Blaine CORE Home Page

Blaine Community Orchards for Resources and Education

Don't miss a Workshop!

Be added to our contact list and be advised of upcoming workshops

GOALS: click to

Download a copy of

CORE goals

Drayton Harbor Oyster Co.

Support our local aquaculture

EAT OYSTERS

Whatcom Master Gardeners

Link

RESERVE Plot/Raised Bed in the 7th St. Community Garden! LINK

Helping to Create Edible Yards in Blaine, Washington

Mission: To provide city wide enhancement and beautification on a multitude of levels by

planting food bearing trees, bushes and vines that offer food to residents of Blaine;

local wildlife food and shelter; soil enhancement and water retention.

Not near Blaine? other class opportunities on our Resources or Classes pages (see links to left)

REALLY passionate about gardening? consider becoming a Master Gardener (link)

Unless noted, all workshops are FREE! NOW with TWO Locations

Blaine Library in Blaine. Link Blaine Community/Senior Center Link

BookWorm Bins for Sale to benefit the Friends of the Blaine Library - link for more info - You can now buy a Gift Certficate for a BookWorm Bin, which simplifies the giving (and wrapping) process!!

Garden Spot Nursery (text is link, right click to get drop down menu) is now carrying the WCLS/Blaine Library Bookworm Bins. You can also buy a gift certificate! Check their calendar for presentations on composting/vermiculture and specifically managing the Bookworm Bin. Their address is 900 Alabama St. (behind Trader Joe's) in Bellingham. Ph. 360-676-5480 - Right click the logo above to open a link to their website.

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NOTE: ALL underlined text should be a link - you will need to right-click on the text to get a drop down menu to access the link and open in a new window. Above logo for Garden Spot and Worm Bins are also links. Sorry for the inconvenienc.

March 21, Sat – PRUNING 101 Blaine Library 10am-12noon
This is the time to start WINTER pruning. You can easily see damage and disease as well as make decisions regarding form. Trees are breaking hibernation earlier (or not even going into deep hibernation), so take advantage of some of our sunny winter days and brush up on those pruning skills. We will discuss tools, why prune, decisions necessary (learning to understand growth habits of trees/bushes). We will also present on overgrown trees and how to get them back in shape. Bring your questions!

March 21, Sat. Point Roberts Library library meeting room - 1pm
Home Waste: The Art & Science of Composting and Vermiculture

Beginning in April of 2027, it will be” illegal” in Washington state, to deposit compostable materials into the landfill. To help everyone understand why this is an important change, Washington State Ext Services, the Whatcom County Library and Blaine CORE have collaborated to create a series of workshops to be held at Whatcom county branch libraries (in addition to our local presentations).

Join us for a fun and educational workshop focusing on home composting and share ideas, build new skills to generate high quality compost/materials for your garden/houseplants. We'll also learn more about new guidelines regarding the disposal of compostable materials that will impact many Whatcom County residents in the coming years. This workshop includes a presentation on Composting and Vermiculture and we'll get to see a Bookworm Bin in action!

March 25, Wed. SEED STARTING & Sprouting Blaine Community/Sr Center 5:30-7:30pm We will start with “how to get that craving for greens satisfied” by growing sprouts in your kitchen!! Now is also a good time to start thinking about getting those vegetables started . . .How many seeds? What type? When to start? When to transplant? So many questions?? We can help get you started on the answers! Talk will focus on plants that can be grown in our climate. Tips and tricks from experienced growers.

March 28, Sat DAHLIAS 101 Blaine Library. 10am-12noon
April 8, Wed Blaine Community/Sr Center 5:30-7:30pm Dahlias are considered to be the premier cut flower. Easy to grow, there are some definite tricks! With thousands of colors and flower forms and their long bloom time they are VERY rewarding!! Presentation includes expert dahlia growers, live demos and answering questions. Free tubers! To get your dahlia addiction started (LOL!)

April 1, Wed - Mason Bees 101 Blaine Library 5:30-7:30pm
The crisis in our bee population is very real. We want to help you learn how to support all pollinators in your own backyard. This workshop will present an overview of the problem and introduce you to native pollinators. We will discuss how to establish and maintain a healthy mason bee colony in your yard.

April 25, Sat. - Severe Pruning Blaine Library 10am-12pm
This presentation will focus ONLY on overgrown fruit trees. Using a combination of pruning techniques that quickly gets your trees into shape. Requiring some follow-up care (summer pruning) during the year to maintain the initial work done. Reduced fruit production will be overridden by the ease of completion for the average tree. May be followed by an actual hands on severe pruning. Volunteer your tree today by emailing "fruit@blainecore. com".

