Community Food Co-op

We’ve teamed up with our neighbors — Gabriel’s Art Kids (GAK) — to get crafty at the Co-op as part of Downtown Bellingham's First Friday series.

First Friday is a monthly celebration where businesses like ours showcase local artists and galleries, live music, and other fun activities. Learn more about it at https://www.downtownbellingham.com/first-fridays
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Start off the evening by bringing your family to the Downtown Co-op, where we'll create seasonally inspired crafts like air-dry clay magnets featuring fruit and veggie designs.
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Family Art Night at the Co-op ⁠
Friday, June 5. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ⁠
Downtown Co-op Mezzanine ⁠
Free! ⁠
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All ages are welcome, and all supplies are included. Registration is not required, but is encouraged so we can plan accordingly:
https://www.gabrielsartkids.com/family-art-night-coop.html

“We had a fire on December 27, 2025. I rent the greenhouses and do not live on the property. It was around 8 p.m. when my landlord called me and said, ‘There has been a fire.’ Lots of damage to the greenhouses. They had baked a pie and were putting it outside to cool when they looked up and saw the flames high in the sky. That was a miracle because it would have been much worse — plastic burns fast and the greenhouses were covered in polyfilm.

“We lost one 30’ x 80’ greenhouse and the first 25 feet of a second large greenhouse. Those two main greenhouses were heated. It was an electrical fire. I thought it was the end of Dirty Knees. It seemed like a sign from the universe that it was time to move on and let go. We lost much of our equipment and supplies. I did not have insurance on that stuff. The landlords did have fire insurance on the structures.

“But my landlords said, ‘It will be rebuilt,’ and that Dirty Knees needs to continue growing. I am forever grateful to them. A dear friend of mine stepped up and said she wanted to make a GoFundMe campaign to help with the cost of rebuilding. It was not something I would have ever done. I am a private person and do not enjoy attention or being in the spotlight. It felt very vulnerable to have the story out there in the public. But I let all that go and opened up to whatever was going to happen.

“The campaign spread on social media, and we raised enough to cover just about everything Dirty Knees lost! A contractor was recommended — Northern Greenhouse Supply. They stepped up to fit us into their busy schedule. Insurance money came through. The cleanup and rebuild was completed by the beginning of March, and we are back in business. This whole fire tragedy has been an amazing experience. The coming together of our community — family, friends, fellow growers, and farmers — to keep a small business running has been the most amazing experience of my life. I am forever grateful.”

— Cheri Nunamaker, Owner/Founder of Dirty Knees Nursery

If we’re just a grocery store, why is “community” in our name? It’s events like this. Bring your family and join us to create art and celebrate our locally grown bounty at our First Friday collaboration with Gabriel's Art Kids (GAK).

Family Art Night at the Co-op
Friday, June 5. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Downtown Co-op Mezzanine
Free!

Enjoy projects like:
• Air-dry clay magnet-making featuring fruit and veggie designs
• Pattern-making with fruit and veggie stamps

All ages are welcome, and supplies are included. Registration is not required, but we encourage you to sign up so we can plan accordingly.
https://www.gabrielsartkids.com/family-art-night-coop.html