NEWS BRIEFS
incest, rape or the danger to life of the
mother. He also opposed stem cell research
funding and supported allowing pharma-
cists to refuse dispensing emergency con-
traception. Castillo told the nonpartisan
voter education nonprofit that abortions
should always be legally available.
Castillo told Vote Smart she supports
sex education in schools. Maurer told
Willamette Week sex education should be
up to local school boards rather than the
state. Maurer also told the Portland paper,
“I am not a supporter of evolution.”
Maurer told Vote Smart that he sup-
ports “voluntary prayer in public schools.”
He told the nonprofit that he opposes same
sex marriage and state recognition of
domestic partnerships between same sex
couples. The Basic Rights Oregon Equality
PAC endorsed Castillo and said Maurer
voted against extending non-discrimina-
tion protections to gay and transgender
Oregonians.
Maurer opposed Measure 66 and 67 tax
increases on the wealthy and corporations
to save schools from big budget cuts.
Castillo supported the measures and
increased school funding.
Vote Smart reported that the ACLU
gave Castillo a voting record in the
Legislature of 100 percent and gave
Maurer a 0 percent rating. The Oregon
Education Associated rated Maurer 43
percent and Castillo 100 percent. The
League of Conservation Voters gave
Maurer a 40 percent voting record and
Castillo a 92 percent. Castillo got an ‘F’
grade from the NRA, Maurer an ‘A.’
Castillo served as the first Hispanic
woman in the state legislature and told Vote
Smart she supports affirmative action.
Maurer told the nonprofit that he opposes
affirmative action and supports state and
local law enforcement officials enforcing
federal immigration laws. — Alan Pittman
SEEDBALLZ
FOR FAST
GARDENING
From tossing seeds over fences to turn
abandoned lots into gardens, to protecting
seeds from birds in your backyard, Eugene-
based SeedBallz is trying to make garden-
ing easier, faster and more fulfilling.
An interface between social and envi-
ronmental consciousness, SeedBallz LLC
employs developmentally-disabled work-
ers to hand-roll and package balls of seed,
red clay and organic humus.
“It gives [the disabled] meaningful
work,” said company co-owner Alice
Strong. “It’s unique work because it’s tac-
tile. They enjoy the process of it, it helps
with behavior, and it’s simple.”
To facilitate planting in garden beds
and planter pots, each of the nickel-sized
“ballz” uses around 40 seeds that germi-
nate inside the ball with watering. Clusters
of flowers form in just a few weeks. All
the gardener does is insert the ball into the
soil and give it plenty of water.
There is a Native American tradition of
rolling seeds in clay and compost in order
to protect them from drying out, blowing
away or being eaten by birds. A Japanese
Endorsements
at a Glance
Deadline for dropping off ballots is
8 pm Tuesday, May 18. To mail in
ballots, it’s best to post them by
May 14. Below are our selected
endorsements. See our explanations
last week. For races and issues not
listed, please refer to your Voters’
Pamphlet.
CANDIDATE RACES
U.S. Senator.
Ron Wyden (D)
Governor.
John Kitzhaber (D)
State Treasurer.
Ted Wheeler (D)
proponent of organic, non-invasive farm-
ing methods, Masanobu Fukuoka, popu-
larized the seed balling technique in his
book One Straw Revolution.
Strong decided to use this technique in
order to offer gardeners a new way to
grow flowers and herbs without the use of
pesticides or fertilizers. “With traditional
gardening, you’re either putting single
seeds into the ground as you plant or
you’re dry broadcasting,” said Strong.
With SeedBallz, a gardener can yield mul-
tiple plants from one ball.
Such seed balls have also been a bas-
tion of urban “guerilla gardening.”
Environmental activists either purchase
the pre-made Seedballz or make seed balls
of their own from native seeds and clay
and toss the lumps into vacant lots to turn
them into gardens. Each rainstorm gradu-
ally breaks the ball down and allows the
plants to grow.
Strong said her company has rolled
over eight million “ballz” last year. In
addition to donating to various gardeners
on Earth Day, the company has also had its
products used in New York’s Clinton
Global Initiative, Seattle’s Seeds of
Compassion event and U.S. District Court
Judge Ann Aiken’s personal garden.
“We’re having a lot of fun.” — Deborah
Bloom
ACTIVIST
ALERT
• A Fashioning Resistance to
Militarism Fashion Show is planned for 7
pm Thursday, May 13, at Agate Hall on
campus. Contact Gwyn Kirk at gkirk@
uoregon.edu
• The Beyond Patriarchy conference
is May 14-16 at the Erb Memorial Union
on campus. See story last week about this
“radical feminist gathering for men,
women and everyone else.” Keynote
speakers are Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
and Tobi Hill-Meyer. Email beyondpatri-
archy@riseup.net or visit http://wkly.ws/jb
for list of events and times.
• The 2010 Commute Challenge
begins May 15 and offers a full work-
week of competition between businesses
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
and individuals. Prizes will be awarded.
visit http://commutechallenge.org or find
the challenge page on Facebook.
• Coffee Party meeting from 5:30 to
7 pm Tuesday, May 18, at Gary’s Coffee
House 525 High St. Facilitated by
Wintergreen, email wintergreen@birthing-
better.com
• 1000 Friends of Oregon is celebrat-
ing the opening of its new Willamette
Valley office in Eugene. Executive Director
Jason Miner and Willamette Valley
Advocate Mia Nelson will meet and greet
from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, May 20, at 220
E. 11th Ave., Suite 5. Light refreshments
Superintendent of Public
Instruction.
Susan Castillo
Oregon Supreme Court.
Position 5.
Jack Landau
NONPARTISAN
CITY OFFICES
City Council Ward 5.
Write in somebody
City Council Ward 6.
Pat Farr
EWEB At-Large Position.
John Simpson
WAR
DEAD
In Iraq
• 4,400 U.S. troops killed* (4,398)
• 31,809 U.S. troops injured**
(31,790)
• 185 U.S. military suicides*
(updates NA)
• 1,123 U.S. contractors killed
(updates NA)
• 104,767 to 1.2 million
civilians killed*** (104,754)
• $721.4 billion cost of war
($770.7 billion)
• $205.2 million cost to Eugene
taxpayers ($204.9 million)
In Afghanistan
• 1,049 U.S. troops killed* (1,045)
• 5,730 U.S. troops injured**
(5,677)
• $270.0 billion cost of war
($269.2 billion)
• $76.8 million cost to Eugene tax-
payers ($76.5 million)
* through May 7, 2010; source: icasualties.org; some figures only
updated monthly
** sources: icasualties.org, defenselink.mil
*** highest estimate; source: iraqbodycount.org; based on con-
firmed media reports; other groups calculate civilian deaths as
high as 655,000 (Lancet survey, 2006) to 1.2 million (Opinion
Research Business survey, 2008)
STATE BALLOT
MEASURES
Measure 68. Bonds for capi-
tal expenditures. Yes
Measure 69. Expands bor-
rowing authority. Yes
COUNTY MEASURES
& CANDIDATES
Measure 20-158. Extension
Service local option. Yes
Measure 20-159. Amends
County Charter. Yes
Measure 20-160. Amends
County Charter. Yes
Measure 20-161. Amends
County Charter. Yes
West Lane County
Commissioner.
Jerry Rust
East Lane County
Commissioner.
Tom Brandt
Springfield County
Commissioner.
Pat Riggs-Henson
EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 13, 2010 9