HERE'S THE POOP >>>
In the spring of 2010, Weekly Volcano Editor Matt Driscoll explored the fascinating world of Tacoma's TAGRO, and then put his experience, and research, on record here.

In summary, Driscoll explained, "the idea of Tagro is to turn shit into something useable, which the City of Tacoma has been valiantly doing on the Tacoma Tideflats since 1991. Today, gardeners, landscapers and a whole swath of the general Tacoma population are proud and satisfied Tagro users, even if a minority still can't get over the product's origins. Tagro is completely safe and extremely effective, even having been awarded the EPA's highest rating for use in landscaping, vegetable gardens and indoor container gardens."

A few minutes ago, the City of Tacoma sent out a press release stating Tacoma's TAGRO biosolids program has been honored for its continued path of sustainability and innovation? with the 2011 Excellence in Biosolids award from the Northwest Biosolids Management Association.

"The City of Tacoma was forward-thinking with their decision to use dual digestion, produce Class A biosolids, and turn that product into a retail product that would ‘give back' to the City residents. They were a trendmaker in that respect," said Peggy Leonard of King County Wastewater in the release.

The release goes on to explain why the TAGRO is so awesome, which Driscoll fully explained last year.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Beep, Beep: There be cars in the LeMay-America's Car Museum. (News Tribune)

That's A Lot Of Apples: The eight-day strike by Tacoma School District teachers racked up about $566,000 in costs ... so far. (News Tribune)

The Smelter That Keeps On Giving: The public is encouraged to review and comment on a draft cleanup plan for the 1,000-square-mile Tacoma Smelter Plume. (The Suburban Times)

Secret Burial: The body of ousted Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi was buried in an undisclosed location with his son Tuesday. Gadhafi's purported will is to be posted online. (CNN)

Take That McRib!: Burger King has a new burger. (Huffington Post)

They. Are. Iron. Lungs: Black Sabbath reunion looks promising. (Paste Magazine)

What!: Hear new Mazzy Star. (Pitchfork)

Sixty Years Of Cinema in 40 Seconds (because we just don't have time)

VANDALS WREAK HAVOC! >>>

The Weekly Volcano was just chatting with Metro Parks Commissioner Erik Hanberg about ruffians. Apparently, ruffians are wreaking havoc on the Natural Area Restoration Project.

According to a press release, Metro Parks and the Green Tacoma Partnership are asking for the public's help in apprehending vandals who are maliciously damaging an environmental restoration project that has been underway for nearly 7 years in the gulch abutting Garfield Park.

Read the press release after the jump and help capture these ruffians!

Read more...

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Q & A WITH METRO PARKS COMMISSIONER ERIK HANBERG >>>

If you dropped in on Wright Park Friday afternoon, you would have seen swarms of teens battling in a high school regional cross-country meet, kids climbing on the new playground while grandmas chatted, gussied-up seniors having their portraits snapped under trees, middle-aged joggers circling, and two guys standing in the middle of all this, dressed for a business meeting – Metro Parks Commissioner Erik Hanberg and Pappi Swarner.

Pappi tossed questions at Hanberg, who's running for re-election to Metro Parks Board Commissioner Position 5. Read Pappi's full story here.

As a side note, Hanberg will be the host emcee at Doyle's Public House's Knowledge Night tomorrow at 8 and 9 p.m. Expect environmental and park-related trivia questions with your Guinness.

IT'S ON! >>>

We know our demographic. We know the masses reading this are going to get a huge charge to learn Tacoma Power hosts events designed to promote energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (yay!), including exchanging CFL light bulbs for old, non-energy efficient bulbs (double yay!). Today at Home Depot on Center Street in Tacoma, Tacoma Power will offer attendees the ability to exchange up to five incandescent bulbs for life CFLs, buy qualified CFLs and get one free (up to 10) and enjoy "fun activities related to energy-efficient lighting."

