Community Resilience for Our Future
Safety is everyone’s concern. Extreme weather, economic disparities, political upheaval, loss of jobs and housing—these conditions are making the systems we rely on brittle. Can we bounce back? Will everyone be okay?
Join us for Whidbey Climate Action’s March 6 conversation. Let's create our own safety network, starting with ourselves at home, expanding to our block, our neighborhood, our town, our island.
Bring a neighbor, a friend, someone you don’t even know well. We can all become stronger, smarter, safer with knowledge and a plan. We can build resilient communities and show up when we need each other. And we will.
This event is free and open to all. Refreshments provided.
Please bring your own mug, napkin, etc. as this is a waste-free event.
Penn Cove Musselfest
The Penn Cove Mussel Festival is a culinary celebration of the mussels grown offshore from Coupeville. These tasty mollusks quickly grow in the clean river-fed waters of Penn Cove. Each year area restaurants compete to see who can serve the best chowder, and those who buy tasting tickets get the chance to vote on who is the winner!
There are also mussel cooking demonstrations by both local and regional chefs. There are beer gardens with live music and plenty of shopping in downtown Coupeville. Buy a ticket, take a boat tour of the mussel beds, and finish the day by watching who can chow down on mussels the fastest.
Please buy your tickets early, as it’s almost always a sellout! Tickets are online only and go on sale February 7th.
The fun begins Friday evening with a Mussel Mingle – a get-together at the Coupeville Rec. Hall, but the tasting and all the rest happen on Saturday and Sunday!
Penn Cove Musselfest
The Penn Cove Mussel Festival is a culinary celebration of the mussels grown offshore from Coupeville. These tasty mollusks quickly grow in the clean river-fed waters of Penn Cove. Each year area restaurants compete to see who can serve the best chowder, and those who buy tasting tickets get the chance to vote on who is the winner!
There are also mussel cooking demonstrations by both local and regional chefs. There are beer gardens with live music and plenty of shopping in downtown Coupeville. Buy a ticket, take a boat tour of the mussel beds, and finish the day by watching who can chow down on mussels the fastest.
Please buy your tickets early, as it’s almost always a sellout! Tickets are online only and go on sale February 7th.
The fun begins Friday evening with a Mussel Mingle – a get-together at the Coupeville Rec. Hall, but the tasting and all the rest happen on Saturday and Sunday!
Sustainable Gardening
with Tobey Nelson, CPH
This is a big topic that can encompass so many things! From adjusting our mindsets and “goalposts” to changing our garden practices, in this class we’ll talk about the big and little things we can do to make gardening more sustainable, including soil health, water conservation, work management, habitat gardening, options for lawns & lawn care and more. Students will receive a coupon for 20% off plants, class fee is $15. To register call 360-321-9931 or Click Here!
South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series
South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series
Get Growing the Best Vegetable Crops for Whidbey
Thursdays March 13, 20 and 27, 4 to 6 p.m.
Freeland Library, 5495 S. Harbor Avenue, Freeland
South Whidbey Tilth is offering a three-class series on growing food taught by Anza Muenchow. All classes will be held at the Freeland Library on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Anza Muenchow, formerly a WSU Extension educator, has been teaching and promoting growing and eating local food, to children and adults, through programs in Seattle and Whidbey Island for over 30 years. She is a farmer who has sold fresh produce at the Tilth Sunday market for many years and is currently a member of the South Whidbey Tilth council.
March 13 – Getting Started
Enjoy organic greens this season fresh from your garden. In this class we will discuss soil preparation, the best varieties for our climate and the best cool season crops. March is the time to plant out many kinds of vegetable starts and sow your peas, parsley, favas and arugula.
March 20 – Grow your Food and Save Money
We’ll discuss selecting crops. What do you and your family love to eat? What is easy to grow in our climate? Do you know your micro-climate? Learn how to get started with transplants, row covers, tunnels and cloches.
Mapping your garden can help make gardening fun, accessible and successful. We’ll talk about using raised beds, managing crop rotation and avoiding pests and pathogens by not stressing plants.
March 27 – Warm Season Crops
Learn the best varieties and how to maximize harvests. We’ll learn about these families of crops: Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, groundcherries and tomatillos). Cucurbits (cucumbers, summer and winter squash and pumpkins). Summer beans (pole or bush, edamame).
Classes are free. Donations to Tilth can be made online at www.southwhidbeytilth.org/donate.
