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Resource Library

Select a subject area below for helpful resources including websites, publications, and videos. Resources are nested into our most common inquiry topics. 

Tip: use your browser’s “find” or “search” function to search for a keyword of interest after opening a subject tab (usually Ctrl+F).


​Getting Started
  • How to Be A Conservation Partner
  • Nearshore Living 
  • Tips for Puget Sound Rural Living
  • ​​10 Ways Conservation Districts Can Help You
  • Island County Field Manual for Small Construction Sites
Farm & Agriculture
Working with the Conservation District & USDA​​
  • Conservation Planning
  • USDA's NRCS Five Steps to Assistance​​
  • ​Farmers.gov - USDA
  • Conservation At a Glance​
  • Farmer's Guide to Farm Bill Programs
  • Get Started Guide - Historically Underserved Farmers & Ranchers
​Cover Cropping & Crop Rotation
  • Cover Up with a Winter Cover Crop
  • Cover Crop in Organic Systems (NRCS)
  • 5-Tips for Deciding on Cover Crops
  • Cover Cropping Resource Page (CSNAR)
  • Pacific Northwest Cover Crop Selection Tool (NRCS)
  • Cover Crop Seed Vendors for Western States (NRCS)
  • Cover Crop Calculator (OSU)
  • Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects (SARE)
  • Cover Cropping Compilation from WSU & OSU
  • Crop Rotation on Organic Farms
  • Managing Cover Crops Profitably​​
Wildlife, Insect & Pollinators
  • WSU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
  • Farming with Pollinators
  • Farming with Soil Life
  • Pollinator Habitat Assessment Guide for Organic Farms
  • Pollinator Plants of the Maritime Northwest
  • Managing Insects on Your Farm
  • Insect Management Handbook
  • Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings​
  • Role of Birds on Farms: video course​
​Renewable Energy 
  • USDA Rural Energy for America Program
  • ​Puget Sound Renewable Energy Resources​
  • ​Puget Sound Energy Small Business Resources
Irrigation & Catchment​
  • Maintaining Drip Irrigation Systems​
  • Managing Irrigation Water
  • Basics of Vegetable Crop Irrigation
  • OSU Managing Irrigation Water for Crop Production
  • Agricultural Water Background
  • NRCS Irrigation Guide 
  • Determining Your Irrigation Schedule
  • ​AgWeatherNet Irrigation Scheduler Mobile
  • ​Troy Peters contact - WSU Extension Irrigation Specialist
  • Irrigation Fundamentals - WSU Extension, Troy Peters Slides
  • ​Cisterns for Rainwater Catchment
  • ​Rainwater Collection Rules & Calculators - WA Dept. of Ecology​
Farmer Support & Wellness​
  • WSU AgrAbility & Farm Stress
  • Farm Aid
  • Western Regional Ag Stress Assistance Program​
  • High Heels in Canola Fields
  • Farm Bureau
  • Cornell - Be Well Farming
  • Young Farmers - Cultivemos
  • Whatcom Farm Expo: Mental Health in Farming Recording​
  • PNW Agricultural Safety and Health Center​
​Food Safety Modernization Act
  • WSDA FSMA Resource page
  • FDA Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water ruling​
  • Pre-harvest Agricultural Water Fact Sheet​
​Funding 
​
See the "Beginning Farmers" tab below for grants or our Cost Share page for state and federal financial assistance programs.