[Home Depot, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4602 Center St., Tacoma]

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain likely, hi 56, lo 50

Saturday: Cloudy, hi 61, lo 49

Sunday: Rain, hi 58, lo 48

>>> OCT. 7-8: OLYMPIA FALL ARTS WALK

Olympia's Arts Walk happens twice a year, but the fall edition has always been the little sister, bundled up and toting her umbrella, not as glamorous as spring's costumed, sandaled walk. This time around, though, the autumn version of Arts Walk has grown to two days. Waterproof gear is still a good precaution, but there's twice as much time to see the art. There are also more businesses participating (106 compared to last fall's 101) and performances happening both days. Besides visual art, music, dance and street performance, Arts Walk offers the chance to see and be seen. And many participating businesses offer snacks, desserts and even wine. (That's not listed in the guide, though; think of it as a scavenger hunt of sorts.) Click here to discover some of the outrageous offerings. - MG

• Downtown Olympia, Friday, Oct. 7 from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free throughout downtown Olympia, 360.753.8380

>>> OCT. 7-9: OKTOBERFEST NORTHWEST

You totally need more excuses to drink beer. That gut and that child support payment shouldn't stop you now. This weekend in Puyallup, slurp down all the brew you can stomach at the 7^th annual Oktoberfest Northwest. In addition to the obvious beer, expect tons of food (read: brats, pretzels) and tons of authentic entertainment (read: polka). Still not sold? Did we mention the Hammerschlagen? The wiener dog races?  The hats?

• Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 11 a.m. - midnight Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, free on Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Regular Price after 3pm on Friday and all day Saturday $10, Sunday $5, Children 12 and under free all weekend, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, oktoberfestnw.com

>>> OCT. 7-9: CELEBRATION OF WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART

Wait just a freakin' second! You mean to tell us Oktoberfest Northwest AND the Fred Oldfield (his name LITERALLY has the world "old" right in it)-powered Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show and Sale will both be at the Puyallup Fairgrounds this weekend? Simultaneously? Like, right next to one another? Jesus. This is almost too good to be true. Oldfield's Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show and Sale includes auctions, free wine and cheese for all, the Rainier 2 Cylinder Tractor Club and more paintings of cattle and horses than you can shake a stick at. And don't sleep on "pioneer spinning" with Mickey Pederson.

• Puyallup Fair & Events Center  - enter through the Gold Gate, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday,  110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, fredoldfieldcenter.org

>>> OCT. 8-9: FALL FREE FOR ALL

As the old proverb suggest, the only thing better than a community arts festival boasting more than 75 awesome events and activities for the entire family is a completely FREE community arts festival boasting more than 75 awesome events and activities for the entire family. Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. This weekend's Fall Free For All offers all of the above and the proverbial bag of chips. If you have yet to introduce yourself with Tacoma's awesome Theatre District, now's your chance. Wristbands, free but required for entry to Fall Free For All events, are available through the Broadway Center's box office by calling 253.591.5894. Be sure to check out the performance by Drew Grow and The Pastors Wives Saturday night. Find all the info you need right here.

• Theater District, Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., free, broadwaycenter.org, Tacoma, 253.591.5894

>>> OCT. 8: REBECCA HOWARD MURAL CELEBRATION

If you've been kicking around downtown Olympia lately you've no doubt been impressed by the Rebecca Howard Mural taking shape on the side of the Bread Peddler. Howard is credited as one of Olympia's very first business women, in the 1860s. She was also African American. Howard was the owner, cook and manager of the Pacific House, described by historians as a popular restaurant and hotel back in Olympia's early heyday. This year the Olympia Downtown Association and the Olympia Heritage Commission, along with historians Shanna Stevenson and Lynn Erickson, have made it their duty to make Howard's story more well-known. The mural, brought to life by local sign-master Ira Coyne and fellow artists Vince Ryland, Arthur Crews, Sara Calland, and Christopher Ross, is all part of that plan. Saturday, from 10 a.m. - noon the Rebecca Howard Mural will be celebrated. Get in on that action.

• The Bread Peddler, 10 a.m. - noon, 222 Capitol Way, Olympia

>>> OCT. 8: TACOMA MURALS PROJECT DEDICATION & BBQ

Speaking of murals, the Tacoma Murals Project will dedicate and celebrate this year's additions Saturday at Bergerson Terrace, the site of one of this year's coolest new pieces of community art. Part of Tacoma's Safe and Clean effort, and an initiative of the Graffiti Reduction Through Community Based Art team associated with Safe and Clean, the Tacoma Murals Project bills itself as an effort that, "joins artists and communities through the collaborative process of mural-making to create powerful artworks that can transform public spaces, neighborhood identities, and individual lives." So far, so true. Saturday's event will include City of Tacoma Arts Jedi Amy McBride, Michael Power from the Tacoma Housing Authority and a whole slew of artists. Plus, you can get up close and personal with the new Bergerson Terrace mural - which is pretty sweet.

