Architectural Control Department

Free gardening class/workshops for Lake Whatcom Watershed Residents

Sustainable Landscaping is a win-win for the environment and the gardener!

Create a beautiful landscape that supports wildlife and gives you the peace of mind knowing it is safe for your family and pets.

GARDENING GREEN provides practical information and simple yet powerful actions to protect our drinking water source.  Easy garden renovations focus on building a foundation of healthy soil & managing stormwater.  You will learn how to select the right plants for your garden conditions and strategies to reduce on-going maintenance so that your landscape will be easier to care for with each passing year.

Workshops:  Held on Saturdays from 10:00-2:00

August 28 – Bloedel Donovan

September 11 – WSU Extension

September 25 – Sudden Valley

Comprehensive Class

Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:30-1:30     September 7 – 23

Preregistration required:  gardeninggreen2@gmail.com or 671-3891

Sudden Valley staff have been collaborating with the Whatcom Watershed Information Network (WWIN) to support and improve watershed education, stewardship, information exchange, and public involvement efforts. As part of this program a new speaker series has become available to Whatcom residents.

The first event in this series is a Shoreline Ecology Evening Program being hosted in Birch Bay on August 4th!

Shoreline Ecology Evening Program

What: Come learn about the important role our shorelines play in the health of Birch Bay, Puget Sound, and our local marine environment. Join Jim Brennan, Marine Habitat Specialist with Washington Sea Grant, for a special presentation on shoreline ecology at Birch Bay State Park. Enjoy an evening in Birch Bay! Bring a picnic and take a walk on the beach then come enjoy this FREE special presentation. Learn about the processes that shape our beaches and shorelines, critical connections between land and sea, and how our actions affect the shoreline ecosystem.

Who: Jim Brennan, Marine Habitat Specialist with Washington Sea GrantWhere: Birch Bay State Park Wildlife Theater(in the upper day use area)

When: August 4th 7:30 – 8:30 pm

Details: This presentation is sponsored by Washington Sea Grant, the Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resource Management District, Birch Bay State Park, the Whatcom Watershed Information Network, and the Whatcom Marine Resources Committee and is part of a monthly speakers series beingcoordinated by the MRC and WWIN. This event will be held outside or inside a covered shelter in case of rain. Please dress for the weather. Benches are available, but we recommend you bring your own camp chair.

Questions: Contact Ingrid Enschede at Whatcom County Public Works at 360.715.7450 or iensched@co.whatcom.wa.us.

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WWIN Website: www.whatcomwin.org

GARDENING GREEN:  Sustainable Landscaping is a win-win for the environment and the gardener!

Create a beautiful landscape that supports wildlife and gives you the peace of mind knowing it is safe for your family and pets.

GARDENING GREEN provides practical information and simple yet powerful actions to protect our drinking water source.  Easy garden renovations focus on building a foundation of healthy soil & managing stormwater.  You will learn how to select the right plants for your garden conditions and strategies to reduce on-going maintenance so that your landscape will be easier to care for with each passing year.

CLASS:  Participation limited to 8 households and preregistration is required.

September 7 – 23:  Tuesdays /Thursdays 8:30 – 1:30  at Bloedel-Donovan Beach Pavilion

This comprehensive class meets twice a week for 3 weeks.  It offers a combination of presentations by local experts, tours of home gardens utilizing these strategies and on-site consultations at your property.  By the end of the class, you will have created a sustainable landscape plan that meets your family’s needs, reflects your gardening style, and protects water quality.  Also included are:

• A trip to a local wholesale nursery so you can purchase native and ornamental plants at wholesale prices.
• A class manual with written information plus a CD with additional articles and resources.

WORKSHOPS:  Meeting from 10:00 – 2:00

1. Tuesday, July 20 at WSU Extension 1000 N. Forest Street, Bellingham
2. Saturday, August 28 at Bloedel-Donovan Beach Pavilion
3. Saturday, September 11 at WSU Extension 1000 N. Forest Street
4. Saturday, September 25 at Sudden Valley

The four-hour workshops are a mini class.  All of the same topics are covered but with less detail.  The workshops are limited to in-class presentations.  Please preregistration.  Enrollment is limited to 25.

Pre-registration : gardeninggreen2@gmail.com   or   call WSU Extension:  676-6736

Sponsored by WSU Whatcom County Extension, Whatcom County, and Bellingham Parks & Recreation Dept.

Gardening Green:  Sustainable Landscaping

WSU Extension’s free early summer sustainable landscaping class for watershed residents has been scheduled.

The class offers practical information and simple yet powerful actions to protect our drinking water source – Lake Whatcom.  This approach to gardening builds a foundation of healthy soil, organizes the garden to reduce on-going maintenance, and focuses on selecting plants that are adapted to our area.  Learn about good gardening practices you can put in place that will give you that beautiful landscape and the peace of mind knowing that your gardens are safe for your family and pets.  Each class member will develop their own landscape master plan by the end of the class.

