Topic: Nature
Signs of Spring
Written on February 5, 2018 at 6:00 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to island farmer and artisan Margaret Thorson for this photo, “The snowdrops are really beautiful this spring.”
Mission Blue
Written on January 29, 2018 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Film Festival’s “Best of the Fest” presents: “Mission Blue” – a film about legendary oceanographer, Sylvia Earle. She is on a personal mission to save our oceans. Mission Blue is part oceanic road trip, part biography, part action adventure story, and part expose of an eco-disaster. The film deftly weaves her unique personal Continue Reading
On An Acre Shy of Eternity
Written on January 26, 2018 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
Orcas Island author and photographer, Robert Dash, returns to San Juan Island to talk about his his gorgeous book, On An Acre Shy of Eternity, Micro Landscapes at the Edge at the San Juan Island Library on Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 pm. You’ll get a glimpse of the foray he made into his own Continue Reading
Free Pruning Workshop at Dancing Seeds Farm
Written on January 23, 2018 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
Do you have fruit trees or an interest in them? Would you like a better understanding of how to prune and care for them? Join the San Juan Island Grange for a field trip to Dancing Seeds Farm Sunday, January 28th, for a hands on pruning workshop lead by Greg Meyer and Keith Keyser. The Continue Reading
Intelligent Trees
Written on January 20, 2018 at 9:19 am, by Tim Dustrude
Did you know that trees talk, know family ties, and care for their young? The San Juan Island Library & The San Juan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society are presenting the film, Intelligent Trees on Saturday, January 27, 7:00 pm at the Library. Griffin Bay Bookstore will also be on hand to sell Peter Continue Reading
CWR Video Campaign
Written on January 15, 2018 at 5:51 am, by Tim Dustrude
The Center For Whale Research is taking action to increase public awareness of the Southern Resident Killer Whales by taking the message onboard Washington State Ferries. Ken Balcomb, Founder and Principal Investigator of the Center For Whale Research launched a video ad campaign January 9th. This 15 second video will play in daily rotation on Continue Reading
Island Women’s March
Written on January 11, 2018 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Fired Up! Ready to go! Island Women’s March invites all islands to participate in a sidewalk march on January 20th, 2018 in Friday Harbor. We will meet at the Friday Harbor Courthouse on 1st Street, next to the American Legion. Staging time will be at Noon and the march will start at 12:30. The Saturday Continue Reading
Garden Club Hosted Excursion
Written on January 11, 2018 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
Northwest Flower & Garden Festival Herald the start of spring with gardening enthusiasts at this annual celebration. Your gardening desires will blossom when you gaze at the spectacular show gardens. The show offers the finest roster of free seminars. Whether you are in need of sensible or seasoned pro advice there will be a seminar Continue Reading
Over 280 acres Secured in San Juan Valley
Written on January 9, 2018 at 2:45 pm, by Tim Dustrude
2018 looks like another busy and exciting year for your Land Bank! Almost two years to the day, and a full year before the loan was due, the highly anticipated acquisition of the Zylstra Lake property on San Juan Island came to a fruitful end. The public-private partnership of the San Juan County Land Bank Continue Reading
2018 Master Gardener Native Plant Workshop
Written on January 5, 2018 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
Interested in using native plants in your landscape? There are many wonderful reasons to use PNW natives: they are often long-lived and don’t need maintenance, they provide year-round color and garden interest, they can be used to stabilize hillsides and prevent erosion, and some are drought and heat tolerant, helpful in a warming climate. And Continue Reading
Winter Solstice Fun Facts
Written on December 21, 2017 at 5:57 am, by Tim Dustrude
It’s the Winter Solstice today… the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and officially the first day of Winter… Here are some fun things to know about this special day: Click here And don’t forget – Tomorrow you can say to your friends: “Have you noticed the days are getting longer?”
