Permaculture Posts

April Permaculture Meet-up-a Special Celebration!

April 24 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

The Permaculture Meet-up April 24th will be a special gathering to celebrate the land we are on, Spring, and gathering in community to dream a future into being. Join us, between the labor of spring and the blaze of summer, to break together, learn from the land and see what emerges. We will gather at 4, walk the land and then gather around a campfire to share food and talk.

This event is sponsored by Whatcom Permaculture in partnership with Regenerate Whatcom.

April Permaculture Meet-up-a Special Celebration!

The Permaculture Meet-up April 24th will be a special gathering to celebrate the land we are on, Spring, and gathering in community to dream a future into being. Join us, between the labor of spring and the blaze of summer, to break together, learn from the land and see what emerges. We will gather at 4, walk the land and then gather around a campfire to share food and talk.

2 Going
3 days left to RSVP
RSVP Here
Free

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website
https://www.inspirationfarm.com/

March PC meet up

March 27 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

A Free gathering time for People interested in Permaculture from Whatcom county to come together and discuss ideas.

This months PC meet up will focus on Plant propagation strategies and Starting the Salish Seed garden projects for this Spring. Learn about plant propagation techniques, details about the Salish Seed Guild and How you can get involved throughout the year. Hosted at Inspiration Farm

Tour Inspiration Farm in the Spring
Agenda– Tour, talk, swap plants and seeds. Simulate and educate through demonstrations of water harvesting landscapes, soil building, animal integration, growing techniques, tours, and workshops.

Learn more about Whatcom PC Meet-Ups Here. Host one at your place.

Come bring your idea to share! How can we Showcase permaculture?

After the tour we invite you to stay for an informal discussion. How can we move Permaculture forward here in Whatcom county. How can we as a community form guilds of different skill sets, aid in promoting permaculture related events and work within our community to install systems such as food forests, lending libraries, speakers forum and cooperative nurseries.

An opportunity to experience permaculture and meet its practitioners. Visitors can see these myriad initiatives, ask questions and see for themselves a permaculture design system. Learn how theses systems have relevance to the challenges we face. By Creating communities that are resilient in the face of undesirable and unforeseeable impacts.
Hope to see you there! 

This months meet up will be hosted at Inspiration Farm

Join us at 617 E Laurel Rd. 1-4 PM, tour, talk, share seeds and plants

Some ideas of topics for this months gathering.

  • Water,
  • Seed Saving
  • Pruning trees
  • Community organizations.
  • What is the plant of the month?
Free

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website

Regenerate Whatcom Showcase

February 6 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

We’re excited to share that Regenerate Whatcom will be featured in Regenerate Cascadia’s first-ever Landscapes Showcase Event on February 6, 2026, from 12:00–2:00pm PT.  Our portion of the presentation will begin at  approximately 12:40 pm.  

This two‑day online gathering introduces the ten Landscape Groups participating in the year‑long Landscape Hub Cultivator pilot—an emerging bioregional learning network designed to strengthen community-led resilience across Cascadia. 

For those of us in Whatcom, this is a meaningful moment as Regenerate Whatcom is evolving from longstanding work in our area to a new way of connecting as a community — bringing people, projects, and place-based wisdom together to forge our way forward in these troubled times. Our landscape group will share the context of our landscape, the work already underway, and our focus for 2026 as we join others from across the bioregion.

You’ll also hear from landscape groups representing Greater Victoria, the Fraser Lowland, Whidbey, the Olympic Peninsula, Skagit Valley, Vashon Island, the Duwamish River Valley, the Gorge, and the South Willamette Valley.

Whether you’re curious about bioregional organizing, eager to support local resilience, or simply want to see how Whatcom fits into the wider Cascadia story, this is a wonderful opportunity to tune in early.

You can find more detailed information here on the Regenerate Cascadia website: Landscapes Showcase Presentations – Regenerate Cascadia 

Please register for the events using the links below.

EVENT INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION LINKS

*  Day One: Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 12:00–2:00pm PT 

    Event Link  Day One

* Day Two: Friday, February 6, 2026 | 12:00–2:00pm PT 

   Event Link Day Two

We hope you can make all or part of this event and learn along with us how we will create a future of regeneration.

Best Regards,

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

More info

REWILDING PROJECT

November 23, 2025 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

WHATCOM COUNTY REWILDING PROJECT

A Hands on Educational Event! On a developing rewilding project.

When- SUNDAY NOV. 23

Time- 11am -3pm

Where- 5351 DINKLE RD. off E Smith rd.*

  • LAND TOUR
  • SOIL BUILDING
  • WILLOW FOREST
    PREPERATION

The work party will take place at the rewilding project of Hunter Lydon. The project began in 2020 and, in 2022, hosted an Earthworks class led by Brian Kerkvliet. 

Come see the value in bringing water onto land and lend a hand with soil preparation for future plantings.