• Bergerson Terrace, 4 p.m., free, 5305 S. Orchard St.,  tacomaarts.wordpress.com

>>> OCT. 8: HELLA EFFICIENT LIGHTBULBS

We know our demographic. We know the masses reading this are going to get a huge charge to learn Tacoma Power will be throwing three upcoming events designed to promote energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (yay!), including exchanging CFL light bulbs for old, non-energy efficient bulbs (double yay!). Saturday at Home Depot on Tacoma Mall Blvd. Tacoma Power will throw the first such event, offering attendees the ability to exchange up to five incandescent bulbs for life CFLs, buy qualified CFLs and get one free (up to 10) and enjoy "fun activities related to energy-efficient lighting." Future events will be held Oct. 15 at the Home Depot on Center Street in Tacoma, and Nov. 5 at the Lowe's on Orchard Street in Tacoma.

• Home Depot, 7050 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
My most excellent plans are to go to Pugstock Saturday night. That's a benefit party/performance for Oly actor/director Pug Bujold. And Sunday is the candidate forum at PFLAG-Olympia where we get to hear all of the political candidates tell us why we should vote for them.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I continue my string of atypical meat markets this weekend with a stop at 1022 South. I love the change of scenery, but wonder if I'm starting to get dance floor withdrawals.

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
My weekend prediction: I will be relishing in the fact that I was drawn onstage at the Emerald Queen Casino for a chance to audition for Wheel of Fortune. I will have kicked everybody's ass during the practice round, guessing the correct phrase after only two letters. There will then be copious amounts of bragging to friends about how I'm flying to LA to meet Vanna White and win tens of thousands of dollars. *Sigh* I hope it comes true...

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
We're attending a benefit for a friend and writing thank you cards for our recent wedding celebration. My wife has Monday off (banker's hours), so I might even find time to make out with her.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: Music Writer
Friday, I'll be attending Basemint's first show in quite a while. But earlier that day, I'll be helping to make a ridiculous amount of pretzels for my Saturday activity, Maltoberfest.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
It is the Fall Free for All and I have procurred wrist bands for myself and my little son and some excellent friends. The husband is running sound and performing Saturday at 9:30 with Tad Monroe. I *might* be performing with my husband and Tad but I am mostly excited for Kellie Schaeffer and Drew Grow! Hurray for Portlanders who are practically Tacomans!!

JENNIFER JOHNSON: Food & Lifestyles Writer
Kayaking Friday if the weather takes a startling turn for the warmer. In reality, going to all of the downtown museums, having lunch at Pacific Grill, and then hitting the conservatory at Wright Park with visiting family members. Saturday I'll take the sisters to hot yoga at Expand Yoga and then have a Pampered Chef luncheon party. In the evening I'm heading to Gig Harbor for dinner at JW Restaurant. Sunday- church, family time, Pt Defiance Zoo. Somewhere in there I will do a week's worth of math homework, write a paper on Hamlet and one on the possible parallels between today's social and governmental climate and post-revolutionary colonial days in America.

STEPH DEROSA: Person, Place or Thing Corespondent
As you read this, my beloved 10-month-old Boxer puppy will be having surgery to repair his broken femur.  Unfortunately this surgery requires pins, screws and steel rods and costs a few thousand dollars.  In order to pay for this surgery, this weekend I will be panhandling on various Tacoma street corners.  In my spare time I plan to possibly hang out with Melanie Rushforth and take in a few parties.  I hear the DyDD Trampires have already begun the jello shots and melanie has found the perfect push-up bra.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
The boss has me shooting the Tacoma Film Fest Thursday, MaltoberFest at the Java Jive Saturday, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame action on Sunday.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO POST. QUICK — THROW UP SOMETHING ABOUT THE WEATHER >>>

Now that autumn is here, let's skip the season entirely and look ahead to winter. (Not that we don't like autumn, but from our perspective, snowstorms are way more interesting than mostly cloudy with a chance of rain.)