Local Farm Support Organizations ​
  • Whidbey Island Growers Association - Join our newsletter
  • WSU Extension Island County Food Systems
  • Whidbey Farmers Google Forum local message board
  • Agriculture Resources Committee Island County
  • Island County Farm Bureau
  • Whidbey Island Grown
  • South Whidbey Tilth 
  • Tilth Alliance
    • ​Sustainable Ag Farmer Forum 
    • Tilth Recursos del Idioma Espanol
National Farm Support Organizations 
  • American Farmland Trust - Farmland Info Center 
  • ATTRA - National Center for Appropriate Technology
  • Equity Trust
  • Land for Good
  • National Young Farmers Coalition
  • Young Agrarians
Technical Resources​
  • WSDA Current Opportunities for Farmers
  • NABC Agriculture Resources
  • Whatcom Farm Expo 2023 Recordings
  • Country Living Expo
  • WSDA Handbook for Small and Direct Market Farms​
  • Food Systems Partnership Webinar Recordings
  • WSU Organic Farming Systems and Nutrient Management
  • ​WSU Analytical Labratories List
  • ​WSU AgWeatherNet
  • Island County Zoning (Land Use) Code Chapter 17.03 
    • Definitions, Land Use Standards, Critical Areas
  • Tax Incentives for Ag Land​​
  • WorkSource WA Farmworker Assistance​
Water Quality
  • Water Quality Self Assessment Guide for Small Acreages
  • Evaluating Water Quality - UC ANR
  • Analytical Laboratories Directory for Water Quality Testing​
  • EPA Clean Water Guidance for Agriculture
Veteran Farmers
  • Veterans Business Outreach Center
  • Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund
  • Armed to Farm Training
  • AFT - Veteran Women for the Land
  • Growing Veterans
  • USDA Veteran Initiatives
  • WA Veteran Conservation Corps
  • Whidbey Veterans Resource Center
  • GRuB Veteran's Program
  • Homegrown by Heroes
  • Agrability Veteran's and Beginning Farmers
​Succession & Transfer Strategies 
  • Estate Planning & Succession Resources 
  • Farmland Succession Guidebook 
  • Strategies for Conservation Easements in Tax & Estate Planning
  • Successful Farm Transfer Guide for Farmers Without a Designated Successor 
  • The Farmland Transfer Process 
  • Where Do I Start? Transferring the Farm Guide 
  • ​Planning the Future of Your Farm: A Workbook Supporting Specialty Crop Farm Transfer Decisions 
Farmland Conservation
  • Agricultural Conservation Easements
  • Straight Shooters Guide to Easements
  • From the Field Video Series​
  • Model Conservation Easement with Option to Purchase 
  • Farms for Farmers ​
  • Conservation and Affordability of Working Lands: Nine Case Studies 
  • Beyond Easements: Broader Approaches for Greater Conservation
  • Whidbey Camano Land Trust
  • Washington Farmland Trust ​
beginning Farmers
Starting a Farm
  • Greenhorns Guide to Getting into Farming
  • Toolbox for Farm Seekers
  • Cultivating the Next Generation: Resources & Policies to Help Beginning Farmers Succeed in Agriculture 
  • ​Finding, Assessing, and Securing Farmland: A Plain Language Guide
  • ​​USDA's New Farmer Getting Started Resource Page​
Finding Land
  • Finding Farmland Course - National Young Farmers Coalition
  • Access to Farmland Webinar - WA Farmland Trust & WSU Extension
  • Farm to Farmer 
  • ​​​​Acquiring Land to Farm Guide 
  • ​How to Present Yourself to a Landowner
  • Acquiring Your Farm 
  • Farmland Access Legal Toolkit
Leasing Land
  • ​Elements of a Good Farm Lease 
  • Farmland Leasing: Success for Landlords & Tenants Fact Sheet 
  • Due Diligence: Evaluating Land for Lease
  • ​Farmland Tenure and Leasing Legal Guide 
  • Lease to Own Factsheet 
  • Agricultural Cash Lease Basic Template 
  • ​The Landowners Guide to Sustainable Farm Leases  
  • ​Model Agriculture Ground Lease Agreement 
  • Model Ground Lease Commentary 
  • Sample Short-term Lease Agreement 
Legal Resources
  • NY State Agricultural Mediation Program Lease Discussion Guide
  • WA Agricultural Mediation Program
  • Farm Commons
Funding Resources
  • WSU Grant Resources Page
  • WA State Organic and Sustainable Farming Fund
  • AFT Brighter Futures Fund
  • National Young Farmers 
  • AgWest Farm Credit New Producer Grants
  • Food Animal Concerns Trust 
  • Center for Rural Affairs ​Farmer Funding & Financing 
  • Farm Credit Rural Resilience Program
  • Beg. Farmer Financing Strategies
  • ​Direct Farm Ownership & Operating Loans
  • ​Credit & Capital for New Farmers