11 – 12: Land tour

12 – 2:30: Sheet mulching, woodchip spreading, 

2:30 – 3:  Regenerate Whatcom plans and future events.

Address: 5351 Dinkle(google)/Dinkel (street sign)

It’s a wet set, a seasonal wetland, so please bring rain boots and clothes to get dirty in. Water and snacks are not a bad idea too.

Its a raw site with no structures or bathroom. There is a spot to relieve yourself under the cover of trees, though.

Sponsored by:

Free

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website

Fall Plant Sale

November 1, 2025 @ 10:00 am – November 2, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

Fall is the best time to plant perennials! We are having plant sale in preparation to put our Nursery beds to sleep for the winter.

Here we are at Fall…. oh so fast, Summer has passed! Where did the time go? This season has been so abundant we could hardly keep up with the harvesting of all the fruit that is coming on in our systems.

First were Cherries, honey berries, goumi berry, then plumbs, raspberries, Shipova and Asian pear. Then the finger was out of the dike all the other fruit came ripe, apples, grapes, mulberries, walnuts, filberts, chestnuts and more. We could hardly keep up with the harvesting from our trees. OMG how good! Along with many new apple and pear varieties. Not to mention our annual crops and garlic all did well.

Here is a list of some of the plants that are available at Inspiration Farm! They are not all listed online, but can be found in the nursery.

So…. Get ready, Get set, PLANT! The rain is here! In the spirit of fall planting we are having our Permaculture nursery plant sale in hopes that you will find something to add to your perennial food security system.

For this Sale I will donate 10% of sales from $100-$500 to Regenerate Whatcom If you get greater than $500 worth of plants I will donate 20% to Regenerate Whatcom Read more about Regen Whatcom Here

Here in the Pacific Northwest fall is the best time for planting. There are a lot of good reasons to plant now. The soil is still warm so roots will still grow giving you a much larger plant next spring. The soil doesn’t get too cold until about late November. The fall rains have started so you don’t have to water or worry about your new plants getting dried out.

As a small Nursery we really don’t want to over winter lots of plants. At this time of year many of the plants are looking a little tired so less appealing. So why not pass on a few good bargains to your loyal customers? Plants have been in a container all year so have a well developed root system. Once in the ground, just wait until spring and have a beautiful specimen in your own garden. Another reason for fall planting to to add fall interest into your gardening routine.  

I like to plant trees and shrubs in the Fall for the most part because it gives the plant all winter to set roots while the top is dormant. During the winter there is lots of water and not a lot of sun so the plants put their energy into setting up a good root system so they head into Summer well established. The second best time to plant perennials is early in the Spring but it gives the plant less time to set roots. With some plants I do prefer to plant in the Spring is if the plant is frost sensitive like a fig, citrus or elderberry. These plants like to have a well established root system before the go through a good freeze.

When planting make sure you leave room for the plant to grow. Add a little compost mulch on top and a stake if needed. I wouldn’t recommend fertilizer in the hole because you don’t want to encourage the plant to start to grow when it should be going dormant.  Enjoy the Fall season, get out and put some plants in the ground.

We want to share high density food nutrition abundance with everyone so we have put a lot of energy into our nursery plant propagation and it did well this year. We are well stocked in productive permaculture plants to help get your system kick started with berries, fruit and nut trees, vines, nitrogen fixers and more! What do you need in your system?

We are here to help you with seeds, plants and whole systems design advice. Let us know how we can help and let’s talk.

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website
Learn more

“Water is Love” movie

Sponsored by Regenerate Whatcom

Co sponsored by:

View this beautiful movie and Join a discussion afterwards with local water expert panelists.

November 14, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

As part of Regenerate Whatcom’s continuing series of events focused on water and its role in our landscapes and how it binds together community and climate, Regenerate Whatcom is hosting a screening this movie.

“Water is Love” shares inspiring stories of regenerative ecosystem design to create water retention in communities and regions, touching on traditional ecological knowledge, how water makes climate and, the importance of restoring complete water cycles. This award-winning movie shows the beauty of the intact water cycle, its widespread degradation and, ultimately, the possibility of regeneration. 

$5 – $10 Suggested donation. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

RSVP below!

“Water is Love: Ripples of Regeneration” follows a group of young people grappling with the climate crisis while we journey around the world to share inspiring stories of regenerative ecosystem design to create water retention in communities, villages, and regions.

Click to download the poster

Local sponsors

“How Water Makes Climate” is tailored for children and youth, making this essential content easily accessible and engaging for young and older audiences alike.

We touch upon traditional ecological knowledge, how water makes climate, and the importance of restoring complete water cycles.

Through inspiring stories from successful projects in India, Kenya, and Portugal, we aim to spark conversations and actions that contribute to a regenerative and resilient world. As we’re facing both the growing devastating impacts of climate disruption and the failure of governments to act, this film points to an often overlooked need and possibility: community-driven decentralized water management as a critical key for surviving – and thriving in — this century.

