Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month will feature a variety of learning opportunities where participants can roll up their sleeves and kick some noxious weed butts or relax and enjoy a drink while learning about ways to protect the environment.
According to Sami Postma, who is part of the organizing committee for the Whidbey Earth & Ocean Month, the Sip & Science events are a fun and relaxed way to learn without pressure, as it allows for one-on-one time with subject experts in an informal environment.
Community members have a variety of Sip & Science events to choose from — no admission fee required.
From 4 to 5 p.m. on April 9, community members can meet John Fetrow, a retired professor and expert on cattle medicine, production, nutrition and economics. At Island Nosh, located at 8898 Highway 525 in Clinton, Fetrow will talk about the environmental impacts of raising cattle.
The Sounders, a group of about 20 gray whales that come to the Puget Sound every year to feast on ghost shrimp, are back. From 1 to 2 p.m. on April 12, people can learn more about the friendliest whales in the world at Beaver Tales Coffee, an indigenous and woman-owned coffee shop located at 1900 Southeast Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor.
From 11 a.m. to noon on April 14, community members can get comfortable at Cedar & Salt Coffee in Coupeville and learn about how to invest in a socially responsible fashion. Financial Adviser and Scientist Tom Nowak, who will be speaking at the event, is a member of the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in the U.S. and has written two books on the topic.
From 4 to 5 p.m. on April 18, Old Spots Bistro will host “Demographic Studies of Orcas in the Salish Sea,” where guests will learn about identifying orcas through photography, orca diets, the different types of orcas and how to save the Southern Resident orcas from extinction. The bistro is located at 765 Wonn Road in Greenbank.
At Cosmic Veggies, located at 661 Southeast Fidalgo Avenue in Oak Harbor, people can enjoy a healthy and vegan meal while learning about the future of water on Whidbey. John Lovie, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington State Office of Drinking Water, will lead the event on April 23.
Hierophant Meadery, located at 5586 Double Bluff Road in Freeland, welcomes guests to the “The Zero Waste Community” meeting, where they can learn ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. This event will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. on May 1.
Like every year, Orca Network and the Langley Chamber of Commerce invite whale lovers to wear their aquatic skins to celebrate the return of the Sounders. The Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival will take place April 13 and 14 and will feature parades, educational displays, costume-making, fun activities for kids, beach cleanups, a waterside ceremony, a fundraising boat trip and more.
For more information, visit orcanetwork.org or contact Cindy Hansen at cindy@orcanetwork.org.
Between 1 and 2 p.m.on April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 Meerkerk Gardens in Greenbank will host a docent who will teach guests about rhododendrons and their habitats. The lesson is free of charge to those who have paid the $5 dollar admission ticket.
Need a workout? Help the Whidbey Camano Land Trust remove weeds and maintain trails across Whidbey Island. Prospective volunteers can sign up for a multitude of work parties taking place throughout the month of April and beyond at Strawberry Point Preserve, Silliman Preserve, Trillium Community Forest, Hammons Family Farm Preserve and Keystone Farm & Preserve. To learn about dates and times and sign up, visit wclt.org/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-calendar/.
Here’s more events happening around the island this month:
April 6
“Rhythms of Nature” takes place between 2 and 3:30 p.m. at the Greenbank Farm, and features the Whidbey Saratoga Orchestra, Whidbey Poet Mary Elizabeth Himes and OKK Taiko Drums from Oak Harbor. For more information visit sowhidbey.com or call 360-929-3045.
From 2 to 3:30 p.m., Grief Counselor and Beach Naturalist Jeanie McElwain will lead “Ecogrief: Caring for Earth, Caring for Self,” an event where guests can practice lamentation, mindfulness, resignation, hope, coming-to-terms and balanced action to cope with global warming.
For questions, reach out to the Whidbey Greening Congregations Collaborative at GCCWhidbey@gmail.com.
April 10
At the Freeland Library, guests can learn about Aldo Leopold, “the father of wildlife ecology and modern conservation.” This free event, which will take place between 4 and 5:30 p.m., will include the award-winning documentary “Green Fire” about Leopold’s life.
April 11
The Whidbey Audubon Society is bringing Nature Photographer Isabelle Edwards to talk about the life history of owls and owl photography. The event is free and will be held between 7 and 8:30 p.m. at the Coupeville Recreation Hall or via Zoom. To register for the virtual event, visit whidbeyaudubonsociety.org and search “The Mystery of Owls with Izzy Edwards.”
