Whidbey Island Conservation District Distributes Native Bare-Root Plants at Greenbank Farm

Rows of wrapped bundles and trays filled Historic Barn A at Greenbank Farm as the Whidbey Island Conservation District held pick-up and distribution for its long-running annual bare-root plant sale on Saturday, March 7, 2026, an event listed by the Port of Coupeville with hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The sale centered on bare-root, one- to two-year stock of western Washington native trees, shrubs and groundcovers, a sale model the district describes this way: “Every winter, the Conservation District purchases a large order of native, bare root plants from the Plant Materials Center to redistribute through out our community.” Whidbeycd materials emphasize the planting season timing: “Pre-ordering online typically begins Nov. 1 and ends in early January, with in person pick up in March.”

Whidbey Island Conservation District promoted the advantages of bare-root stock on its website: “Bare root plants have the advantage of being cost efficient because they are shipped without soil!” and “They also have stronger root systems and benefit from being transplanted in the winter.” The district frames the sale as conservation work, saying, “We promote natural resource conservation by providing quality, conservation-grade plants at wholesale prices to the public for use in conservation-related projects.”

That conservation framing is tied to specific on-the-ground uses listed by WICD, including erosion control, riparian restoration, reforestation, backyard habitat, wetland restoration and wildfire mitigation. Operational notes in related agency materials show the work behind distribution: volunteers pack orders ahead of time, with a Washington State Conservation Commission page noting, “Volunteers pack orders at Whidbey Island Conservation District's annual bare root Native Plant Sale in February,” a step that feeds the March pick-up day.

The March 7 distribution at Greenbank Farm sits alongside other Island County plant offerings this spring. The Island County Master Gardener Foundation will stage its separate plant sale in the big barn at Greenbank Farm on May 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with inventory described as tomato starts, veggie starts, sun and shade perennials, native plants, shrubs and trees, ornamental grasses and ground covers. Master Gardener activity on Camano Island is scheduled for May 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Camano Multi-Purpose Center.

Port of Coupeville’s event listing included venue contact details for Greenbank Farm, listing the phone number 360.222.3688. Whidbeycd’s website also promoted related community events earlier in the year, such as the Great Whidbey Seed Swap at Camp Casey on January 25, 2026, with organizers urging neighbors to “join us” for seed sharing and community mending activities.

The district described its 2026 ordering as a “large order” from the Plant Materials Center; a precise total of plants distributed at the March 7 pick-up was not provided in published materials and has not been confirmed by WICD. The sale model, timed to winter transplant benefits and supported by volunteer packing, is designed to put conservation-grade, wholesale-priced native plants into local projects across Island County as spring planting begins.