Whidbey Gardening Workshop
The Whidbey Gardening Workshop draws gardening enthusiasts from across the Puget Sound region, eager for expert advice to elevate their own gardens. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced green thumb, you’ll leave with fresh insights, creative ideas, and renewed inspiration!
Our diverse classes cover everything from composting and essential beginner tips to advanced topics like vegetable and fruit cultivation, crop rotation, soil health, and climate-smart garden design. No matter your skill level, there’s something to nurture your passion for gardening!
Keynote Speakers Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken presenting the story and work behind Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy. Again this year are Make-n-Take classes where participants will learn a technique and take their project home with them. Over 40 gardening classes—register early before they fill up! This Workshop is produced and presented by the Island County Master Gardener Foundation in affiliation with the WSU Extension Service of Island County
Whidbey Gardening Workshop
Whidbey Gardening Workshop is a full day of classes, workshops, demonstrations, and a full-service Marketplace where you'll find just what your garden needs. Please visit whidbeygardening.org to sign up. Save $$ if you register before Feb 7!
Planting Day at Black Seed Farms
This is a family friendly event beginning with introductions and instruction from Whidbey Island Conservation District, followed by a riparian buffer planting to protect the wetlands at Black Seed Farms. Help plant and mulch over 400 bare root trees! Potluck lunch. Snacks and water provided. Black Seed grows food to gift and sell to BIPOC communities, facilitates youth education, and helps to establish economic stability and a dignified, culturally appropriate food supply chain.
Garden Class: Regenerative Yard + Garden Routines
As fun as gardening and yard-work are, they can feel very overwhelming, very quickly in the spring. In this class, we'll explore spring routines you can follow to help set you and your growing spaces up for success throughout the growing season! We will focus on regenerative methods, meaning the routines will help you use your natural resources more effectively and responsibly!
The class is held outside under a tent so dress warm!
Children 12 and younger can attend for free with a paying chaperone
Registration required
Class fee: $10
(Only 20 spaces available!)
South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series (Copy)
South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series
Get Growing the Best Vegetable Crops for Whidbey
Thursdays March 13, 20 and 27, 4 to 6 p.m.
Freeland Library, 5495 S. Harbor Avenue, Freeland
South Whidbey Tilth is offering a three-class series on growing food taught by Anza Muenchow. All classes will be held at the Freeland Library on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Anza Muenchow, formerly a WSU Extension educator, has been teaching and promoting growing and eating local food, to children and adults, through programs in Seattle and Whidbey Island for over 30 years. She is a farmer who has sold fresh produce at the Tilth Sunday market for many years and is currently a member of the South Whidbey Tilth council.
March 20 – Grow your Food and Save Money
We’ll discuss selecting crops. What do you and your family love to eat? What is easy to grow in our climate? Do you know your micro-climate? Learn how to get started with transplants, row covers, tunnels and cloches.
Mapping your garden can help make gardening fun, accessible and successful. We’ll talk about using raised beds, managing crop rotation and avoiding pests and pathogens by not stressing plants.
March 27 – Warm Season Crops
Learn the best varieties and how to maximize harvests. We’ll learn about these families of crops: Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, groundcherries and tomatillos). Cucurbits (cucumbers, summer and winter squash and pumpkins). Summer beans (pole or bush, edamame).
Classes are free. Donations to Tilth can be made online at www.southwhidbeytilth.org/donate.
Whole Systems Kitchen: Session 3
Whole Systems Kitchen
An exploration of what it takes to grow, prepare, and benefit from food
Join us every third Thursday from 4 - 6 p.m.
Join Nutritional Therapists, Jenn Goff and Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez to learn about meats, eggs, vegetables, herbs, and more… what it takes to grow them, how long it takes to grow them, how climate change might impact them, how they are harvested, the challenges of processing, tips for storing/preserving them, their nutritional profile and how to prepare them for maximum health benefits and flavor.
Full details and information can be found here.
$90/per individual session or $900 for the full 12-month series. Payment plans available upon request.