The folks at AccuWeather just sent us its winter forecast. Enjoy:

The 2011-12 Winter Pre-Season Forecast AccuWeather.com reports that apart from the Southwest, people across the western United States can expect large swings in weather conditions throughout the winter, according to the AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team.?? December is likely to feature above-normal warmth across much of the entire West. However, from late December into January, the team expects a transition where cold fronts will drop farther south along the West Coast, reaching northern and central California. This transition should bring temperatures back near normal, away from the interior Southwest.?? The famed "Pineapple Express," a phenomenon that occurs when a strong, persistent flow of tropical moisture sets up from the Hawaiian Islands to the West Coast of the U.S., could develop for a time this winter. This phenomenon often leads to excessive rain and incredible snow events.

Awesome.

LECTURE SERIES >>>

It's a crisp autumn afternoon at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters. The wood fire is burning, the rear windows look out on the green foliage, and Editor Matt Driscoll has just made the office some peppermint tea.

As we discuss our editorial focus for our Green Issue next spring, one of the phrases buzzing around our group hug is "interdisciplinarity and sustainability." At its core, the idea is environmental concerns and their solutions interweave the boundaries of scholastic departments. Today's big brains are wise to consider the opinions of academic types in other fields in developing sustainable solutions. Help is not harmful, as they say.

Well. Guess. What. The University of Washington-Tacoma has developed a lecture series on interdisciplinarity and sustainability, kicking off tomorrow with Mike Kalton, professor emeritus, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences discussing "Complexity and sustainability: systems perspectives" at 12:30 p.m. in UW-T's Joy Building.

Below is a list of the remaining lectures - all held from 12:30-1:30 in the Joy Building, Room 117. The lectures are free and open to the public. Just show up. The lectures are sponsored by UW Tacoma's Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences program (natch!). No word yet if Driscoll's delicious peppermint tea will be served.

Tacoma: from gritty to green
Oct. 12  - Marilyn Strickland, mayor, City of Tacoma

The economics of sustainability
Oct. 19 - Joe Lawless, executive director, Center for Leadership and Social Responsibility, UW-Tacoma

Community gardens: effects on nutrient cycling, diabetes and democracy
Oct. 26 - Kristen McIvor, Tacoma/Pierce County community garden coordinator
Grow Local, Cascade Land Conservancy

On the working waterfront: integrating multiple uses and creating public access in urban industrial shoreline areas
Nov. 2 - Anne Wessells, assistant professor, Urban Studies, UW-Tacoma

Watershed economics for the 21st century: the value of ecosystem services with a case study in the Puyallup River watershed
Nov. 9 - Research analysts Rowan Schmidt and Zac Christin, Earth Economics

Community-based conservation in tropical ecosystems: examples from Peru and Panama
Nov. 16 - Ursula Valdez, lecturer, Environmental Sciences, UW-Tacoma

Uranium mining: sustainable solutions in a tribal community
Nov. 30 - Twa-le Abrahamson, SHAWL (Sovereignty, Health, Air, Water, Land) Society, Spokane Tribe

Feeling the heat: how American mainstream media cover environmental issues
Dec. 7 - Ellen Moore, lecturer, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, UW-Tacoma

GO DAWGS! >>>

Zipcar is a green-ish concept that actually makes sense for a lot of people - you can rent a eco-friendly car for a couple of hours, relatively cheaply.

It's a concept that now has come to Tacoma. If you're a University of Washington-Tacoma student.

UW-T has signed on with Zipcar, and as of today students, faculty and staff can pay the $25 annual fee and then fork over seven bucks an hour or $66 a day to drive either Honda Insight hybrid or a Ford Focus.

"We look forward to partnering with Zipcar in helping our students, staff and faculty reduce their cost of living and help relieve parking congestion on campus," said Jennifer Burley, employee transportation coordinator at UW Tacoma in a press release. "Zipcar's car-sharing service also promotes the use of alternative forms of transportation to and from campus, an additional environmental benefit." 

Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots, up to 180 miles of driving per day and roadside assistance are included in the hourly and daily Zipcar rates. Cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days.

