Coming Up
Permaculture in Practice
a Transition Fidalgo Gathering Presentation
by Lisa Miller
Eco-Restore Consulting & Design
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Tuesday, April 29, 2025
at the Anacortes Senior Center
Doors open at 6
Potluck at 6:30
Presentation at 7
What if your garden could do more—more food, more beauty, more resilience—with less effort? Discover how thoughtful design and natural systems work together to create abundant, regenerative landscapes that sustain both people and wildlife. Through real-world examples, we’ll walk through the foundational principles of permaculture, showing how small, intentional changes can transform the way we steward the land. From water conservation to soil health, this presentation will offer practical insights for cultivating a thriving ecosystem—no matter the size.
Annual Transition Fidalgo Picnic!
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
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Set aside the date for this family-friendly, fun-filled, faboulous feeding time for our bodies and souls.
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May 31st: Thrift To Thrive
@Anacortes Library!
Fast fashion has become a major problem in our world. While it makes fashion accessible, it single handedly contributes to environmental harm, labor exploitation, and overconsumption, creating sustainability and ethical concerns.
In a way to combat this major issue, join Transition Fidalgo for a Thrift to Thrive event at the Anacortes Public Library on May 31st from 11am-3pm! (Please note: the date of this event has changed from May 3rd to May 31st, so spread the word!).
Come shop for clothes donated by others or bring your own donation! Bring yourself and a friend and spend the day freely shopping without the guilt of harming the environment.
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Not only will there be thrifting, why not also give your clothes a new life? Skilled menders will be volunteering their time to help repair clothing during the event. Thrifting has become increasingly popular so if there is any trend to be a part of, be a part of this one. Be a part of the change.
Earth Day 2025!
Anacortes Middle School Plant Fair!
Support local students on Saturday May 17th!
The AMS Garden Project, sponsored by the Middle School + Transition Fidalgo, is excited to announce our first Plant Fair on May 17th from 10am - 1pm!
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The students have potted up over 750 plants that will be available to the public on a donation-requested basis. In addition, students will be giving Garden tours, sharing what they've learned and created through this project.
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Any extra pots would be helpful so we can pot up more herbs, flowers, and veggie starts - you can bring them to the garden entrance on 22nd St. and leave them inside the gate. ​
Or, if you have extra plants or seedlings, feel free to donate them to the Plant Fair!
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For questions, or if you'd like to help, contact Cindy Heath at cindy@transitionfidalgo.org, or text her on 512-988-0579.
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Thanks for your help in supporting local students and making our Plant Fair a success!
Anacortes Middle School Garden Volunteers Needed!
Love gardening and being outdoors?
We need your help!
We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic community members to join us in the AMS Garden project. Whether you're excited about working with students, spending time in the garden, sharing veggies with your community or all of the above, we'd love to hear from you!
If you, or someone you know, are curious to learn more, email Cindy Heath at cindy@transitionfidalgo.org or scan the QR code on the image.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Quarterly Meetings & Community Potlucks - Next Meeting: April 29th 2025
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We present topics of vital interest to our community to help build knowledge and resilience.​
Held each quarter, Transition Fidalgo meetings spark conversation, provide an opportunity to connect with community, and help bring changes and growth.​​​​
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Save the dates for our 2025 Quarterly Meetings:
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January 28th 2025
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April 29th 2025
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July 29th 2025 (Annual Picnic)
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October 28th 2025
ARCHIVES
Videos of our Transition to Clean Energy series, held January through May of 2023 are available here:
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"Transition to a Clean Energy Future” 5-part series
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#1: January 31, 2023
Betty Carteret, co-lead of the Skagit CCL Chapter, talks about why clean energy is so important to taking action on climate change. She discusses what we can do to reduce our dependence on oil and gas as we move to an all-electric future and how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) can help us get there. This is the first of a series of five monthly presentations designed to help us navigate the ins and outs of transitioning our electric supply, electrifying your home, car and community! Let's take advantage of a nation-wide movement and work together to achieve these goals!