Layers of Beauty: Groundcovers as Living Mulch
with Tobey Nelson, CPH
Most gardeners are frustrated by weeds. We spread mulch to suppress them but eventually that mulch breaks down, the seeds blow in, and the weeds come back. Mother Nature hates bare ground, and she’ll use weeds to cover it up. Smart gardeners will work with nature; instead of leaving bare ground between shrubs, plant something! There are several benefits of covering the ground with plants: it keeps soil cool, the shade will prevent weeds from sprouting, and having foliage close to the ground can actually help keep moisture in the soil. Depending on what plants you choose, you can also bring more beauty to your garden and add food for wildlife as well! In this class we’ll dig a bit deeper into how to use this strategy in your garden, and we’ll talk about lots of options of plants to use for a living mulch layer. Students will receive a coupon for 20% off plants, class fee is $15. To register call 360-321-9931 or Click Here!
South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series
South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series
Get Growing the Best Vegetable Crops for Whidbey
Thursdays March 13, 20 and 27, 4 to 6 p.m.
Freeland Library, 5495 S. Harbor Avenue, Freeland
South Whidbey Tilth is offering a three-class series on growing food taught by Anza Muenchow. All classes will be held at the Freeland Library on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Anza Muenchow, formerly a WSU Extension educator, has been teaching and promoting growing and eating local food, to children and adults, through programs in Seattle and Whidbey Island for over 30 years. She is a farmer who has sold fresh produce at the Tilth Sunday market for many years and is currently a member of the South Whidbey Tilth council.
March 20 – Grow your Food and Save Money
We’ll discuss selecting crops. What do you and your family love to eat? What is easy to grow in our climate? Do you know your micro-climate? Learn how to get started with transplants, row covers, tunnels and cloches.
Mapping your garden can help make gardening fun, accessible and successful. We’ll talk about using raised beds, managing crop rotation and avoiding pests and pathogens by not stressing plants.
March 27 – Warm Season Crops
Learn the best varieties and how to maximize harvests. We’ll learn about these families of crops: Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, groundcherries and tomatillos). Cucurbits (cucumbers, summer and winter squash and pumpkins). Summer beans (pole or bush, edamame).
Classes are free. Donations to Tilth can be made online at www.southwhidbeytilth.org/donate.
2025 Pacific Rim Fruit Tree Workshop Series
Get Prepared for spring with these Fruit Tree Workshops
4 Saturdays, one each in January, February, March, and April to help you prepare to grow your own fruit trees.
Presented by Dan Vorhis from Muscle and Arm Farm
January 18, 2025: Fruit Tree Selection and Care 10 AM – 12:30 PM
The introductory class on which the other classes build. Addresses cultivar selection, rootstocks, plant needs, diseases and pests, fertilizing, and other important foundations of fruit horticulture.
Class Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
February 15, 2025: Fruit Tree and Vine Pruning 10 AM – 1 PM
Classroom portion addresses the science of pruning; field lab is hands-on in the orchard. Unless it is pouring down rain, we'll have the lab regardless of weather (which is usually cold and damp), so dress for it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door
March 29, 2025: Hardwood Grafting 10 AM – 12 PM
Addresses the science of grafting, followed by a hands-on bench grafting lab (apple). Everyone goes home with their grafted tree. Bring your grafting knife if you have one. We provide the rootstock, scion wood, and necessary tools and materials.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
April 26, 2025: Soil Science 10 AM – 12 PM
Soil is the basis for much of plant agriculture. Knowing your soil is a little bit like knowing how your engine works when you drive a car, or knowing a little about food science when you cook. Our focus in this class is to give you a basic understanding of key elements of soil science that bear directly on the health of your plants, and what you can do about it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
Garry Oak & Prairie Plant Work Party
Join us for a prairie restoration work party in the upper meadow to cut back blackberries and clear around the Garry oaks. This area is a conservation easement for wildlife habitat. The oaks have a wide variety of prairie plant understory.
The first half hour is an orientation of what understory plants to look for. Then we’ll get to work. Please bring clippers, loppers and hori horis(Japanese digging knives). Dress for the weather and wear heavy gloves.
This is an Earth and Ocean Month service day. Please use this form to let us know you are coming: https://forms.gle/TRuDBxSjrSkhzga86.
For more information, contact prscot@whidbey.net.
Save the Date! Wine Bites and Brews
Join Oak Harbor Main Street for their Annual Wine, Bites & Brew Fundraiser at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge!
Enjoy tastes from local restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries and help them with projects to further enhance historic downtown Oak Harbor.
Sponsored by the Oak Harbor Main Street Association.
Dishing Up the Dirt: All About Water
Description coming soon!
Dishing the Dirt is free to attend but donations are encouraged. Please RSVP!
