Diggin’ Shoreline is Dishin’ the Dirt in 2013

Scenes from Shoreline courtesy Diggin' Shoreline and
the Shoreline Historical Museum

Diggin’ Shoreline will be dishin’ lots of dirt this spring at two upcoming City of Shoreline sponsored events, the Shoreline Eats4Health Kick-off on April 2 at Shoreline City Hall, and Earth Day Every Day at Central Market, April 20. 

Building Healthy Soil as a foundation for healthy growing and healthy eating is the emphasis of Diggin’s 2013 message and community information sharing at these events and its quarterly gardener gatherings, held on or near each Solstice or Equinox. Quarterly Gardener gatherings are held all across town in various gardens, member homes or local venues. Look for details about those events to be posted on the organization’s website. 

One of the newest posts, a webpage, Shoreline’s Food History, features a treatise entitled A History of Locally Produced Food in Shoreline. Brian spent much of the winter researching and writing the history, with the assistance of Vicki Stiles, executive director of the Shoreline Historical Museum.

Among the classes on the docket for 2013 are Nourishing Herbs (taught by Meghan Peterka), Worm Bin Building (with Brian Peterka), How to Build a Rain Garden (with John Ruby) and Plants Need to Eat, Too, (taught by Karen Benson-Huck).

Also new in 2013, Diggin is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Memberships in the organization are now tax-deductible ($10 for individuals, $20 for households), and the organization aims to attract larger contributions and grant funding to support its mission to create opportunities for gardening in community throughout Shoreline.

Two new directors, Scott Schorer, a Shoreline resident from the Ridgecrest neighborhood, and Nikki Mize, of Whidbey Island Bank, Richmond Beach, join current Board members Jan Stewart, Afia Menke, Jennifer Rotermund, John Ruby and Londa Jacques. Outgoing secretary Shannon Valderas will continue to volunteer, and outgoing co-chair Meghan Peterka and board members Judy Griesel and Brian Peterka will remain in their leadership roles at the committee level.  Growing strong committees within Diggin’ is at the heart of the organization.  Joining a Diggin’ committee is a great way for members to get more connected and meet others who share a passion for Diggin’s mission.

On November 8, with the harvest in and the gardens put to bed for winter, Diggin' Shoreline will host a free showing of the movie, Dirt (A Story with Heart and Soil). The 2009 movie, inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, has an important and humorous environmental message for non-gardeners, apprentice gardeners, and experienced gardeners alike.

Diggin’ Shoreline envisions people throughout our city inspired and nourished by gardening in community, with deep connections to our earth, our health, our cultures, and our neighbors. We invite you to imagine with us.