Calling all plant lovers!
The Nehalem Bay Garden Club will be 76 years young next spring! A very active group of 30 plus members is keeping this vibrant group going and the Club is always open to new members. Starting in January, we are changing our meeting time to the 4th Saturday at 10am to hopefully make the meetings available to more folks. So, if gardening is in your blood, or an interest that you would like to explore, please consider checking them out. No gardening experience is required, only an interest in learning, playing in dirt and hanging out with some pretty cool people!
The next meeting will be January 24th at 10:00am at the White Clover Grange, 36585 Highway 53 in Nehalem. The speaker is Katja Biesanz, who will share plant Latin with us.
The current mission of Nehalem Bay Garden Club is “To cultivate knowledge and love of gardening through educational programs and activities; to aid in the protection of the environment, native plants and wildlife; and to support public service through garden related organizations and volunteer opportunities.” The Club Objective from the 1978/79 yearbook was “To stimulate the knowledge and love for gardening, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants and birds.” So the legacy continues.
Nehalem Bay Garden Club’s big project is an annual plant sale Mother’s Day weekend. The 2026 sale will be Saturday, May 9th at the same location as the past few years at the junction of N Fork Road and Highway 53 in Nehalem. Please save the date! Going back to old roots, the 2026 sale will only be on Saturday.
The months leading up to the sale, starting in late January are busy ones, mainly starting seeds and potting up plants. Since many hands make light work, anyone interested in helping is very welcome. The Club meets nearly every week getting hands dirty and laughing a lot as the work is done. Please email barbaraandchuck@nehalemtel.net if you would like to know more about these work/play parties or about the Garden Club.
Proceeds from the annual plant sale are given to local organizations that meet the mission of the Club. We have been donating to the community for over 20 years. Since 2020 alone the Club has awarded grants totaling nearly $18,000. Grant recipients include Alder Creek Farm, Food Roots, Hoffman Garden, Tillamook Early Learning Center, Wheeler Waterfront Park and Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy. During the pandemic we wanted to help with food security and included Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church for their Senior Lunches and Food Pantry and North County Food Bank.
The 1978/79 yearbook also had a Conservation Pledge.
“I give my
Pledge as an American to save
And Faithfully to defend from Waste the natural resources of
My Country – its Forests, Waters
And Wildlife.”
Words to live by today.