How many times have you crossed the bridge into West Seattle and noticed a large, green swath of vegetation on the hillside along the west bank of the Duwamish River? It looks pretty nice in contrast to the heavy industry in the area, doesn’t it? You are enjoying part of the nearly 500 acres of the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The Greenbelt is the largest contiguous forest within the Seattle city limits and the Nature Consortium is dedicated to its long-term stewardship.

The Nature Consortium has been working for the past 13 years to connect people, arts, and nature – especially in the Greenbelt. Last year, the Mountaineers Foundation approved grant monies that the Consortium used to support their upwards of 20 work parties each month. Our grant bought over $4000 worth of native plants and trees that were infused into newly cleared land in the Greenbelt. When I received the grant request I was immediately intrigued by the addition of live music to their work parties. Oh yes-music to work by! Nature Consortium performing artists come out to play in the woods to help the volunteers view the forest in an artistic and creative way.                                                                                                     

Connecting art and nature is a passion for Executive Director Nancy Whitlock. Nancy served as guide for Mountaineers Foundation board trustees Nancy Neyenhouse and Dave LeBlanc on a beautiful February afternoon. As we walked along the gravel trail, the Director’s enthusiasm was electric. Having been logged in a previous life, the Greenbelt inherited lots and lots of invasive species of plants, developing blackberry patches that were taller than the armies of volunteers donating their time to invasive removal. As we walked through those areas, the transformation to an open, recently planted conifer forest was amazing.

Not only does the Nature Consortium plan several volunteer opportunities weekly, but the organization brings art into the community in a variety of ways. It is the driving force behind the Arts in Nature Festival held each August. This annual event features crafts, music, and dance – with fire dancing in last year’s festival. The Consortium also conducts a year-round arts education program providing free after-school and summer classes for low-income and subsidized public housing communities in King County.

The Consortium office is located in the Youngstown Cultural Center, a renovated school building that houses non-profits, retail space, and live-in artists -- a perfect combination for the Nature Consortium.

For more information about the Consortium, its work parties, the Arts in Nature Festival, or The Youth Art Program stop by their website at http://www.naturec.org/.