#2: February 28, 2023
The Supply Side of a Clean Energy Future
Part 2 of a 5 part series on Transition to a Clean Energy Future. De-carbonizing our source of electrical power is a major challenge ahead of us in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The all-electric future will demand about three times the amount of electricity available today, transmitted by a smart grid system to make our clean energy future a reality. This talk will explore what will be needed to move from our current outdated electrical grid and power sources to a smart, distributed grid bringing us green power from an expected huge growth in solar and wind and possibly other non-carbon sources.
Presenters:
Connor Birkeland is a Resource Analyst with Puget Sound Energy’s Distributed Energy Resource Acquisition Team. He has worked on PSE’s Clean Energy Implementation Plan, solar, storage, and demand response resource acquisition, and developing benefit-cost frameworks. Prior to PSE, Connor worked for Seattle City Light, the Federal Department of Energy, Itek Energy (now Silfab), and various residential, commercial, and utility scale solar installation across the country. Connor has a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics and a Masters of Public Administration.
Karlee Deatherage is Senior Community Engagement Representative for Puget Sound Energy in Skagit and Snohomish County. She is focused on building relationships in the community to further the clean energy transition. She has worked for Congresswoman Suzan DelBene as Community Liaison in Skagit and Whatcom County and most recently at the Bellingham-based nonprofit, RE Sources. Karlee holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy.
#3: March 28, 2023
Electrifying Our Homes
Brian Stewart, co-founder of Electrify Now and retired Vice President of Sustainability for Nike is a highly sought after speaker on the topic of transitioning to clean energy and electrification. As a consultant he is currently working with corporations and universities around the country on innovations and sustainability. Their website (electrifynow.net) is a great resource of information on the topic of residential electrification.
In this presentation Brian Stewart talks about why electrifying our homes is an important action to help address climate change. He will explain why building emissions are a significant source of carbon pollution and present practical and feasible ways to electrify our residential buildings. You'll learn how electrification is already becoming a requirement for new construction in some states and how we need to plan when doing future upgrades or remodels of existing buildings to replace fossil fuel based heating and cooking systems with all-electric systems that that will save both money and energy. He also discusses how the Inflation Reduction Act can help families at all income levels pay for part of the costs for this transition.
#4: April 25, 2023
Transportation Electrification
The EPA tells us that 27% of US greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, and of that 57% is from light-duty vehicles – our cars and trucks. Electrifying transportation, especially our personal vehicles, can make a big impact in creating a cleaner, healthier future. Sales of electric vehicles are skyrocketing speeding our transition to decarbonized transportation. This presentation will look at what you might want to know about making the shift to an all-electric vehicle. We'll discuss the state of technology, current costs, charging your vehicle at home or on the road, how to plan a trip, and what the Inflation Reduction Act offers to help you make the transition.
#5: May 30, 2023
"Smoothing the Road for the Transition"
The EPA tells us that 27% of US greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, and of that 57% is from light-duty vehicles – our cars and trucks. Electrifying transportation, especially our personal vehicles, can make a big impact in creating a cleaner, healthier future. Sales of electric vehicles are skyrocketing speeding our transition to decarbonized transportation. This presentation will look at what you might want to know about making the shift to an all-electric vehicle. We'll discuss the state of technology, current costs, charging your vehicle at home or on the road, how to plan a trip, and what the Inflation Reduction Act offers to help you make the transition.
Our vision of a clean energy future is within reach and it’s our best hope of limiting climate change to preserve a livable world. Achieving it requires us to work together as individuals and communities with all levels of government to smooth the way to build clean electric supplies powering all-electric homes and transportation. Part of the challenge is updating our thinking, planning processes, and regulations to achieve this urgent transition on a rapid timeline. Our panel will discuss a variety of perspectives related to these issues including perspectives of local and state governments, as well as the challenges faced by entrepreneurs working to build a clean energy future.
Panel Members: WA State Rep. Alex Ramel (LD-40), Anacortes City Council Member Ryan Walters, Entrepreneur Kevin Maas (manure digesters & net-zero homes).
Panel Facilitator - Betty Carteret, Skagit Chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby
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Bonus Presentation: May 16, 2023
Build New Power Lines - Now
by Emily Moore