“The idea of a rain garden overall is that it’s manageable all on its own,” Service Corps co-president Maddie Martin said. “The first couple of years we’re just there to make sure it’s draining correctly and that it’s sustainable.”

A rain garden is a depressed planting bed that captures and slows storm water runoff, allowing it to seep into the garden soil while filtering mud and pollutants, such as motor oil and heavy metals, out of the water.

Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, a King County based nonprofit organization that encourages volunteerism through community groups and projects, helped launch the project to address storm water runoff by building rain gardens at Hazen High and other local schools and in the community.

Projects were conducted through the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed in five of the 12 school districts in the Cedar River and Lake Washington watershed.

Kent Coburn, co-president of the Hazen Earth Service Corps, said students maintain the garden by pulling weeds and clearing debris and garbage from the area.

“We do some weeding during the summer and sometimes during the school year, but it’s usually pretty minimal work,” he said.

The group aims to get students involved with various projects throughout their high school career, including volunteerism at events like Newcastle Earth Day, school recycling projects and the rain garden.

About 75 percent of the toxic chemicals entering Puget Sound are carried by storm water that runs off paved roads, parking lots, driveways, rooftops, yards and other developed land, according to the friends group.

The project was funded in part by a King County Waterworks grant, RealNetworks Foundation, The Boeing Co. Charitable Trust, The Klorfine Foundation and The Satterberg Foundation. Cedar Grove Composting donated rain garden construction materials.

Bellevue-based PSE added 14 solar installers to the Contractor Alliance Network — a group of independent contractors prescreened by the utility to perform energy-related home improvement.

Customers interested in installing a solar-power system and in need of a contractor can receive estimates from contractors when they request a referral at www.pse.com or by calling 1-800-562-1482 toll free.

In addition to installing customers’ home solar-power systems, contractors can help customers prepare interconnection and production payment documents necessary to participate in PSE’s net metering program.

Overall, more than 1,000 PSE electric customers have had solar-power systems installed and connected to the grid — up from a little more than 500 such systems in early 2010. The total generating capacity from customer-owned solar-power systems is more than 5 megawatts, compared to 2 megawatts in early 2010.

Customers can receive a 30 percent federal tax credit and other financial incentives for installing a solar-power system.

The state provides another incentive, administered by PSE through Renewable Energy Advantage Program. The state incentive pays customers for every kilowatt of power produced by solar-power systems.

The spaces also offer potential for homeowners to increase value without incurring the larger expenses of a complete addition, because the exterior walls, foundation and roof already exist.

Homeowners considering attic or basement upgrades should consider increasing the amount of natural light in the spaces, either by adding skylights or windows. Even a small or decorative window can add important light to a room.

As another bonus, using natural light means homeowners can save on utility costs to light a room.

In order to break up the claustrophobic feel of a cramped attic or basement, homeowners can add dormers to the space to increase space and open up the area. Or the roof slope can be altered to create more headroom.

The makeover should create a barely noticeable transition from the main floors of a home to the attic or basement. The quality of materials should approximate the look and feel of other rooms in the house.

The additional room frees up space for hobbies and other interests.

Homeowners can transform a remade attic or basement into a so-called man cave, a home theater, a rec room, master suite or another amenity. Only the homeowner’s budget and imagination limit the possibilities.

But additional touches can cause a budget to balloon quickly. Creating a finished attic or basement can mean adding flooring, insulation, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling systems.

The least expensive option, of course, is to protect the space against moisture and extreme temperatures, and use the attic or basement for storage.

Use the secure space to hold disassembled Christmas trees and other out-of-season holiday decorations, outdoor recreation equipment and other clutter-causing items.

How to get started

The initial step to remaking unused attic or basement space into a more desirable and useful spot is usually a deep cleaning.

King County experts and organizations offer numerous options to donate and dispose of.

The county Solid Waste Division offers the What do I do with…? website, http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw, to answer questions about old appliances, household chemicals and more.

