On the Road Tour - Plants & Community: Best Friends Forever

This month, we explore how local nurseries and farms strengthen our community through gardening. Our first stop includes a walking tour of the 78th Street Heritage Farm: a sprawling 79 acre property with nearly 150 years of history and a long legacy of farming and agricultural research. Today it serves the community through the Master Gardener program, gardening classes, and support for the Clark County Food Bank.

Next, we visit the Mabry Corrections Center Garden, which supports our community through its corrections work-crew program—offering opportunities for individuals rebuilding their lives—and by donating all production to the Salvation Army food bank to help address food insecurity in our community.

Then, just a three-minute drive away, we’ll make a short stop at Clark Public Utilities, where native plant and wildflower gardens reflect a commitment beyond meeting our energy needs.

Lunch is on your own at the Fiesta Bonita Mexican Grill & Cantina.

Our last stop is Cascade Greenhouse, a family-owned business in operation for over 40 years. Enjoy the variety of plants and serene setting as you learn how they support the broader community—and the close-knit community within their own family business. A shopping opportunity will follow. Thursday, June 25. Meet at 8:30am at the 78th Street Heritage Farm (1919 NE 78th Street, Vancouver, WA 98665). Van arrival back to Heritage Farm about 4pm. Wear sturdy shoes. Dress for the weather. Cost: $35 (plus tax, fees). For more information: (564) 397-5738 or Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu. Learn more at http://extension.wsu.edu/clark/gardening/workshops-events/.