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Farm Flash E-News Special FGTFS Edition 9/29/09
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Agricultural Advocacy, Education & Awareness
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Free Tree Giveaways in October
All community members who commit to planting trees along streams, ponds, wetlands, or ditches in
Whatcom County are invited to join the Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon program for a free
tree seedling giveaway event on the first three Saturdays in October:
10am-4pm
10/3/09, 10/10/09, 10/17/09Van Wingerden Garden Center
8210 Portal Way Blaine, WA 98230
Exit 270, 1/2 mile N of Birch Bay Square
Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, and Doug Fir available.
Tips for successful planting will be provided.
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Click the logo to learn more about the Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon Program
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Lynden Mayoral Candidates to Visit Farm Friends Office Oct. 5
Farm Friends invites you to be part of a discussion with Lynden Mayoral candidates on Monday, October 5th, 4pm-6pm at the Farm Friends office. We normally don't delve into city politics but the issues surrounding Lynden's proposed growth and the pending change in Lynden's leadership makes it an important discussion to have.
We will spend an hour with each candidate beginning with Gary Bode at 4pm and then with Scott Korthuis at 5pm.
We hope you take this opportunity to come down to the office and join our discussion. |
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Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon Hits Major Milestone: 100,000 Trees for Water Quality
One year old tree plugs that were purchased with a grant from the Whatcom County PUD are planted and nurtured by volunteer farmer growers and community members for 1-3 years. Some trees are grown in farmers' fields, and some in pots. Volunteer growers commit to weeding and watering the trees to encourage good growth. When the trees are large enough to be planted out in Whatcom County watersheds, they are given away to the public for free.
Community members who take the free trees commit to planting them along streams, ponds, wetlands, or ditches to improve water quality.
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 Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon Needs Volunteers
For our tree giveaways on the first three Saturdays in October we'll need some volunteers to help us out. Voluneer duties include:
- Greet community members who arrive to pick up trees
- Assist people with choosing their trees
- Direct people to the sign-up table where they will indicate how many trees they are taking and where they plan to plant them
- Assist people with the sign-up sheets
- Hand out educational materials on tree planting and maintenance tips
- Answer basic questions about tree planting and maintenance (orientation will be provided at the start of your shift)
You can sign up for a whole day or a half day here:Visit our website to sign up for a volunteer shift now!
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 Meet Our Farmer Volunteers!
Since 2000 many local producer farmers have volunteered their land and significant time and effort toward maintenance of trees for the FGTFS program. Growers must weed, water, and fertilize the trees to ensure their healthy growth. Here are the folks we'd like thank for their service.
2009 Farmer & Community Growers
Larrabee Elementary School, Bellingham School District
Under direction from Wendy Scherrer
200 trees
Lynden High School Horticulture Classes
Under direction from Ladd Shumway
1000 trees
Multi-Year Volunteer
Robert & Debbie Smit, Smit Dairy4000 trees Multi-Year Volunteer Ron Vekved, Community Volunteer
200 trees
Multi-Year Volunteer
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FGTFS & NSEA Team Up on
10-Mile Creek
80 or more community volunteers will come together for a work party on Saturday November 7th from 9:00am - 12:00pm to plant native trees and shrubs and spread mulch along this new restoration site. Ten Mile Creek is home to steelhead and cutthroat trout, and other native fishes.
"We are very excited to be working on this site, and to be working with John and Dorie Belisle who have really championed the Ten Mile Creek cause," says Lindsay Taylor, Volunteer Coordinator for NSEA. "As long-time NSEA supporters, it is a great opportunity for us to give something back to them. This project is also a great opportunity to demonstrate how healthy streams and healthy farms go hand in hand."
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| Farm Friends Board of Directors |
| Sherm Polinder, President - Dairy |
Chuck Antholt, Vice President - Produce / WWU |
Dorie Belisle, Secretary - Tree Fruit |
| Marv Tjoelker, Treasurer - Larson Gross CPA |
David Blair - Food Processing |
Mark DeJong - Dairy |
| Tom Eckert - BTC |
Debi Gavette - Agritourism |
Paul Grey - Technology |
| Marty Maberry - Berries |
Brad Smith - WWU |
Mike Van Wingerden - Greenhouse |
| John Vanderveen - Dairy / Berries |
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| Farm Friends Staff |
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Henry Bierlink, Executive Director |
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| Holly Hinman, Administrator |
Cheryl DeHaan, Community Ed Program Mgr |
Cathy Kellett, Office Manager |
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Thank you for supporting Farm Friends!
The future of Agriculture in Whatcom County depends on many partners. You are one of them! Become a member.
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