The WhatcomTalk Events Calendar shares things to do around Whatcom County including Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine and beyond. Find fun activities and adventures throughout the region on our comprehensive events calendar. Have an event that isn’t listed? Click the green “Post your Event” button and our editors will review and approve within two business days.
Join botanist and naturalist, Jazmen Yoder in a classic PNW moss-laden forest to learn cool moss facts, and the names of several common mosses, plus so much more.
In this course you will learn about the evolutionary history of mosses, what makes them special and different from all other photosynthesizing organisms, their ethnobotanical uses, vocabulary to describe different structures found on mosses, and the basics of how to identify different species. The objective of this course is to introduce students to bryology (study of mosses) and provide an immersive setting that will be memorable for all who participate. Come to gain familiarity with mosses to augment all your future explorations in PNW Forests.
While the emphasis of this course will be on moss, we can ID any plant or fungi species in the habitat and found along the way. This is a unique field trip offering for anyone with a curiosity about the green world around them.
Space is limited.
Please register via the event website.
Join botanist and naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a walk at one of the most stunning trail systems in the Pacific Northwest. In this course, learn the names and evolutionary history of lichens and how to categorize them. There will be an emphasis on learning about lichens, but we will ID any plant or fungi species of interest. Bring your camera, come for the knowledge, and stay for the views! This is a unique field trip offering you’ll remember forever.
Space is limited.
Please register via the event website.
Birchwood Garden Club
Established 1931-Bellingham, Washington
Planting Seeds of Friendship throughout our Community
Please note: Location and time change of meeting below:
March Topic:
Ciscoe Morris –“Designing the Environmentally Friendly Garden”
The March 5th meeting of the BGC will be held at the Hotel Leo,
1221 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA. A very brief business meeting, for Birchwood Garden Club members only, will start at 6:00 PM until 6:15 PM. Doors will then open to the public at 6:15 PM. The presentation with Ciscoe begins at 6:30 PM.
The speaker will be Ciscoe Morris, a household name for many in the Pacific Northwest. A gardening guru with an inimitable personality, his enthusiasm for all growing things and his high energy have elevated him to a uniquely recognizable media personality. He worked for 24 years as a gardener at Seattle University, and for over 20 years he hosted weekly gardening talks on KIRO/KING-TV. He wrote columns for the “Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer” for over 17 years, and has published two books, Ask Ciscoe and Oh Là Là.
Ciscoes’ presentation will be on “Designing the Environmentally
Friendly Garden.”
With his vast Integrated Pest Management experience and gardening knowledge, this should be a fascinating talk. Please join us!!!
Birchwood Garden Club membership is open to anyone in Whatcom or Skagit Counties. You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings where membership brochures will be available. Check out our website, www.birchwoodgardenclub.org to see the fun activities and community services our club does! You can also join us on Instagram and Facebook @ Birchwood Garden Club.
The skills we will cover in this outdoor workshop include:
-An Introduction to Bushcraft in the Pacific Northwest
-Survival Basics
-Priorities in a survival situation
-Fire-making
-Shelter construction
-Water sources and sanitation
-Food resources
-Knot-tying and lashing
-Tools of the trade and practice using them.
-Knife and ax skills
-Containers
-First aid kits
-Ethnobotany meets Bushcraft
-Plants for survival crafts, medicine, and food, and fire
We will practice all of these skills together in this full-day course.
Northwest Natura is providing day-use materials including:
-Morakniv bushcraft knives
-Ferrocerium rods and strikers
-Fire resources (wood, tinder)
-Saws (limited number)
-Axes (limited number)
-Tarps, paracord, and other shelter supplies (multiples)
-Demo Equipment; examples of several kit items
-Supplies for first aid wildcrafting workshop
-Hot beverages for all
A list of basic things for you to bring to this course will be provided in an email 3-4 days before the event.
You are encouraged to bring your own outdoor tools such as a knife, ax, fire starter, tarp, containers (pots, water bottles), paracord, first aid kit, etc. so you can practice with your kit and/or I can answer any questions about your gear and help you with new-to-you equipment in our spare time.