Whole Systems Kitchen: Session 4
Whole Systems Kitchen
An exploration of what it takes to grow, prepare, and benefit from food
Join us every third Thursday from 4 - 6 p.m.
Join Nutritional Therapists, Jenn Goff and Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez to learn about meats, eggs, vegetables, herbs, and more… what it takes to grow them, how long it takes to grow them, how climate change might impact them, how they are harvested, the challenges of processing, tips for storing/preserving them, their nutritional profile and how to prepare them for maximum health benefits and flavor.
Full details and information can be found here.
$90/per individual session or $900 for the full 12-month series. Payment plans available upon request.
2025 Pacific Rim Fruit Tree Workshop Series
Get Prepared for spring with these Fruit Tree Workshops
4 Saturdays, one each in January, February, March, and April to help you prepare to grow your own fruit trees.
Presented by Dan Vorhis from Muscle and Arm Farm
January 18, 2025: Fruit Tree Selection and Care 10 AM – 12:30 PM
The introductory class on which the other classes build. Addresses cultivar selection, rootstocks, plant needs, diseases and pests, fertilizing, and other important foundations of fruit horticulture.
Class Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
February 15, 2025: Fruit Tree and Vine Pruning 10 AM – 1 PM
Classroom portion addresses the science of pruning; field lab is hands-on in the orchard. Unless it is pouring down rain, we'll have the lab regardless of weather (which is usually cold and damp), so dress for it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door
March 29, 2025: Hardwood Grafting 10 AM – 12 PM
Addresses the science of grafting, followed by a hands-on bench grafting lab (apple). Everyone goes home with their grafted tree. Bring your grafting knife if you have one. We provide the rootstock, scion wood, and necessary tools and materials.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
April 26, 2025: Soil Science 10 AM – 12 PM
Soil is the basis for much of plant agriculture. Knowing your soil is a little bit like knowing how your engine works when you drive a car, or knowing a little about food science when you cook. Our focus in this class is to give you a basic understanding of key elements of soil science that bear directly on the health of your plants, and what you can do about it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
Cheese Making on the Homestead-Aged Hard Cheese
Welcome to Cheesemaking on the Homestead. 3 years ago I bought a sweet Jersey cow named Anne and I started making hard cheese. Cheese making felt very intimidating and it was hard to learn from books. I took several courses online and kept reading but most of all, I kept making cheese. I started teaching cheesemaking classes in my home last summer. That led to teaching at the WSU Country Living and Modern Homestead Expo in Jan 2025 and the decision to try a monthly class locally on Whidbey Island at the Coupeville Recreation Hall.
Classes are limited to 10 people per class so that everyone can participate, ask questions and integrate new knowledge. In each class, I will be starting with fresh milk and ending with a wheel of cheese in the cheese press. I will cover all the steps of cheesemaking~ Culturing, Setting the curd with rennet, Cutting and Stirring, Cooking and Pressing, Brining and Aging as well as storing your cheese. I will also cover how you can make your own cheese press or where to buy your cheese making supplies.
There will be cheese to sample at each class as well. My hope is that everyone who takes my class will be equipped to start making their own aged, hard cheeses and that a community will grow around keep old traditions and wisdom alive.
Opening Day of Farmers Market & Maypole
Join South Whidbey Tilth for a fresh day on the market green with hot food vendors, artisans, crafters, music and the annual Maypole winding at Noon!
Grow Fresh Figs Outdoors in Maritime Washington
Fresh figs are delicious, and beneficial for your health. And fig trees produce very well on many sites on Whidbey Island.
However, online information and even nursery catalogs are not always accurate. We will give you the information you need to decide if your site can reliably grow figs, which cultivars we've cropped here, which ones we are still testing, and which to avoid. And we'll show you how to reliably propagate your own trees. The class is made up of a 1-hour slideshow class with questions, followed by an hour of hands-on propagation. You'll go home with your own, self-propagated tree.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
Cheese Making on the Homestead-Aged Hard Cheese
Welcome to Cheesemaking on the Homestead. 3 years ago I bought a sweet Jersey cow named Anne and I started making hard cheese. Cheese making felt very intimidating and it was hard to learn from books. I took several courses online and kept reading but most of all, I kept making cheese. I started teaching cheesemaking classes in my home last summer. That led to teaching at the WSU Country Living and Modern Homestead Expo in Jan 2025 and the decision to try a monthly class locally on Whidbey Island at the Coupeville Recreation Hall.
