I met a representative from the Whidbey Island Conservation District and found out that they have an annual plant sale focusing on native plants at inexpensive prices (frequently around $2/starter plant). Good to know for next year's sale when we may be distributing plantings in open areas to...
After 6 years of thinking about it, 3 years of actively pursuing it, and lots of unusual paths along the way, we finally own Whidbey Island land as of today! And it's land we love, with a great ecosystem, pretty location, and a size large enough to have some fun and privacy with. It seems amazing...
Here are photos showing northern sections of the property from the vantage point of an airplane. It is gratifying to see all of the trees on this property and also trees still standing on other properties that have been partially developed in the Long Point area. Hopefully more trees are coming...
I received the professional archaeologist's report, nicely formatted and professionally researched/produced. We had a few last minute procedural glitches to overcome, but in the end the report and procedures were high quality and will be useful for answering any future questions...
The forester pointed out the following native plant species on our property today: Douglas fir Grand fir Hemlock Pacific yew Madrone Alder Salal Rhododendron Oregon grape Sword fern Bracken fern Trailing blackberry Evergreen huckleberry Ocean spray Wild rose / Baldhip rose Salmonberry Honeysuckle
We had a very informative and entertaining walk through much of the property with a Whidbey Island consultant who specialized in land evaluation, forestry, slopes, and pre-building site inspections. We learned a lot. He had a policy of not providing a written report, which was...
I met with the archaeologist and his field technician today. They performed a visual reconnaissance of the entire property, and then began digging test holes at selected locations on a grid system. Their initial assessment early in the day was that there was little likelihood of an archaeological...
The title company had not yet sent me the preliminary title report attachments, so I requested that the information be sent to me via email. I was able to get into sleuthing mode detail, scouring the arcane language of surveys, easements, restrictive covenants, plats, and more. Some very...
We learned some interesting history about the area from our friendly easterly neighbors. It's likely that nothing has ever been built on our property except for perhaps part of a small dilapidated logging cabin from around the 1920s that was on the northwest corner of their property and partially...
A very friendly and forthcoming ex-planner from Island County government got back to me today by phone. We had a detailed discussion about the seller's prior application for land subdivision which was previously somewhat held up by an archaeological concern from the Swinomish tribe. I don't...