For outdated TVs and other electronics destined for the landfill, the state coordinates the E-Cycle Washington program. AtWork! in Issaquah offers electronics recycling through the program at no cost to consumers. Find detailed recycling information — including a list of accepted items — at the organization’s website, www.atworkwa.org. Find a complete list of locations in King County and statewide at the E-Cycle Washington website, www.ecyclewashington.org. 

Support Habitat for Humanity of East King County and donate to the Habitat Store, 13500 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue.

Customers can donate appliances, building materials, furniture, home furnishings and décor in good condition at the store. Find a complete list of acceptable and unacceptable items to donate at  www.habitatekc.org/store/store_donate.html. 

The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to   5 p.m. Sunday. Call 641-2643 to schedule a donation pickup on the Eastside.

Seattle Goodwill accepts many household items, including bed frames, books, clothing, electronics, furniture, toys and more. Find a complete list of donation guidelines at www.seattlegoodwill.org/donate/cani-donateit. 

Seattle Goodwill operates a donation center at 228th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Eighth Street in Sammamish. The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Bellevue-based PSE recommends for customers to:

• Ditch old bulbs. If a compact fluorescent light bulb burns out, do not toss it into the garbage or recycling bin. PSE offers free recycling at businesses in Western Washington. Find a complete list at www.pse.com/bulbrecycling. 
• Host a bulb recycle box at your workplace. Materials from compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs — including glass, circuitry, aluminum and plastic — can all be recycled and reused. Sign up to host a recycling box at www.pse.com/bulbdrive.  
•  Dump your old fridge or freezer. Customers can sign up at www.pse.com/recycling to have the utility haul away outdated refrigerators and freezers for free. Customers receive $20 for participating in the recycling program.
•  Try LED bulbs. Though compact fluorescent bulbs offer energy efficiency and a long lifespan, the LED technology is more efficient and can last up to 25 years. PSE electric customers can receive up to a $10 rebate on Energy Star-qualified LED bulbs at participating retailers. Find a list at www.pse.com/leds. 
•  Call 811 before digging: If springtime outdoor projects include building a new fence or deck, planting trees and shrubs, or even pulling out a tree stump, please remember to contact the 811 Call Before You Dig hotline two business days prior to your project to help prevent serious injuries or potential hazards from striking or damaging underground utilities.

Don Marshall, a Lake Washington College Technical instructor and author, will offer a sustainable gardening workshop from 6:30 to 8 p.m April 19 at the Coal Creek Utility District office.

The office is located at 6801 132nd Place S.E. in Newcastle.

The workshop, which is free and offered in coordination with the Saving Water Partnership and Cascade Water Alliance, will teach participants the basic principles of how garden’s soil works as the foundation for a successful yard. The classes aim to help residents create and maintain healthy and eye-catching landscapes in ways that are beneficial for the environment.

The workshop will feature discussions on plant selection, weed management, fertilizing practices and surprise edible plants throughout the yard. Register through Brown Paper Tickets.

Call 1-800-838-3006 for more information.

Jeff Gaidjiergis, who owns and operates Mr. Scrappy Recycling, shows some of the items he’s collected from residents that are waiting to be broken down and taken to a recycling facility. By Christina Lords

If residents are looking to replace used pots and pans, old garden tools or aging aluminum ladders, Jeff Gaidjiergis will take them all — and then some.

Gaidjiergis, more affectionately known to some Newcastle residents as Mr. Scrappy, said most people have scrap metal, electronic waste and countless other odds and ends items that have been collecting dust around the house and they don’t even know they can be recycled.

“The most asked question I get is, ‘What else do you take?’” he said. “It’s all about just trying to educate people. Everyone of them who asks me that question has stuff stored up that I break down and recycle.”

As people make home improvements or update appliances, Gaidjiergis said many people don’t know where to turn to get rid of their metal and electronic waste or old items.

