March Newsletter
Zero Waste Garden Care for Earth
It’s hard to believe we’re already in the middle of March and Spring has sprung! Many of us are thinking about gardening, whether planting our own or enjoying the products of others and our local farmers markets. Growing your own food and/or flowers is participating in the cycle of life, giving and receiving without waste, which is a cornerstone of the philosophy and work Spokane Zero Waste is doing!
Don’t have a yard or large space to put in a big garden? No problem! Things such as herbs, tomatoes, and potatoes grow well in pots that you can keep on your patio or balcony. As an organization working to promote living a low waste lifestyle we have some tips on how to make your gardening better for the planet and your wallet!
Start your flowers and vegetables from seed rather than “starts” that usually come in plastic pots. Seeds are much cheaper and many are easy to grow. If you prefer starts, some vendors at farmer’s markets or roadside stands sell them in compostable cardboard containers.
Orange Peel Seed Starters instead of plastic pots. You can use halved orange peels as biodegradable seed starter pots by filling them with soil, planting seeds, and then transplanting the whole peel (with the seedling) into your garden, where the peel will decompose and enrich the soil.
Visit your local library, some of which have a seed exchange. Spokane Library Seed Exchange
Purchase large volumes of soil, compost, or mulch from landscape supply companies such as marlewormgrowers, Circle M, Site One, etc. You can bring your own buckets or take home a truck full for larger projects. Doing this will eliminate the need for plastic bags and is less expensive.
Ask your friends or family if they have compost to share. Many local residents have their own backyard compost piles!
Plant food: Avoid synthetic chemical fertilizers that don’t nourish soil. Instead make compost tea or use locally produced wool pellets. Wool pellets assist with water retention, release nitrogen and repel slugs!
Spokane Zero Waste is working with local sheep/wool producers and those across the state to showcase how this “miracle” material has so many benefits and uses that eliminate the need for plastics and chemicals. Wool pellets are just one of those uses.
If you’re interested to learn more contact us at info@spokanezerowate.org, subject line Fibershed.
If you need some planting tips, check out these videos from our friends at Growing Neighbors. You can also find seeds, plant starts and sometimes compost at Growing Neighbors gardens. Pots can be returned to them for next season's starts.
Hold off on cleaning the garden!
It seems wrong, but the best thing you can do for your garden is leave it alone right now. Did you know that many of our beneficial garden critters such as bees, butterflies, and ladybugs are still in hibernation mode? By waiting until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees for several days to rake, prune, and clean your garden, you will save countless lives! These invertebrates will be able to fulfill their ecological roles pollinating our plants, controlling nuisance insects, and being a critical food source for birds.
Reduce Food Waste, Protect the Planet
With all this talk of gardening, it’s a good time to think about how to reduce our food waste. Food waste is not only expensive, it’s a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (the stuff responsible for all of the “wacky weather” we have now). By planning meals around what is going to spoil and using what you already have in the fridge and pantry, you’ll save money and take a big step towards living a low waste lifestyle. Not only that, but you’ll be helping Spokane improve its ranking as the biggest producer of food waste in the state, a designation we’ll gladly give up.
Consider:
Making a list of what ingredients you need to use up.
Planning meals that include those ingredients.
Scheduling a leftover night. Eating leftovers saves valuable time too!
We’ve all forgotten some food in the fridge or just left it on the counter too long. When this happens, don’t feel guilty, put it in your green cart if you have one, Spokane has resumed weekly pick up of green carts. Don’t have a green cart? Consider starting a bokashi bucket or composting food with worms, both are indoor methods.
Do you believe in the benefits of composting? Want to help create community compost for all? contact us at info@spokanezerowaste.org, subject line community compost. We’re working with Spokane Public Schools and Growing Neighbors to create school gardens and composting systems and investigating ways to build community compost sites. Come be a part of this exciting waste solution.
Legislative update
We are pleased to update readers that as of today, March 18, 2025 two of our top priority bills are still alive! The Recycling Reform Act was heard by the state senate hearing on Monday, March 17th and we are waiting on the results from the hearing. We'll send out an update when there's an action to take. And remember, even if you’ve signed in PRO or left a comment on the bill before, we'll ask you to do it again because it gets heard and reviewed by different committees.
The Right to Repair act was passed by the House and will move on to hearings in the Senate.
The “bottle bill” that would have established a deposit/return system for beverage containers did not advance this year but will almost certainly be brought back next year. Most bills take several years to pass.
In the last newsletter, we talked about the exemption from the climate commitment act for Spokane’s Waste to Energy plant. This bill did not advance, however, we expect much more activity and discussion around this topic in the coming months.
Earth Day Celebration
Volunteer with Us (we’re a fun bunch!)
Are you looking to get involved with Spokane Zero Waste? We have a new tool through the Spokane County Regional Waste Ambassadors Program. You can find all of our volunteer opportunities here. We’re just getting started with this tool so we encourage you to bookmark it and check back regularly. Right now we need volunteers for:
ReCraft Fair: Click here to sign up to Volunteer
Spring & Summer Tabling Events: Do you love to meet new people? Are you enthusiastic about waste reduction and helping people understand the details? If so, come table with us at fun events in Spokane this season. We’ll get you up to speed on our programs in a 1 hour virtual meeting, so you’re able to answer questions and engage with people in a meaningful way about how we’re working to change the systems that make waste in Spokane.
Email volunteerszw@spokanezerowaste.org to sign up.
April 3, 7:30 - 3pm Garfield Elementary 222 W. Knox Avenue Help us kick off Gro-Spo, a new program in collaboration with Growing Neighbors to reduce food and packaging waste and build school gardens and composting systems at Spokane Public Schools.Interested in supporting this program? Email elyse@spokanezerowaste.org
Sewing Teachers & Menders of all kinds Do you love to sew, knit, darn crochet or do other textile related crafts? Would you like to be part of a supportive community sharing these skills to reduce textile waste and empower others to do the same? You’re invited to become a Mend-It Cafe mender and/or teach classes in these crafts as part of Spokane Zero Wastes programs. Fill out this short survey to become a Mend-It Cafe mender
