Whether it’s our popular annual events, monthly meet ups, networking series or educational workshops, we like to make it a better party. View our current events or scroll down to see our popular annual events for businesses and the community at large.

Sustainable Connections Events

Nov 2018

	Think Local for the Holidays 2018 - November 01 - December 31, All Day Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods, the spine of our local economy, and the spirit of our town. Help us celebrate. Discover new business. Love where you live.

Jan 2019

	Energy Club - at Primer Coffee, Bellingham WA January 17, 8:00 am - 8:45 am A quick and casual meetup to give energy efficiency enthusiasts all of the tools, information, and connections they need to make steps towards energy efficiency in the workplace. Join us the 3rd Thursday, every other month!

Feb 2019

	2019 Farm To Table Trade Meeting - at Bellingham Technical College, Settlemyer Hall, Bellingham WA February 19, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm The Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting is NW Washington’s premier food and farm business conference. Bringing together over 180 farmers, fishers, chefs, grocery buyers, food artisans, processors, and distributors!

If you are a member and would like to share an event, please submit your event here.

Ongoing Series

• Demo Days: The 2nd Saturday from April – November at the Bellingham Farmers Market, staff will showcase easy and delicious ways to use local produce items. Take home recipes and get inspired!

• Chef in the Market: The 3rd Saturday from May-September, two local chefs will host cooking demos at the Bellingham Farmers Market! Sample, learn, and connect with our incredibly talented local food entrepreneurs.

February

Fill out a Community Valentine
sustainableconnections.org
Help us spread the local love throughout February and write a Valentine to our community. Tell your favorite business why they’re so great, write a poem for Mount Baker or the best Whatcom county place, let a friend know why they make you happy. . . a valentine can be to whoever or whatever you want. Valentines creators will be entered to win the Local Lover prize pack valued at $275!

Farm to Table Trade Meeting, Feb 20
Bellingham Technical College
An annual one-day conference and connections event bringing together around 200 food and farming businesses of all kinds for a day of networking and education. Find local products, new markets, and grow your business.

March

Let’s Do Lunch, March 7
Sustainable Connections Office
Our new lively and fun format for our business members to network, learn, and make connections: ½ speed networking, ½ local experts speaking on pertinent topics. In March, learn about the benefits of signing up for Community Supported Agriculture – both for your employees and our community. We’ll be providing lots of valuable resources and showing businesses exactly how to get a workplace CSA started. Join us the 1st Wednesdays in March, April, and May.

Meet Your Farmer & CSA Fair, March 17
Bellingham Farmers Market
How to get local food boxes from local farmers. Meet our farmers, learn about Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), sign up for summer local food deliveries, and find out why local food is all about value, quality, and community. There will also be prize giveaways!

How to Donate Food for Businesses, Toward Zero Waste Workshop, March 22
Kombucha Town’s Culture Café
The first in a series of waste reduction workshops for businesses and the public, this session will focus on strategies for businesses to safely donate and reduce food waste. Free!

April

Whatcom Food & Farm Finder Release, April 7
Bellingham Farmers Market
Join us, opening day of the Bellingham Farmers Market to get your 2018 Whatcom Food & Farm Finder – the guide for all things local food: farmers, markets, restaurants, locally-made products, and more.

Let’s Do Lunch, April 4
Sustainable Connections Office
Our new lively and fun format for our business members to network, learn, and make connections: ½ speed networking, ½ local experts speaking on pertinent topics. The April topic will be accounting for sustainability.

YIMBY: Yes in My Backyard! April 14
Sustainable Connections and the Happy Valley Neighborhood Association will be hosting an event that invites residents from Happy Valley and surrounding neighborhoods to determine how to build more affordable and accessible housing in their neighborhood and to re-invent the way the neighborhood can develop (and continue to be) one of the best places in Bellingham to live and play.

Chef Market Mob, April 21
Bellingham Farmers Market
A gaggle of chefs touring the Bellingham Farmers Markets, sampling, meeting the makers, and making new connections. Free for all chefs and food buyers.

May

Let’s Do Lunch, May 2
Sustainable Connections Office
Our new lively and fun format for our business members to network, learn, and make connections: ½ speed networking, ½ local experts speaking on pertinent topics. The May topic will be all about creating engaging, lively, and attractive booths and displays for businesses and nonprofits that table or vend in public places.

Farmer Chef Mixer, May 9
Facilitated networking, aimed at making more food grower and buyer relationships. Open to anyone! Free for Chef’s Collective members, $10 for all other. Always good food and valuable connections.

Cascade Cuts Fundraiser, May 19
Cascade Cuts Nursery
Cascade Cuts, the extensive wholesale perennial, annual, veggie, and herb nursery is open to the public just one day a year as a fundraiser for Sustainable Connections Food & Farming Program. Everyone is invited to pick up veggie starts, hanging baskets, flowers, and exotic oddities for the summer season at incredible prices, all proceeds go to support our local farmers and food system.

June

Imagine This Home and Landscape Tour, June 23
We will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Imagine This Home and Landscape Tour this year! With guided and self-guided options, tour participants will learn how to create eco-friendly homes and landscapes and connect with the businesses that can make it happen.

Food Waste Donation and Reduction for Caterers, Toward Zero Waste Workshop, June 19
The second in a series of waste reduction workshops for businesses and the public, this session will focus on strategies for caterers to safely donate and reduce food waste. Free!