Mr. Scrappy Recycling can accept any item with metal or electronic components, including TVs, microwaves, computers and computer parts, heaters, industrial equipment, car parts, lawnmowers and more.

Gaidjiergis, a member of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, said he has been building a scrap recycling business for the past year by offering to pick up materials from residents’ homes for free.

His business coverage has grown from Everett to Tacoma, and includes residential and commercial pickups.

“Every time I’d go to the dump or just make a trip going to the Dumpster, I’d see all kinds of metal and wire — stuff that just doesn’t go away,” he said. “I always thought that there’s got to be a better way. My main goal now is to keep that stuff out of landfills.”

As more people across the globe become increasingly reliant on electronic products, limiting the amount of those appliances that go into the waste stream will become even more critical, said Rex Young, of Friendly Earth.

Friendly Earth, a nonprofit organization based in Seattle and also a member of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, holds several events every month to pick up electronic waste throughout the Seattle area.

Facilitating ways for residents to properly dispose of their ewaste can also eliminate harmful chemicals and hazardous materials from entering the environment and drinking water, Young said.

“A lot of people don’t really know why they need to recycle electronic waste,” he said. “They’re not aware of the contaminants associated with those products and toss them in the garbage.”

All items that are still functional that are picked up by Friendly Earth will be reused if possible. If they can’t be reused, all of the items are processed domestically and won’t be shipped overseas.

“We try to reuse any kind of product we can, because that’s the most obvious and most efficient way to recycle anything,” he said. “Some of the stuff we get is still in great condition. It’s still working, so we can help facilitate finding a new home for it.”

Some of the items donated benefit organizations like area homeless shelters, Young said.

What to know

Learn more about Friendly Earth at www.friendlyearth.org. Make an appointment for Gaidjiergis to pick up scrap metal or electronic items by calling 591-3320. See a list of products he collects at www.scrappyrecycling.com.

The benefits of conifers in winter in particular add to the focal point options in landscapes by adding structure, texture and color with interesting shapes and colors.

Weeping trees are often not very tall. They will usually stay at whatever height the lead is or where the crown is no longer supported and begins to weep downward as they grow.

However, do not underestimate how wide any weeping tree may get, and give them room to fulfill their potential.

The weeping deodora cedar (cedrus deodora pendula) is a striking steel blue that really holds up to strong, bold colors in the landscape. It thrives in the hottest locations as a drought-tolerant tree, with stiff, short needles.

It can make a very creative container display plant for many years as well.

The weeping Eastern white pine (pinus strobus pendula) is a soft-needled conifer that begs you to touch it as you walk by. It has a soft blue-green needle color, and it lends an excellent flair to any style of garden but particularly an Asian or Zen-influenced design where it can shine as a tree that can be near a path or walkway for its tactile quality.

The weeping Norway spruce (picea abies pendula) is an elegant, small-needled tree that has a more stiff structure to its deep-green branching.

This tree adds a graceful waterfall effect in the small garden. It looks particularly nice when the lower branching is allowed to puddle down at the base, like fabric curtains on the floor.

It’s another quite drought- tolerant species once it is established in later years.

The weeping larch (larix pendula) is an excellent example of a conifer with multiseasonal interest.

It is a deciduous conifer, which is hard for people to imagine until they see it in its various stages of development. In spring, it will come out with soft, bright-green needles, while in summer, the needles will turn more of a blue-green. In fall, they will start to turn from bronze to a lovely, rich gold with amber hues before dropping the needles to reveal the tree’s graceful weeping structure for the winter.

Christina Salwitz is a professional landscape designer and nursery consultant at the Newcastle Fruit and Produce stand.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not moping around, crazy mad about the weather. Every little ray of sunshine and every little tinge of warmth have been appreciated to the max by me. But still, I’m unable to come to grips with the big picture. The issue of global climate change is huge, impacting much more than just gardening, making it hard to comprehend.

