Sustainable Bellingham

(Compiled by Arthur Tenebrae and Rachel Perry)

Yoga in the Parks: Fairhaven Park
Tuesday, July 3rd, 7:00 pm, Fairhaven Park, 107 Chuckanut Drive, Bellingham
This week continues the Sustainable Bellingham and Kaleidoscope Yoga’s Yoga in the Parks Tour. Each week includes a different beautiful park in Bellingham. The yoga begins at 7:00 pm on each Tuesday through July. Bring a dish to share; after the yoga, we sit and eat together.

This week will be held at Fairhaven Park, weather permitting. We will be visible somewhere from the parking area. If it rains, we’ll be inside the Majestic Underground on 1207 N. Forest Street at 6:00 pm. Check the Kaleidoscope Yoga Facebook page, or call 360-676-1487 if the weather is questionable.

These are great events, and a sign that summer is here. We do yoga for approximately one hour, and then share a meal together. Bring a light dish to share, your dish and utensils; and a drink. The suggested donation is $5 – $10. If you have any questions or get lost, call 360-927-8735 before the class begins.

 Summer Rides: Bakeries of Bellingham
Friday, July 6th, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Departs from Mount Bakery, 304 W. Champion Street
Enjoy this guided tour of bakeries featuring delicious pastries and tempting treats all around Bellingham. Yummy samples, too, at bakeries like Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery, La Vie En Rose, and Our Kitchen is Your Kitchen. Ride ends upon returning to Mount Bakery where riders are encouraged to purchase and enjoy goodies and coffee. Summer Rides are easy social outings, rolling more or less weekly throughout the summer. Roll with friends and meet new friends while discovering back roads and hidden bikeways in Bellingham (and a few in Lynden, Ferndale, and Birch Bay, too). Each Summer Ride has a different theme, with goodies provided along the way. Summer Rides each feature a different fun theme and cover easy routes of around seven miles.

Cob Designs Workshop: Cob: Short and Sweet
Saturday, July 7th – Sunday, July 8th, Bellingham, WA
Learn the basics of cob ingredients, mixing, and tools. Get dirty this weekend perfecting your cob techniques and making friends. All workshops are hands-on and open to all ages. They are fun and physical by nature, we encourage each person to work at a sustainable pace. Meals provided, camping available. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $105 per person plus a $50 non-refundable place holding fee (taken off total). Sign up with a friend and save 10%. To learn more about the time, location, and to register, call 360-610-7823 or send a message through the Contact page.

Wild Medicinal Plant Walk at Blanchard Mountain
Sunday, July 8th, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Blanchard Mountain, Skagit County, WA
Learn their medicinal and culinary benefits, ethnobotany and sustainable, ethical harvesting methods. Find out where to harvest herbs on your own and when to harvest each plant for optimum vitality, potency and nutrition.Gain hands-on herbal experience and confidence in harvesting herbs that may very well be growing in your own backyard! Registration is required; click here to sign up. The cost is $35 per person. For more information, contact Suzanne Jordan at suzanne@cedarmountainherbs.com.

 Thomas Lowe Fleischner, the Way of Natural History
Sunday, July 8th, 4:00 pm, Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Fairhaven, WA
In The Way of Natural History, scientists, nature writers, poets, and Zen practitioners show how mindful attention to the natural world can bring rewarding and surprising discoveries. They call for a renewal of natural history and provide models for personal interactions with nature. Attention to nature, the contributors argue, is a key pathway to nurturing our humanity, and it’s more important than ever to connect with the natural world and the positive energy we can find there.

Thomas Lowe Fleischner is a naturalist, conservation biologist, and teacher. The author of two books, Singing Stone: A Natural History of the Escalante Canyons and Desert Wetlands, and numerous articles, he has taught for more than two decades in the interdisciplinary environmental studies program at Prescott College in Arizona. Cofounder of the North Cascades Institute and founding president of the Natural History Network, he has served on the board of governors of the Society for Conservation Biology and as president of its Colorado Plateau Chapter.

