The Hockey Academy is designed to teach all skill levels while building a passion for the sport of hockey. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Sportsplex.
Mark Collins loves hockey. “Hockey is a part of my family,” says the Blazers Head Coach and Bellingham Sportsplex Hockey Program Director. “I’ve played since I was two years old. My dad played, my sister played for Team Canada, and my wife played for Team USA. You could say it’s in our blood.”
Mark Collins has a life-long passion for hockey. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Sports & Recreation.
A native of Manitoba, Canada, Collins is a former North Dakota State University collegiate player who uses his passion for hockey to enliven the Bellingham Sportsplex program. He came to Bellingham over 15 years ago and soon began coaching at the Sportsplex. He then became the Hockey Program Director in 2012, the same year the Bellingham Blazers returned to town, and was named Blazers Head Coach shortly thereafter.
Under Collins’ leadership, the Blazers won the Cascade Cup Championship two years in a row, also earning spots in the 2013 and 2014 Junior National Championships. In 2013, Collins was awarded Coach of the Year for the Northern Pacific Hockey League. Today he is a Level 5 USA Hockey certified coach.
“We have generated a fan base and a lot of interest in hockey because of these kids,” says Collins. “Our kids in the Learn to Play program look up to the Blazers players. It’s where they want to go.”
Mark Collins imparts a love of hockey to young players. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Sports & Recreation.
What really excites him is getting kids who’ve never played hockey into the Learn to Play program. “It’s phenomenal to build that enthusiasm in a sport that kids have just learned to play,” Collins says.
Collins still plays hockey locally and enjoys what the Adult League at the Sportsplex brings to the community. “It’s a great avenue for folks to go out and play once a week and make it a social event,” he says.
With a new session of Learn to Play starting right after spring break, Collins looks forward to another opportunity to build local hockey skills and enthusiasm. For more information on hockey programs and the Blazers, visit the Bellingham Sportsplex website.
Finding a technician who will be working in your home can be tricky business. How do you choose? While a Google search will certainly return a variety of businesses, how do you know you can trust the results? When it comes to the company that is going to service your home HVAC unit, it’s important to hire quality. That’s why it’s important to choose a certified HVAC technician.
It Starts with Education
Anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves experts. But there is a distinction between someone who says they are an expert and what they truly know.
A certified technician has attended hundreds of hours of coursework to become a master in all aspects of the trade. They have received a degree from a technical school, like Bellingham Technical College, which includes the necessary skills and understanding to be successful installing and troubleshooting heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems and their component parts. Investing in an education is a good sign a technician has a long-term commitment to upholding the highest industry standards.
As part of their training, certified HVAC technicians learn how to communicate with customers honestly and transparently. They know that you don’t understand industry jargon, so they don’t speak in code. You’re left with a clear understanding of what’s happening in your home—and how it’s going to be fixed.
Extensive Experience and Training
Once HVAC technicians have received certification via a degree, the learning doesn’t stop. After graduation, they continue their education and gain experience through on-the-job practical training and even apprenticeship programs to enhance their skills. Additionally, Andgar provides our certified techs weekly in-house training sessions so they are prepared to work with every kind of system on the market: old and new units, electric and gas furnaces, heat pumps, water heaters, and refrigeration, in addition to air conditioning. You would be hard pressed to stump a certified HVAC technician.
But it’s not all about fixing things.
Certified HVAC technicians are committed to helping your home’s HVAC unit work as efficiently as possible. The training they receive is about more than assessing and fixing issues with your system. They look at your home as a whole as well as at the different component parts to ensure you have the right system for your family’s lifestyle. And, ultimately, that means you save money.
Customer Service Is Key
Service techs with no training and whom you’ll never see again are less likely to be invested in you or your home, but your satisfaction is the standard a certified technician strives to meet. Andgar even assigns a specific certified technician to your home so they know your HVAC system inside and out, and can show up every six months to ensure your system is running right under our Peak Performance Plan.
The Certification Difference
You want to have people you can trust in your home and with your family’s comfort.
At Andgar, we only hire technicians with degrees and we’ve built a team that’s invested in providing the best customer service through exceptional knowledge and great communication. We understand that your home is your greatest investment and we want you to rest easy when you choose us. Contact us now to learn more and schedule your appointment.