April 22, Wed SAUERKRAUT & Fermented Veggies - Homemade & Delicious Blaine Library 5:30-7:30pm
Yup, good old-fashioned homemade, delicious and crispy kraut, made right in your kitchen, easy & HEALTHY!! Can be made with lower salt levels when you make it yourself. Natural pro&pre biotics to help your micro-biome. We will cover all the basics of fermentation. If you have always wanted to try it, now is your chance to get started. Simple tools, salt and veggies transform your diet into new and exciting foods. Come explore!

April 25, Sat, SEVERE PRUNING- Blaine Library 10am-12pm This presentation will focus ONLY on overgrown fruit trees. Using a combination of pruning techniques that quickly gets your trees into shape. Requiring some follow-up care (summer pruning) during the year to maintain the initial work done. Reduced fruit production will be overridden by the ease of completion for the average tree. May be followed by an actual hands on severe pruning. Volunteer your tree today by emailing "fruit@blaine-core.com".

May 2, Sat MUSHROOMS 101 Blaine Community/Sr Center 9:30-11:30am Grady Barstad, a self-taught local mycologist who has supplied local restaurants and the community with gourmet mushrooms and supplements for the past 5 years. This class will answer your questions and teach you how to start growing mushrooms, the basics of mycology and the nutritional benefits of enjoying delicious fungi!

May 9, Sat COMPOSTING & WORMS Blaine Community/Sr CenterBlaine Community/Sr Center 9:30am-11:30am Do you dispose of organic matter in your regular garbage? It's not a good thing for our landfills AND you are throwing away valuable soil building materials! Whether you have been thinking about a compost bin or becoming a Worm Wrangler, this workshop will get you started!! We will cover the basics of food waste "recycling", how easy it is. Followed by managing worms, indoors and out! The upside - You will see huge benefits in your garden!

May 13, Wed CONTAINER GARDENING Blaine Library 5:30—7:30pm Join us for an "out of the ground and into the box" introduction to container gardening. If you think that you MUST have a plot of land or maybe mobility issues have slowed you down, we want to help you NOT give up on gardening!! We will start with the basics from choosing containers and the right plants to learning how to water them.

May 16, Sat KOMBUCHA Blaine Community/Sr CenterBlaine Community/Sr Center 9:30-11:30am Known as "The Elixir of Life", Kombucha origins remain shrouded in mystery. Some drink it for health, some for flavor. If you have never tried it, come for a sample! We invite you to get in touch with your inner "Ghengis" by learning about this interesting elixir at this fun, informative presentation. We will be sampling different flavors, demonstrating how to make your own AND sending you home with your own culture (SCOBY) to start brewing

-- - - - Right Click underscored text to download the Scheduled List of Classes Jan-May 2026 - - - - -

Great Plant Picks website from the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden all specifically chosen to thrive in our Pacific Northwest environment. A great source of general information, plant lists, identification and resources.

Managing Noxious Weeds - website location for Fact sheet from Whatcom County. Latest NEWS - Washington state has made it illegal to sell ivy in retail locations!!

Explore Plant Shopping Opportunities you may not have heard about . . .

Pacific Growers - 9131 Markworth Rd, Blaine, WA 98230 website

Cascade Cuts, 632 Montgomery Rd, Bellingham (360) 671-6310 website

Northwoods Nursery, 9191 Northwood Rd, Lynden, WA 360 559-1536 website

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FREE Arborist Chips (truckload sized delivery, 10 yards -maybe find a neighborhood "central spot" and get a shared delivery) - link

Native Plant Descriptions (pdf) - nicely done from King County

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REMEMBER - LOCAL publications are a great source of up-to-date information on classes all over our NW region as well as businesses that support our passion! Pick up a copy today or check their websites -

Cascadia Daily Northern Light

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Spring PLANT SALES !! (click on links provided to get dates from 2025 )

March 8 - Salish Seed Swap - Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

March - Whatcom Conservation Dist. Plant Sale - Pioneer Park, Ferndale

March (Last Saturday) - Annual Fairhaven Plant & Tree Sale - Old Fairhaven Pkwy & 14th

April (first Saturday) - Whatcom Dahlia Society Tuber Sale - Bloedel Donovan Park

April - Birchwood Garden Club Sale, lower level of Bellingham Library

May - Washington Native Plant Society-Salal Chapter’s Annual Plant Sale

Mt. Vernon, WSU, NW Research Station, 16650 State Highway 536

May - Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale at Hovander Park (always Saturday before Mother's Day)

May - DUPI Garden Club Plant Sale in Ferndale,

SEEDS, SEEDS and More SEEDS - Check out Resilient Seeds - locally researched and produced - definitely suited for our climate. This may be your last year to order seeds! so shop for your faves and order some TODAY. Limited quantities available.

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If you would like us to come and speak at a community activity or event to help inform your participants about the CORE project, please contact us.

We have had several community meetings to introduce the CORE project. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer to help with our mission and goals, please do not hesitate to contact us - fruit@blaine-core.com or call 360-332-7435 (please, leave message)

Blaine Community/Sr Center