This class is designed for adults (16+) who are interested in learning new skills that are useful in a variety of ways. Bushcraft is something you can apply in every day life, from the comfort of your home working on foraged wood carving projects, baskets from grasses, pine needles, roots, and bark, or outdoors building shelters, fires, and harvesting food resources.
Bushcraft workshops can cover the essential skills that ancestral to all humans. Come out to learn new things and boost your confidence outdoors through learning awesome self-reliance skills.
Space is limited.
Please register via the event website.
In this wildcrafting workshop you will learn how to weave a basket using the coil technique and Ponderosa Pine needles.
Weaving with pine needles and other coiled plant material is a practice ancient peoples from all continents implemented in day-to-day survival, conventional living, and art.
The technique requires patience and attention to detail before it becomes a relaxing, repetitive stitching pattern. It is a skill that is more easily learned with a little guidance.
Dabblers, beginners, intermediate, and advanced weavers will enjoy this creative, social gathering with Northwest Natura.
In this course you will learn:
-ID and Ecology features of Pinus spp. (various pine tree species).
-Foraging techniques and where to harvest pine needles.
-How to weave a coiled basket using pine needles.
All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own too if you wish (e.g., thread, beads, decor, sewing kit).
What to bring:
-Snacks/lunch
-Pliers
-Scissors
-A plastic bag for storing your work
-A larger bag for taking home handfuls of soaked pine needles
-A hand towel
-Journal and pen (optional)
-Your own sewing kit and/or embroidery thread (optional)
This course will take place indoors at the Chuckanut Center near Fairhaven in Whatcom County, WA. The Chuckanut Center is heated and has access to facilities including a bathroom, full kitchen, and drinking water.
Please register via the event website.
Join Naturalist Jazmen Yoder on a hike along one of the Chuckanut Mountain trails to get outdoors in early spring. Learn the names and flavors of edible plants as we go.
The trailhead is TBD based on abundant species. Expect some elevation gain but keep in mind we’ll be stopping frequently to botanize and learn about edible plant species.
Things to bring with you to class:
Dress for the weather (warm outdoor clothing)
Hiking shoes
Snacks and water
Notebook and pen (optional)
Camera (optional)
Your favorite field guide (optional)
Registered individuals will receive an email a few days prior to the event with driving directions, weather forecast, and a reminder of what to bring with you.
Please register via the event website.
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a day of foraging out in the woods. This course will take place on private and public property approximately 2 miles east of Maple Falls.
What to expect:
The first part of class will be a walk in the woods foraging for various edible plants and mushrooms. For each species, we’ll talk about how to identify it, it’s edibility or medicinal properties, how to prepare it for medicine or food, and how we could use it in our meal later.
Expect moderate walking/hiking with frequent stops, self-led exploration, and a lesson in ethical foraging on public lands.
In the second portion of this course, we will build a fire and cook together with the plants we foraged. Using unique recipes, we’ll combine our efforts in producing beautiful culinary arts with a campfire and cast iron.
These classes are offered on several dates and as the month progresses, new plants will become available. Thus, each course aims to incorporate different recipes and ingredients. Signing up for all three classes offers a discount of $50.
(Please note the location is subject to change based on available plant forage. You will be notified ahead of time if anything changes, and location will not be anywhere outside of Whatcom County or too far off the original target. Thank you for understanding.)
Please register via the event website.
Join me on the beautiful coastline for an immersive tree ID workshop.
The first hour of this course will be a sit-down, guided note-taking session, followed by a walk in the woods with breath-taking views of the Salish Sea.
You will walk away with memorable mnemonics to help you recall names of trees based on their features, habitat, smell, and subtle quirks in this fun outing designed for adult learning.
Registered individuals will receive details on location in an event-reminder email a few days prior to the event.
Please register via the event website.
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a day of foraging out in the woods. This course will take place on private and public property near Maple Falls.
The first part of class will be a walk in the woods foraging for various edible plants and mushrooms. For each species, we’ll talk about how to identify it, it’s edibility or medicinal properties, how to prepare it for medicine or food, and how we could use it in our meal later.
Expect moderate walking/hiking with frequent stops, self-led exploration, and a lesson in ethical foraging on public lands.
