Press & Media

Sustainable Connections is launching the Think Local First Holiday campaign – including a Holiday Passport and local gift cards – to empower small businesses and encourage shoppers to make local purchases this holiday season.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information contact: Maressa Valliant, Eat Local First Director 360.647.7093 x 103 maressa@eatlocalfirst.org Photos available here, or upon request Take Meaningful Action this Holiday Season: Support Local Farmers with Your Meals, Treats, and Gifts Washington State, November 6, 2025 – The Eat Local First Collaborative has launched the “Eat Local for the Holidays” campaign and the Holiday Food & Farm Finder, […]

Home to a variety of beautiful landscapes, Bellingham is also a thriving farm region. From berries to veggies to fish, local farms produce staples that support the community. Staying local is celebrated in Whatcom County with Farm to Table Trails. This agritourism map features a variety of locations to get people out and eating local. […]

Sustainable Connections Executive Director and Co-founder Derek Long announced in early October that he would step away from his position at the end of the month after more than two decades with the nonprofit. The Bellingham Herald spoke with him about his most memorable accomplishments over the last 24 years and what he hopes for […]

A severe weather shelter will be located at the same place as last year during this winter season — the former Central Lutheran Church building on N. Forest Street, in the Sehome neighborhood south of downtown Bellingham.

Meet the directors behind Bellingham SeaFeast, an event created to connect and educate the community about Whatcom County’s maritime history.

Seattle will soon pilot the first connected network of community food micro-pantries in the U.S., using smart sensors to track supply and demand. Led by the Urban Freight Lab at the University of Washington, the project aims to predict food needs, reduce food waste, and ensure donations reach neighbors who need them most.

Peppers, pigs, people – oh my! WHATCOM — Lovers of a good tour had plenty of options and a perfect day with the 18th annual Whatcom County Farm Tour, put on by Sustainable Connections as a part of Eat Local Month on Sept. 13. Locals and visitors alike had a choice of 15 farms to […]

KGMI’s Dianna Hawryluk talks to Sustainable Connections food and farming program manager Jessica Gillis about the 2025 Whatcom County Farm Tours and the Sandwich Showdown.

WHATCOM — In celebration of Eat Local Month in September, Sustainable Connection’s 18th annual Whatcom County Farm Tour on Sept. 13 will give visitors a look at what it takes for food to get from the farm to a fork at a diverse variety of farms around the county. The farm tour highlights 15 farms […]

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Fall is coming, but there is still ample time to enjoy gorgeous weather from Bellingham’s waterfront to the scenic roads of rural Whatcom County and beyond. We have all kinds of fun ideas for you in this week’s Lifestyle Lookout.

Whatcom County Farm Tour 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 13 Various locations, Whatcom County Speaking of September standbys, Sustainable Connections’ Whatcom County Farm Tour is back on Sept. 13. Part of Eat Local Month, this free, self-guided tour invites community members to meet the farmers who keep Whatcom County’s agricultural traditions alive.

September marks the return of Sustainable Connections’ September Eat Local Month, where local farmers, chefs, and food enthusiasts get the chance to showcase their talents throughout Whatcom County. To encourage the community to get out and explore, there will be events that shine a light on those who grow, harvest, and prepare food all month […]

Sustainable Connections’ seventh annual Green Building Slam is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3 at the Wild Buffalo House of Music. Five green building experts will present a snippet of their expertise for 10 minutes at a time over a meal from Mediterranean Specialties. The event also offer a chance for people to do […]

Housing is more than shelter — it’s the foundation of a healthy, connected community. It shapes how people build stability, access opportunities, and contribute to the places they call home. Yet across Whatcom County, the gap between what people need and what the housing system provides continues to grow.

