Events
Board Meeting May 27, 2026Wed, May 272021 E College Way
Composting and Garden tourSat, May 30Discovery Gardens
Stormwater Systems Maintenance workshopThu, Jun 04Skagit Port Commissioners Hearing Room
41st Annual Woods Tour
Reserve a spot at the Woods Tour
Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m
See forestry in action and engage with forestry professionals in the woods of Snohomish County
Project Highlight
Dairy Lagoon Cover
Before
After
A local dairy in Skagit County recently implemented the first lagoon cover in Western Washington. Through funding assistance from the Washington Conservation Commission and the Sustainable Farms and Fields Alternative Manure Management program we were able to help them install an approximately 32,000 square foot lagoon cover which prevents the escape of methane from the lagoon into the atmosphere where it would trap up to 80% more heat in our atmosphere than CO2.
The farm was able to pipe this trapped methane directly into a rigid walled digestor where it can be converted from gas to electricity. The farm estimates an increase in energy production by 1,000,000 KWH annually. This power is sold to PSE to help supply green energy on the Western Washington power grid.
The final benefit of this practice is that it allows flexibility in digestor run time so the farm now has access to a flexible storage space during engine work. This means they will have to flare less often during periods of maintenance, further reducing CO2 and methane emissions.
Contact SCD to discuss solutions to your farm problems. Use the "Assistance Request" button or call 360-428-4313
Our Farm Planners offer free, confidential site visits!
Project
Highlight
Annual Native Plant Sale
Our 2026 Plant Sale is closed
How it works:
Every year, the Conservation District purchases a large order of conservation grade plants from the Plant Materials Center (PMC) to sell at our annual plant sale. Conservation grade is based on survivability, not on looks. They come as bareroot stock, small container stock, or plugs. The decision of what to supply, and how much, is based both on sales from the previous year and what is available to us depending on the cultivating success of certain species that year. Sometimes these plants are species that are grown on-site, and some are brokered stock, which means that they are contracted out and grown elsewhere. The plants are kept in the cold storage at the PMC until pick-up day.
Purpose of the Plant Sale:
The purpose of the plant sale is to promote natural resource conservation by providing quality, conservation-grade native plants at wholesale prices. These plants are beautiful, hardy, and serve a purpose in conservation projects such as erosion control, riparian restoration, reforestation, backyard habitat enhancement, wetland restoration and wildfire mitigation. Proceeds from the plant sale help fund youth education efforts.
This sale is self-supporting. Our staff and volunteers work very hard to make the sale run as smoothly and seamlessly as possible for our customers. Each year holds new challenges, and we do our best to adjust and accommodate for them. The Conservation District welcomes suggestions on how we can improve the process on sale days- don't hesitate to reach out! Thanks for your support!
FAQs
How do I order plants?
Online Order. Please sign up for our mailing list to be alerted when we open up the online sale. Quantities are limited and many species will sell out, so make sure to order early if there are specific plants you're hoping to get!
What is the minimum order?
Plants come in bundles and for bundling purposes, the minimum plant order is $50 before taxes.
Where do I pick up my plants?
All orders must be picked up on the designated pickup date at the Plant Materials Center.
*Any plant orders not picked up will be donated to local restoration projects.*
WACD Plant Materials Center
16564 Bradley Rd
Bow, WA 98232
Bareroot Plant Storage
Prior to packing, the plants are held in cold storage at about 34°F. Once the plants have been repacked, they begin to break dormancy and should be planted within about 3 days.
Package and handling
Packaged plants should be kept out of the sun, in a cool place. Plants should not be kept packaged for extended periods of time and should be planted or potted up as soon as possible.
How big are the plants?
Your plants will be bare root. This means they will not be coming in a pot, but rather a compact bundle that will be packed in a convenient bag for travel. You shouldn't need a trailer or even a truck to pick up your order! The bundles are more compact than most people expect, since they are bare root.
Returns and Changes
All sales are final. We do not accept product returns or changes. If you have placed an order and would like more plants, please place another order. If we cannot fill part of your order due to a shortage from the nursery, a plant substitution or refund will be offered.
Plant Mortality
We do not offer any guarantee regarding the survival of the plants. Generally, you can expect about 10-20% plant mortality, however this can vary depending on how plants are handled after pick-up, site conditions, and species. For best survival please visit our native plant page.
*Once the plants have been repacked, they begin to break dormancy and should be planted within about 3 days. Plants not picked up on the day of sale will be donated to local agencies and non-profit organizations for the benefit of the public. No refunds will be issued for plant orders not picked up.*