Classes are limited to 10 people per class so that everyone can participate, ask questions and integrate new knowledge. In each class, I will be starting with fresh milk and ending with a wheel of cheese in the cheese press. I will cover all the steps of cheesemaking~ Culturing, Setting the curd with rennet, Cutting and Stirring, Cooking and Pressing, Brining and Aging as well as storing your cheese. I will also cover how you can make your own cheese press or where to buy your cheese making supplies.
There will be cheese to sample at each class as well. My hope is that everyone who takes my class will be equipped to start making their own aged, hard cheeses and that a community will grow around keep old traditions and wisdom alive.
Dishing Up the Dirt: Avian Flu
John Fetrow, retired DVM, will be sharing info about Avian Flu: The actual pathogen/disease.
Where is it showing up?
How is it treated and controlled?
Potential impacts to our food systems?
Dishing the Dirt is free to attend but donations are encouraged. Please RSVP!
9th Annual Mardi Gras with Goosefoot!
Join us for local Mardi Gras favorite Ken Pickard and Zydeco Explosion! Playing new, old, and some very old authentic Zydeco and Cajun music, they promise to have you on your feet from the downbeat.
Don’t forget to come decked out in your best Mardi Gras finery! The evening fun includes a costume contest with prizes for Best in Show, Most Comical, Best Child Costume, and Best Mask. Beads do not count as a costume, but you can grab some free at the door.
Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (the Mardi Gras party call of “let the good times roll”).
Mardi Gras has a long history in the US, with the first New Orleans Mardi Gras parade in 1837. Goosefoot has brought the party to Whidbey Island since 2014. Mardi Gras is actually the culmination of 12 days of celebrations before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, the final of which being “Fat Tuesday.”
Chef in the Black Bandana will be set up right next to Bayview Hall selling Mardi Gras specials! From hush puppies to muffalettas to gumbo and shrimp po’ boys, all your NOLA favorites are here! Even if you can’t make the party, be sure to stop by their food booth for a special dinner.
Admission is free and the event is family friendly. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Out in the Kitchen Garden
Join us for a weekly session “out in the kitchen garden.” Each week you will learn by doing - as we transform what started as a strawberry project into a kitchen garden focused on herbs and vegetables.
No experience required. Just curiosity about growing food and a willingness to work toward progress.
Please RSVP here
Garlic Pomodoro Pasta Sauce Cooking Class
Learn to make beautiful and delicious fresh Garlic Pomodoro Sauce for pasta the way the Italians make it, using the finest organic Italian pasta and freshest organic ingredients, prepared simply for a fine dining experience you can easily recreate at home.
In this two to three hour class, you'll learn how to make Fresh Garlic Pomodoro Sauce for pasta, using fresh organic Roma tomatoes, pressed garlic cloves, olive oil, fresh basil and spices. Enjoy wine pairings and a plate of our preparation.
This is a live cooking class where you can enjoy food, wine and an experience to treasure and share with friends and family.
Mason Bee Basics
with Carrie Morlang of Knox Cellars Mason Bees
Meet the Blue Orchard Mason Bee and learn why you should love these amazing native pollinators, and how to care for them. We’ll go over their life cycle, what you’ll need to keep them happy and healthy, and what they can do for you. There will be time for questions at the end, and each attendee will receive a coupon for 10% off mason bee supplies. Class cost is $15, to register call 360-321-9931 or Click Here!
Braising Cooking Class with Orchard Kitchen
"Braising" class with Chef Vincent.
Chef will lead with a discussion of, "What do we braise and why?" You will learn how to braise protien, vegetables and how to make a sauce for your braise with the reduced braising liquor. This class (as well as all the others) is great for advanced to beginner skill sets. All are welcome! Lunch and wine included. 🍽️🍷
Slow Foods Mukilteo Coffee Roasters Tour
Join us for a tour of the coffee roasting facility followed by a tasting of a few selections of brewed coffee and small pastries from Coffee At Dawn, the café in the woods next door to Mukilteo Coffee Roasters. A great way to start a cold winter’s day! There is no charge for this event. If you would like to attend, email us at info.sfwi@gmail.com. Space is limited.
Out in the Kitchen Garden
Join us for a weekly session “out in the kitchen garden.” Each week you will learn by doing - as we transform what started as a strawberry project into a kitchen garden focused on herbs and vegetables.
