by Suzanne Jordan Greetings! After a hot long summer, the rains, cooler temperatures, and early nights are here, and in my humble opinion, are very much appreciated. I can’t remember the last time I actually looked forward to a wet rainy winter. We’ll see how it goes this year. The plants had a very interesting
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by Laura Damron Fermentation is one of those things that can really draw a person in, once it’s given a try. For me, it started with a couple of pickles here and there, progressed to making my own sauerkraut, and then it seemed perfectly reasonable to make a big batch of hard apple cider. In
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by Suzanne Jordan It’s that time again, folks! Mosquito, spider, ant, and biting pest season. Sitting outside at a BBQ, camping, and just trying to relax and enjoy the nice weather outside can be a bit frustrating when you become the object of dining for the insects that come around this time of year. The
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Juicy ripe strawberries, crunchy dill pickles, delicious peaches – nothing tastes better than home-preserved foods. In addition, a well-stocked pantry is a step towards ensuring you always have plenty of food available. However, safely preserving food at home requires a bit of knowledge, time set aside, and a small investment in equipment. Learn how to
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How it works and why it’s necessary by Bruce Vilders The youngest, and by far the smallest, of the young girls sitting in the class looked only slightly intimidated. She had been ‘snuck in’ by her older, and larger friends, in the hopes of getting past the stated age requirements. Stella was young but bright-eyed and
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BELLINGHAM/SULTAN – Two farmers are offering mushroom growing workshops this month. Cascadia Mushrooms will share mushroom cultivation tips and techniques during an on-farm workshop on Sunday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4771 Aldrich Road in Bellingham. Owner Alex Winstead and crew will show participants how to grow mushrooms at your home,
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BURLINGTON – A Farm Machinery Safety Workshop is available to residents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m., starting April 14 through May 14. Individuals in all counties are eligible to attend the training with instructor Don McMoran, director of the Washington State University Skagit County Extension. Certification can be obtained for students 13 years
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EVERETT – The Community Skills Fair, a full day of hands-on practice to learn or improve skills, will be held Saturday, March 21. There will be workshops, as well as panel discussions and kids activities. Topics will include gardening, fermenting, cooking, crafty skills, bike repair, car repair and more. Additionally, there will be fun art
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Two events are available this month for anyone interested in learning about raising poultry. Tales from the Coop: Inspiration and Advice for Raising Backyard Poultry on Monday, Feb. 9: Four local poultry enthusiasts (all either current or former employees of the Mount Vernon Library) will share practical advice and alternative ideas about keeping chickens, ducks,
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STANWOOD –  The Country Living Expo and Cattlemen’s Winterschool will offer more than 185 workshops focused on skills and practical living on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Stanwood High School, and will feature a trade show with more than 65 vendors. More than 60 of this year’s classes are new.  “Our program has grown to include not
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