  • ​Crowd Sourcing for New Farmers
  • ​Beginning Farmer Loan Programs - USDA
  • Guide to Farm Service Agency Farm Loans -USDA
  • Land Contract Guarantee Program -USDA
  • CDFA Access to Capital Toolkit
  • Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
  • Natoora Farm Fund
  • BIPOC Farmer Micro Grants
  • USDA Regional Food Business Center Grants
  • Zero Foodprint Restore Grants​​​
Training Programs​
  • Organic Farm School
  • Viva Farms
  • Growing Veterans
  • Washington State University Cultivating Success Program
  • OSU Small Farms Classes
  • Oregon State University Small Farm School
  • ATTRA's Farm Internships Directory
  • ATTRA Video Library
  • Cornell Online Farmer Courses
  • Field Network Map of Incubator and Training Programs
  • New Entry  Farmer Training
  • Holistic  Management Institute
Business & Farm Planning Tools
  • Economic Development Council of Island County
  • Washington State University Cultivating Success Program
  • Northwest Agriculture Business Center (Mt. Vernon) 
  • Food Business Resource Center - NW Business Impact
  • WSU Extension Enterprise Budgets
  • Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses
  • Business Planning Tools – King County
  • AgPlan Business Planning Template
  • Farm Business Plan Template from Agri-Business
  • Agricultural Business Planning Templates & Resources
  • ATTRA Holistic Management
  • Example Whole Farm Plan: Market Garden
  • ​Example Whole Farm Plan: Raw Milk Dairy
  • SCORE Business Mentorship Program
  • Know Your Cost to Grow program
Marketing Resources​
  • WSDA Handbook for Small and Direct Market Farms
  • WSDA Farm to School purchasing Program
  • ​USDA Wholesale Markets and Facility Design Assistance
  • Whidbey Farm Stand List
  • ​Bayview Farmers Market
  • South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market
  • North Central Whidbey Farmers Market​
  • Whidbey Island Grown
  • Whidbey Kitchen
  • Washington Food & Farm Finder
  • Slow Food Whidbey Island
  • ​Farm to Foodbank Toolkit from WWSFP
livestock & Pasture
Pasture Management
  • The ABCs of Pasture Grazing
  • ​​Managing Healthy Pastures Guide from Clallam CD
  • ​Pasture & Livestock Essentials
  • Pasture Calendar for Oregon & Washington
  • Managing Established Horse Pastures
  • Pasture & Hayland Renovation
  • ​Pasture Fertilizer Guide
  • The Low-Down on Lime
  • Art of the Range Podcast
  • Haymaking on the Westside​
  • ​Nutrient Management for Pastures - Western OR & WA
  • Common Forage Grass ID (for the NE US, but also applicable here)
  • Common WA & OR Grasses, Legumes & Forbs
  • Fall Pasture Management
  • Late Summer - Fall Pasture Tips
  • ​Pasture Weed Control
  • Fall Pasture Management Video
  • ​Matching Hay Quality with Animal Nutrient Requirements​​
Grazing Systems
  • ​​Grazing Stick Instructions & Video
  • Pasture for Profit - A Guide to Rotational Grazing
  • ​Estimating Initial Stocking Rates
  • Determining the Grazing Capacity of Your Pasture
  • ​OSU How to Measure Pasture Productivity and Capacity
  • ​Weights & Measures of Common Feed
  • Grazing Plan Workbook & Manual
  • Designing a Grazing System
  • Rotational Grazing
  • ​Benefits of Multi-Species Grazing
  • ​Ruminant Nutrition for Graziers
  • OSU Intro to Pasture and Grazing Management Online Course
  • Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest
Meat
  • WA Meat Up
  • Women's Good Meat Network​
  • WSDA One-on-One Marketing Support
  • WSDA Beginners Guide to Raising Animals for Meat
  • WSDA Local Meat & Poultry Assistance
  • ​Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Assistance
  • Beginners Guide to Local Meat Processing​
  • USDA Meat Processing Grants
  • ​USDA Wholesale Markets and Facility Design Assistance​
  • NABC Poultry Processing Equipment Rental​
Fencing​
  • Fence Planning for Horses
  • Fencing Considerations for Livestock Owners
  • Paddock Design, Fencing, & Water Systems for Controlled Grazing​
Mud & Manure Management (see also: Soil Building)
  • Mud & Manure Management Resources 
  • How to Create Mud Free Livestock Areas
  • Sacrifice Areas
  • Track Paddocks
  • Constructing a Heavy Use Area Guide
  • ​​​Example Heavy Use Area Design​​
  • ​​Managing Small Acreage Horse Farms
  • Bedding and Manure Management
  • What is an Animal Waste Management Plan?