FOR IMMEDIANTE RELEASE: Pilot Project Aims to Tackle Single-Use Waste Through Local Collaboration and On-Site Reuse System BELLINGHAM, WA — This year’s Bellingham SeaFeast Festival will make history — not just for its seafood, music, and maritime traditions — but for being Whatcom County’s first-ever festival to serve food exclusively on reusable dishware. Thanks to […]

Eat Local Month in September ushers in a statewide celebration of local farms and restaurants just as summer wanes and cooler weather brings new harvest. This year’s celebration in Whatcom County will include a farm tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 13. Washington state governor Bob Ferguson signed a proclamation declaring this […]

Olympia – Washington State has declared September 2025 ‘Eat Local Month’. Officially, it’s a declaration that “affirms and honors the diverse and vibrant community of farmers, fishermen, and food artisans who provide fresh, healthy, and sustainably produced food for us all to enjoy.”    What does that mean here in Clallam County? Jessica Gillis, the Food & […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sustainable Connections’ Green Building Slam Returns to the Wild Buffalo Bellingham, Washington, August 18, 2025 – Join Sustainable Connection’s for the 7th Annual Green Building Slam. Tickets are on sale now. Sustainable Connections is thrilled to announce that the Green Building Slam will return to the Wild Buffalo House of Music on […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Sandwich Showdown Brings Together Local Restaurants and Farms for Eat Local Month  August 13th, 2025, Bellingham WA – Sustainable Connections is excited to announce September Eat Local Month’s Sandwich Showdown. This sandwich competition brings together local restaurants, chefs, and food enthusiasts for a month-long celebration of mouthwatering sandwiches that show off “local […]

Contact: Maressa Valliant Phone: 360-647-7093 ext. 103 E-mail: maressa@eatlocalfirst.org  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Washington State Declares September ‘Eat Local Month’  August 6, 2025, Olympia WA – Washington State has declared September 2025 ‘Eat Local Month’. This declaration affirms and honors the diverse and vibrant community of farmers, fishermen, and food artisans who provide fresh, healthy, and […]

While the Pacific Northwest is home to many traditional farms scattered across the countryside, some entrepreneurs are finding new paths to planting, using hydroponic technology—which relies on nutrient-rich water solutions instead of soil—to grow food year-round in greenhouses and even warehouses. A few are taking the process a step further with aquaponic systems that raise […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Enjoy An Agricultural Adventure on the Whatcom County Farm Tour 7.22.25 BELLINGHAM WA – Sustainable Connections is excited to celebrate September Eat Local Month, a month-long celebration of eating local food and honoring those who grow, raise, harvest, and prepare it to share with this community. One of the highlights of Eat […]

WHATCOM — Visitors and locals alike can plan an outing this summer around the bounty of local harvests with the help of eight Farm to Table Trails put together by Sustainable Connections. Food and Farming Program Manager Jessica Gillis said the trails are put together for visitors to use however they see fit. Some might […]

Farm to Table Trails is a one-of-a-kind agritourism experience in Washington’s Whatcom and Skagit counties. This digital “trail” guides area residents and tourists alike to a variety of locally produced products, highlighting the region’s agricultural richness. Read more here.

Appetite? Check. Curiosity about the local food system and economy? Double check. Looks like you’re ready to hit Farm to Table Trails, eight experiential itineraries that explore food and farm businesses throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties. The initiative from Sustainable Connections is designed to showcase u-pick berry farms, cheese producers, bakeries, wineries, and markets selling […]

May 7, 2025, Bellingham WA – The food, farming, and fishing culture of Northwest Washington is rich and diverse, and the most delicious way to explore this region’s offerings is by taking a trip on the Farm to Table Trails. Whether you’re a local hoping to learn more about your backyard or a visitor coming […]

Big changes are in store for a community gathering place on South Whidbey.

This week, a total of 33 solar panels were affixed to the roof of Clinton Community Hall. The grid-tiered solar system will provide 100% of the building’s annual electric usage with clean energy. Workers also installed a battery backup system that will keep the lights on in the event of a power outage.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) connects families and individuals directly with local farmers and fresh, seasonal produce. Eat Local First, Washington’s go-to local food resource is launching its 2025 CSA Finder to help their community find local food subscriptions near them. Eat Local First is also currently running a giveaway for one lucky winner to receive $200 toward a CSA of their […]

March 5, 2025 | Washington State – Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) connects families and individuals directly with local farmers and fresh, seasonal produce. Eat Local First, Washington’s go-to local food resource is launching its 2025 CSA Finder to help their community find local food subscriptions near them. Eat Local First is also currently running a giveaway for one lucky winner to receive $200 toward a CSA of their choice*.

