Join us on March 29th, from 9-2:30pm, for a unique opportunity to learn fruit tree pruning from Jane Campbell while contributing to Whatcom County food security.
The workshop will take place at the CTK Food Share and Farm orchard. This small, privately owned orchard was donated to the CTK Food Share and Farm. All fruit produced on the trees goes to volunteers, food banks and food pantries around Whatcom County.
Timely pruning is essential for: reducing and controlling disease and pest pressure; sculpting strong branch structure; and, increasing flower and fruit yields!
Jane is an experienced local landscaper and orchardist specializing in fruit tree training, maintenance and restoration pruning.
This is a great opportunity to learn how to prune your own trees while helping restore this donated orchard. What to expect: We will spend ~1hr lightly reviewing pruning theory and vocabulary, essential pruning tools and tool sharpening. Then we will dive into practicing techniques. This is our second year restoring this orchard.
All participants will be invited to return to the orchard in summer to learn summer thinning and pruning; and, again in the fall to bring in the harvest.
Learn to create your own Fruit Nursery Stock. Fruit Tree Grafting and Plant Propagation from Cuttings. Sunday, March 10th, 2024, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Pruning season is upon us! Remember to save scion wood for the Grafting Gathering! You can learn how to collect scion wood here.
Bring Apple, Pear, Plum varieties from your neighborhood. Share scion wood and graft to start new trees! We will demonstrate basic grafting techniques. Select scion wood and rootstock to graft a tree to take home! Plum and Apple rootstock will be available for a nominal fee. By sharing the scion varieties people bring from their area, will allow us each to have a nice mix of varieties. Also demonstrated will be a variety of techniques we use to propagate hard wood cuttings to create your own nursery stock from winter pruning activities.
One year old Plants from Cuttings
Remember to dress for the weather. This will be a mostly outside event with a tour of the nursery operation and cutting collection tour around the farm. You may want to bring your own snacks and creature comforts.
Apply Permaculture principles to real life Earth Care!
Three month apprenticeship, June 15- Sept 15, 2023, living, working and learning on a permaculture farm in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.
Curricula includes: Sense of Place, Botany Basics, Gardening/ farming practices, Herbal Medicine Making, Foraging, Energy Flows, Mycology, Chickens, Homestead Skills and more!
There are a lot of exciting events this year. Meet ups, Plant and Seed swaps and some excellent classes. Hopefully you see something that interests you or a friend.
Permaculture Meet-Up at Inspiration Farm February 23 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
A Free gathering time for People interested in Permaculture from Whatcom county to come together and discuss ideas. Come bring your idea to share! Please RSVP here.
The Whatcom Permaculture events bring together like-minded individuals who are interested in sustainability, agriculture, and community building. It’s a chance to meet others with similar interests, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects.
From permaculture meet-ups to grafting workshops, there are a wealth of learning experiences available. Events like the grafting workshop offer hands-on experience that goes beyond theoretical knowledge. The International Permaculture Day event not only celebrates the global impact of permaculture but also facilitates people from various backgrounds come together to share their unique approaches and experiences.
For those looking to start or get involved in permaculture projects, these events are a perfect place to find potential collaborators or mentors. Networking can lead to new opportunities and initiatives. Seeing permaculture principles in action and hearing from those who have successfully implemented them can serve as a powerful source of inspiration and creativity.
Overall, the excitement surrounding the Whatcom Permaculture events stems from the dynamic combination of education, practical application, and community development centered around a sustainable and ecologically mindful way of living.
Join us for an Information Packed Zoom Circle. February 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
A space to share an overview of what a PDC is and how we have organized one here in whatcom county. We will answer your questions about what a Permaculture Design Certificate course is all about.
Why is the Whatcom Hands on PDC unique
What you can hope to get out of it
How it can influence your life and career for the better
How it can help build a better relationship with yourself, your food, community and the environment.
We look forward to sharing with you during this session. Please RSVP here. We will send you a Zoom link.