In the second portion of this course, we will build a fire and cook together with the plants we foraged. Using unique recipes, we’ll combine our efforts in producing beautiful culinary arts with a campfire and cast iron.
These classes are offered on several dates and as the month progresses, new plants will become available. Signing up for all three classes offers a discount of $50
Please register via the event website.
Support local artisans and non-profits at our Earth Day Market on Saturday, April 19th!
Join us in the beer garden from 11 am – 3 pm to shop from and learn about local sustainably-minded vendors and organizations. From upcycled clothes, accessories, and decor to organizations dedicated to getting people outdoors and reducing food waste, there’ll be lots to see!
This event is open to all ages and free to attend?
This course is designed for anyone interested in foraging, herbal medicine, and native plant (and mushroom) identification.
Take an educational stroll through a central park in Bellingham to learn the medicinal benefits of several species of plants, how and when to harvest them, and foraging ethics and safety.
We will also ID edible and medicinal mushrooms if we find them!
You will be amazed at how much we find and how much you’ll learn on this field trip!
Preparedness:
-Dress for the weather
-Walking shoes (hiking boots not necessary)
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and Pen (optional but recommended)
-Well behaved dogs can join us, but they need to be on a leash.
Please register via the event website.
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a day of foraging out in the woods. This course will take place on private and public property near Maple Falls.
The first part of class will be a walk in the woods foraging for various edible plants and mushrooms. For each species, we’ll talk about how to identify it, it’s edibility or medicinal properties, how to prepare it for medicine or food, and how we could use it in our meal later.
Expect moderate walking/hiking with frequent stops, self-led exploration, and a lesson in ethical foraging on public lands.
In the second portion of this course, we will build a fire and cook together with the plants we foraged. Using unique recipes, we’ll combine our efforts in producing beautiful culinary arts with a campfire and cast iron.
These classes are offered on several dates and as the month progresses, new plants will become available. Thus, each course aims to incorporate different recipes and ingredients. Signing up for all three classes offers a discount of $50.
Please register via the event website.
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a gentle walk along the river to learn how to identify conifers, forage spruce tips, nettles, and wildcraft them into foods and medicines.
There is no elevation gain on this trail, but quite a bit of walking, and a nice period of sitting to craft our concoctions.
Things to bring with you to class:
-Dress for the weather (warm outdoor clothing)
-Your most comfortable walking shoes
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and pen (optional)
-Foraging basket
-Garden gloves (thicker the better. I have some available for borrowing)
-Two medium-large glass jars
-Please bring at least one 12oz and one 16oz jar, both with lids
Northwest Natura is providing:
-Processing equipment
-High quality alcohol for tincture infusions
-Sugars for making syrup
*Please register via the event website.
*Registered individuals will receive an email a few days prior to the event with driving directions, weather forecast, and a reminder of what to bring with you.
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a gentle walk at the stunning Padilla Bay Research Reserve to learn about traditional and modern uses of PNW native plants, and traditional agricultural practices advanced by indigenous peoples for time immemorial.
Padilla Bay Reserve has incredible plant diversity. This tour will focus on the historical significance of Coastal Prairies, estuarine, and forest plant species, and the importance of restoration projects and accessibility to these areas.
Things to bring with you to class:
-Dress for the weather (warm outdoor clothing)
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and pen (optional)
-Camera (optional)
-Your favorite field guide (optional)
-You will need good shoes for walking, but they don’t necessarily need to be hiking boots; the trail is well maintained.
*Registered individuals will receive an event-reminder email a few days prior to the event.
*Please register via the event website.
We are exceptionally excited to welcome you to this engaging lecture by Seamus O’Brien, one of Ireland’s best-known horticulturists and Head Gardener of the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, County Wicklow. This garden estate is famous for its conifer and extensive rhododendron collections, and under Seamus’s direction, is being restored.
The recent rejuvenation of the dramatic Kilmacurragh native wildflower meadows is one of the highlights of this talk. Seamus will describe the process and unique plants employed to create the colorful tapestry of ever-changing seasonal wildflowers, including snowdrops, crocuses, narcissi, and native orchids.
