SE Community Kitchen Tool Library in the Works

Sunnyside is a neighborhood with friendly folks who feel comfortable lending a cup of sugar to their neighbors. But what if there was a place where people could borrow a food dehydrator or cider press?

Everyone deserves access to kitchen tools for food processing, preserving, and serving. With that in mind, community members are developing the Southeast Community Kitchen Tool Library, a place where anyone can borrow from an extensive collection of kitchen appliances and tools. We hope to offer pressure cookers, canners, knife sharpeners, bread machines, popcorn makers, grain mills—even place settings and ravioli crimpers! The goal is to provide a wide variety of handy items that are infrequently needed and often prohibitively expensive.

We also envision the Community Kitchen Tool Library being a place where neighborly connections can be fostered through a shared love of food. The library might even grow into a community-supported kitchen where we can share our culinary skills, nourish our bodies with healthy local food, and collaborate on difficult or intensive projects.

We are inspired by other successful lending libraries, such as the Southeast Portland Tool Library and North Portland Preserve and Serve Library, and believe that together we will make this a reality. By making expensive equipment freely available to all, and by sharing our collective skills and knowledge about food preservation and preparation, the future Southeast Community Kitchen Tool Library will make our community a more equitable and sustainable place to live.

This is a community-directed initiative and we need your input, creative energy, and kitchen items. Please contact Kim Hack for more information ([email protected] or 971-285-7372). Join us on November 7 for a planning meeting at 1221 SE 35th Avenue between Salmon and Main streets. Thank you!

 

 

Walgreens Expansion Meeting for All Neighbors

Come to our next neighborhood meeting on Thursday June 2, from 7pm to 8:30 pm; this is just a meeting between neighbors to discuss a common strategy for moving forward. Walgreens representatives will not assist.

What: Walgreens Drive-Thru strategy meeting
When: Thursday June 2, from 7pm to 8:30 pm
WhereTaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont st. Portland, OR 97215

TaborSpace is located in the parlor of the Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church. Parking is in a lot on the west side of the church. #15 bus stops across the street, on 55th and SE Belmont.

Directions to “the parlor”: Go to main church doors through the courtyard; go through the sanctuary; turn right.  There are hosts and signs greeting people.

As always, this info and future updates can be found at www.sunnysidewalgreens.com

~ Vincent Dawans, Neighbor

DIY Weatherization Trainings

DIY Weatherization Trainings

The SE Uplift Sustainability Program is hosting a series of free trainings to help homeowners learn about inexpensive do-it-yourself ways to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.  Professional trainers will cover topics such as behavior modification and light weatherization, bypass sealing, basic insulation, ventilation corrections and discussing when to call a contractor.  There will also be a field session in a home where participants will get guided hands-on experience applying weatherization methods.

This training opportunity is for residents of southeast Portland interested in weatherization techniques they can learn to do on their own without having to hire a contractor.  The result will be low cost energy efficiency that will lower the carbon impact of your home!

First Training:

The first training is on Monday, May 23rd, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.  It will be held at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main.  Dates for the following two sessions will be scheduled soon.

The trainings will be given by Fluid Market Strategies, a mission-driven consulting firm based in Portland, Oregon that provides management, marketing and training services.  Their specialties include energy services with an emphasis on efficiency and renewable technology programs, as well as sustainability consulting and carbon management services.  They focus on projects that provide environmentally or socially responsible benefits.

To sign up for this training email [email protected].

Information about the trainer:

As the Sr Building Science Specialist for Fluid Market Strategies, Dan Wildenhaus has completely immersed in the discussion of what is required to create High Performance Homes. Dan has over 17 years of experience working directly for a contractor; doing energy audits, weatherization repairs, consulting and analysis for private clients in both New Construction and the existing home market. Dan is currently the Contractor Coordinator for Seattle’s Community Power Works for Home program as well as an instructor at South Seattle Community College where he trains tomorrows Home Performance Workforce. Dan also provides Building Science consultation and training services with Northwest Energy Star Homes.