Birchwood International Market, June 29
This new, family-friendly open-air market in the commercial heart of Birchwood will celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Birchwood Neighborhood. The market will showcase local vendors selling culturally rich merchandise, art, and food and feature small-scale performances and entertainment. Help celebrate our local and minority-owned businesses and the diversity of the Birchwood Neighborhood!

July

Independents Month, entire month of July
Independents Month is an annual celebration to engage local independent businesses and citizens in celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and freedom our local businesses embody. Independents Month is also an occasion to recognize small businesses’ contributions to the community–and to affirm citizens’ role in shaping their community’s future.

Downtown Market Walk, July 21
The Market Walk is free and is a celebration and exploration of Bellingham’s local food scene, giving Bellinghamsters a chance to partake in a specially curated self-guided tour that showcases the best of downtown’s local grocers, markets and specialty food shops. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste samples at each location and play “market walk” bingo for the chance to win bug in local food prizes! Each shop will also be hosting specials throughout the day.

Birchwood International Market, July 27
This new, family-friendly open-air market in the commercial heart of Birchwood will celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Birchwood Neighborhood. The market will showcase local vendors selling culturally rich merchandise, art, and food and feature small-scale performances and entertainment. Help celebrate our local and minority-owned businesses and the diversity of the Birchwood Neighborhood!

August

Preserving the Harvest, Toward Zero Waste Workshop, August 16
The third in a series of waste reduction workshops for businesses and the public, this session will focus on how each of us can preserve the bounty of the harvest months, reduce wasted food, and safely donate extras. Free!

Birchwood International Market, August 24
This new, family-friendly open-air market in the commercial heart of Birchwood will celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Birchwood Neighborhood. The market will showcase local vendors selling culturally rich merchandise, art, and food and feature small-scale performances and entertainment. Help celebrate our local and minority-owned businesses and the diversity of the Birchwood Neighborhood!

September

Eat Local Month
Sustainable Connections Food & Farming Program annual month-long celebration that highlights local foods, farms, and fishers. Eat Local Month is a reminder to celebrate the bounty in Whatcom’s backyard, and support the folks who grow, raise and prepare our food by buying locally. It makes eating local easy with a variety of tools, resources, and events that are shared or happen throughout the month (below)

Farm Fund Hootenanny, Sept 3
The Farm Fund Hootenanny kicks off Eat Local Month on and is a fundraiser for the Co-op’s Farm Fund, which works to strengthen local, sustainable agriculture and local food access. The “Hoot” embodies the tradition of gathering together to celebrate a successful harvest season with live music, dance, camaraderie, local farmer awards, delicious food, and a whole lot of fun!

Whatcom Farm Tour, Sept 8 & 9
This annual, free, self-guided tour gives our community the opportunity to experience and learn more about where their food comes from. Eight to twelve farms will open their doors to the public and host tours, entertainment, and other fun family friendly activities.

Shop With the Chef, Sept 15
Bellingham Farmers Market
Peruse the Bellingham Farmers Market with one of our top local chefs. Learn about how to choose the best ingredients, fun ideas for local food, and how to shop like a chef!

Business over Breakfast, Sept 5
Sustainable Connections Office
Our new lively and fun format for our business members to network, learn, and make connections: ½ speed networking, ½ local experts speaking on pertinent topics. Join us the 1st Wednesdays in Sept, Oct, and Nov.

Birchwood International Market, September 28
This new, family-friendly open-air market in the commercial heart of Birchwood will celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Birchwood Neighborhood. The market will showcase local vendors selling culturally rich merchandise, art, and food and feature small-scale performances and entertainment. Help celebrate our local and minority-owned businesses and the diversity of the Birchwood Neighborhood!

October

Business over Breakfast, Oct 3
Sustainable Connections Office
Our new lively and fun format for our business members to network, learn, and make connections: ½ speed networking, ½ local experts speaking on pertinent topics. Join us the 1st Wednesdays in Sept, Oct, and Nov.

Sustainable Design & Development Conference, Oct 25
Bellingham Technical College
The premier green building conferences in the Northwest, the conference embodies principals of the Living Building Challenge, which defines the most advanced measures of sustainability and gives conference attendees the opportunity to learn from leading industry experts.

Whatcom Housing Week, Oct 22 – 26
Housing Week is a series of events that will build awareness and support for innovative housing solutions that create diverse, vibrant, healthy homes for everyone. A number of community partners with a shared goal to increase opportunities for people of all income levels to have live in walkable neighborhoods that foster healthy lifestyles will host events.

November

Business over Breakfast, Nov 7
Sustainable Connections Office
Our new lively and fun format for our business members to network, learn, and make connections: ½ speed networking, ½ local experts speaking on pertinent topics. Join us the 1st Wednesdays in Sept, Oct, and Nov.

Farmer Chef Mixer, Nov 7
Facilitated networking, aimed at making more food grower and buyer relationships. Open to anyone! Free for Chef’s Collective members, $10 for all other. Always good food and valuable connections.

Food Waste Free Holidays!, Toward Zero Waste Workshop, Nov 15
The last in our series of waste reduction workshops for businesses and the public, this session will show us all how to have a food waste free holiday season.

December

None