Paddling With Spirits: A Solo Kayak Journey
Written on December 9, 2017 at 5:59 am, by Tim Dustrude
Join Griffin Bay Bookstore at the San Juan Island Library on December 13th at 7:00 pm for an exciting evening with Lopezian Irene Skyriver when she presents her wonderful book, Paddling With Spirits, the story of her solo kayak trip from Alaska back to the islands. Inspired partly by her own spirit of adventure, and Continue Reading
Master Gardeners Assist Town in Rain Garden Cleanup
Written on December 6, 2017 at 5:52 am, by Tim Dustrude
Town employees and volunteer WSU Master Gardeners recently completed Phase One of the rejuvenation of the Spring Street rain garden located at the northeast corner of Spring and First Streets. Phase One involved removing 25 five-gallon buckets of silt, removing and cleaning river rock, pulling weeds and unhealthy plants, and cleaning out the catch basin. Continue Reading
Free Shoreline Contractor Training Workshop
Written on November 22, 2017 at 8:55 am, by Tim Dustrude
Free Training for Contractors Working on Shoreline Properties in the San Juans Thursday, December 7, 2017, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor (152 First Street) Friends of the San Juans is hosting a free technical training for contractors who work on waterfront properties. San Juan County’s 400 + miles of Continue Reading
Park to Apply Herbicides in Habitat Restoration Efforts
Written on October 31, 2017 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan Island National Historical Park has announced that ten new test plots at American Camp will be treated with herbicide, weather permitting, in support of Island Marble Butterfly habitat restoration sometime between October 31 and November 3, 2017. This is the third year of a five year study that is attempting to increase the amount Continue Reading
ShakeOut
Written on October 27, 2017 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Brendan Cowan shares this news from last week’s ShakeOut drill… The middle school students from the Shaw Island School won a statewide earthquake preparedness video contest. So inspiring the way their entire school community has embraced emergency preparedness! Here’s the link to their video: Indeed, more than 1,300 islanders participated in last week’s ShakeOut earthquake Continue Reading
Know Your Island Walk
Written on October 21, 2017 at 12:14 pm, by Tim Dustrude
This is the last Know Your Island Walk for 2017 – a little history with a walk on the Wild West Side. Doug McCutchen will take us on the main trails through the west side with a focus on ecological and human history including lime mining, agriculture, tribes and first nations, Hawaiians, fish traps and Continue Reading
L54s and Members of J Pod in Haro Strait
Written on October 20, 2017 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
From the Whale Museum… For the first time this year, on October 15, the L54 blended family, consisting of Ino (L-54), Coho (L-108), Keta (L-117), and two adult males, Nyssa (L-84) and Wave Walker (L-88), came into the inland waters with J Pod. They spent several hours in Haro Strait, foraging on Chum salmon. The Continue Reading
Elwha: A River Reborn
Written on October 18, 2017 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Griffin Bay Bookstore & The San Juan Island Library Present: Elwha: A River Reborn Those of you who have followed the removal of the dam on the Elwha River or who have volunteered your time planting trees and helping to restore the surrounding ecosystem will surely want to attend a book talk by Seattle Times Continue Reading
Burn Party on Cady Mountain Preserve
Written on October 7, 2017 at 10:58 am, by Tim Dustrude
Thom is out of town for the next few weeks so the previously scheduled work party on Sunday, October 15, is not happening. However – the onset of cooler and wet weather is the perfect time to burn those piles! The ever fabulous Doug McCutchen has scheduled Wednesday, October 11, and Thursday, October 12, for Continue Reading
Grow a Gardener
Written on September 28, 2017 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Kids of all ages LOVE to get in the dirt, for gardens are magical, fun, and full of surprises. It’s often where children first experience the wonders of science and the natural world. And beyond science and math, gardens teach patience, cooperation, the joy of learning, responsibility, respect for where we live, and that vegetables taste Continue Reading
Farmer/Rancher Workshops
Written on September 28, 2017 at 5:46 am, by Tim Dustrude
Farmers and ranchers! It’s time to sharpen your pencil and write that business plan to market your harvest! Washington State University San Juan County Extension and Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) will host two free day long workshops covering key components of market and business feasibility analyses, as well as how to develop an award Continue Reading
Signs of Spring
Written on February 5, 2018 at 6:00 am, by Peggy Sue McRae
Thanks to island farmer and artisan Margaret Thorson for this photo, “The snowdrops are really beautiful this spring.”