When pondering different subject matters for this column I looked at many fall activities, such as planting bulbs, appreciating dahlias or storing fruit. All paled by comparison to the nagging, overwhelming subject of global warming. The receding glaciers, the issue of water supply, unbelievable tornadoes, debilitating droughts, and massive flooding all fit into the picture painted for us by scientists just a few years ago. It appears to be coming true and quickly.

In the past, what did people do when faced with uncertain change? Some of you remember the victory gardens of World War II. It seems to me that a good thing to do now is to be resourceful and self-reliant. This might be one of those times to put our concerns closest to home by planting an edible garden.

You will need good drainage and at least four hours of strong sunshine. Share what you grow with your neighbors. Someone with a big, sunny plot might grow corn. Another person with less exposure could grow potatoes and squash. Maybe someone has an ideal spot for tomatoes. Many different people could grow greens, carrots and radishes.

Know all of your neighbors, even the old ones, and the ones with the screaming kids and barking dogs. Every one of them will have something to share, whether it be baked goods, extra fruit from their trees, canning equipment, quilts and handmade items, hand-me-down children’s clothes, compost and the list goes on. Stories and knowledge can be shared, so that everyone in your sphere benefits, and no one is left uncared for — so very important in uncertain times.

Plant that fall garden, and then do me a favor. Go out and get yourself some bulbs to plant this fall. Common ones are daffodils, iris, crocus, tulips and hyacinths. Plant them in well-drained soil and sunshine where you can see them from your window. Protect the tulips bulbs from squirrels with chicken wire baskets you can make up yourself.

If you do that now, come next spring you will be unsinkable. Not even rain, snow, sleet or Jeff Renner will keep you down. You will be up and focused on the thrill and hope you see in those early spring flowers. Just do it.

What to know

Master gardening clinics are over for the year. You can still reach master gardeners through the Center for Urban Horticulture 206-685-5104 and online at www.kingcountymg.org.

Jane Garrison is a local landscape architect and master gardener who gardens in glacial till on the plateau.

Apartments, condominiums, balconies or small-scale patios are all viable locations for growing many edibles in containers. As long as you can find a small spot of sun for the bulk of the day, you can grow quite a harvest. Choosing plants that are nutritious, delicious and beautiful is the very best way to maximize your limited space, whether it’s in a window box or several large containers.

Herbs like lemon thyme and chamomile add interesting foliage interest and texture. Contributed

A number of edibles that are highly ornamental also create horticultural drama. By adding some of your favorite ornamental annuals or perennials to your container designs, you can have the best of all worlds in one square-footage-challenged garden.

If you decide you want to grow tomatoes in containers this season, try under planting your tomato with trailing million bells or calibrichoa and sweet potato vine. The only limit to what you can grow with edibles is your imagination.

Alternatively, you might try a blueberry bush with some trailing annuals, such as nemesia or verbena. Add in some herbs like lemon thyme and chamomile for added foliage interest and texture.

Strawberries make great container plants, too. Try a hanging basket or a half wall planter and add some lobelia for a powerful combination!

Artichoke or rhubarb can be dramatic and bountiful in a container. Add some ornamental grasses for textural contrast with those big leaves, some fancy geraniums and some edible flowers, such as violas or nasturtium, for a long-lasting display that’s yummy, too!

Climbing peas can be a unique centerpiece in a container when you grow them up some twisted will branches. At the base, heuchera and nemesia cranberry, play nicely with the silvery pea foliage.

Before you plant your container edibles and ornamentals, here are the top five questions you should ask yourself:

1. What do I like to eat?

2. How much care will my containers need weekly?

3. How much light do I have for ripening and good pollination?

4. How many containers do I need/want?

5. How much should I plant for a good harvest?

Your skilled nursery person can help you design a container with the best fruit, herb and vegetable selections that are appropriate for your setting, maintenance and appetite.

Email Christina Salwitz at personalgardencoach@comcast.net. Comment at newcastle-news.com.