  • ​​​Small Farm Composting Guide
  • ​Sampling Manure & Compost for Nutrient Analysis
  • Certified Manure Testing Labs Directory - Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture ​
  • Manure Application Risk Management​
  • Rural Property Prep Webinar Resources
​​​Livestock Management
  • Island County Animal Management Plan Questionnaire
  • ​Livestock Management & Water Quality
  • Sound Horse Keeping Video Series
  • WSU Extension Livestock Advisor Program
  • ​Healthy Horses, Clean Water - A Comprehensive Guide
  • ​Livestock Resources for Small Farms - OSU
  • Sheep & Goats Resources
  • Small Ruminant Sustainability Checklist
  • Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goats
  • ​Poultry & Rabbits Resources
  • Beef Cattle Resources
  • ​Dairy Resources
  • Pigs/​Swine Resources
  • Commercial Fishing, Crabbing & Clamming Resources
  • Living on the Land - Pasture & Livestock Essentials
  • Living on the Land - Winter Livestock Care
  • Roots of Resilience New Cowgirl/Rancher Camp​​
Livestock Health & Wellness
  • Protect Your Horses & Livestock from Toxic Plants
  • ​​OSU Livestock Resources for Small Farms ​
  • Integrated Parasite Management for Livestock
  • WSDA Livestock Disposal Manual
Soil & Erosion
Soil Testing 
  • ​Soil Testing & Soil Improvement Resource List
  • Webinar: Soils & Geology of Our Area
  • Soil Sampling Basics One-Pager
  • The How-To of Soil Sampling - WSU Extension Puyallup​
  • ​​Learning About Soil Texture Exercise
  • Soil Sample Collection Guide
  • Soil Test Interpretation Guide​
  • Understanding Your Soil Test Report
  • Soil Testing Labs Directory
  • Sampling Manure & Compost for Nutrient Analysis
  • Balancing Phosphorus on a Farm
  • ​NRCS Soil Fundamentals​
  • NRCS Soil Health
  • ​Soil Fertility Guide
Erosion Control
  • Native Plants for Soil Stabilization
  • ​Role of Vegetation in Slope Stability
  • ​Erosion Control Fabric
  • ​Trees & Shrubs for Erosion Control OSU
  • ​Controlling Erosion​​
Soil Building​
  • Soil Quality Indicator: Organic Matter
  • Soil Quality Indicator: Biodiversity
  • Certified Manure Testing Labs Directory - Minnesota 
  • ​​​​Small Farm Composting Guide
  • On-Farm Composting Toolkit - Composting Association of Vermont​
  • Soil Management for Small Farms ​
  • ​Manure Application Risk Management Tool for WA
  • Introduction to Web Soil Survey Resources
  • Soil Fertility in Organic Systems ​​​
  • Organic Soil Amendments - How much is enough? ​
  • ​Fertilizing with Manure​
ORCHARD & AGROFORESTRY
Orchard
  • WSU Orchard Establishment
  • Irrigation Scheduling for Orchards
  • Fruit Handbook for Western Washington
  • Fruit Tree Pruning - The Basics
  • Training & Pruning Your Home Orchard
  • Other Information for Backyard Orchardists
  • Soil Biota in Orchards​
  • Common Tree Fruit FAQs
  • Washington State University Extension Hortsense "Tree Fruits" Factsheets 
  • ​WSU Extension Fertilization Requirements for Home Orchards
  • Western Washington Tree Fruit & Alternative Fruits
  • Northwest Fruit (Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation)
  • ​Western Cascade Fruit Society
  • Washington State University Extension Gardening in Washington State "Fruits" Resource Library
  • ​Organic Pest & Disease Management in Home Fruit Trees and Berry Bushes
  • ​Pest Management Guide for Apples in Washington Home Orchards
Agroforestry & Silvopasture
  • Wet Feet Farming
  • Agroforestry Factsheet
  • Silvopasture Factsheet
  • Hobbyist Guide to Growing Shiitake Mushrooms​
  • Agroforestry: Enhancing Resiliency in U.S. Ag Landscapes 
  • Savanna Institute Agroforestry Resources
  • Trees Against the Wind - Establishment of Windbreaks
  • ​A Guide to Hedgerows
  • USDA Agroforestry Webinar Series
Wet & Riparian Agroforestry
  • Wet Feet Farming
  • Working Buffer Fact Sheet
  • Alley Cropping Management Template
  • Silvopasture Management Template
  • Forest Farming Management Template
Regional Fruit & Nut Nurseries
  • ​Rainshadow Nursery
  • Burnt Ridge Nursery
  • Cloud Mountain Farm Center
  • Biringer Nursery
Gardening & Outdoor Education
​Gardening
  • WSU Gardening in the Inland Northwest
  • WSU Home Vegetable Gardening in WA