Mission Blue
Written on January 29, 2018 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Film Festival’s “Best of the Fest” presents: “Mission Blue” – a film about legendary oceanographer, Sylvia Earle. She is on a personal mission to save our oceans. Mission Blue is part oceanic road trip, part biography, part action adventure story, and part expose of an eco-disaster. The film deftly weaves her unique personal Continue Reading
On An Acre Shy of Eternity
Written on January 26, 2018 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
Orcas Island author and photographer, Robert Dash, returns to San Juan Island to talk about his his gorgeous book, On An Acre Shy of Eternity, Micro Landscapes at the Edge at the San Juan Island Library on Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 pm. You’ll get a glimpse of the foray he made into his own Continue Reading
Free Pruning Workshop at Dancing Seeds Farm
Written on January 23, 2018 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
Do you have fruit trees or an interest in them? Would you like a better understanding of how to prune and care for them? Join the San Juan Island Grange for a field trip to Dancing Seeds Farm Sunday, January 28th, for a hands on pruning workshop lead by Greg Meyer and Keith Keyser. The Continue Reading
Intelligent Trees
Written on January 20, 2018 at 9:19 am, by Tim Dustrude
Did you know that trees talk, know family ties, and care for their young? The San Juan Island Library & The San Juan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society are presenting the film, Intelligent Trees on Saturday, January 27, 7:00 pm at the Library. Griffin Bay Bookstore will also be on hand to sell Peter Continue Reading
CWR Video Campaign
Written on January 15, 2018 at 5:51 am, by Tim Dustrude
The Center For Whale Research is taking action to increase public awareness of the Southern Resident Killer Whales by taking the message onboard Washington State Ferries. Ken Balcomb, Founder and Principal Investigator of the Center For Whale Research launched a video ad campaign January 9th. This 15 second video will play in daily rotation on Continue Reading
Island Women’s March
Written on January 11, 2018 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Fired Up! Ready to go! Island Women’s March invites all islands to participate in a sidewalk march on January 20th, 2018 in Friday Harbor. We will meet at the Friday Harbor Courthouse on 1st Street, next to the American Legion. Staging time will be at Noon and the march will start at 12:30. The Saturday Continue Reading
Garden Club Hosted Excursion
Written on January 11, 2018 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
Northwest Flower & Garden Festival Herald the start of spring with gardening enthusiasts at this annual celebration. Your gardening desires will blossom when you gaze at the spectacular show gardens. The show offers the finest roster of free seminars. Whether you are in need of sensible or seasoned pro advice there will be a seminar Continue Reading
Over 280 acres Secured in San Juan Valley
Written on January 9, 2018 at 2:45 pm, by Tim Dustrude
2018 looks like another busy and exciting year for your Land Bank! Almost two years to the day, and a full year before the loan was due, the highly anticipated acquisition of the Zylstra Lake property on San Juan Island came to a fruitful end. The public-private partnership of the San Juan County Land Bank Continue Reading
2018 Master Gardener Native Plant Workshop
Written on January 5, 2018 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
Interested in using native plants in your landscape? There are many wonderful reasons to use PNW natives: they are often long-lived and don’t need maintenance, they provide year-round color and garden interest, they can be used to stabilize hillsides and prevent erosion, and some are drought and heat tolerant, helpful in a warming climate. And Continue Reading
Winter Solstice Fun Facts
Written on December 21, 2017 at 5:57 am, by Tim Dustrude
It’s the Winter Solstice today… the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and officially the first day of Winter… Here are some fun things to know about this special day: Click here And don’t forget – Tomorrow you can say to your friends: “Have you noticed the days are getting longer?”