Permaculture Meet-up at Queen Mountain Homestead March 29 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Queen Mountain Homestead (QHM) is an 8-acre intergenerational family home and educational demonstration site nestled on the western flank of Bellingham’s Queen Mountain. In the spring of 2016, after a decade+ of designing, building and maintaining permaculture landscapes across Washington (and internationally), we became the designer-stewards of our forever home. Please RSVP here
Grafting and Plant Propagation
March 10 th 11am – 2:00 pm
Learn to Create your own Fruit Nursery Stock. Fruit Tree Grafting and Plant Propagation from Cuttings Read more
Scythes the Cutting Edge! April 28th 10am – 3pm
Sell the Weed Eater and use a Scythe! Maintain your body, not your machines. Learn the sharper points of this elegant tool. Thought to be old school, but better blades and an ergonomic set up makes them one of the most efficient tools out there. Learn what makes a good scythe, how to select a scythe for your needs and … Read more
International Permaculture Day Tour & Plant Swap May 4th, 2-5pm – Free! –
We will celebrate International Permaculture Day May 4th 2024! A day to showcase permaculture around the world. Throughout the year we have a variety of permaculture Events, Tours and Workshops at Inspiration farm. This year we will have a tour and Plant Swap for International Permaculture Day on Saturday May 4th, 2-5pm. An opportunity to experience permaculture and meet its practitioners. Visitors can see … Read more
A Free gathering time for People interested in Permaculture from Whatcom county to come together and discuss ideas. Tour Inspiration Farm in the Winter 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.
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!
Keep scrolling for pricing, format, and more details.
Course Format:
The course will be a mix of in-person weekend sessions, a week-long intensive, and some on-line presentations, plus optional mid-week extracurricular work sessions for those hungry for more.
We will learn through lectures, small and large group discussions, reflection/observation exercises and lots of hands-on skills practice. We will also provide suggested reading material, videos and zoom sessions to be viewed on your own time as primers for our in person sessions. Expect some homework toward the end of the course.
The first three weekend sessions will be hosted at Queen Mountain Homestead. Course time will run from Saturday mornings to Sunday evenings. Overnight camping is available onsite and encouraged. Saturday evening we will share potluck feasts (significant others welcome). Bring your own lunches and Sunday morning breakfast . An outdoor kitchenette will be available for simple food prep. Coffee, tea and water will be provided throughout.
Student Design Sessions: July 21st
This is scheduled time for students to gather with their design teams to socialize and dig into their capstone design projects.
Inspiration Farm : July 13th & 14th ; July 29th – Aug. 2nd (5 day Intensive )
We will dive deeper into content during the week-long campout, while giving you an immersive taste of Permaculture living at Inspiration Farm. In addition to more hands-on practice, you will work with a team of fellow students on a capstone design project. Your team will present your project to the whole learning community at the end of the week. The final day will also include: a certification and closing ceremony; a celebratory feast (loved ones welcome); and, a talent show of epic proportions.
Fresh meals will be prepared on-site by a local chef for lunch and dinner all week. Breakfast will be DIY with seasonal ingredients provided by us. Coffee, tea, water and fruit will be available throughout. Let us know your dietary restrictions on your registration form. We are happy to accommodate.
We acknowledge that Whatcom (Xwotʼqom) County is the ancestral and current home of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) & Nooksack people. As the descendants of displaced settlers, we acknowledge how much we have to relearn about place-based living. Actively, we seek ways to honor and uplift how the Lhaq’temish & Nooksack nations live out resilience, resist displacement and embody regenerative culture. We acknowledge that the permaculture movement was inspired by, and in part built on the appropriation of, indigenous knowledge. We take it as our ongoing responsibility to watch for and address the harmful pattern of appropriation. We believe that, despite past and present harms, permaculture can be used as a tool for healing the deep wounds of disconnection inflicted by colonialism on indigenous and settler communities, and, the more-than-human world we share.
PDC Course Pricing
Secure your spot with a $500 deposit
Course fee: $2,000
Benefactor price: $2,200 (extra payment helps provide scholarships to other students; enquire for more info)
Payments cover all course materials, camping, field trips and a week of amazing local meals.
Some Partial Scholarships are available, for more details fill this application out.
Donations to the Scholarship fund are welcome. Help those who need it.
Click the register button to fill out the form and the click to pay
Maintain your body, not your machines. Learn the sharper points of this elegant tool. Thought to be old school, but better blades and an ergonomic set up makes them one of the most efficient tools out there. Learn what makes a good scythe, how to select a scythe for your needs and how to properly maintain it for years of efficient use. Participants will be able to try out a number of different blades and snaths (handles) to learn the benefits of each.
Mowing pattern strategies, fences, trees, working as a team.
Sharpening, Peening the blade
Fixing nicks and cracks
Sharpening with a stone
April 28 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
“As the grass is starting to grow, we are getting ready to mow! Now is the time to look at your tools and see if they need any maintenance, sharpening, oiling or adjusting.“
https://youtu.be/3JeboKSJY08
This took me 5 minutes and I did not break a sweat!
