Tribe
* First Creek Restoration Work Party in celebration of MLK day which is planned for January 17th at Fairbanks and First Creek, from 10:00 - 1:00.
* New boards for the garden painted by First Creek Middle School Students
* News from the City
* News from the Community Garden and Garden Fund Raiser
* Other community business: Pot Holes and Swan Creek Library
* Announcements
Next Garden meeting will be February 4 at 6:30 at the Portland Ave. Community Center. A $15.00 fee to rent a plot is due on or before February 4th.
-----------------------------------------
Find information about our neighborhood as well as community resources by visiting our blog. This is the primary information site for our community garden.
http://firstcreek.blogspot.com/
First Creek Watershed blog features additional information primarily about the creek and habitat area. Contact Dan Fear at 253 304-2808 if you have any questions.
http://firstcreekwatershed.blogspot.com/
Green Thumb Community Garden now on Facebook, information and pictures.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129893867033700
For more information call Edwina at 474-7083
.
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Swan Creek Library to Close
How you Can Help
The Tacoma Public Library Board voted to close the Swan Creek Library, located on Portland Avenue near Salishan. They (the board) feels that since we have Mottet Library located near McKinley Avenue and Division that we have enough.
Here's a link to the full article in the TNT:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/15/1466934/tacoma-board-votes-to-close-2.html
What do you think? How can we prevent public resource on the Eastside from being cut? Do you want to help? Can you Help? Do you have a library card? Just some thoughts to think about, because budgets are going through a tough times and services are getting cut.
Your voice does count. Be involved in your community and get your neighbors and friends involved too. You can send emails and or call board members and city council members to let them know your thoughts. You can send letters to the editors of the Tacoma News Tribune or other papers. You can speak up and attend community and city meetings.
Have you called recently about the POTHOLES on your street or in your neighborhood? Call them in: Street repair and Potholes, 591-5495 and have your neighbors call too.
If you want a safer neighborhood, you can add an alley light for less than $15.00
a month. You might also ask your neighbors to chip in, they probably will because it will be better for everyone around you. Call Alley Lighting at 502-8618 for additional information.
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Here's a link to the full article in the TNT:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/15/1466934/tacoma-board-votes-to-close-2.html
What do you think? How can we prevent public resource on the Eastside from being cut? Do you want to help? Can you Help? Do you have a library card? Just some thoughts to think about, because budgets are going through a tough times and services are getting cut.
Your voice does count. Be involved in your community and get your neighbors and friends involved too. You can send emails and or call board members and city council members to let them know your thoughts. You can send letters to the editors of the Tacoma News Tribune or other papers. You can speak up and attend community and city meetings.
Have you called recently about the POTHOLES on your street or in your neighborhood? Call them in: Street repair and Potholes, 591-5495 and have your neighbors call too.
If you want a safer neighborhood, you can add an alley light for less than $15.00
a month. You might also ask your neighbors to chip in, they probably will because it will be better for everyone around you. Call Alley Lighting at 502-8618 for additional information.
.
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