No experience required. Just curiosity about growing food and a willingness to work toward progress.
Please RSVP here
Gnocchi Cooking Class with Orchard Kitchen
Join Chef Vincent for a lesson on how to make Gnocchi. A traditional Italian style of pasta. In this technique-driven class we’ll show you exactly how to prepare from scratch these pillowy light dumplings.
Whole Systems Kitchen: Session 2
Whole Systems Kitchen
An exploration of what it takes to grow, prepare, and benefit from food
Join us every third Thursday from 4 - 6 p.m.
Join Nutritional Therapists, Jenn Goff and Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez to learn about meats, eggs, vegetables, herbs, and more… what it takes to grow them, how long it takes to grow them, how climate change might impact them, how they are harvested, the challenges of processing, tips for storing/preserving them, their nutritional profile and how to prepare them for maximum health benefits and flavor.
Full details and information can be found here.
$90/per individual session or $900 for the full 12-month series. Payment plans available upon request.
The Great Whidbey Seed Swap
Join the Whidbey Island Growers Association and Heavy Nettle Collective for a day of exchanging seeds and tips, wellness practice, classes, hands on & kids activities, repair, fiber arts, food, and more!
RSVP at whidbeycd.org/events
Featuring:
Wellness Suite from Black Girl Country Living, Winding Circle Massage
Soils 101 from WSU Extension
Food by Chef in the Black Bandana
Info Booths from North Central Whidbey Farmer's Market, Good Cheer, Whidbey Island Grown, Whidbey Island Conservation District
Music from Cascade Cody
This event is funded by a cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
2025 Pacific Rim Fruit Tree Workshop Series
Get Prepared for spring with these Fruit Tree Workshops
4 Saturdays, one each in January, February, March, and April to help you prepare to grow your own fruit trees.
Presented by Dan Vorhis from Muscle and Arm Farm
January 18, 2025: Fruit Tree Selection and Care 10 AM – 12:30 PM
The introductory class on which the other classes build. Addresses cultivar selection, rootstocks, plant needs, diseases and pests, fertilizing, and other important foundations of fruit horticulture.
Class Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
February 15, 2025: Fruit Tree and Vine Pruning 10 AM – 1 PM
Classroom portion addresses the science of pruning; field lab is hands-on in the orchard. Unless it is pouring down rain, we'll have the lab regardless of weather (which is usually cold and damp), so dress for it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door
March 29, 2025: Hardwood Grafting 10 AM – 12 PM
Addresses the science of grafting, followed by a hands-on bench grafting lab (apple). Everyone goes home with their grafted tree. Bring your grafting knife if you have one. We provide the rootstock, scion wood, and necessary tools and materials.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
April 26, 2025: Soil Science 10 AM – 12 PM
Soil is the basis for much of plant agriculture. Knowing your soil is a little bit like knowing how your engine works when you drive a car, or knowing a little about food science when you cook. Our focus in this class is to give you a basic understanding of key elements of soil science that bear directly on the health of your plants, and what you can do about it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
Fruit Tree Pruning for High Yield
Gary Ingram will teach an on-site, hands-on class on pruning trees for high fruit production. Bring sharp pruners and a small pruning saw if you have them.
Gary spent 15 years working in the Seattle area as an arborist and managed and trained other arborists and plant care workers. He currently has 10 or so clients on Whidbey Island. In addition to 35 years of experience working with trees and shrubs, Gary earned an ISA Certified Arborist credential in 2002, and has been teaching pruning classes for South Whidbey Tilth since 2005.
Fee is by donation to benefit South Whidbey Tilth. No pre-registration necessary. If you have questions, contact education@southwhidbeytilth.org.
Fresh Beet Ravioli Pasta
Learn to make beautiful and delicious fresh pasta the way the Italians make it, using the finest organic Italian semolina flour and organic whole eggs.
In this two to three hour class, you'll learn how to make pasta dough and use a hand-cranked pasta machine to form shapes like fettuccine, tagliolini, and lasagna sheets.
We also offer popular classes to hand make ravioli, tortelloni and other traditional shapes from different regions of Italy. Expect a fun and hands-on class. This is not intimidating--It is adult play-dough that you get to eat!
And the best part? All of the pasta you make, you can take home in our commercially compostable plant-based containers and enjoy with friends and family or savor yourself!
Grow Your Groceries (series start date)
This very popular course typically sells out quickly, so please register ASAP to reserve your spot!