“Best Tool for the Job” presentation for the PNW Permaculture Convergence 2020
If you are considering getting a new Scythe setup you can contact Alexander at Scythe Works and see if he has what you are looking for.
April 22, 2023
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10:00 am
–
April 23, 2023
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5:00 pm
A fun filled Practical Permaculture Immersion Weekend. We will illustrate practical ways to design an integrated thriving living system that that partners with nature. Designed to be self regulating, diverse, abundant and resilient. Whether you are on an urban lot or a farm homestead, energy, water, soil building, animal systems, food production and preservation systems, with diverse income streams. Join us if these are important to you.
An extended site tour of the established systems at Inspiration Farm will augment this experiential weekend. A detailed presentation over viewing Permaculture ethics, principals and strategies will be covered on the first day. On the second day an in depth dive into systems relationships and design mapping process and strategies will be covered.
Class format includes lectures, discussions, extensive tours of an established site and hands-on activities.
Presentations and discussion in the AM, site tour, hands on projects with plant guilds, soil creation, Nursery establishment and other integrated systems in the PM.
Discounts for couples, Pot luck lunch for both days. Camping is available. Limited to 15 Participants. Feel free to call if you have any questions. 360-319-2029
Grow Abundance
Put together a design
Make it so, let it GROW!
Meet others who share your passion!
To Pay BY Check: Please make it payable to Inspiration Farmand mail, or drop it by 619 E Laurel Rd Bellingham Wa. 98226. This saves us from having to pay the transaction fee, thank you!
Hi Everyone! Just wanted to take a moment to let you all know some of what we have planned for this year. Other events may pop up to fill in some gaps but here are the events we have on the books at this point.
Ongoing- Permaculture Meet-ups will continue to happen the last Friday of each month. Stay tuned for locations and details at www.whatcompermaculture.com
Salish Seed Swap Saturday Feb. 18th, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm At the – Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Downstairs, 12 noon to 3pm – Masks Requested
$10 suggested donation, at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds Early entrance (11:30 am) for members of the Salish Seed Guild and people bringing seeds to share. Find out more.
Please Bring your own Envelops to package bulk seeds being offered.
Hope you can make it to the Salish Seed Swap happening in person for the first time in three years!
Create your own Fruit Nursery Stock. Fruit Tree Grafting and Propagation from Cuttings. Pruning season is upon us! Remember to save scion wood for the Grafting Gathering! You can learn how to collect scion wood here. Bring Apple, Pear, Plum… Read more
A fun filled Practical Permaculture Immersion Weekend. We will illustrate practical ways to design an integrated thriving living system that that partners with nature. Designed to be self regulating, diverse, abundant and resilient. Whether you are on an urban lot… Read more
Sell the weed eater and use a scythe! Maintain your body, not your machines. Learn the sharper points of this elegant tool. Thought to be old school, but better blades and an ergonomic set up makes them one of the most efficient tools out there. Find out more
We will celebrate International Permaculture Day May 7th 2023! A day to showcase permaculture around the world. An opportunity to experience permaculture and meet its practitioners. Visitors can see first hand an established permaculture system and ask questions. See how… Read more
Plant a garden, eat for a year, plant a Food Forest Guild, eat for decades! This hands on workshop shares design elements necessary for a perennial food forest. Learn about fruit and nut trees as well as supper food berries… Read more
August 19 – August 20 … Exact details are still being worked out.
This workshop will cover reading the landscape for water retention and management. Diving into, Mapping, ponds, swales, reed-beds, terraces, key line design, implementation cover cropping and guild planting. This will be a hands-on workshop/installation, with earth moving equipment and lasers! Read more!
Permaculture course weekends you can attend separately!
We will be offering certain modules of the course as a stand-alone workshops for people who are interested in specific topics but may not be able to commit to an entire course.
Weekend #4 July 9th and 10th $200
This Fourth weekend will focus on Social Relations and Practical Tools. On Saturday we will explore awesome Community Projects happening within the scope of Permaculture Design. We will also investigate social relationships between ourselves, each other and our larger consumer culture as well as how to design in the Human Landscape.
On Sunday, we will learn How to Use and Care for Tools. Both hand tools and power tools are an essential part of any land-based work. We will cover the basic tool kit, trade-specific kits, power tools, safety and maintenance.