Hans Erchinger-Davis (right), pictured with Chad Nickisch (left), describes the Street Connect outreach van as a way for volunteers and staff to build trust and make connections. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
Bellingham’s Lighthouse Mission began 95 years ago as a safe haven for fishermen and loggers who had fallen on hard times. Today the mission provides shelter for about 250 people daily. Its goal: to break the cycle of homelessness. To this end, it offer three meals every day, a safe place to sleep, employment and legal assistance, one-on-one support and a long-term addiction recovery program.
Lighthouse Mission offers kindness, comfort and essential resources for those in need. Photo courtesy: Lighthouse Mission.
Lighthouse Mission is fully funded by individual contributions and support from local businesses and churches. Chad Nickisch, Barkley Branch Manager of Peoples Bank, took a special interest in supporting the mission after hearing about one of his children’s classmates experiencing homelessness. “Homelessness is a big problem in our community compounded, ironically, by minimum wage increases in the near future, along with a decrease in affordable housing,” Nickisch says.
Many people working at minimum wage jobs count on low income aid, like SNAP Food Benefits and Medicaid. For some, the recently approved wage increase may revoke their eligibility for these types of aid without covering the costs of benefits.
With 742 homeless in Whatcom County, and no shelters available in Skagit or Island Counties, Lighthouse Mission is an essential resource. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
“Lighthouse Mission is using every square inch of space to meet the needs of our community,” Nickisch says.
The Mission’s 24-hour Drop-In Center is open for anyone experiencing homelessness and is there to support people when they are ready to seek change. In addition to providing meals and shelter, the facility offers access to health care, including an eye clinic which is run in partnership with the Bellingham Central Lions Club. “It’s hard to get a job if you can’t see,” says Hans Erchinger-Davis, Executive Director of Lighthouse Mission Ministries. “We are dedicated to helping motivate change and offering hope for a better future.”
In addition to the Drop-In Center, Lighthouse Mission maintains longer-term shelters for men at The Mission and women and children at Agape Home. “We have doubled our capacity in the last year and a half, and haven’t had to turn anyone away since then,” says Erchinger-Davis.
Agape Home is a shelter for women and children, offering classes and guidance to create a better future. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
The dedicated Lighthouse Mission team also uses an outreach program to connect with individuals that don’t visit the Drop-In Center. Staff, volunteers and recovery program personnel go out in the Street Connect van to form relationships. Most of the people they meet are broken and suffering, but the mission wants each to know they are welcome “just as they are” and that they are ready to help at any time. “We understand that everyone changes at different rates,” Erchinger-Davis says. “Here, we are offering a safe context to get back to a flourishing life.”
One woman visited the Drop-In Center off and on for about five years. She usually stayed close to the safety of the Mission, but wasn’t ready to take the next step. She had feelings of shame and felt that she didn’t deserve a better life. One day she was experiencing terrible pain and was rushed to the hospital. There, not knowing she was pregnant, she delivered a baby addicted to drugs. The infant was taken to foster care and the woman decided to fight for her child. She joined the community at Agape Home and utilized all of the support. She got clean, was eventually granted visitation and now has her daughter full-time. “It takes years, but she’s doing it,” Erchinger-Davis says.
Lighthouse Mission offers safety and hope for those in need. Photo courtesy: Lighthouse Mission.
To help even more people in Whatcom County, Nickisch joined Generation Forward, which tackles big problems locally using a five- to 20-year approach. This group of 90 community members works to solve the toughest issues like access to mental health care and early childhood education. As part of the funding committee, Nickisch and others are working to solve the issue of sustainable funding in an effort to help non-profits prosper and meet the needs of Whatcom County. “We as a community, in Whatcom County, are very strong,” Nickisch says. “There is considerable wealth in this area and we don’t flaunt it; we give it. People have amazing hearts and are willing to give if they know where it needs to go.”
Hans Erchinger-Davis (right), pictured with Chad Nickisch (left), says the Street Connect outreach van helps build trust and make connections. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
Nickisch is active in local foundations to ensure that those in need get the support required to make positive changes. At Peoples Bank, he connects customers with community organizations that would be a good fit for them — like a worthy cause matchmaker. In the end, Nickisch says, “Giving back is an essential component to what makes us a community bank. We are dedicated to providing support to the communities where we live and work, and we do this because it’s the right thing to do. Helping the community in the best way possible ensures it’s here for tomorrow and more people can enjoy and flourish.”
The weekend is here and spring is in the air—time to get out and have some fun! There are lots of interesting things going on: learning opportunities, outdoor adventures, cultural events and more. Here are a few ideas of what to do in and around Bellingham April 6—8. And don’t forget to check out our full events calendar for all the fun happenings in Whatcom County.
WhatcomTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Bellingham and the surrounding area, visit our events calendar. To submit an event of your own, visit our events calendar and click on the green “Post Your Event” button.
This garnet-colored ale was aged for five months in oak barrels and then for an additional three months with black currants. Photo courtesy: Atwood Ales.
Atwood Ales will release several new beers at the Bellingham Farmers Market in coming weeks. Here’s the inside scoop:
Concurrently #1
ABV 7.0% (Being released 4/7/18) Barrel-aged Brown Ale with Black Currants 500ml Bottle Conditioned
This garnet-colored ale was aged for five months in oak barrels and then for an additional three months with black currants. Layers of dark chocolate, espresso, vanilla and fruit preserves ride tandem with mild acidity, tannins and a moderate dose of cattle barn funk.
The impression of mild fruit sweetness is subdued by oak tannins, acidity and funk. Photo courtesy: Atwood Ales.
Concurrently #2
ABV 5.1% (Being released 4/14/18) Barrel-aged Farmhouse Ale with Black Currants 500ml Bottle Conditioned
This ruby-colored farmhouse ale was aged for six months in oak barrels with three different strains of Brettanomyces, and then for an additional three months with black currants. Time in barrels with Brett and whole fruit brings out not only black currant flavor but raspberry and stone fruit esters as well. The impression of mild fruit sweetness is subdued by oak tannins, acidity and funk.
Red Bretta
Red Bretta was aged for nine months in oak barrels with three different strains of Brettanomyces. Photo courtesy: Atwood Ales.
5.1%ABV (Being released 4/21/18) Barrel-aged Farmhouse Ale 500ml Bottle Conditioned
This amber-hued farmhouse ale was aged for nine months in oak barrels with three different strains of Brettanomyces. Our friends, Oak and Brett, add mild acidity, (pillowy lactic acid and touch of acetic acid); some tannins and dryness (like an oaked chardonnay); fruity esters (berries and stone fruit); and an indeterminate funk blast.
It’s the official opening day of boating season and Hotel Bellwether will host their second annual “Spring Fling” Wine Social at the Lighthouse Grill and Water Front Terrace on Saturday, May 5 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with special VIP access from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Hotel Bellwether Spring Fling is a premier wine and food event showcasing 25+ wineries from around the world, with a spotlight on the Pacific Northwest. Some of these wineries include Abeja, Chateau St. Michelle, Mark Ryan, plus some California superstars, Silver Oak, Caymus and Krug. The Old World selections include the infamous Torres winery from Spain and Casa Ventura just to name a few. Along with a variety of global and northwest wines, the Spring Fling will also serve an impressive array of savory bites from Hotel Bellwether’s waterfront gem, the Lighthouse Grill. You won’t want to miss this premier wine and food social featuring great food, top tier wines and a whole bunch of fun!
Tickets for the event are $55* per person with limited VIP tickets available for $75* per person (*plus tax). The VIP attendees will receive early access to the event with exclusive wine tasting, a chef choice of passed appetizers and discounted wine purchases. Tickets will be available at the door the day of for $75.
There will also be an on-site wine store for attendees to purchase their favorite wine from the vendors, at special event pricing.
Hotel Bellwether is thrilled for the second annual Spring Fling and looks forward to once again hosting a fun wine and food event for the Bellingham community. Jim Haupt, Hotel Bellwether’s General Manager commented that last year’s Spring Fling was such a success that we are anticipating another lovely evening on the bay front in celebration of fine food, wine and the opening day of boating season!
Please visit www.hotelbellwether.com or call 360-392-3100 for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry has a new name and a fresh logo! Moving forward, the chamber will be known as the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce will continue to represent and build a strong local business community. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.
In a year filled with energized ideas, enhanced member benefits and innovative programming, it is the perfect time to also rejuvenate the chamber brand! Member business, McCoy Creative, was tasked with developing a brand mark that the chamber could use with all of its programs and events eliminating the need for multiple logos and individual event branding. Up to now the chamber had dozens of logos – all with different colors, no uniformity and no way to identify each event and program as belonging to the chamber. The new logo and branding was desperately needed and the team at McCoy Creative did a great job for us!
Why a name change? “Our board of directors had several discussions about our name and if it was time for an update that was more concise, easier to say and easier to remember The board liked the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce as it is a reflection of both our member base and community nomenclature and doesn’t limit our membership boundaries by county. Upon further discussion, it was voted on and approved in January 2018,” said Shelli Jones, Marketing Coordinator at the chamber.