  • OSU Growing Winter Vegetables
  • WSU Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening
  • WSU Propagating Plants from Seed
  • WSU Seed Starting 101
  • Garden Wise - Noninvasive Plants for your Garden
  • WSU Cover Crops for Home Gardens
  • WSU Drip Irrigation for Your Yard & Garden
  • WSU Pest Control in the Home Garden
  • ​Gardening for All Ages and Abilities
  • WSU How to Determine Your Garden Microclimate​
  • ​
  • Tilth Alliance Maritime Northwest Garden Guide
Soil Improvement & Home Composting
  • ​Improving Garden Soil​
  • ​Home Gardener's Guide to Soils & Fertilizers
  • ​Worm Bin Basics - WSU Extension
  • ​EZ Worm Bin Guide
  • ​DIY 3 Bin Compost System
  • WSU Backyard Composting
​School Gardening
  • Kids Gardening
  • How to Create and Maintain a School Garden Program
  • Slow Food USA School Garden Curriculum: Clean
  • Oregon Department of Education Farm to School and School Gardens Resources
  • National Farm to School Network
  • School Garden Support Organization Network
  • STEM Bites Curriculum by Grade
  • The Edible School Yard Project Resource Library
  • FoodCorps Lesson Plans
  • Teach Your Monster Adventurous Eating Usborne Free Educational Online Game
  • Tulalip Tribes Sovereignty Curriculum Google Doc
  • Life Lab Garden Literature Favorites Google Doc
  • 21 Multicultural Children’s Books: Growing Your Own Food
  • Pillars of Agricultural Literacy American Farm Bureau
Outdoor Education 
  • Pacific Education Institute Resource Library
  • Project Wild
  • Project Wet
  • K-12 Skagit Watershed Environmental STEAM Resources
WEEDS & INVASIVE SPECIES
  • ​​Noxious Weed Disposal
  • Island County Noxious Weed Control Board
  • Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board
  • Noxious Weed Field Guide
  • PNW Weed Management Handbook​​
  • Common Herbicides
  • ​Pasture Weed Control
  • ​Protect Your Horses & Livestock from Toxic Plants
  • OSU Integrated Pest Management Strategic Planning
  • Manage Weeds on Your Farm
  • ​SARE Steel in the Field: Farmers Guide to Weed Management​
  • ​Washington Association of Landscape Professionals Directory
FOREST STEWARDSHIP
​Consultant Directories
  • DNR Find your Forester
  • WSU Extension Forestry Consulting Directory
  • WSU Extension Forestry Small Scale Sawmill Directory
  • WSU Extension Forester & Silvicultural Contractors Directory
  • USDA ​Agriculture & Forestry Professionals Directory
  • PNW International Society of Arboriculture Arborist Directory​​​
  • ​Things to Consider When Choosing a Qualified Arborist
Forest Management 
  • ​​​WSU Extension Forestry Resources Library by Topic​
  • WSU Extension Coached Forestry Program​
  • Forest Stewardship Workbook​
  • Backyard Forestry in Western WA
  • Washington Forest Friendly Calendar
  • MyLandPlan.org - Create your own forest plan, all stored online!
  • ​Guidelines for Timber Management Plans
  • Designated Forest Land Program Requirements​
  • Thinning: An Important Timber Management Tool
  • WA Tree Farm Certification Program
  • American Forest Foundation
  • DNR Timber Sale Query/Log Prices​
  • DNR Forest Practices Application Review System
Forest Health
  • WSU's Current Forest Health Issues in Western Washington Webinar
  • WSU Extension Forestry Disease Library
  • Assessing Tree Health
  • Hazard Tree ID and Mitigation Guide
  • Washington DNR Forest Insect & Disease Resources
  • ​WA DNR Forest Health & Resiliency Division
  • ​WA DNR Forest Health Assistance for Small Landowners
  • Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook
  • ​WSU's Root Disease Webinar
  • ​​​Laminated Root Rot in Western North America 
  • ​Pacific NW International Society of Arboriculture Directory 
  • Webinar: Have You Checked Your Trees Lately?​​​
Wildlife
  • WDFW Living with Wildlife Resources
  • ​Westside Douglas Fir Forests & Wildlife
  • ​Diversifying Forest Structure to Promote Wildlife Biodiversity​
  • ​​​WDFW Wildlife Rehabilitators Page
Reforestation
  • ​Successful Reforestation: An Overview
  • ​​​The Care & Planting of Tree Seedlings on Your Woodland
  • Planting Forest Seedlings
  • ​Tree Seed Transfer Zones - What Are They & Why Should I Care?
