Sustainable Living Fest: RE Store offers DIY advice, activities

The 14th annual Imagine This! Home & Landscape Tour in Whatcom County is set for June 25, and includes eight stops showcasing natural, eco-friendly homes and landscapes. This self-guided tour allows visitors to see the grounds and learn more about innovations in design, reclaimed materials, net zero energy, rainwater harvesting, passive solar construction, rain gardens, and more. 

Sponsored by Sustainable Connections, the tour is $10 per person (youth under 15 are free to attend). In addition, the RE Store will be hosting this year’s Sustainable Living Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as a stop on the tour. Free to the public, this event will showcase businesses, products and services geared towards helping with DIY projects. Attendees can talk with experts about compost, energy improvements, water-reuse and efficiency, urban farming tools, native plants, green builders and more. The festival also includes kid’s activities, giveaways, games, prizes, a beer garden, live music, and food trucks.

For more information, see the website WhatcomHomeandLandscapeTour.org, or pick up a free printed guide as available from local businesses.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Village Books, the RE Store, and the Community Food Co-op or at any stop on the day of the tour.

“The innovation and creativity happening in this community is amazing,” said Rose Lathrop, Green Building and Smart Growth Manager for Sustainable Connections. “This tour highlights some of the most advanced building science available as well as inspiring landscapes and practical solutions for DIY’ers. The guided tour option will be a fun way to get an in-depth look a green building and landscapes.”