Everett and North Sound

Municipal Assistance (alphabetically by city)

Anacortes

Anacortes operates 2,220 acres of Anacortes Community Forest Lands as well as many large parks including Mount Erie. Many of Anacortes' native plantings are at water treatment sites. Soon, the Parks Department will be restoring Guemes Channel Park with natives to create a waterfront park. Visit: www.cityofanacortes.org

Key staff include:
Gary Robinson, Director of Parks and Recreation
Parks Department
P.O. Box 547
Anacortes, WA 98221
T:360.293.1918
gary@cityofanacortes.org

Bellingham

The City of Bellingham manages 2000 acres of upland park, natural areas and other lands. About 1900 acres is in native condition or in the process of being restored. The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department routinely incorporates native plantings and habitat restoration into its capital projects for recreation enhancement. The Parks and Recreation Department also partners with community organizations and volunteers in projects that involve the removal of noxious plants, site preparation, planting native plants and related maintenance. Native plant projects can be found at Whatcom Falls Park, Paddon Lake Park and Birchwood Park. Visit: www.cob.org/parks/index.htm

Key staff include:
Jonathan Schilk, Landscape Architect
(designs and manages park projects)
T:360.676.6985
jschilk@cob.org

Sally Manifold, Volunteer Coordinator
Parks and Recreation
3424 Meridian St
Bellingham, WA 98225
T:360.676.6801

Tim Wahl, Greenways Program Coordinator
(manages Land and Easement Acquisition; experienced with specifying and planting native vegetation)
T:360.676.6985

Everett

Everett is propagating many natives in their nursery for use in park plantings. Some of these plantings are at Lowell Riverfront Park, Forrest Park and Howarth Park. www.ci.everett.wa.us

Non-Profit Assistance in Everett and North Sound

Abundant Life Seed Foundation
A non-profit foundation that promotes the conservation and use of heirloom, native and rare seeds.
Box 772
Port Townsend, WA 98368
T:360.385.5660
F:360.385.7455
abundant@olypen.com
www.abundantlifeseed.org

Audubon Society - Gardening for Life Program
Gardening for Life provides free naturescaping workshops. Look under conservation on the following website: www.seattleaudubon.org

Washington Native Plant Society
Website has sections on naturescaping, plant salvage programs and related events. Visit: www.wnps.org

See also nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy and others on the WA - Rural Assistance page.

Academics - Everett and North Sound

This section includes contact information for locally based individuals who are capable of teaching naturescaping classes or workshops.

For a referral to an individual who can teach a class or workshop on naturescaping it is suggested to inquire with:
Plant Amnesty at www.plantamnesty.org or
Jonathan Schilk, Landscape Architect at the City of Bellingham
T:360.676.6985
jschilk@cob.org

Note that Washington State University coordinates the Master Gardener program through WSU Extension Service. While Master Gardeners typically know little about naturescaping (previously there was no section on naturescaping in their manual, and most Master Gardeners seem very fond of chemical use), it is now possible, though rare, to find a Master Gardener with some knowledge of naturescaping. For more information see: http://gardening.wsu.edu/text/about.htm

We also recommend inquiring at local community colleges to determine if they offer naturescaping or native plant identification/awareness classes.