Visit the Water Is Love website to view the trailer and learn more.

 “What Does Water Want?”

Inspired by screenings, communities have fortified connections and coalitions that have already existed in their regions by coming together to watch the documentary.

This speaks to our intention of creating community and movement building. The documentary was never meant to just be consumed as a piece of media, but to be a tool to bring people together and care for our surroundings. 

Water is Love: Ripples of Regeneration won awards:

It is a huge gift to share climate content that opens people’s hearts and moves them into action, to see tears in people’s eyes when the lights come on after a screening, to see children’s faces light up with understanding and awe about how water moves and how it has a soul.

Free

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website

Regenerate Whatcom Community Zoom Circle

October 28, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

An invitation to gather, celebrate, connect with each other and share vision for the future.

If you have joined us in Permaculture Meet-ups or Walking Whatcom Water events or are new, please join us for a social informational round table gathering!

Help us celebrate becoming a Landscape Group with Regenerate Cascadia and start visioning together!

Date Tuesday October 28th 7 – 8:30pm

RSVP below to be sent the Zoom link
We look forward to seeing you!

Click to join
Free

Brian Kerkvliet

360-319-2029

View Organizer Website

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website

Permaculture Tour and Regenerate Whatcom Meetup

September 26, 2025 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

A Free gathering time for People interested in Permaculture and Integrated Land Management to come together and discuss ideas.

After the tour we invite you to stay for a discussion about Regenerate Whatcom’s recent acceptance as a “Landscape Group” within the Regenerate Cascadia framework. Read more here.

Columbia Share Shack
This month, come visit the Columbia neighborhood in Bellingham to see the home of our host, permaculture practitioner Aaron Silverberg, who is a man of many talents and interests. Aaron cares deeply about community resilience, with an emphasis on mutual support and reciprocity.  Aaron led the effort to build the Columbia Share Shack. He and his wife Jeanette have a beautiful urban permaculture garden, complete with a small pond. 

1700 W. North St., Bellingham, WA

Bring something for the sharing table: seeds, plants, books, snacks.

July Permaculture Meet up and Regenerate Whatcom Conversation

July 25, 2025 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Interests at your site
gardens, herbs, events, community

A Free gathering time for People interested in Permaculture and Integrated Land Management to come together and discuss ideas.
This month, come visit the Birchwood neighborhood to see the social permaculture community of our host, Nicole Wires, who says, 
“We are building a limited equity housing cooperative on 1.2 acres of land in Birchwood with shared cooking, cleaning,  childcare,  gardening,  and more! We’re doing creative income sharing practices and ensuring our housing is permanently affordable. We are also building a community space for events, workshops,  and to house infrastructure for disaster preparedness and community resilience.”

After the tour we invite you to stay for a potluck, and discussion about Regenerate Whatcom’s efforts to engage in “social permaculture.”

  • Bring something for the sharing table: seeds, plants, books, snacks.
  • 2722 Birchwood Ave., Bellingham, WA
  • BRING A DISH TO SHARE (and your own plates and utensils) FOR A POTLUCK! 
Free

Nicole Wires

510-279-8416

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website

June Permaculture Meet up and Regenerate Whatcom Conversation

June 27, 2025 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Hello, my name is Jeanette, and I have a suburban food forest style garden in the Ridgemont neighborhood in Bellingham. I run a small scale nursery and craft my own herbal salves, teas, and tinctures. I also offer regular themed garden tours, such as perennial vegetables, pollinator plants, or my top 15 favorite plants in my garden.

I have a special interest in unusual perennial vegetables, and am always experimenting in that regard. I love to grow berries, mulch crops, plants for pollinators, medicinal herbs, nuts, native plants, and as much fruit as I can. I started my garden in early 2016 and it’s only gotten bigger and more fun since!

I’d love for you to come visit and tour my garden, I love answering questions and having conversations about awesome plants! I will have herbal tea and snacks available, and plants and herbal goods for purchase if anyone is interested. 

I also have an extensive library about permaculture, ethnobotany, and other related topics, and I am more than happy to talk about book recommendations as well. 

I am in an easily accessible neighborhood on the south side of Bellingham. Street parking is available on the street in front and near my house.

Address: 3606 Taylor Ave., near I-5 exit 252.

3 – 6 pm

Please, no dogs. I recommend bringing sun protection, as it often gets quite warm in the back yard. Looking forward to meeting you.

After the tour we invite you to stay for a discussion about David MacLeod’s recent article in Whatcom Watch on “Why Regenerate, Whatcom?” and Joe Shuster’s consideration of planetary boundaries applied to Whatcom County.

Free

Jeanette

13602015650

Inspiration Farm

617 E Laurel Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226 United States + Google Map
360-319-2029
View Venue Website
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