Thanks to everyone who came out for another energizing evening of community connection at Green Drinks! Here’s a recap of some of the announcements and updates shared during the event, along with flyers and links for those who want to learn more or get involved:

Fertile Ground Programs

Marisha Auerbach of Fertile Ground shared updates on several upcoming offerings for gardeners and permaculture enthusiasts. Two flyers were posted to the board that detail their upcoming workshops:

  • Learn Soil Building Strategies
    Saturday, April 19, 10am–4pm at Permaculture Rising in Olympia
    This hands-on workshop will cover composting, hugelkultur, sheet mulching, vermicompost, and more.

  • Grow Your Own Produce Series
    Monthly Zoom workshops, February–November, first Wednesdays, 6–8pm
    A year-round support series for growing food ecologically. Topics range from seed starting and soil testing to cover crops and harvesting.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby

A representative from the Citizens’ Climate Lobby shared their focus on four key policy areas, including solar energy and forest protection. The Olympia chapter meets every second Saturday of the month, and they’re part of a larger national organization advocating for climate solutions through bipartisan legislation.
https://community.citizensclimate.org/groups/home/1271

Stop the Olympia Airport Expansion

Local attorney and advocate, gave a passionate presentation on the risks of the proposed expansion of the Olympia Airport. Concerns included:

  • Increased air and noise pollution

  • Threats to Tumwater’s drinking water

  • Harm to local ecosystems including salmon runs and endangered species like the Olympia pocket gopher and streaked horned lark

  • The impact of temperature inversions, which frequently trap pollutants in the Olympia area

She emphasized that this isn’t just an ecological issue—it’s a public health issue too. One community member also noted that the expansion might aim to reroute flight traffic from other regions, raising questions about who truly benefits.

This could be a pivotal moment to advocate for rail expansion instead of doubling down on air traffic infrastructure.

Link to the petition and Stop Olympia Airport Growth website

Fix-It Fair – April 15

A great opportunity to extend the life of your belongings! The Fix-It Fair will take place on April 15, where folks can bring broken household items (clothes, appliances, etc.) to be repaired free of charge by skilled volunteers. It’s a perfect event for families, students, and anyone looking to save money and reduce waste.
https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/public-works/solid-waste/garbage-recycling/education-resources/community-programs-events/fix-it-fair

Another Fix-It Fair is already in the works for November, so stay tuned.

Climate Center Updates

We also shared upcoming events connected to the Center for Climate Action and Sustainability at Evergreen:

Next Green Drinks Gathering

Mark your calendars! Our next meetup will be at Vic’s Eastside (the newest location). We’ll post more info soon, including whether a guest speaker will join us.

Have an idea for a future guest speaker? We’re looking for folks who can give a 15–20 minute talk about their organization, campaign, or sustainability effort in the region.
Email us your suggestions:
climateaction@evergreen.edu