By beginning this series in the winter season, students will be able to gain knowledge in time for them to take advantage of the full 2025 growing season.
This 12 part course will cover all aspects of home gardening for food production as well as seed saving, perennial food forests and fruit production, eco-cooking/waste reduction, and four classes devoted to preserving the food after harvest. The first 6 weeks will be somewhat based on the Seed to Supper program, an award winning curriculum developed by Oregon State University with the goal of providing a comprehensive backyard gardening course for households on a budget. This program is followed by two independent classes: Perennials (fruits, food forests etc) and Seed Saving. The final four weeks are dedicated to preserving the harvest. Class is designed as a cohort in which a student group completes the program together. The program focuses on low cost, minimal outside inputs, labor and resource saving, high yield, and regenerative practices.
By enrolling in the 12 week program, you may take advantage of a steeply discounted rate of $140 which includes 20 packages of organic seed (valued at $70+)-this rate also includes all ticket fees. If the course fee is a financial barrier to attend, we do have a limited number of partial scholarships available--please contact for details at j.bryan-goforth@wsu.edu .
CANCELLED - Dishing Up the Dirt
Join Robin Buckingham from the National Resource Conservation Service and Kelis Mottet from the Whidbey Island Conservation District about resources available to those engaged in farming and natural resource conservation!
There is no fee for this event but donations are encouraged. Please RSVP via the form here
Fruit Tree Care in the PNW
If you are planting any fruit trees, shrubs, or bushes this year, this class is for you! Many native and non-native fruits trees and bushes thrive in the PNW, allowing you to grow fresh fruit right outside your back door.
In this class, we'll explore…
- Site selection
- Site prep
- Species selection
- And basic care routines to help you grow fruit trees in the PNW!
Registration required
Class fee: $10
(Only 20 Spaces Available!)
Children 12 and younger can attend for free with a paying chaperone.
Valentine’s Market: Greenbank Farm
Shop for unique, handmade gifts crafted by talented local artisans and show your support for small businesses. Savor festive food and drinks as you soak in the lively atmosphere.
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate Greenbank Farm’s 120th birthday with a special cake-cutting ceremony on Saturday at 2:00pm—be sure to arrive early, as it’s first come, first served!
Make it a day filled with community, creativity, and celebration.
![[Climate] ECONOMICS](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fd2d82c6314da3809b5bf11/1738189602637-J5AUIBNM3L5L731050J2/Screenshot+2025-01-29+at+2.26.38%E2%80%AFPM.png)
[Climate] ECONOMICS
We know what governments and people need to do about climate change.
What’s stopping us?
Does ever-increasing gross domestic product (GDP) mean the economy
is healthy?Are there natural limits to growth?
Who’s pushing the action and how can we bring values to the table when the think-tank wonks, bankers, and government decision-makers only want to talk financial analyses and projections?
Let's talk it over.
Join Whidbey Climate ACTION on Feb. 6 to explore how “The Economy” bankrupts the future while harming real people living on the edge, right here, right now. Can we do something different here on Whidbey? Can we debunk the fairy tale of perpetual growth and replace it with a new story, one of a kinder, more fair and sustainable economy for all?
info@whidbeyclimate.org
Farmer's Shadow
We will gather online. Come ask your farm and garden questions and join us for a discussion of food-growing wisdom and practices led by Anza Muenchow.
For the Zoom link, contact education@southwhidbeytilth.org.
Anza Muenchow has been teaching and promoting growing and eating local food, to children and adults, through programs in Seattle and Whidbey Island for over 30 years. Her knowledge and passion for growing food, as well as horticulture in general, make her classes delightful. She runs Maha Farm with her partner Marc Wilson. They have sold fresh produce at the Tilth market since 2006.
Sound Waters University
Sound Water Stewards of Island County present a day of inspiration as Sound Waters University celebrates The Power of Place—Voices for the Salish Sea. Engage in current Salish Sea research and approaches to deepen your sense of place and opportunities for engagement. Attend to learn, engage, and be inspired as a voice of action to ensure the Salish Sea ecosystems are sustained and flourish.
Paella Cooking Class with Orchard Kitchen
Join us for Vincent’s favorite class, Paella!
Learn the traditional (and less than traditional) preparation of this Spanish Classic. $170 per person for this class, your own pan, a bag of paella rice, printed materials, lunch & wine!