The class is limited to 8 watershed households.  The participants are asked to “pay” for the class with community volunteer service to help neighbors and friends use these low impact strategies to garden greener.  Please plan to attend all class sessions.

The classes will be a combination of presentations by local experts, visits to watershed gardens utilizing these strategies and on-site consultations at your property.  A trip to a wholesale nursery to purchase plants at wholesale prices will be scheduled at the end of the class.

Pre-registration is required.  For more information or to register contact:  gardeninggreen2@gmail.com or call Sue Taylor 671-3891.

Session 1:  Thursday, July 8              6:30-8:30 PM
State of the Lake & the Gardening Connection
Gardening Green:  Creating a Sustainable Landscape

Session 2:  Saturday, July 10            8:30-2:00
Stormwater Management
Sustainable Landscape Strategies
Drawing Your Basic Site Plan
Tour watershed gardens

Session 3:  Thursday, July 15            6:30-8:30 PM
Right Plant/Right Place/Right Technique
Landscaping with Native Plants
Site Analysis of Your Property

Session 4:  Saturday, July 17            8:30-2:00
Low Impact Maintenance/Natural Lawn Care
Lawn Alternatives
Creating a Landscape Plan
On-site visits to class participant’s yards

Session 5:  Thursday, July 22            6:30-8:30 PM
On-site visits to class participant’s yards

Session 6:  Saturday, July 24            8:30-2:00
Integrated Pest Management
Healthy Soil
Sharing Landscape Master Plans

BONUS:  The class will schedule a trip to a local wholesale nursery to purchase plants at the last class session.

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The Lake Whatcom Management Program 2010-2014 Work Plan is now available for review. This five-year work plan is designed to guide management activities focused on the water quality issues that result from excess phosphorus loading into Lake Whatcom.  Similar to preceding work plans this five-year work plan is organized around twelve program areas with tasks and actions for each.  A new format was adopted for this five-year work plan in order to present the tasks in a clearer, more detailed format and to improve accountability. The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County will submit this work plan to the Department of Ecology as the initial phase of the TMDL response strategy.

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• Link to the Lake Whatcom Management Program 2010-2014 Work Plan.

Public Input

On April 20th, 2010, the Joint Councils and Commissioners motioned the start of a 30-day public comment period to solicit comments on the Lake Whatcom Management Program 2010-2014 Work Plan.  Comments may be submitted by email to cfogelsong@cob.org or by mailing comments to one of the addresses listed below.  Please include “Work Plan Comments” in the subject line of any correspondence and indicate the subject of the comment, either general to the entire Plan or specific to Tasks (please provide Task numbers for reference).  All comments should be received by close of business on May 21st, 2010.

At the end of the 30-day comment period, all comments and responses will be compiled into a staff report by the Lake Whatcom Management Program Interjurisdictional Coordinating Team and presented to the City and County Councils and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Commissioners for their consideration.

If sending comments by mail please send correspondence to your Council/Commissioners Office:

City Council
210 Lottie Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

Whatcom County Council
311 Grand Avenue, Suite 105
Bellingham, WA 98225

Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District Commission
1010 Lakeview St
Bellingham, WA 98229

For ACC meeting dates, submittal deadlines, agendas, and minutes please visit the ACC Calender of Events (Click HERE).

Gardening Green:  Sustainable Landscaping

WSU Extension is offering a free sustainable landscaping class for watershed residents. The class offers practical information and powerful yet simple actions to protect our drinking water source – Lake Whatcom.  An environmentally friendly approach to gardening is not only better for the planet but also can save you time and money.  Learn about practices you can put in place that will give you that beautiful landscape you dream of and the peace of mind knowing that your gardens are safe for your family, pets and our beloved Pacific Northwest region.  Each class member will develop their own landscape master plan by the end of the class.

The class is limited to 8 watershed residents.  The participants are asked to “pay” for the class with community volunteer service to help neighbors and friends use these low impact strategies to garden greener.  Please plan to attend all class sessions.

The classes will be a combination of presentations by local experts, visits to watershed gardens utilizing these strategies and on-site consultations at your property.  The six sessions will be held at Bloedel Donovan’s Beach Pavilion.  A trip to a wholesale nursery to purchase plants at wholesale prices will be scheduled at the end of the class.  All classes are from 8:30-1:30.  Bring snacks or lunch.  Dress for changing weather.  Prepare to meet new friends and have fun.

Pre-registration is required.  Class size is limited.  The classes will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays April 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, and 22.  For more information or to register contact: sl-taylor@comcast.net or call Sue Taylor 671-3891.

The Whatcom Conservation District is holding their 17th annual Native Plant Sale & Expo!

Date and Time: Saturday, March 20th from 9am-4pm
Location: Campus of Whatcom Community College

Pre-Order deadline: Orders must be received at the WCD office by Friday March 5, 2009.
Pre-order pick ups Friday, March 19th 9am-3:30pm – On the Campus of Whatcom Community College

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2nd Annual Walk for Water!
Raise awareness and learn more about local and global water quality and conservation.

(Double-click to enlarge)