The 15th Annual Imagine This! Home & Landscape Tour will return, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., throughout Whatcom County. The cost is $10 for adults: Advance tickets available at Village Books, the RE Store, and the Community Food Co-op or at any stop on the day of the tour cash or check only. Kids 15 and under are free. $45 VIP Bus Tour: Must be purchased online by June 19.
The tour will have eight stops, showcasing the best in natural, eco-friendly homes and landscapes. For $10, participants can take a self-guided tour – visiting local homes utilizing the latest innovations in green design, reclaimed materials, near zero energy, rainwater harvesting, passive solar construction, rain gardens, food forests, low maintenance landscapes, and more. The VIP Bus Tour is also back! Ticket holders can make the most out of the tour with in-depth green building education and guided stops, hassle-free transportation, drinks, and a delicious local lunch. There is a limited quantity of VIP tickets so get them soon. All VIP tickets must be purchased by June 19.
“Tour attendees can expect to see innovative remodels and urban landscapes that incorporate unique ideas full of flavor and attitude,” says tour organizer and Sustainable Connections events coordinator Abbie Lindeberg. “Each site has a story onto itself and is packed full useful tips, takeaways and onsite experts to help jump start your next green project.”
Some of this year’s stops includes a historic retrofit that went Toward Net Zero while also keeping its 1918 charm, a beautifully modern and high performing home with exterior cork insulation, and a cross between a Craftsman and New York style loft: replete with a green roof, 4kW of solar, and reclaimed and re-purposed materials; this stop will also be hosting an art show from local blue-collar tradeswomen and men during the tour.
Interested participants can peruse details about the tour and festival inside a free printed guide, available June 1 at many local businesses or online at WhatcomHomeandLandscapeTour.org. The website also contains mobile friendly Google Maps, photos, downloadable tour guides, site descriptions, and a directory of local businesses related to home and landscape goods and services.