Bellingham Art Summer Camp: Art Under the Sea
Monday, July 9th – Friday, July 13th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, The Creekside Building, 1701 Ellis Street, Studio 203, Bellingham
A great artistic adventure with the underwater beauty beneath the ocean: a mix of water, whales, sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and tropical fish. Have fun drawing, creating pirates, mermaids, paper mosaics, painting with oil pastels and clay sculpting.

This class caters to children ages 5 ½ – 8. Registration is required; click here to sign up. The cost is $185 per student. For more information, call 360-738-8379 or email at info@bellinghamart.com.

Earthways Nature Education School Youth Day Camp
Monday, July 9th – Wednesday, July 11th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Bodhi Creek Farm, Kendall, WA
Join Cody Beebe on a wild adventure through the wetlands, creeks, fields, and forests of Bodhi Creek Farm. Discover the creatures that dwell there, how to thrive in the outdoors, campfire tales, and wild games. This day camp caters to children ages 5 – 11. To learn more or register, call 360-599-1393 or email at info@earthwaysnature.org. The cost is $150 per person.

Spice Up Your Summer with Robert Fong
Monday, July 9th, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Downtown Food Co-op, 1220 North Forest Street
Spice up your summer with dishes highlighting select ingredients from the co-op’s bulk aisle. Enjoy quinoa & chili pepper encrusted scallops with toasted coconut curry, grass-fed beef grilled with a five peppercorn & Himalayan sea salt coffee rub, yellow lentils from the Palouse simmered with East Indian spices served with Indonesian “Volcano Rice” pilao. Robert will be joined by guest Brooks Dimmick, bulk foods manager of the Downtown Co-op. A wine option, payable at class, is $8. To register, call the WCC at 360-383-3200. The cost is $39 for members and non-members alike.

Planning Your Fall and Winter Garden with Krista Rome
Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Cordata Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Road
Ensure that you have plenty of fresh, local veggies year-round by learning how to extend your gardening season. There’s no reason to limit yourself by starting in the spring and ending in the fall in our moderate Pacific Northwest climate. Spread out your labor efforts as well as your harvest by planting in the summer for fall and winter harvest. Krista has many years of experience growing food year-round in Whatcom County, with a focus on eating locally 12 months a year. To register, call the Bellingham Food Co-op at 360-734-8158. The cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members.

Local Summer Fare: Light and Lively with Charles Claassen
Wednesday, July 11th, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Downtown Food Co-op, 1220 North Forest Street
Celebrate an all-local mid-summer feast with Charles Claassen. We’ll take heart-of-the-season bounty from a variety of local organic farms to create a light and flavorful menu of herb and garlic roasted whole chicken, salt-roasted potatoes, green beans with fresh cherries, and lavender-hazelnut roulade. Charles Claassen is chef and owner of the Book Fare Café. A wine option, payable at class, is $7. To register, call the WCC at 360-383-3200. The cost is $35 for members and non-members alike.

Northwest Animals: Opossums
Wednesday, July 11th, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Bellingham Public Library, Lecture Room, Central Library, 210 Central Avenue
Join Jan Stamey and Jan Nelson from the Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and create art & crafts, sing songs, listen to stories, and learn about the American opossum. This event is for children ages 6 – 9. No live animals will be present. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 360-778-7200 or visit the Bellingham Children’s Library.

Birds on the Fly! Bird Tour and Clay Art Workshop
Friday, July 13th, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Whatcom Museum, Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street, Bellingham
Catch a bird on the fly as you explore the Whatcom Museum Bird Collection with museum educator Chris Brewer. See our birds of prey, shore birds, waterfowl, and little brown branch hoppers. After the tour, we’ll fly on into our Syre classroom and learn how to make clay birds in flight and on roosts! All ages are welcome. To learn more and register, call 360-778-8960. This tour is limited to 20 participants. The suggested donation is $3. Museum members get in for free.

Earthen Oven Workshop
Saturday, July 14th – Sunday, July 15th, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm, Harmony Fields Farm, 7465 Thomas Rd., Bow, WA
If you can bake a scone, you can build your own oven. Get dirt under your nails learning earthy “recipes” for masonry insulation, sculptural cob, fine plasters, and more. Together we will build a traditional cob oven with all the features artisan bakers demand: insulated brick floor, self-supporting dome with graded layers of mass and insulation; and an enclosed chimney for a more efficient burn and less smoke. Registration is required. To register, call 360-941-8196 or email at hfproduce@gmail.com. The cost is $80 per person.