We will also enjoy a glimpse into the evolution of Kilmacurragh with its rich and fascinating history dating back to monastic origins in the 1600s. In the 19th century, it became a wild-style ‘Robinson’ garden when the latest discoveries of plants and exotic trees from world expeditions were added. Recently, the gardens have undergone a major replanting program using material raised at multiple botanical gardens from collaborative expeditions worldwide.
Seamus has travelled extensively to many areas of the world to study plants in their native habitats. From these expeditions he has published two award winning books; In the Footsteps of Augustine Henry and his Chinese Collectors (2011), and In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker: A Sikkim Adventure (2018). He regularly contributes to Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, The Irish Garden, The Irish Garden Plant Society Newsletter and the International Dendrology Society Year Book.
For additional information and a look at the wildflower meadow garden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlbbtqEl67E
Annual Plant Sale, featuring Veggies, Flowers & Herbs.
Cash or Check only
Annual Plant Sale, featuring Veggies, Flowers & Herbs.
Cash or Check only
This two-part series is designed for adults (16+) at any skill level that are interested in having fun outdoors learning more about flora, fauna, and natural history of the Pacific Northwest. We will meet two times during the month of May in Skagit County parks, focusing on universal botany wisdom, and ethnobotany of the PNW.
Each class will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the ecosystem, learn names of plants, lichens, mushrooms, and engage in hands-on learning to deepen your awareness of the natural world.
Overall, we will be moving at a slow pace during each outing as we focus on our surroundings, have mini lectures, or engage in activities.
Expect some gentle to moderate hiking, and some kneeling or squatting.
We’ll begin with an intro to botany so we can comfortably start using botanical terminology during this series. You will use samples of flowers and leaves to make observations of various structures and sketch them into a field notebook.
The second part of the class will be a walk in the woods, finding “signs of spring” while focusing on two plant families, the Roses and the Heaths (two very diverse and abundant groups).
During this segment you can expect to gain experience in:
-Plant ID
-Plant anatomy
-Plant taxonomy
You can also expect:
-Ethnobotany lesson
-Optional tidepool exploration
-Foraging tips on edible species
-Coastal views
-Wildlife and Bird sightings
-Relaxed community atmosphere
-Gentle walking in a beautiful park setting
Please register via the event website.
Join Naturalist,Jazmen Yoder on a hike along one of the Chuckanut Mountain trails to get outdoors in early spring and learn the names and flavors of edible plants as we go.
The trailhead is TBD based on abundant species. Expect some elevation gain but keep in mind we’ll be stopping frequently to botanize and learn about edible plant species.
Things to bring with you to class:
-Dress for the weather (warm outdoor clothing)
-Hiking shoes
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and pen (optional)
-Camera (optional)
-Your favorite field guide (optional)
Registered individuals will receive an email a 3-5 days prior to the event with trail info, driving directions, weather forecast, and a reminder of what to bring with you.
Please register via the event website.
Join Salish Sea Naturalist and Outdoor Educator, Jazmen Yoder on a hike to Sugarloaf Mountaintop while learning about traditional and modern uses of PNW native plants.
Anacortes Community Forest has incredible plant diversity. This tour will focus on edible and medicinal coastal prairie and mixed forest plant species and show you how to identify them. You will learn a ton about each plant including edible and medicinal uses, and traditional harvest, cooking, and agricultural techniques.
There is some elevation gain on this hike, but we will be stopping frequently to botanize.
Key takeaways:
-Plant identification skills
-Learn which species would be appropriate to forage for food or medicine and which should be left alone and admired based on their ecological role, restoration status, and/or cultural significance to indigenous peoples.
-Guided plant identification notes from the instructor using a whiteboard at each stop
-Find community outdoors with nature-loving folks on this hike through the forest to Salish Sea vistas!
Please register via the event website.
In this wildcrafting workshop you will learn how to weave a basket using the coil technique and Ponderosa Pine needles.
Weaving with pine needles and other coiled plant material is a practice ancient peoples from all continents implemented in day-to-day survival, conventional living, and art.
The technique requires patience and attention to detail before it becomes a relaxing, repetitive stitching pattern. It is a skill that is more easily learned with a little guidance.
Dabblers, beginners, intermediate, and advanced weavers will enjoy this creative, social gathering with Northwest Natura.