  • ​​​​Seedlot Selection GIS Mapping Tool
Silviculture - Conifers
  • ​Silviculture for Washington Family Forests
  • Ron's Top 10 Musts for a Successful Timber Sale
  • ​​Thinning: An Important Timber Management Tool​
  • ​​​Guidelines for Precommercial Thinning of Douglas Fir
  • ​A Primer on Timber Harvest
  • Managing a Timber Sale
  • ​Tree Growth, Forest Management & Implications on Wood Quality
  • ​​​Beyond Old Growth: Older Forests in a Changing World
  • ​WA Dept. of Natural Resources Forest Practices Illustrated Guide​​
Silviculture - Hardwoods
  • ​Hardwood Management Resources
  • ​Hardwood Siviculture Cooperative
  • ​Red Alder - A State of Knowledge
  • Management Options for Declining Red Alder Forests
Biochar
  • Learn How to Make Char with San Juan Island's "Forage"​
  • USBI Biochar Learning Center
  • Biochar as a Climate Solution Video
  • Biochar Production for Forestry, Farms & Communities
  • Biochar Market Anaylsis for San Juan County & the PNW
  • US Biochar Initiative Resource Center
  • Burn: Using Fire to Cool the Earth
  • Biochar businesses: Oregon Biochar Solutions & Pacific Biochar
​​​Climate Adaptations
  • Intro to Climate Adaptation Resources white paper
  • Climate Adaptation Resources
  • Video Presentations from ​​Northwest Natural Resource Group's Climate Adaptation Strategies for Pacific Northwest Forests​
  • ​Drought Stress for Western Washington Trees
  • Reducing Fire Risk on Your Forest Property
Wildfire Resilience
See "Wildfire" below
NATIVE PLANTS & HABITAT ​
Learn about Native Species
  • ​Western Washington Native Plants
  • ​​Washington Native Plant Society
  • WNPS Plant Directory
  • ​Right Plant, Right Place
  • ​​​Island County Plant Lists
  • UW’s Burke Museum Herbarium
  • OSU Extension Native Plants by Plant Community
  • ​Sound Native Plants Fact Sheets
  • ​​Grow Native: Native Plant Database​​​
  • Understanding Native Plants by Height​
  • ​​Edible Native Plant Book List
  • Rules for Foraging on Public Lands (2016)
  • ​WICD's Native Plant Book List
Gardening with Natives
  • Native Plant Nurseries in WA
  • Native Seed Finder
  • Pacific NW Native Plants by Plant Community
  • ​​​WSU Extension Native Plant Landscaping
  • Northwest Native Plant Guide
  • King County Northwest Native Resources
  • ​Conservation Landscaping​
  • ​Landscaping in the Pacific Northwest
  • ​Gardening with Purpose
  • ​Bare Root Planting Guide​​
  • Cutting Propagation Methods PNW
  • ​Live Stakes
  • Salvage Tips from Sound Native Plants
Maintenance
  • Natural Yard Care
  • Living Responsibly in Your Community
  • Drip Irrigation for your Yard and Garden​
  • ​WSU Guide to Mulches
  • Alternative Pest Management for Lawn & Garden​
  • Understanding Microclimates in Your Yard
  • Garden Microclimate Site Evaluation​​
Drought Tolerant
  • Drought Tolerant Landscaping in WA
  • Water Wise Gardening​
​​Lawn Alternatives
  • ​Ground covers vs. Lawns
  • Turf Alternatives​​​​
​Pollinators​
  • ​Pollinator Plants: Maritime NW Region
  • Establishing Pollinator Meadows from Seed
  • ​Native Plants that Attract Bees​
  • Pollinator Conservation: PNW
  • ​Hedgerow Planting for Pollinators
  • Earthcorps Native Pollinator Habitat Restoration Guide
  • ​Container Gardening for Pollinators
Birds and Wildlife
  • Planting for Birds
  • ​Audubon - Why Native Plants Matter
  • ​Bird Friendly Winter Gardens
  • Whidbey Audubon Society
  • WDFW Living with Wildlife
  • WDFW Wildlife Rehabilitators Page
  • ​Landscape Planning for Wildlife
  • ​​Attracting Wildlife​
  • Deer-resistant plants list ​
  • USFS Partners for Fish and Wildlife​​
Wetlands & Riparian Areas
  • Native Plants for Wet Sites
  • Wetland Planting List
  • Homeowners Guide to Wetlands & Buffers
  • ​At Home with Wetlands
  • ​Wetland Stewardship
  • ​Planting & Caring for Trees & Shrubs in Home Wetlands
  • WA DOE Aquatic Plant Manual
  • ​Common Emergent Plant Species
  • More Emergent Plant Species
  • ​Ponds & Aquariums Plant List
  • ​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control
Hedgerows & Screens 
  • Pierce CD Hedgerow Resources & Templates
  • WSU Selecting for Screens
  • WSU Hedgerow Toolkit
  • ​Windbreaks & Snow fences
  • How About a Hedgerow?
