Greetings, my Dear Neighbors!

I wanted to let you guys know about our future Native Plant Garden, if you don't know already....

<< This great project is paid for by East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District SPACE Grant . We were awarded $1,500 for the Community Resource Native Plant Learning Garden! >>

Native Plant Garden first planting day on February 19^th!

The garden will replace existing turf and become new habitat for wildlife (while improving soil, water and air quality.)

The garden will be located adjacent to the parking lot and right along the sidewalk on Martins Street.
The hope is that (one day) the garden will have little plaques with the native 'plant names' so that it can become a learning resource for our community.
I think this is a great project for the young and old! We'd love to see some little kids getting their hands dirty while learning about our native plants.
Please let me know if you are interested in helping in ANY way! Spread the word!

1. We need Volunteers to Plant on Feb 19th - 1:00 pm - this will be fun and quick
   
2. We can pay someone to de-sod, rototill and amend the soil. (This needs to be done at least a few days prior to Feb 19th.)
   We will need to rent the equipment (unless we can find someone to donate the equipment for a day.)
   Let me know if you are interested... or if you know someone in our neighborhood who would like to get paid to do this work (or volunteer)
   
   
3. A Truck to haul the bare root plants from EMSWCD Native Plant Sale on Feb 19th (10 or 11 am)
   EMSWCD is located at 5211 North Williams Ave
   
4. An open-bed Truck to haul mulch to the site from Mt.Scott Mulch  (this can be done whenever you are available.)
   

Thanks to East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District for this great opportunity!
. It's not too late for you to order the great-priced natives for your own yard...check out their website for more info.

East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District

THANK YOU!

We'd like to THANK EMSWCD for awarding Our Happy Block with their SPACE grant!

We were awarded $1,500 for Native Plant Gardens along SE Martins Street!

This grant will enable us to plant natives in the newly formed planting strip just south of the church parking lot and along the sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot.  These funds will go toward Project 2, explained below.

• Project 1: Street Tree Planting- 29 new street trees (along SE Woodstock & SE Martins St) through Friends of Trees (we raised money to pay for trees through Community yard sale and McCollum Automotive, plus Friends of Trees worked within our budget. Thanks FOT!)
  
• Project 2:  Removal of (2) Driveway Approaches connecting Calvary’s church parking lot to SE Martins Street and pour a new sidewalk and new street curbs. This will create new landscape opportunities and, by removing the driveway approaches, will stop stormwater from entering SE Martins Street from the southern portion of the parking lot (approx 6,400 S.F.)
  
  -Portland Development Commission's Community Livability Grant ($5,000) funded the removal of the driveway approaches and the pouring of new sidewalk and street curbs. Thanks PDC!
  
  - EMSWCD Space Program Funds ($1,500) will be used to Amend, Plant (natives where possible) and Mulch newly defined landscape areas. Also funds will be used to rent de-sod and rototill tools and to pay someone to operate these machines.
•  Project 3: Community Mural on McCollum Automotive’s Wall. (SE Uplift Graffiti Abatement Grant:  $2,250 to pay for permits, artists, paint, sealant and lighting. early Summer 2011) Thanks SE Uplift!
   
• Project 4: Remodel a 17,000 SF impenetrable parking lot. This project will further improve soil/water/air quality, watershed health and wildlife habitat. This parking lot  sheds 379,000 gallons of stormwater run-off per year to SE Woodstock BLVD and SE Martins Street before entering Portland‘s sewer system.  We will depave a portion of the lot and  manage all stormwater onsite while restoring natural habitat.
  (We will apply for EMSWCD PIC Grant, Jan 2011.)  Plus, DePave has committed to the depaving and hauling away of asphalt  for this project.

Depave Bowling Fundraiser!

 

Let's give back to Depave for being an amazing organization! Remember, they will help 'Our Happy Block' this Spring to depave approximately 4,000 square feet of asphalt!

Join DEPAVE for a family-friendly night of bowling, raffle, and general merriment to raise funds for their DEPAVE Summer 2011.

Date & Time:   Saturday, Jan 8th at 4:30pm
Location:          3031 SE Powell Blvd. , Portland, OR

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Reconnect with friends you met at past DEPAVE events, and learn all about what Depave has in store for 2011!

Raffle prizes will include:
AN ITEM FROM PATAGONIA
FREE HAIRCUTS AT BISHOPS
$50 AT NEW SEASONS
FREE OIL CHANGES
GIFT CARDS TO LOCAL BAKERIES, RESTUARANTS, AND MORE!!

$15 At the door will get you 3 games, shoes, and 2 raffle tickets.