In this course you will learn:
-ID and Ecology features of Pinus spp. (various pine tree species).
-Foraging techniques and where to harvest pine needles.
-How to weave a coiled basket using pine needles.
All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own too if you wish (e.g., thread, beads, decor, sewing kit).
What to bring:
-Snacks/lunch
-Pliers
-Scissors
-A plastic bag for storing your work
-A larger bag for taking home handfuls of soaked pine needles
-A hand towel
-Journal and pen (optional)
-Your own sewing kit and/or embroidery thread (optional)
This course will take place indoors at the Chuckanut Center near Fairhaven in Whatcom County, WA. The Chuckanut Center is heated and has access to facilities including a bathroom, full kitchen, and drinking water.
Please register via the event website.
This two-part series is designed for adults (16+) at any skill level that are interested in having fun outdoors learning more about flora, fauna, and natural history of the Pacific Northwest. We will meet two times during the month of May in Skagit County parks, focusing on universal botany wisdom, and ethnobotany of the PNW.
Each class will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the ecosystem, learn names of plants, lichens, mushrooms, and engage in hands-on learning to deepen your awareness of the natural world.
Overall, we will be moving at a slow pace during each outing as we focus on our surroundings, have mini lectures, or engage in activities.
Expect some gentle to moderate hiking, and some kneeling or squatting.
Day 2: Ethnobotany of the Pacific Northwest Coast
This course will begin with a lecture-style intro to prehistory of the Pacific Northwest coupled with a robust acknowledgement of the peoples who have lived on and tended to the land for time immemorial.
Amble along the trail with breath-taking flora and coastal views and learn about traditional uses of plants, Indigenous agricultural practices, kin-centric ecological connections between plants and people, and so much more in this immersive walkabout focused on ethnobotany of the PNW Coast.
You can also expect:
-Foraging tips on edible species
-Wildlife and Bird sightings
-Relaxed community atmosphere
-Leisurely hiking in a beautiful park setting (expect some elevation gain but note that we will be pausing on the trail frequently)
Please register via the event website.
This course will take place on Private Land in Whatcom County off Highway 542 next to Boulder Creek ~2 miles east of Maple Falls, WA.
The skills we will cover in this outdoor workshop include:
-An Introduction to Bushcraft in the Pacific Northwest
-Survival priorities
Activities:
-Knots
-Shelter construction from raw materials
-Second shelter construction: simple tarp deployment
-Knife, ax, and saw practice with guidance if needed
-Fire-making tutorial using foraged materials and no lighter
-Use a ferro rod or flint & steel.
*Optional to make tea over a fire using wild edible/medicinal plants.
We will practice all of these skills together in this full-day course.
Northwest Natura is providing day-use materials including:
Morakniv 511 knives
Ferrocerium rods and strikers
Fire resources (wood, tinder)
Saws (limited number)
Axes (limited number)
Tarps, paracord, and other shelter supplies
Demo Equipment; examples of several kit items
More details provided via the event website.
Please register via the event website.
The Bushcraft Basics series by Northwest Natura teaches students practical outdoor skills like fire-making, shelter-building, knot-tying, and wildcrafting skills like weaving, making cordage, and more.
In this course you will learn how to make cordage using different plants that you forage.
Practice self reliance skills in this half-day course.
Key takeaways:
-Ethnobotany of various species of fiber plants
-How to harvest and process fiber from multiple species of plants
-Learn two techniques of twisting plant fibers into cords and ropes
-Improve your self-reliance skills in a casual group setting where you will meet folks who share your interests and love for nature.
***Please register via the event website.
More info available on the website as well.
Discover the ancient skill of archery with a focus on the plants of the Pacific Northwest!
In this 3-hour field session collaboration, join Jazmen Yoder of Northwest Natura and Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest to study native and naturalized plants of the region that can be used for archery.
What to Expect:
-Learn how to identify the plants that can be used to wildcraft bows and arrows.
-Handcraft a deer or elk leg bone arrowhead to take home.
-Field archery practice session that will teach beginners how to handle, hold, and shoot longbows and recurve bows safely.
Registration and more info on the event website.