  • Benefits of Hedgerows
  • How to Build a Hedgerow
  • Hedgerow Factsheet​
 ​WA Glacial Outwash Prairies
  • Prairie Landowner Guide for Western WA 
STORMWATER, Rain gardens, & DRAINAGE
  • ​Tulalip Tribes: Rainwater Management
  • Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater
  • WA Stormwater Center
  • Stormwater Best Management Practices
  • Improving Drainage for Small Acreage
  • WSU Rural Drainage Videos​
  • Rural Stormwater Solutions – Understanding Your Site Condition
  • Rural Stormwater Solutions - Managing Surface water
  • Rural Stormwater Solutions – Bioinfiltration Swales
  • Rural Stormwater Solutions – Drainage Ditch Resources
  • ​Solving Drainage & Erosion: Homeowners Guide
  • DOE: Surface Water and Ground Water 
  • ​Water Quality Swales
  • ​Water Saving Tips
  • DOE Stormwater Design Manual
  • Low Impact Development Operation and Maintenance​
Rain Garden Basics​
  • What are Rain Gardens?
  • Rain Garden Handbook of Western WA
  • ​WSU Rain Garden Basics
  • Rain Garden Construction Checklist
  • Rain Garden Maintenance
  • ​​Native Plants for Rain Gardens
Rain Water Collection
  • ​Rainwater Collection - WA DOE
  • ​Rainwater Use It or Lose It
  • ​Build Your Own Rain Barrel​
  • SnoCD Rain Barrel Resources
​​​​​​Permeable Pavement
  • What is Permeable Pavement?
  • Soak Up the Rain
WETLANDS, Ponds, LAKES & STREAMS
Getting Started with Wetlands
  • Island County Wetland ID Guide
  • ​Island County Planning Critical Areas Homepage
  • ​Island County Critical Areas Code - Municode
  • List of Qualified Environmental Consultants for Wetlands Work
  • WA Dept. of Ecology Homeowners Guide to Wetlands & Buffers
  • ​​WA Dept. of Ecology At Home with Wetlands​
  • WA Dept. of Ecology Exploring Wetland Stewardship
  • WA Dept. of Ecology Hiring a Wetland Professional
  • ​WA Department of Ecology Staff Directory
  • ​Society of Wetland Scientists Database
  • ​Island County & Ecology Wetland Workshop Q&A
  • ​Constructing Wetland Boardwalks & Trails​
​ ​Beaver Management
  • Beavers Northwest Q & A Sheet 2018
  • Living with Beavers: Successful Beaver Management Techniques
  • Your Neighborhood Beaver: Friend or Foe
  • ​Beavers Northwest Technical Assistance
Native Wetland Plants
  • Native Plants for Wet Sites
  • Wetland Planting List
  • ​Planting & Caring for Trees & Shrubs in Home Wetlands
  • ​WA DOE Aquatic Plant Manual
  • ​Common Emergent Plant Species
  • More Emergent Plant Species
  • ​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control​​
​​​​​Streams, Lakes & Ponds
  • WDFW Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines
  • WSU Extension Constructing Ponds and Water Features
  • WSU Streamside Planting​
  • WSU WA Native Plants for Aquatic Gardens​
  • WA State Code on Pond Construction
  • WA State Surface Reservoir Permit
  • Lakewise Shoreline Planting
  • ​​Ponds & Aquariums Plant List
  • Planning, Design, and Construction of Ponds in agriculture
  • WDFW Fish Screening Technical Assistance
BLUFF & SHORELINE ​
  • ​Island County Shore Friendly Program
  • Shore Friendly
  • ​Island County Planning Department
  • ​WSU Island County Shore Stewards Program​
  • Protect Your Property - Protect Our Sound​
  • Marine Shoreline Design Guidelines - WDFW
High Bank & Bluff Properties​​
  • DOE Puget Sound Feeder Bluffs
  • DOE Surface & Ground Water
  • DOE Vegetation Management
  • DOE Slope Stabilization & Erosion Control
  • 7 Ways to Set Your Shoreline Up for Success
  • Vegetation Management for Bluffs
  • ​Role of Vegetation in Slope Stability
  • ​Trees & Shrubs for Erosion Control OSU​​
  • Native Plants for Soil Stabilization
  • ​Steep Slopes Native Plants for Erosion Control
  • ​Sample Planting Plans
  • ​Erosion Control Fabric​
  • Prevegetation Coir Logs for Erosion Control
  • Using Geotextiles and other Erosion Control Fabrics​
Low Bank & Shoreline Properties​​
  • Sound Water Stewards 
  • NW Straits Shoreline Landowner Resources
  • ​​Shore Stewards Guide to Shoreline Living​
  • Your Marine Waterfront
  • ​WA DOE Aquatic Plant Manual
  • ​Soft Shoreline Stabilization
  • ​Salt-Spray Tolerant Landscaping​
  • ​LakeWise Shoreline Planting Guide
  • Native Plants for Marine Waterfronts
  • Marine Shoreline Plant Species
  • ​Marine Planting List​
  • Sample Planting Plans
  • ​​​Aquatic Vegetation Management & Control
  • King Tides Calendar
WATER UTILITIES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Local Groundwater & Hydrogeology