"A Pacific Northwest feeling was created by using a rich, deep grey stain on the cabinets, contrasted by gorgeous hickory floors, and all stainless steel appliances," Jonathan says. "The decorative square of horizontal glass tiles over the stove really pulls the color scheme together." Photo courtesy: Jonathan O'Brien.
From the daily ritual of mealtime to parties and special occasions, kitchens are where we gather. We linger there, enjoying the warmth, smells and activity of cooking. For many, the kitchen island has replaced the dining room table. Making the kitchen a space worth gathering in can enhance those daily rituals, as well as add value to your home.
“This deep, rich kitchen uses organic elements so popular here in the Pacific Northwest, like the stacked natural stone used to face the island,” Jonathan says. “This contrasts beautifully with the slick, black countertop. Overall the kitchen is striking, especially at night.” Photo courtesy: Jonathan O’Brien.
In the early 20th century, when many of Whatcom County’s craftsman homes were built, kitchens were often separated from the living space. A closed door kept the noise and smells away from company. In new home construction, open kitchens connected to the living area are a highly sought after design. This feels more informal, but connection is valuable. In such a space, a person can keep an eye on their children in the living area and share drinks with guests, all while they cook. This open design plan is what sets the stage for modern kitchen style trends.
However, the direction of modern kitchen designs is not limited to one movement. There are many ways to bring an updated look to your kitchen depending on your taste. When done right, inexpensive pine butcher tops are as modern as stone ones. “Reconditioned retro appliances are very hot, but so is sleek stainless steel,” says local interior designer, Jonathan O’Brien. “Shabby, country chic is just as fashionable as a kitchen with dark wood and stone counters.”
Whether you want something light and airy or something more dramatic, there are modern elements to make your kitchen fresh and new – even for those on a budget. “In my designs, I’ve included quality GE appliances that are comparable in style to expensive industrial ones, for a fraction of the cost,” O’Brien says. “For counter tops, I’ve been drawn to using Caesarstone. It’s a quartz composite, which has the same effect for half the price of granite.”
“Pine floors and a butcher block island kept costs down but deliver a charming, homey style that the clients are delighted with,” Jonathan says. “The white farmhouse sink is clean and classic. You do not need an huge budget to have a kitchen alive with style.” Photo courtesy: Jonathan O’Brien.
As the heart of the home, a kitchen’s design and functionality can set the tone for the rest of the house. Even for those with classically designed homes, a kitchen update can bring in more light and space. “If your space has size constraints, you can maximize the feeling of spaciousness by using lots of fresh white,” explains O’Brien. “A subway tile backsplash is very inexpensive and a great solution for making things seem spacious.”
Removing a wall can make a stifling kitchen feel airy. It opens up the space for conversation between two rooms and gives the illusion of a larger area.
A kitchen update can inspire a homeowner to continue their redesign out into their living space. The color scheme and textures of the kitchen can often be complemented in the next room. If there are stainless steel appliances and dark woods in the kitchen, one can warm up those tones in the next room with a warm grey – without giving up the sleek style.
Kitchen updates can also be affordable. A simple change in paint color, a furniture update or cabinetry refinish is easy on any budget. Easy upgrades like these tie spaces together. “By using what you have with a fresh outlook on it, you don’t need to spend a fortune for a new look,” says O’Brien. “Even getting your existing carpets cleaned and a new wall color can make it seem like a whole new space.”
“The single glass front cabinet adds an open feeling to a fairly small space,” Jonathan says. “Drama was created by using a black topped Caesar Stone island and countertops, as well as adding ebony hardwood floors. The overalll effect is clean, bright and inviting with a touch of glam.” Photo courtesy: Jonathan O’Brien.
For many, a kitchen redesign may seem like an overwhelming investment, but with the help of a professional, there’s a plan for every budget. O’Brien has the experience and industry connections to find the elements that suit your taste and finances. “You don’t have to be wealthy to have an interior designer help you,” he says. “I can take a budget and already have a list of options that would work within it.”
That professional knowledge saves clients time so they can relax and find joy in the process. O’Brien offers a complimentary one-hour initial consultation for his services. Here he can determine the client’s needs and share ideas. A kitchen update not only adds value to your home, it brings the daily reward of feeling more connected to this important space.