April 12
Good Cheer Garden is hosting a work party at the Big ACRE garden, located behind the old Bayview School building. Between 1 and 4 p.m., volunteers will help with weeding, wood chipping and feeding with worm castings the trees in the orchard. Tools and gloves will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring warm clothes, water and other necessities.
For more information, visit goodcheer.org or reach out to garden@goodcheer.org.
At 6:30 p.m., guests are invited to St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods to watch a documentary about Pope Francis’ climate justice efforts.
April 13
Parents and caregivers can bring children to a free kid-friendly walk and learning experience on Del Fairfax Preserve, located at 1817 Zylstra Road in Oak Harbor, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. To register, visit wclt.org.
Between 10 and noon, community members can learn about climate policies and actions on a national and local level. This free event is presented by the Citizens Climate Lobby and will take place at the Oak Harbor Library.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Unity of Whidbey, Greening Congregations Collaborative and Whidbey Climate Action are hosting an Electric Vehicle Roundup, free and open to the community. The event will feature owners of electric vehicles, including E-bikes, who will answer questions and share their experiences. Visitors can also pre-arrange to test drive some cars, with the owners’ consent.
The event will take place at 5741 Crawford Road in Langley. Participants who will be bringing their EV should reach out to Perry Lovelace at perry.lovelace@gmail.com.
April 18
From 4 to 5 p.m., Captain Gene Reynolds will talk about Whidbey’s history, the Whidbey Island Maritime Heritage Foundation and the Suva, a 68-foot two-masted boat that sailed the Salish Sea. This event is free and will take place at the Oak Harbor Library.
April 20
From 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., community members can roll up their sleeves and clear land, plant flowers and tidy up at the Whidbey Island Waldorf School. The event will also include a community potluck and live music starting at noon. For more information about this free event, reach out to info@wiws.org or call 360-341-5686.
From 10 a.m. to noon, artist Joan Green will teach how to make art with reusable materials. The event will take place at the South Whidbey Community Center in Langley. No entry fee required, but donations are welcome. For inquiries, call 360-221-0663.
From 10 to 2 p.m., the Earth and Ocean Month Fair at the Coupeville Farmers Market will include games, information, volunteer opportunities and more.
Join the Whidbey Audubon Society on a walk at Deception Pass Park to learn about local birds and how to identify them. Later, participants can help clean up the park.
This free, ADA and stroller accessible event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will meet at Bowman Bay Shelter.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., children can plant a western red cedar seedling under the guidance of master gardeners who will also talk about the importance of these trees and what they need to grow. The event will take place at the Washington State University’s Extension Master Gardener Education Garden, located at the Greenbank Farm.
The Langley Library staff will show how to craft and make a spice mix with seaweed foraged from the beach. The event is free and will take place at the Freeland Library from 3 to 4 p.m.
April 21
From 10 to 11:30 a.m., Reverend Richard Mylander will talk about the relationship between taking care of the planet and spirituality. The event is free and will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island.
Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary invites people to give a hand with the animals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
RePurpose will host a Repair Café, where guests will repair clothes, furniture, electrical appliances and more with the help of skilled volunteers. The event takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. in Langley, but the location has yet to be decided. For more information, reach out to joan@repurposewhidbey.org.
April 23
From 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Coupeville Library, the Washington Citizens’ Climate Lobby will hold a free event where participants will learn about the state’s Climate Commitment Act, and what could happen if it were to be repealed in November.
April 24
From 6 to 7:30 p.m., people can learn about Kicking Gas and its efforts to make the switch from fossil fuels to electricity affordable. To register for this Zoom session, visit kickgasnow.org/events.
April 25
From 4 to 5 p.m., children and caregivers are invited to meet Washington State Parks rangers at the Coupeville Library to learn about the food chain in the Salish Sea.
April 26
From 7 to 9 p.m., Singer and Songwriter Celia Farran will perform at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island in Freeland. Tickets can be purchased at celiafarran.com/product/989424, and part of the proceeds will support the Whidbey Climate Fund.
April 27
From 10 to noon, Scott Price will take community members on a free tour of the Sculpture Forest in Coupeville, which he founded, and talk about forest conservation, the local habitat and how nature can make art more enjoyable. No reservations required.
At the Last Saturday Climate Change Salon, community members will discuss efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and to slow down the process. This event is free and takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Coupeville Library, and is normally held on the last Saturday of every month.
