Significantly reduce waste from our activities, and from our guests and partners.

Share and sign documents electronically, enroll in paperless billing and minimize print marketing. Try to restrict paper use to certified recycled materials (e.g. FSC, Green Seal).

Discourage guest use of disposables, encourage use of sustainable merchandising and require recycling.

Provide electronic and on-site communications to guests and vendors about venue sustainability policies, how to participate, and penalties for non-compliance.

When updating facilities or inventory, choose more sustainable options, e.g. low-flush toilets, biodegradable dishware, LED/solar-powered lighting, etc.

Reduce energy waste by selecting lower-usage options for appliances (e.g. cold water laundry, no drying dish washing), and use timers to automatically turn off lighting.

Encourage guest use of on-site furniture and amenities to reduce shipping and freight.

Partner with local food bank to donate unused guest provisions.

In lieu of disposal, donate unwanted items to local businesses and individuals (e.g. Buy Nothing Kitsap).

Actively promote local, seasonal, organic and vegetarian food options for guests and events.

Expand food and floral composting program to actively include guests and vendors.

Post-event, communicate with vendors about how waste was minimized and how further improvements could be made in the future.

Significantly reduce the negative ecological impact of our grounds care.

When designing the landscape, prioritize native plants (especially drought-tolerant varieties) and purchase inventory from local nurseries (e.g. Maple Tree Corner) and nonprofit environmental organizations (e.g. Kitsap Conservation District).

Remove invasive non-native plants (e.g. Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, Scotch broom).

Convert large sections of lawn back to native and drought-tolerant landscapes.

Make lawn more drought tolerant by choosing appropriate grass species and mowing at the highest setting. Mulch grass clippings directly onto the lawn instead of bagging and dumping elsewhere.

Localize lawn watering and allow most of the grass to turn brown during the summer.

Conserve water by collecting and recycling stormwater for use in the nursery.

Create a large rain garden to collect stormwater to reduce run-off and contamination of the pond and Grovers Creek.

Instead of synthetic fertilizers that pollute the water and damage animals, use certified organic fertilizers like soybean meal.

Do not use pesticides for weed or insect control, or poisons to kill rodents.

Encourage natural pest control by erecting bat houses.

In lieu of burning branches from storm fall, increase on-site chipping of organic matter directly back onto the landscape.

Because the pond overflows into the salmon-bearing Grovers Creek, do not stock the pond with potentially invasive fish (e.g. bass), no matter how badly local anglers want us to 😉

Promote pollinators by partnering with a local beekeeper to host hives on-site.

Significantly reduce the negative ecological impact of our grounds care.

Hire hyper-local workforce as much as possible and consolidate hours as much as possible to reduce commuting.

Pay employees a 'living wage' (e.g. $13.50 per hour for young adults without children; $25 per hour for adults with one child);

Convert large sections of lawn back to native and drought-tolerant landscapes.

Make lawn more drought tolerant by choosing appropriate grass species and mowing at the highest setting. Mulch grass clippings directly onto the lawn instead of bagging and dumping elsewhere.

Provide training to staff about environmental and sustainability best practices.

Provide education to cleaning staff on environmentally-friendly cleaning agents, practices and equipment.