Routine eye exams are essential. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
Eye exams can be easy to put off. We go about our daily lives thinking, “Nothing is blurry, so everything must be all right.” Turns out – that’s not always true. “It’s a good idea for everyone to get a yearly exam, to make sure there aren’t any problems we can fix ahead of time,” says Dr. Mark McEathron, owner of Binyon Vision Center. “Eyes are interesting in that a lot of eye problems don’t have any symptoms.”
Professional optometrists have the experience and skill to spot developing issues before they become a problem. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
Early detection often means better outcomes and it’s important to catch things you might not notice on your own. Luckily for Bellingham locals, eye exams are as accessible as our famous local brews thanks to Binyon Vision Center, located downtown on East Magnolia street. “Eyes are precious,” says Dr. McEathron. “You’d hate to look back and say, ‘I wish I would’ve caught this earlier.’”
Routine eye exams are key. Professional optometrists have the experience and skill to spot developing issues before they become a problem and the tools to address things you might have missed. Vision and overall eye health tend to change over time. Once people hit the magic age of 40, reading and other tasks can become more difficult. An exam can easily help solve this problem and many more.
Yearly eye exams for children are also incredibly important. Dr. McEathron explains that children’s eye exams are essential to confirm that both eyes are seeing well. If only one eye sees well, a child is still able to play on the playground and do well in school – an adult may never notice the issue. Meanwhile, the vision in the child’s weak eye may become lazy while the other eye becomes overworked. The development of both eyes is imperative to the longevity of healthy eyes. It’s critical to catch and address discrepancies early on.
If you need glasses, Binyon has you covered. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
At Binyon Vision Center, eye exams are about the whole person. “I get a glimpse of people’s lives for 45 minutes,” says Dr. McEathron. “I know how they see, what they do, how they work, what their frustrations are – and I can step in to try and help a little bit.”
Binyon chooses not to use ophthalmic technicians, so patients visiting the clinic see the doctor for the duration of their appointment. “Everybody has a different philosophy of working,” says Dr. McEathron. “Mine is to be hands-on with every part of the eye exam – even how you react to telling me how you see the eye chart. I hear your voice and how you’re struggling or not struggling and how you react to my questions. I can get better insight if I’m personally involved with a patient.”
With two Licensed Dispensing Opticians, individuals can receive glasses and explore over 850 different frames. “We try to provide unique handmade glasses,” says Caitlin Bruno, Binyon’s Office Manager. “Some glasses made by hand take six weeks from start to finish to make. They’re really like little pieces of art.”
Routine eye exams are essential. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
Binyon Vision Center was one of the first optometry clinic in Bellingham when it opened in the 1930s and has had only three owners: founder Dr. Binyon, his nephew Dr. Freeman and now Dr. McEathron. No matter who stood at the helm, the clinic has always been dedicated to giving back to the community by providing high-quality eye care and through programs like We’re Thankful, We’re Giving, which donates a portion of the practice’s monthly profits to local charities.
“We’re very well rooted,” says Bruno. “We have patients that have been coming here for 60 years. I worked with the sweetest lady who got her first pair of glasses from us 56 years ago; they were red and she came back just last year and got another pair of red glasses.”
The staff at Binyon Vision Center goes above and beyond to create a positive experience for everyone. They ensure that your visit is both pleasant and productive, and that all of your questions are answered. Be proactive with your eye health and take charge by making appointments for yearly eye exams, so that when you look back on your life, you haven’t missed seeing a single step.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center offers over 30 public workshops per year. Photo courtesy: Cloud Mountain Farm.
From supplying Amazon and Harborview Medical Center with sustainably grown Whatcom County produce to offering workshops and internships to aspiring farmers, Cloud Mountain Farm Center is a cherished and valuable local resource. This nonprofit educational farm has two properties in Everson, Washington—a 20-acre farm and headquarters on Goodwin Road where they grow over a thousand varieties of tree fruits, perennials and ornamentals. They also own a 22-acre incubator farm on Lawrence Road, where new farmers lease and work the land. They’re a highly productive working farm, but their mission goes beyond production. Their goal: to grow farmers.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center started as a small, for-profit apple farm in 1978, “back when this was just an old dairy barn,” says co-founder Cheryl Thornton, standing in what is now the nonprofit’s main office. She and her husband, Tom Thornton, met in the mid-1970s while attending Western Washington University—she at Huxley College of the Environment and he at Fairhaven College. They were part of the team that started the Outback OELP (Outdoor Experiential Learning Program). Both were passionate about agriculture, food, education and community. They decided to start a farm of their own with a focus on Pacific Northwest tree fruits and perennials. The 20-acre property on Goodwin Road was purchased and began grafting and planting apple orchards.
