Orcas Island Garden Club

06/11/2026

The next garden on the tour is a farm operated by the entire family, West Beach Farm (https://www.westbeachfarm.com/).

This working farm is based on a commitment to stewardship of the land and the use of regenerative practices to produce nutrient dense food grown in healthy soil. As you wander the garden, look for rows of organic lettuce, vegetables and fruit. Enjoy seeing the edible and decorative flowers. Check out the greenhouses and the historic old barn. Meet the cows, baby lambs, the ducks and a bossy Canada goose. Don’t miss the “how to grow lettuce” demo on Sunday.

Can't wait to see you on the Orcas Island Garden Tour! Pick up your tickets using the QR code.

06/06/2026

Garden Tour stop #2 is the 4th Seed Farm (https://www.4thseedfarm.com/) located on the historic Nordstrom farm.

Roger and Suzanne use diversified farming to restore soil and watershed health for fiber and tea production. Beds by ponds and fields grow diverse berries, dahlias, dye plants, and tea seedlings (Camellia sinensis). Learn about their conservation Clun Forest sheep, explore the heritage barn and original log homestead, see botanical dyeing and wool processing, take home wool pellets, and discover how tea seedlings are cultivated for future green, oolong, and black teas.

Use the QR code to buy your tickets for this years' Orcas Island Garden Club tour.

06/01/2026

It's Garden Tour Season! And our first stop is the historic Warm Valley Farm (https://www.facebook.com/warmvalleyfarm/).

Wander the paths and explore the gardens.
Check out the wide variety of vegetables, cut flowers, botanicals, fruits and nuts grown there.
View the historic barn and learn about the farm’s early days as bulb growers, and orchardists.
Explore the “scent garden” and discover how botanicals are transformed into exquisite perfumes.
Learn more about how gardeners can incorporate land stewardship into their own gardening practices.
Browse the farm stand, Barn Swallow Vintage, and the Summerhouse Perfumery.

There's something for everyone!

05/21/2026

The May Newsletter is posted!

This is our last newsletter until Fall but is chocked full of great news about the Garden Tour, the picnic, sticker contest, the latest book review and more!

Enjoy! https://conta.cc/3OHzhuA

05/20/2026

Interested in learning about Permaculture and how you can apply it in your garden? Well, today is the day!!!

Taja Wicks is joining the Orcas Island Garden Club to give a presentation on Permaculture at the Orcas Center. Come early at 9:30 for socializing and snacks! Talk begins just after 10:00am and will be live streamed. The Zoom link is on our website at https://www.orcasislandgardenclub.org/.

05/19/2026

Just in time for fire season!

This Memorial Day weekend, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue is excited to collaborate with the OIGC to help our community make their homes and land more wildfire resilient.

There will be a talk on the Home Ignition Zone, covering NFPA clearance recommendations for vegetation and other combustible materials and a discussion of practical, strategic steps you can take to better protect your property.

05/15/2026

If you missed OIGC's fall trip to Indralaya's gardens and are curious about the sign off Orcas Road, here’s your chance to find out! And if you did make our fall trip, maybe you’d like to tour Indralaya in the spring to be inspired anew.

Last year, the OIGC awarded Indralaya a $500 grant for their vegetable garden restoration project. We hope to meet with the new Director and learn a bit about the Camp. We’ll learn about the progress they’ve made in the garden including improved produce output in the beds and a new children’s area!!

Join us on May 26th at 2:00pm. We’ll wander the trails and explore the tranquil property.

Indralaya is a theosophical center committed to community and spiritual development. It’s a sanctuary of natural beauty composed of 78 acres of forest, meadows, and trails situated along 3/4 of a mile of shoreline.

To reach Indralaya, turn off Orcas Road onto Indralaya Rd, and follow the signs

05/14/2026

I thought I knew about composting, until I took this class.

It's more than worth the time and money, especially since you get given a composter for attending.

Get your ticket for one of two Home Composting classes happening this month on Friday, May 22 or Saturday, May 23.

Buy your ticket and learn more here: https://exchangeorcas.org/home-composting-classes-2/

Group tickets are available if you'd like to bring your whole family, but there is a one bin limit per family.