To read up on this deal, zip here.

FALL HARVEST FARM TOUR IS SATURDAY >>>

Summer, or what the South Sound saw of it this year, is in the past. The bounties of autumn await.

In celebration of the changing seasons and the local harvest, the Washington State University Extension program invites the community to its annual free Fall Harvest Farm Tour Saturday, Oct. 1 at farms in the Puyallup Valley, Orting, Roy and Key Peninsula areas. The farms will keep the gates open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival is considered to be an open house for the organic and sustainable farming programs in Pierce County, allowing the community to learn about sustainable farming methods and the environmental stewardship that make farmers so awesome.

Unless you're on a strict high-preservative, low-nutrition-value, fast-food-for-life diet, you're certain to dig the Fall Harvest Farm Tour. You'll leave with a sack full of fine fixin's for the evenings fare, a wet butt from the hayrides, a couple of souvenirs for the kitchen counter and a head buzzin' full of pride as your pumpkin was launched from the slingshot the farthest.

For a complete list of participating farms, click here.

Here are the four Puyallup Valley farms participating in Saturday's tour:

Terry's Berries

4520 River Rd, Tacoma
www.terrysberries.com
Terry's Berries opened more than 25 years ago when consumer interest in organic farming was just beginning to catch on. One of the oldest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, they offer certified organic produce year round at the farm store and through weekly customer shares.
Here's what they have planned Saturday:

• Hayrides around the farm
• Feed the chickens
• Shop for organic produce in the farm stand.
• Pick apples

From I-5: Take Exit 135. Drive toward Puyallup on River Road (SR 167) for about two miles and look for the farm on the right.

Picha Farms

6502 52nd St. E., Puyallup
www.pichafarms.com
Dan and Russ Picha are third generation farmers carrying on the family business begun by their grandfather, Mike Picha, in 1904 and continued by their father, Ted (Farmer Ted!). In October, Picha's pumpkin patch and corn maze is popular, especially its pumpkin slingshot.
Here's what they have planned Saturday:

• Pumpkin sling shot.
• Corn maze complete with farm trivia questions.
• Farm stand loaded with pumpkins, gourds, squash, hay bales and corn stalks.

From I-5: Take Exit 135 to merge onto River Road (WA-167). Continue on River Road and turn right onto 66th Avenue East. Take the first right onto 52nd Street East. Farm will be seen on the left.

Moon Farm & Puyallup Valley Jam Factory

2615 Tacoma Rd, Puyallup
www.pacificnorthwestshop.com/pnwfoods/
puyallupjamfactory.htm
Farmers Carol and Bud Moon have been growing berries at Moon Berry Farm for more than 40 years. At the heart of their farm is the Puyallup Valley Jam Factory where they turn fresh berries into delicious jams, purees and syrups.
Here's what they have planned Saturday:

• Hayrides around the farm
• Freshly made jam to taste
• Check out the chickens
• Fresh jam available to purchase

From I-5: Take Exit 135 and head toward Puyallup. Stay right and follow Pioneer Way East. When Pioneer Way East meets 72nd Street East, turn left. Pioneer Way East will turn into West Pioneer Way. Follow West Pioneer Way and turn left (north) onto Tacoma Road. Follow Tacoma Road through several intersections to the end and look for the farm on the right.

Spooner Farms

9710 SR 162 E., Puyallup
www.spoonerberries.com
Spooner Farms has been family owned and farmed since 1882. They specialize in Washington berries: strawberries, raspberries blackberries. The also grow corn. Every autumn, Spooner Farms host the Spooner pumpkin harvest wonderland.
Here's what they have planned Saturday:

• A 5-acre corn maze
• U-pick pumpkin patch
• Visit farm animals and explore the Activity Barn
• Find your way through the Animal Tracks rope maze
• Launch a pumpkin in the pumpkin slingshots.
• Shop the gift store for culinary items.
• Take advantage of the available food service

From Puyallup: Head east from Puyallup on East Pioneer Avenue, which turns into Pioneer Way East. Turn right (south) on the Sumner-Orting Hwy (WA-162) and look for Spooner Farms on the right.

LINK: Trouble with DeRosa visited Terry's Berries