Short Courses

Native Trees of Washington Tree Walk

• Price: FREE

• Date: Sunday, December 7th

• Time: 1pm-3pm

• Location: This Tree Walk will depart from the front entrance of the Burke Museum in Seattle, WA.

• Instructor: Theodore Hoss

The Evergreen State is known for staying green throughout the cold gray months, so what better way to kick off winter by learning about some of our beautiful native trees that are keeping things vibrant this chilly season. This free two hour walk will introduce participants to some of our most iconic conifers, as well as a few of the deciduous broadleaf varieties. Led by Theodore Hoss, an expert in the stories of native forests, we will be talking about the ecology of these species, how they interact with the world around them, and how they connect to us as human beings. Please dress for the weather as this tour takes place outdoors, and be sure to arrive on schedule as the tree walk group will depart from the starting location within about 10 minutes of the posted start time.

Native Trees of Washington Tree Walk

• Price: FREE

• Date: Sunday, December 7th

• Time: 1pm-3pm

• Location: This Tree Walk will depart from the front entrance of the Burke Museum in Seattle, WA.

• Instructor: Theodore Hoss

The Evergreen State is known for staying green throughout the cold gray months, so what better way to kick off winter by learning about some of our beautiful native trees that are keeping things vibrant this chilly season. This free two hour walk will introduce participants to some of our most iconic conifers, as well as a few of the deciduous broadleaf varieties. Led by Theodore Hoss, an expert in the stories of native forests, we will be talking about the ecology of these species, how they interact with the world around them, and how they connect to us as human beings. Please dress for the weather as this tour takes place outdoors, and be sure to arrive on schedule as the tree walk group will depart from the starting location within about 10 minutes of the posted start time.

Evergreen Trees of Washington Tree Walk

• Price: FREE

• Date: Sunday, January 11th

• Time: 1pm-3pm

• Location: This Tree Walk will depart from the front entrance of Denny Hall at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

• Instructor: Theodore Hoss

By January, winter is well and truly here, but that doesn't mean we can't go looking at trees! Come join us for a chance to learn about the many trees on campus who persist in staying green even in spite of the gloomy gray, and take a chance to spend some time in the outdoors. We can't promise it will be sunny, but we can promise you'll learn lots about our most hardy campus trees. Please dress for the weather as this tour takes place outdoors, and be sure to arrive on schedule as the tree walk group will depart from the starting location within about 10 minutes of the posted start time.

Conifer Trees Walk

• Price: FREE

• Date: Sunday, February 8th

• Time: 1pm-3pm

• Location: This Tree Walk will depart from the front entrance of the Husky Union Building on the University of Washington Seattle Campus.

• Instructor: Theodore Hoss

Coniferous trees define the forests of western Washington, but have you ever noticed that most other forests of the world are completely lacking these cone bearing trees? Come find out why that is, and learn all about the 8 families of coniferous trees that grow on planet earth. We will cover a variety of conifers from all over the globe and learn to identify the different families based on their shared traits and preferred habitats. Please dress for the weather as this tour takes place outdoors, and be sure to arrive on schedule as the tree walk group will depart from the starting location within about 10 minutes of the posted start time.

Medicinal Trees Walk

• Price: FREE

• Date: Thursday, February 19th

• Time: 12pm-1pm

• Location: This Tree Walk will depart from the front entrance of the Bus Shelter just West of Anderson hall at the University of Washington Seattle Campus.

• Instructor: Theodore Hoss

Many potent medicines around the world trace their origins back to trees. This includes both traditional medicines and those now distributed by the pharmaceutical industry! From cures for cancer to relief from hemorrhoids, join us for this lunch break tour to learn about the many benefits that trees on campus can offer us as humans.

Introduction to Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs

• Price: $60

• Date: Saturday, June 27th, 2026

• Time: 10 am - ~2-3pm

• Location: Bellingham, WA

• Instructor: Jeanette Wickell

Would you like to grow medicinal plants in your garden, but aren’t sure where to start? In this one day class, you will learn how to grow and use many safe herbs that are used for common ailments. We’ll talk about how to source, plant, grow, harvest, process, and use herbs that are not only useful as medicine, but are also beneficial for your local ecosystem.

This hands-on course will include a garden tour, discussion on many different herbs, hands-on harvesting and processing activities, and many informational resources so you can continue your herb journey. You’ll go home with some finished herbal remedies ready for you to use.

Please see class details for what materials you’ll need to bring. All herbs and menstruums will be provided. Class is limited to 10 participants. 

Please note: Instructor Jeanette Wickell is not a medical professional, and nothing in this class should be construed as medical advice.

Introduction to Perennial Vegetables

• Price: $50 for one class, $90 for both

• Dates: Sign up for one, or both classes!

  • SPRING CLASS: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 (Leafy Vegetables)

  • FALL CLASS: Saturday, November 7th, 2026 (Root Vegetables)

• Time: 10 am - ~2-3pm for each class

• Location: Bellingham, WA

• Instructor: Jeanette Wickell

In this two part class, we will dive into the wonderful world of perennial vegetables! There are many interesting perennial edible plants beyond rhubarb and artichoke. For the April class, we will focus on leafy perennial vegetables, and in November, we will focus on root vegetables. Sign up for one, or both classes! Each class will include a garden tour focusing on these unique plants. You will learn how to grow and prepare these plants, and what benefits they offer to you and your garden. We will have hands-on activities that include sampling the veggies and propagating. You will leave with ample resources to enable you to incorporate these fascinating plants into your garden and your diet.

Some of the perennial vegetables you’ll learn about: skirret, Good King Henry, black salsify, lovage, Caucasian Mountain spinach, Turkish rocket, cardoon, hops, crosnes, and many more!