Cloud Mountain Farm focuses on growing plants that naturally thrive in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Cloud Mountain Farm Center.
“There was no grand scheme, no business plan,” Cheryl says. “But people started asking for more and more things, and that’s how the nursery began. Then, we started offering workshops in the early 80s. People were attending and felt empowered to grow things.”
In those early days, finding buyers was a challenge, so to generate interest in local farming, Cheryl began trying to connect restaurants with local farms. “I would gather produce from farms and then try to get restaurants to buy produce from a small spot located in Fairhaven,” she says.
They diversified, selling apples to grocery stores throughout Whatcom County and, eventually, Eastern Washington and the rest of the state. Over the next 20 years, their selection expanded and the nursery continued to grow. They offered nuts, peaches, pears, cherries—and much more. All the while, they kept their focus on growing plants that naturally thrive in Whatcom County and also on being an educational resource for local farmers and gardeners.
With so much happening beyond basic production—the workshops, a new focus on landscape design and hosting roundtable discussions with other farmers—Cloud Mountain was growing into something larger than Cheryl and Tom—larger than the business itself.
In 2011, a group of people from Kulshan Land Trust and Sustainable Connections were seeking land to start an incubator farm. They wanted a space where people could lease land, learn how to farm “and get a feel for it before investing in land of their own,” Cheryl says.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center is an educational resource for local farmers and gardeners. Photo courtesy: Cloud Mountain Farm.
The group wasn’t able to locate a site in Whatcom County that had the necessary water rights, so they looked for existing farms with which to work. “They approached Tom and myself and asked, ‘Would you consider your farm being a new site?’”
The Thorntons had been farming for over 30 years; they knew they would want to sell or pass along the farm at some point and the incubator farm made sense. “We decided that this continues what we started,” Cheryl says.
So, with the help of the Whatcom Community Foundation and their Sustainable Whatcom Fund, which purchased the land from Cheryl and Tom, they formed a nonprofit. Cloud Mountain Farm became Cloud Mountain Farm Center. “Now, as a nonprofit, we focus on educational programs in addition to agricultural production,” Cheryl says.
They still do a lot of production and generate revenue from the sale of fruits and plants, but now all of that funds the nonprofit. “Our main focus is to build new farmers,” Cheryl says.
Today, Cloud Mountain Farm Center offers over 30 public workshops per year. They also have a full-time, paid, nine month internship program for aspiring farmers. “Our curriculum is experiential-based,” Cheryl says. “Interns can learn about nursery production, grafting, orchards, retail. It’s not just planting vegetables. And it’s not just organic versus conventional. Our focus is agriculture with a big A—to understand the social and cultural aspects, business and production.”
Cloud Mountain Farm Center offers over 30 public workshops per year. Photo courtesy: Cloud Mountain Farm.
They focus on supporting existing farmers by hosting a roundtable series where local farmers discuss water, insect control, shipping and other issues. “Also, we’re a drop-site for Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative,” says Cheryl.
The Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative (PSFHC) is a farmer-owned co-op that combines produce from regional member farms and distributes it throughout the Western Washington corridor. “Through this hub we can sell to Amazon, Harborview and others who we would normally have no access to at all,” Cheryl explains. “When I think about being on that stoop in Fairhaven trying to get local restaurants to buy from local farmers, it amazes me how things have changed, and for the better.”
From small apple farm to community-building, local-economy-strengthening, educational resource, Cloud Mountain Farm Center is here for the people. Anyone even remotely interested in learning more about gardening and farming can check out their vast selection of workshops. Every year they hold two annual gatherings; their Summer Harvest Day will be held on August 4 this year and their big Fall Fruit Festival will take place the first weekend of October. These events are always family-friendly. The Fall Festival offers live music, cooking demonstrations with local chefs and activities like a cider press for kids and a U-pick pumpkin patch.
“People’s appreciation of food goes deeper when they understand what’s involved with it,” says Cheryl. “It’s meaningful work. If we can help someone be successful with it, then it’s worth it. How many fruit trees have come from this place in 40 years and what effect on the community has that had?” she asks rhetorically.
The farm’s impact has been enormous and will undoubtedly continue to grow. For more information or to check the Cloud Mountain Farm Center event schedule, visit their website.
Kevin Wiebe is a Ferndale native. Although he graduated from Ferndale High School, he admits he wasn't a model student. His teachers and administrators...
