May 2 Field Trips Follow Sustainable Living Fair

Contributed by Jeff Hanson,
San Juan County Stewardship Network Coordinator

Stretch your sea legs put on hiking boots or water shoes and pick a field trip over land, sea or both on Sunday, May 2 for the countywide Sustainable Living Fair weekend.  There are five trips for the choosing.  All trips depart from Orcas Island and are coordinated by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans.  Please see full details at www.stewardshipsjc.org.

Yellow Island Wildflowers by Kayak
Explore Yellow Island’s carpet of spring wildflowers with Shearwater Kayak Adventures.  Paddle in stable two-person kayaks, departing from Deer Harbor Marina. Paddle through the Wasp Islands, stopping to enjoy a picnic lunch. (Pack your own.)  Explore the trails of Yellow Island, with its abundance of native wildflowers.  Lilies, shooting stars, camas, stonecrop, and even cactus are just a few of the species which bloom each spring on this Nature Conservancy preserve. No kayak experience is necessary, but minimum age is 12 and space is limited.  Reservations and fee required.

The Creatures of Indian Island
“What lives on and around Indian Island?” is a fascinating presentation about Indian Island and its environs by Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy of Kwiaht. Dubbed the Indian Island Marine Health Observatory, local WSU Beachwatchers, Orcas Island students and Kwiaht have been working together to protect the East Sound marine environment through research and education. Enjoy an afternoon with Russel and Madrona checking out the fascinating sea and island creatures just off our shores in East Sound.  Wear shoes for wading in shallow water.  Free.

Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead Tour
Winners of the 2009 “Finnie” for Farmland Stewardship, the Bullock Permaculture Homestead will hold a tour of their permaculture site. The Bullock brothers founded the homestead, near Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, in the early 1980s.  Pursuing the three ethics central to permaculture design — care for the earth, care for people and fair share for all — the brothers grow vegetables, flowers and livestock in a manner that is in harmony with their surrounding environment. The tour ends just in time for the Bullock’s weekly potluck. Bring a dish, stay for lunch! Free with advance registration.

Turtleback Mountain Hike
Join Kathleen Foley and Dean Dougherty from the San Juan Preservation Trust for a hike on Turtleback Mountain. Visible from throughout the islands, the mountain is especially well-known for providing dramatic views over the San Juan archipelago, the Canadian Gulf Islands, the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, and numerous waterways in between. The mountain has a wide variety of habitats and is home to an intriguing variety of plants and animals.  Free with advance registration no later than May 1.

Geology of Sucia Island, a boating and hiking tour
For the “Geology of Sucia,” a boating and hiking tour with Shearwater Kayak Adventures will involve hiking a total of approximately two miles over level ground.  Participants should wear clothing suitable for travel in an open boat and good hiking shoes with ankle support for walking over stony beaches. This short course will cover the tectonic evolution of the Pacific Northwest, focusing on the intriguing geology of Sucia Island.  Participants will convene at Enzo’s in Eastsound for a brief overview before heading out to board transport to the island.  A guided hike will go to several geologic outcrops on Sucia, including colorful Protection Formation before returning to the dock for a light lunch.  There will be time to explore some local geologic features and then take a short cruise around the south end of the island, before returning to Orcas Island.  Reservations and fee required.

The Sustainable Living Fair at the Village Green in Eastsound on May 1 is sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans and Sustainable Orcas Island.  For more information, please visit the Stewardship Network website at www.stewardshipsjc.org