Pruning Flowering Shrubs
Learn when and how to prune flowering shrubs, such as Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons, Roses, and cane growers such as Spirea and Forsythia. We’ll learn about heading vs. thinning cuts, flowering wood vs. vegetative wood, and when to prune as a relationship to when plants flower. Students will receive a coupon for 20% off plants and tools, class fee is $15 to register call 360-321-9931 or Click Here!
Fresh Spinach Pasta Class
Learn to make beautiful and delicious fresh pasta the way the Italians make it, using the finest organic Italian semolina flour and organic whole eggs.
In this two to three hour class, you'll learn how to make pasta dough and use a hand-cranked pasta machine to form shapes like fettuccine, tagliolini, and lasagna sheets.
We also offer popular classes to hand make ravioli, tortelloni and other traditional shapes from different regions of Italy. Expect a fun and hands-on class. This is not intimidating--It is adult play-dough that you get to eat!
And the best part? All of the pasta you make, you can take home in our commercially compostable plant-based containers and enjoy with friends and family or savor yourself!
Grow More Food at Home
You don’t need more space to grow more food- healthy soil and strategic planning are enough! In this class, we will explore basic soil care routines, succession planning, and garden mapping. By the end of class, you’ll have created custom plans to implement in your own garden. Using these skills, you can grow SO MUCH FOOD! Come join us!!
Country Living and Modern Homesteading Expo
Join WSU for a day long event and choose from 175 classes from expert homesteaders!
Doors Open at 7:30am First class starts at 9:00am
Vendors Open All Day! (Lunch included)
Risotto Cooking Class with Orchard Kitchen
Cooking class with Chef Vincent: "Risotto"
Friday, January 24th, 10:30am
$150 per person, printed materials, lunch & wine.
"Risotto is one of the most versatile dishes you can make. It can be prepared with red or white wine, accompany fish, meat or vegetables and can serve as a meal all on its own. Risotto is gluten free and easier to make than you might think, and we will teach you all you need to know."
Grow More Food at Home
You don’t need more space to grow more food- healthy soil and strategic planning are enough! In this class, we will explore basic soil care routines, succession planning, and garden mapping. By the end of class, you’ll have created custom plans to implement in your own garden. Using these skills, you can grow SO MUCH FOOD! Come join us!!
2025 Pacific Rim Fruit Tree Workshop Series
Get Prepared for spring with these Fruit Tree Workshops
4 Saturdays, one each in January, February, March, and April to help you prepare to grow your own fruit trees.
Presented by Dan Vorhis from Muscle and Arm Farm
January 18, 2025: Fruit Tree Selection and Care 10 AM – 12:30 PM
The introductory class on which the other classes build. Addresses cultivar selection, rootstocks, plant needs, diseases and pests, fertilizing, and other important foundations of fruit horticulture.
Class Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
February 15, 2025: Fruit Tree and Vine Pruning 10 AM – 1 PM
Classroom portion addresses the science of pruning; field lab is hands-on in the orchard. Unless it is pouring down rain, we'll have the lab regardless of weather (which is usually cold and damp), so dress for it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door
March 29, 2025: Hardwood Grafting 10 AM – 12 PM
Addresses the science of grafting, followed by a hands-on bench grafting lab (apple). Everyone goes home with their grafted tree. Bring your grafting knife if you have one. We provide the rootstock, scion wood, and necessary tools and materials.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
April 26, 2025: Soil Science 10 AM – 12 PM
Soil is the basis for much of plant agriculture. Knowing your soil is a little bit like knowing how your engine works when you drive a car, or knowing a little about food science when you cook. Our focus in this class is to give you a basic understanding of key elements of soil science that bear directly on the health of your plants, and what you can do about it.
Class cost - $25 advance payment, $30 at door.
Whole Systems Kitchen: Session 1
Whole Systems Kitchen
An exploration of what it takes to grow, prepare, and benefit from food
Join us every third Thursday from 4 - 6 p.m.
Join Nutritional Therapists, Jenn Goff and Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez to learn about meats, eggs, vegetables, herbs, and more… what it takes to grow them, how long it takes to grow them, how climate change might impact them, how they are harvested, the challenges of processing, tips for storing/preserving them, their nutritional profile and how to prepare them for maximum health benefits and flavor.
Full details and information can be found here.
$90/per individual session or $900 for the full 12-month series. Payment plans available upon request.