Oxymoron: The Self Reliance Community

Go Party with the Cool Kids


This Sunday, you can go to your very own barter event to trade your potatoes for beets and your tomatoes for bread and party with other people who are too cool to just go buy stuff with money. 

Sunday, October 23rd from 5:30 to 9 pm, on the third floor of the Phinney Neighborhood Center (6532 Phinney Ave N). The party will include barter, potluck, square dance, beer fundraiser for the Seattle Farm Co-Op, and official book release for The Urban Farm Handbook. 


Paranoia or Preparation: Entertainment for the Self-Reliance Inclined


Coming to a theater near you...

The Seattle Public Library hosts 'Urban Self-Reliance" workshops The Seattle Public Library is loving on the "Urban Self-Reliance" trend with workshops throughout the city in the month of October. The workshops are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, except where noted below. Seating may be limited based on room capacity. "Bicycle Maintenance" - Learn basic bike maintenance techniques from instructors from The Bikery, a non-profit community bike project. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Fremont Branch, 731 N. 35th St., 206-684-4084 Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715 "Simple Sewing (Bags/Pillows/Potholders)" - Sew Up Seattle will teach beginners the basics and encourage those with experience to create a project using donated scraps. Registration is required; call the branch to register 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W., 206-733-9125 (This session will focus on potholders.) "Keeping Chickens in the City" - Learn the basics of keeping chickens in the city, including starting with chicks, feeding and housing requirements and more. This workshop is presented in partnership with The Seattle Free School. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22ndAve. N.W., 206-684-4089 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Northeast Branch, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7539  "Basic Canning/Jam Making" - Learn about canning equipment, how to can safely, resources for recipes and instruction and recommended tips from a pro. This workshop is presented in partnership with The Seattle Free School. 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Magnolia Branch, 2801 34th Ave. W., 206-386-4225 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22ndAve. N.W., 206-684-4089 "Make Your Place: Non-Toxic House Cleaners with Raleigh Briggs" - Learn easy, affordable recipes for products you can use to clean your home, your body and even your pets. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.  "On the Wild Side at Green Lake: A Mushroom Hunt Primer" - Become familiar with wild mushrooms and gain practical knowledge about safe wild mushroom gathering, preservation techniques, mushroom recipes and more. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Green Lake Branch, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., 206-684-7547 "Learn About the West Seattle Tool Library" - The West Seattle Tool Library is a community-led project providing pay-what-you-can access to a wide range of tools, training and relevant advice. Learn how to become a member and support this neighborhood project. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 at the Capitol Hill Branch, 425 Harvard Ave. E., 206-684-4715 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the South Park Branch, 8604 Eighth Ave. S., 206-615-1688 "Hand Sewn Upcycle Without a Machine: An Appliqué and Fancy Stitch Workshop" - Make an appliqué, learn about reverse appliqué and other decorative techniques. Registration is required; call the branch to register. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Wallingford Branch, 1501 N. 45t St., 206-684-4088 When you say you are preparing for an earthquake, you don't look like a crazy person. What's in the bag? See here. "Finding Edible Weeds in Your Garden and Lawn" - Seattle author and expert forager Langdon Cook will talk about how to use your backyard as an exotic produce aisle. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S., 206-684-4711 "Disaster Supply Kit" - Learn how to put together your own disaster supply kit during this hands-on workshop. 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Lake City Branch, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., 206-684-7518 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Ballard Branch, 5614 22ndAve. N.W., 206-684-4089 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-684-7519 For more information, call the Library at 206-386-4636