Buy a stone, build a P-Patch
Organizers of a P-Patch in Fremont are seeking to raise money to purchase the property, which they describe as one of the last "empty lots" in the area. Only two years remain on the group's current lease for the site. To raise funds, the gardeners are producing and selling garden stepping stones, with a goal of selling at least 150 stones at $20 apiece to qualify for a matching grant from the city's Department of Neighborhoods. For more information, call 547-0104.

City to offer Master Composter Program
The Seattle Public Utility's Community Composting Education Program is accepting applications through Feb. 12 from Seattle residents interested in becoming a Master Composter. Thirty-five volunteers will be selected to receive 40 hours of free training. In return, they will be asked to spend 40 hours teaching composting and green gardening techniques to other local residents. The program office is located in the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. For more information, call the compost hotline at 633-0224.

Volunteers needed to maintain Piper's Creek
Record salmon runs are occurring at Pipers Creek in Northwest Seattle's Carkeek Park, thanks in large part to the Seattle Public Utilities department's completion of habitat improvements that allow fish to go further upstream to spawn.

Local residents are urged to volunteer to help maintain the creek. For more information, contact Nancy Malmgren with the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project at 363-4116.

For details regarding creek improvements at Pipers Creek or any other urban creeks and watersheds in the city, call D'Anne Mount with Seattle Public Utilities at 233-8736.