Know Your Ducks (and other birds)! Tour with Joe Meche
Saturday, July 14th, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Whatcom Museum, Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street, Bellingham
Adults and teens can view the museum’s amazing bird collection with Joe Meche, former president of the local Audubon Society. He shares ways to identify birds based on their habitat and behavior and tells fun tales about our local birds. The tour is followed by an optional bird walk along nearby Whatcom Creek. Ages 12 and up are welcomed. To learn more and register, call 360-778-8960. This tour is limited to 20 participants. The suggested donation is $3. Museum members get in for free.

Community Alliance for Global Justice’s 6th Annual SLEE Dinner
Saturday, July 14th, 5:00 pm -9:30 pm, St. Demetrios Church, 2100 Boyer Avenue East, Montlake, Seattle, WA
Join us for this exciting Community Event and Annual CAGJ Fundraiser! The SLEE dinner brings together over 400 local advocates, farmers, food workers, and allied organizations to celebrate CAGJ’s organizing for global justice!

CAGJ’s annual dinner plays a pivotal role in our organizing and fundraising efforts. The annual dinner not only raises one-third of CAGJ’s annual budget, it serves as a key networking opportunity for those working to promote food justice here in Seattle and around the world. It is a unique event because we sponsor farmers, workers and organizers from across the food system to be honored guests at the dinner. This ensures a diverse event and exciting conversation.

Click here purchase tickets for the event. The cost ranges from $40 – $100, while admission for children is $10. If you are unable to afford a full-price ticket, please contact us for solidarity tickets at volunteer@seattleglobaljustice.org! Limited amount available! For more information, or to volunteer for the event, please contact CAGJ at 206-405-4600 or contact_us@seattleglobaljustice.org.

Draw Birds Like an Artist — See Them Like a Scientist with Jamichael Henterley
Sunday, July 15th,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Whatcom Museum, Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect Street, Bellingham
Birds have attracted artists from the earliest cave drawers to Leonardo da Vinci. Adapted to every environment on the planet, birds come in an incredible variety of forms. Book illustrator Jamichael Henterley teaches different ways to draw birds through careful observation of the museum’s engaging bird collection. Participants use measuring and proportion, contour and gesture drawing, perspective, shading and texture to see like a scientist and draw like an artist! All ages are welcome. To learn more and register, call 360-778-8960. This tour is limited to 18 participants. The suggested donation is $3. Museum members get in for free.

Northwest Animals: Falcons
Tuesday, July 17th, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Bellingham Public Library, Lecture Room, Central Library, 210 Central Avenue
Join Jan Stamey and Jan Nelson from the Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and create art & crafts, sing songs, listen to stories, and learn about falcons. This event is for children ages 6 – 9. No live animals will be present. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 360-778-7200 or visit the Bellingham Children’s Library.

Making Flower Essences At Tree Frog Farm
Saturday, July 28th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tree Frog Farm, 3679 Sunrise Rd., Lummi Island, WA
Learn how flower essences are made at Tree Frog Farm. We will make an essence using both the “cut and float flowers on water method” and the “bring the plant spirit frequency directly into the mother bottle” method. You will experience how flower essences differ from other plant medicines and will practice intuitive methods for choosing flower essences for your vibrant health.

 To sign up, click here or call 360-758-7260. The cost is $65 before Monday July 16th, and $75 after the date. To register for both this class and Embracing the SHIFT: Riding the Wild Waves of 2012, click here. The cost for both classes is $120 before Monday July 16th, and $135 after the date.

DOLPHINS, HUMANS SHARE ‘BRAINY’ GENES
Similarities between dolphin and human brains prove that we are more alike than we thought and that size isn’t everything.

PICTURES: 25 NEW REEF FISH FOUND – “BEAUTIFUL” BASSLET AND MORE
Among the new species: a candy-striped clingfish and fairy goby—plus, a “bizarre” scorpion fish and an eel opening wide for flounder.

RARE ‘GREEN RUST’ OFFERS GLIMPSE OF ANCIENT SEAS
A rare and highly reactive iron mineral called green rust appears to have played an important role in ancient oceans.