PORT ANGELES — The Washington State University Clallam County Extension is moving into new quarters after decades in the Clallam County Courthouse.
“We finally just ran out of space,” said Clea Rome, the extension’s director. “There isn’t room in the courthouse for all the programs we run.”
The extension, which opened in Clallam County in 1914, is moving into a new location at 1914 W. 18th St., the county’s former juvenile hall.
The extension offices will be closed from Wednesday through June 9, while staff move furniture, equipment and records to the new offices.
The extension will open in its new offices on June 12, and it will host a public open house from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 16.
The county extension is a joint agency of Clallam County and Washington State University with 14 staff members onsite in Port Angeles.
Some of the programs the extension runs include:
• The master gardener program coordinator and assistant, who will work in the new office.
The plant clinics will continue in the lobby of the courthouse while the Green Thumb lecture series will continue in the Port Angeles Library.
Other master gardener outreach programs will continue at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden in Sequim and the Fifth Street community gardens in Port Angeles.
• The 4-H program coordinator and livestock coordinator will work at the new offices; Rome noted that, in addition to closer proximity to the fairgrounds, the new offices have adequate room for 4-H meetings as well.
• The gleaning program helps local growers connect with local gleaners to help reduce food waste in the county.
• The regional small farm program, which provides technical assistance to farmers in Jefferson and Kitsap counties as well as those in Clallam County.
• The community health food access program helps to improve access to healthful, locally grown produce through its Farm to Foodbank and Farm to School programs as well as educating local students about farming with its School Garden program.
• The waste reduction program provides community outreach programs to help reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfills.
• Weed wrench rentals, for the removal of Scotch broom, are available both at the new office and from the county’s noxious weed control program in suite 15 of the courthouse.
For more information, visit https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam.
