Local Champions
8 Questions with A Local Business Owner: Valerie Wade of the Wild Bird Chalet
Open to wildlife lovers of all levels! The Wild Bird Chalet has all you need to entice the local wildlife into your backyard, from a variety of bird houses, bird and squirrel feeders (as well as squirrel proof feeders) books, art, puzzles, gifts, bulk seed, feed, and...
The 90 Minute Shower
Incredulousness abounds and you say to yourself, “What does hamburger have to do with a 90-minutes shower?” The cold hard truth is we consume the same amount of resources whether you take a 90-minute show or throw away one hamburger patty.
Culture Cafe at Kombucha Town: Live Healthy, Live Happy
The Culture Café at Kombucha Town is a place unlike any other in Bellingham, dreamt up by Chris McCoy, the Café has something for everyone. A brewpub with craft beer or kombucha, healthy bites or rich desserts, it's the perfect place to meet friends for a board...
Samish Bay Cheese: (crazy good) Organic Farmstead Cheese
Driving down into the flats off of Chuckanut on a sunny day, skirting around Samish Bay, and landing in Edison is one of my favorite local day trips. Even better is when I get to stop in at Samish Bay Cheese, one of our most well-loved local creameries. Suzanne...
Sustainable Business Development Sponsor: Healthy Pet
Healthy Pet® has engaged deeply with Sustainable Connections and takes part in the Toward Zero Waste, Community Energy Challenge, Eat Local First, and Sustainable Business Development Campaigns. Their Toward Zero Waste efforts have diverted over 80% of their waste from landfill, and their participation in the Community Energy Challenge was a partnership that led to the program’s largest LED lighting retrofit to date.
Sustainable Business Development: Raven Breads
Raven Breads is a small, artisan bakery in Bellingham, WA, making whole grain, sourdough bread & pastries with organic ingredients grown and gathered (with a few tropical exceptions) in the Pacific Northwest. The selection changes from week to week, depending on the season and the baker’s whims. To keep tabs on Raven Breads, visit Sophie at the Bellingham Farmers Market or sign up for the newsletter.
Towards Zero Waste: Characterizing Your Waste & Grooving
Characterize Your Waste seems like an interesting phrase and is certainly open to interpretation. I imagine many of you thought this would be a great opportunity to pull out the crayons, create characters and illustrations, and jam with Macklemore and Oscar the Grouch. Grooving with Macklemore and Oscar is one way to get down with your waste and I encourage it, but keep reading to learn more about what the term means to those of us working in the Toward Zero Waste World.
Samson Estates Winery: Think and Drink Outside the Box
This time of year, walking through the bare vines as Baker peaks over the foothills topped with heavy snow, the farm and vineyard are peaceful and quiet. It’s a beautiful place and is easy to imagine spending a summer afternoon picnicking next to the lavender that...
Evolve Chocolate: All you need is love and truffles!
Carefully melted, simmered, stirred and rolled with love…Evolve is the perfect story for the month of amor. Co-owners Christy & Shannon Fox were married six years ago but have always been passionate about good food, the power of local, and yes….chocolate. They...
Dynamic Duo: Ed and Janet of Boundary Bay Brewery
Janet and Ed of Boundary Bay Brewery are definitely a dynamic duo. They are tireless promoters of what it takes to have a true community, believing – and proving – that mentoring and collaborating creates a culture that’s good for business. They match affable natures...
Four Friends Create A Worker’s Coop: Bellingham Bay Builders
Back in 2003, four friends, Dave Brogan, Ross Grier, Tim Smith, and Brian Forth, with years of experience in building, woodworking and timber framing became interested in the idea of starting a worker’s cooperative. In 2004, that idea became Bellingham Bay Builders....
Leading by Example: Diana Ambauen-Mead with Scratch and Peck Feeds
In 2012, Scratch and Peck Feeds became the first Non-GMO Project Verified animal feed manufacturer in North America and in 2013, they stepped it up to become Certified Organic, the first feed manufacturer in...