Paddling With Spirits: A Solo Kayak Journey
Written on December 9, 2017 at 5:59 am, by Tim Dustrude
Join Griffin Bay Bookstore at the San Juan Island Library on December 13th at 7:00 pm for an exciting evening with Lopezian Irene Skyriver when she presents her wonderful book, Paddling With Spirits, the story of her solo kayak trip from Alaska back to the islands. Inspired partly by her own spirit of adventure, and Continue Reading
Master Gardeners Assist Town in Rain Garden Cleanup
Written on December 6, 2017 at 5:52 am, by Tim Dustrude
Town employees and volunteer WSU Master Gardeners recently completed Phase One of the rejuvenation of the Spring Street rain garden located at the northeast corner of Spring and First Streets. Phase One involved removing 25 five-gallon buckets of silt, removing and cleaning river rock, pulling weeds and unhealthy plants, and cleaning out the catch basin. Continue Reading
Free Shoreline Contractor Training Workshop
Written on November 22, 2017 at 8:55 am, by Tim Dustrude
Free Training for Contractors Working on Shoreline Properties in the San Juans Thursday, December 7, 2017, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor (152 First Street) Friends of the San Juans is hosting a free technical training for contractors who work on waterfront properties. San Juan County’s 400 + miles of Continue Reading
Park to Apply Herbicides in Habitat Restoration Efforts
Written on October 31, 2017 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan Island National Historical Park has announced that ten new test plots at American Camp will be treated with herbicide, weather permitting, in support of Island Marble Butterfly habitat restoration sometime between October 31 and November 3, 2017. This is the third year of a five year study that is attempting to increase the amount Continue Reading
ShakeOut
Written on October 27, 2017 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Brendan Cowan shares this news from last week’s ShakeOut drill… The middle school students from the Shaw Island School won a statewide earthquake preparedness video contest. So inspiring the way their entire school community has embraced emergency preparedness! Here’s the link to their video: Indeed, more than 1,300 islanders participated in last week’s ShakeOut earthquake Continue Reading
Know Your Island Walk
Written on October 21, 2017 at 12:14 pm, by Tim Dustrude
This is the last Know Your Island Walk for 2017 – a little history with a walk on the Wild West Side. Doug McCutchen will take us on the main trails through the west side with a focus on ecological and human history including lime mining, agriculture, tribes and first nations, Hawaiians, fish traps and Continue Reading
L54s and Members of J Pod in Haro Strait
Written on October 20, 2017 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
From the Whale Museum… For the first time this year, on October 15, the L54 blended family, consisting of Ino (L-54), Coho (L-108), Keta (L-117), and two adult males, Nyssa (L-84) and Wave Walker (L-88), came into the inland waters with J Pod. They spent several hours in Haro Strait, foraging on Chum salmon. The Continue Reading
Elwha: A River Reborn
Written on October 18, 2017 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Griffin Bay Bookstore & The San Juan Island Library Present: Elwha: A River Reborn Those of you who have followed the removal of the dam on the Elwha River or who have volunteered your time planting trees and helping to restore the surrounding ecosystem will surely want to attend a book talk by Seattle Times Continue Reading
Burn Party on Cady Mountain Preserve
Written on October 7, 2017 at 10:58 am, by Tim Dustrude
Thom is out of town for the next few weeks so the previously scheduled work party on Sunday, October 15, is not happening. However – the onset of cooler and wet weather is the perfect time to burn those piles! The ever fabulous Doug McCutchen has scheduled Wednesday, October 11, and Thursday, October 12, for Continue Reading
Grow a Gardener
Written on September 28, 2017 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
Kids of all ages LOVE to get in the dirt, for gardens are magical, fun, and full of surprises. It’s often where children first experience the wonders of science and the natural world. And beyond science and math, gardens teach patience, cooperation, the joy of learning, responsibility, respect for where we live, and that vegetables taste Continue Reading
Farmer/Rancher Workshops
Written on September 28, 2017 at 5:46 am, by Tim Dustrude
Farmers and ranchers! It’s time to sharpen your pencil and write that business plan to market your harvest! Washington State University San Juan County Extension and Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) will host two free day long workshops covering key components of market and business feasibility analyses, as well as how to develop an award Continue Reading