In 2025, single-family households in Bellingham will be required to use the FoodPlus food and yard waste collection service, a move that will eventually be mandatory in all larger Washington cities due to recent state legislation.

Whatcom County’s Severe Weather Shelter is open during the cold season between November and March. It can serve about 70 people when overnight temperatures are expected to fall to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below in Bellingham.

Sustainable Connections is opening its third community refrigerator Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the North Fork Community Library in Kendall, announced by the nonprofit in a news release Monday, Nov. 4.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — On Sept. 28, Day on the Bay will invite the community to explore and engage with Bellingham’s active waterfront. Day on the Bay is a joint collaboration with Sustainable Connections’ Eat Local Month, Bellingham SeaFeast, and Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County. This free, self-guided tour encourages folks to stop at more […]

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County has celebrated Eat Local Month for over a decade, but this year the governor has declared Eat Local Month a statewide festivity. As people all over Washington honor what it means to eat locally, we are reminded of our own local events in our backyard.

Washington’s annual Eat Local Month is back, celebrating local restaurants, farmers and cooks in Bellingham throughout September. “Eat Local Month celebrates the bounty of Washington’s local food with events and experiences throughout the state, including farm tours, farm-to-table dinners, farm and fish markets, festivals, and more. Eat Local Month connects us on the journey from […]

My Bellingham Now’s Ellie Coberly talks to Jessica Gillis from Sustainable Connections about their Whatcom County Farm Tour events.

The last weeks of summer and early weeks of fall offer some of the best times to seek out good eats on easy drives around the state. Gov. Inslee has declared September 2024 “Eat Local Month” in Washington state, celebrating Washington’s agriculture, fisheries and food production. Various festivals and activities will commence, but you can also […]

OLYMPIA Wash. — Eat Local First and Sustainable Connections are excited to announce that Washington State has declared September 2024 ‘Eat Local Month’. This declaration affirms and honors the diverse and vibrant community of farmers, fishermen, and food artisans who provide fresh, healthy, and sustainably produced food for us all to enjoy.

Washington has declared September as Eat Local Month in the state, according to a press release from Eat Local First. Eat Local Month will celebrate the local farmers, fishermen, and food artisans that make food cultivated in Washington memorable and sustainable. To celebrate, local farm tours, farm-to-table dinners, farm and fish markets, festivals, and more will […]

Visit Whatcom County’s coffee shops in the second annual Sustainable Connections Coffee Crawl, which allows people to sample the county’s best drinks and earn points toward prizes this summer. “The Coffee Crawl is a delicious and caffeine-forward way of exploring Whatcom County. The Pacific Northwest is famous for its coffee, and we’re so fortunate to […]

Sustainable Connections is excited to celebrate September Eat Local Month, a month-long celebration of eating local food and honoring those who grow, raise, harvest, and prepare it to share with this community. One of the highlights of Eat Local Month is The Whatcom County Farm Tour. On Saturday, September 14th from 10am-4pm, seventeen farms in […]

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Sustainable Connections is excited to celebrate September Eat Local Month, a month-long celebration of eating local food and honoring those who grow, raise, harvest, and prepare it to share with this community. One of the highlights of Eat Local Month is The Whatcom County Farm Tour. On Saturday, Sept. 14 from 10 […]

Much of Bellingham’s comingled recycling, the unsorted material collected by Sanitary Service Company in the newly introduced single tote, travels south in semitrailers to a state-of-the-art material recovery facility, or MRF, in Woodinville.

An innovative Whatcom County partnership to address climate change and reduce food waste has been awarded a $27,500 Small Communities, Big Challenges Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. Whatcom County Health and Community Services, Sustainable Connections, Washington State University Extension SNAP-Ed and Whatcom County Library System will use the grant and local funding to build […]

Jessica Gillis, Food & Farming Program Manager at Sustainable Connections, highlights the 2024 Farm to Table Trails with Komo News.