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 2019

	Smart Business Leadership Workshop: Profit - at Community Food Co-op Healthy Connections Classroom, Bellingham WA November 13, 11:30 am - 1:15 pm Join us for the final session of our Smart Business Leadership series as we explore why Profit is the one of the most important business aspects to address in order to achieve your sustainability goals. Sherri Daymon from the Small Business Development Center will share her expertise and research why a profitable business has the best chance of being a sustainable business.
	Whatcom Food Network Fall Forum - at Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, Ferndale Washington November 14, 8:50 am - 12:30 pm Learn about our rich history in food processing as well as what’s in the works to help local producers add value to their products and hold their ground in the market, including a presentation on the proposed Millworks Project.

Dec 2019

	Green Building Slam - at The Underground, Bellingham WA December 06, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm 8 SPEAKERS, 10 SLIDES, 10 MINUTES. Learn about innovative buildings, ideas, or advances that push the envelope in our environment.

Feb 2020

	Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting - at Bellingham Technical College, Settlemyer Hall, Bellingham WA February 25, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm The Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting is Northwest Washington’s premier food and farming 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

Green Building Lunch & Learns: Throughout 2019, Sustainable Connections’ Green Building & Smart Growth Program and the NW EcoBuilding Guild will be partnering to offer industry-specific training and CE credits. Topics will vary, but each class hopes to enable industry professionals with the knowledge they need to transform the built environment for long-term sustainability.

Sustainable Business Working Group: This quarterly workshop series, co-sponsored by the Community Food Co-op, will take businesses on a deep dive into sustainable businesses practices. The kickoff for these workshops will be the Smart Business Summit on March 28^th – don’t miss it!

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

February 

Fill out a Community Valentine: Independent businesses invest up to 3x more back into our local economy, hire more local people, and have been a powerful pathway to the middle class. Help us spread the local love throughout February and write a Valentine to local business you love. We will share Valentines with businesses in March. Submit your Valentine via the website.

Farm to Table Trade Meeting, Feb 19: 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 6: 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.

Green Building NERDS, March 18: Specifically for industry professionals, join your peers, bring your plans and NERD OUT. Take your projects to a deeper level of green and collaborate on innovative ideas.

Energy Club, March 21: 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.

Smart Business Summit, March 28: The kickoff event for a series of sustainable business workshops that will be held throughout 2019, learn how and why purpose-driven companies are succeeding. Inspiring speakers, powerful panelists, time to network, and actionable take home knowledge. Open to all.

Meet Your Farmer & CSA Fair, March 30: 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!

April 

Whatcom Food & Farm Finder Release, April 6: Join us, opening day of the Bellingham Farmers Market to get your 2019 Eat Local First Food & Farm Finder – the guide for all things local food: farmers, markets, restaurants, locally-made products, and more.

Let’s Do Lunch, April 3: 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.

 Members Happy Hour, April 24: A fun and casual meet up for local businesses held at local businesses. Connect and conspire over something bubbly!

May 

Let’s Do Lunch, May 1: 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.

Solarize for Smart Businesses, May 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10th: Solarize for Smart Business is a group purchasing campaign intended to raise the level of awareness about rural solar energy options and simplify adoption of solar energy among the businesses of Whatcom and Skagit County.

Farmer Chef Mixer, May 8: Facilitated networking, aimed at making more food grower and buyer relationships. Always good food and valuable connections.

Energy Club, May 16: 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.

Cascade Cuts Fundraiser, May 18: Cascade Cuts Nursery, 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 great prices, all proceeds go to support our local farmers and food system.

Green Building NERDS, May 20
Specifically for industry professionals, join your peers, bring your plans and NERD OUT. Take your projects to a deeper level of green and collaborate on innovative ideas.

June

NW Green Home Tour, June 22: Different name, same great green home tour! Get inspired by projects in all shades of light to deep green, from backyard cottages and kitchen remodels to new homes built with cutting-edge green features. You’ll see and learn first-hand how your neighbors are generating their own electricity with solar panels, lowering their energy bills with insulation, and creating healthier home environments for their families with better building materials and systems. Learn from experts and really understand “what makes it green” on this educational tour.

Members Happy Hour, June 26 Fun, casual meetups for local businesses held at local businesses. Connect and conspire over something bubbly!

Toward Zero Waste Workshop, June 27: A waste reduction workshop for businesses and/or the public, topics range from waste reduction strategies for caterers to how to preserve the harvest for the public.

July

Independents Month, the 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.

Chef Farm Tour, July 15: Join grocery buyers and chefs for a tour of the hottest new farms and local food products.

Green Building NERDS, July 15: Specifically for industry professionals, join your peers, bring your plans and NERD OUT. Take your projects to a deeper level of green and collaborate on innovative ideas.

Energy Club, July 18: 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.

August

Toward Zero Waste Workshop, August 21: A waste reduction workshop for businesses and/or the public, topics range from waste reduction strategies for caterers to how to preserve the harvest for the public.

September

Eat Local Month: The Food & Farming Program’s 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. Treat yourself to local specials at a variety of participating restaurants and join in on fun events like:

Farm Fund Hootenanny, Sept 1: The Farm Fund Hootenanny kicks off Eat Local Month 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 7 & 8: 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.

Business over Breakfast, Sept 4: 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.

Green Building NERDS, Sept 16: Specifically for industry professionals, join your peers, bring your plans and NERD OUT. Take your projects to a deeper level of green and collaborate on innovative ideas.

Energy Club, Sept 19: 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.

October

Business over Breakfast, Oct 2: 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.

Cloud Mountain Farm Center Fall Harvest Fest, Oct 5 – 6: Experience the farm firsthand and savor the bounty of our region. This family-friendly event features tastings of over 200 varieties of fruits and vegetables all grown here on the farm.

Whatcom Housing Week, Oct 21 – 25: Our Green Building & Smart Growth Program is an active participant of the Whatcom Housing Alliance, which hosts Housing Week each year. This series of events builds awareness and support for innovative housing solutions that create diverse, vibrant, healthy homes for everyone.

November

Think & Eat Local for the Holidays: Starting each November, the Think and Eat Local First Campaign go into overdrive to help our community shop and source local for the holidays. Find gifts via an online gift guide and utilize new tools and resources from our Eat Local First Campaign. Visit the Sustainable Connections and Eat Local First websites for all the details.

Business over Breakfast, Nov 6: 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 6: Facilitated networking, aimed at making more food grower and buyer relationships. Always good food and valuable connections.

Toward Zero Waste Workshop, Nov 12: A waste reduction workshop for businesses and/or the public, topics range from waste reduction strategies for caterers to how to preserve the harvest for the public.

Green Building NERDS, Nov 18: Specifically for industry professionals, join your peers, bring your plans and NERD OUT. Take your projects to a deeper level of green and collaborate on innovative ideas.

Energy Club, Nov 21: 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.

December

Think & Eat Local for the Holidays: The Think and Eat Local First Campaign go into overdrive to help our community shop and source local for the holidays. Find gifts via an online gift guide and utilize new tools and resources from our Eat Local First Campaign. Visit the Sustainable Connections and Eat Local First websites for all the details.

 Green Building Slam, December 6: Short, fast, and fun presentations from experts in the field. Learn about innovative and sustainable green buildings, ideas, or advances that push the envelope in our local built environment. From industry professionals to the public, all are welcome!