  • Island County Hydrogeology
  • Island County Hydrogeology Dashboard
  • Island County Interactive Well-Viewer Map
  • ​Island County Groundwater Spatial Analysis Tool
  • ​Island County Seawater Intrusion Risk Map
  • ​NAS Whidbey PFAS Investigation​
Drinking Water 
  • Island County Drinking Water Homepage
  • Island County Individual Wells & Water Testing
  • ​WA Dept. of Health Drinking Water Homepage
  • ​Whidbey Island Water Systems Association Resources
  • Coliform Bacteria & Nitrate Info for Private Wells
  • WaterOperator - Resource Library​​​
  • Island County PFA Monitoring & Info
  • ​PFA (polyfluoroalkyl) Fact Sheet
  • WA Dept. of Health’s Drinking Water Revolving Fund
Septic Systems
  • Island County Onsite Sewage Systems Homepage
  • ​Find Your Septic Records
  • Septic Sense, Scents, Cents
  • Caring for your Septic System​​
​Septic Drainfield Landscaping
  • Landscaping Septic Drain Fields: Do's and Don'ts for Planting
  • Properly Landscape a Drainfield
  • ​Shore Stewards Drainfield Landscape​​
​Water Availability & Rights​​
  • ​Island County Watershed Availability
  • ​Landowners Guide to Washington Water Rights
  • Washington Water Rights Map
  • Request for Info on Existing Water Right
  • Water Law 101: What is a water right?
  • FAQ: Water Rights Claim
  • WA Water Rights for Agricultural Producers
Wildfire
Wildfire Resilience​​
  • Firewise Construction & Landscaping Checklist
  • Reducing Fire Risk on Your Forest Property
  • 7 Ways to Reduce Wildfire Risk
  • Keeping Your Home & Property Safe from Wildfire
Firewise Landscaping​​
  • Firewise Plants for Puget Sound
  • Fire Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes
  • ​When Yard Work Works for You
  • ​Firewise Pruning
​Firewise USA program
  • Firewise Arrives on Whidbey Island
  • How to become a Firewise USA site​​
  • NFPA's Virtual Workshop Series on Wildfire
  • Firewise USA User portal​​
Livestock Owners
  • Farmers Campus
  • ​​Wildfire Preparedness for Horses 
  • Farm and Ranch Wildfire Guidance
  • Wildfire Livestock Evacuation Planning​​
​​Firewise Resources for Teachers & Educators
  • Fire Safety Resources & Forum for Teachers​​​​
Understanding Wildfire Risk
  • Understanding Wildfire Risk
  • Outdoor Burning Island County
  • Active Large Wildfires Map - InciWeb​
  • Burn Risk Map - DNR ​​
Emergency & Evacuation
  • What to do if a wildfire is approaching
  • Island County Emergency Alerts
  • Puget Sound Energy Public Safety Power Shut Off
  • Red Cross How to Prepare for Emergencies
  • Red Cross Go Bags
  • Wildfire smoke information
  • Emergency planning for People with Disabilities
  • Emergency Planning for Older Adults
  • Emergency Planning for Pets
  • Wildfire preparedness for household pets
  • WSU Agriculture & Forest Recovery Resources​
  • Insurance Clean up Resources
  • Smoke Ready Communities
​Videos​
  • King 5 News Visits Whidbey Firewise​
  • ​Fire Resilience with Cisco Morris
  • Developing a Successful Community Wildfire Preparedness Program
News & Publications
We're always working on ways to get the word out about conservation practices, resources, benefits, and services. ​​
  • The Whidbey Weekly's monthly Make a Difference column is a collaboration of our staff and partners on a wide variety of conservation topics
  • Check out our video series on YouTube
  • Our Historical Mapping Project digitized our library of historical aerial images from around the island
Our office is open to the public 
​
Tuesday & Thursday
​9 am - 4 pm
Office Location: 1 NE 4th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239

Office Phone:
360-678-4708
​
Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Coupeville, WA 98239

​Email: 
wicd[at]whidbeycd.org
Request Assistance
Newsletter
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Next Monthly Board Meeting:
​
​Thursday, July 24, 5:30 - 7:30 pm


This regular meeting will be held  remotely via Zoom; please contact us for the Zoom link. You can also view the meeting remotely from the WICD office. The public is always welcome! 
​

Board Meeting Schedule
​
Past Meeting Minutes & Agendas
Whidbey Island Conservation District complies with the Washington State Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.
To initiate a Public Records Request, contact our Public Records Officer, Michelle, or (360) 678-4708 x 1
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