Sustainable Ballard is a volunteer-run neighborhood nonprofit in Seattle's Ballard. Three peace activists started it in 2003, and its first event was a neighborhood sustainability fair.
Who it's actually for
Ballard residents who want to live more sustainably alongside their neighbors, whether they have one afternoon or every week to give. Board members, project leads and staff are all volunteers.
The projects are practical: borrow a ladder instead of buying one, rescue day-old bread, fix a jacket, swap a costume. That makes it an easy fit for families and for people who prefer doing to meeting.
It is a weaker fit if you live across town and want something near your own block, or if you want citywide policy work. 350 Seattle covers the policy side.
What they run
The Ballard Tool Library at 7549B 15th Ave NW, open Mondays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 9 to 11 am. Ongoing projects also include bakery and market gleaning, Ballard Menders, Ballard Knitters, Ballard Sprouts, a board game and puzzle exchange, a plus-size clothing swap, Meaningful Movies Ballard, an edible garden tour, a spring beer hop and the Sustainable Ballard Festival each fall.
What it costs
Membership is $35 for an individual, $60 for a household of up to three and $100 for a household of up to five, each good for a year and each including Ballard Tool Library membership. The Tool Library page also lists per-tool rental fees of $1 to $20 a week, so confirm current terms when you sign up. Many events are free; the Ballard Boo! Bash is free.
Where
The Tool Library is at 7549B 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117. Events move around the neighborhood; the Boo! Bash is at the Center for Spiritual Living Ballard, 2007 NW 61st St. The mailing address is 2442 NW Market St, PMB 286, Seattle, WA 98107.
How to start
Bring the household to the Ballard Boo! Bash on Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 9 pm at the Center for Spiritual Living Ballard, presented with the center. It is free and all ages, with crafts, games, plastic-free snacks, a kids' open mic and spooky stories with a live band. If you would rather start small, drop by the Tool Library during Saturday hours, 9 to 11 am.
Links
sustainableballard.org · Events calendar · Volunteer · Membership
Last verified: October 2026.
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