Fresh Food on the Table Banquet Fundraiser, April 28th

Providing fresh produce to the Food Bank YEAR ROUND!
Supporting local farmers, and educating youth!

Sunday, April 28th
Banquet Fundraiser and Square Dance
Whidbey Institute, Thomas Berry Hall

5 pm:  Appetizers, with Silent Auction and Veggie Photo ops
6 pm: Banquet from the Good Cheer chefs
6:45 pm: Program and Live Auction with Jim Freeman
Square Dance follows with the Mudhen Callers

The Whidbey Institute is a proud partner in Fresh Food on the Table, a community effort which supports the Good Cheer Food Bank in providing locally grown, fresh produce throughout the year, and offers apprenticeship and school garden programs for youth.

Reserve your tickets now at freshfoodonthetable.brownpapertickets.com
There is no cost to attend the banquet, but please donate generously!

Enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by Good Cheer chefs, and participate in a live auction, with Jim Freeman, of a garden variety of fun and useful items. Get the laughing muscles in your cheeks ready! A square dance with live music follows!

    
The Whidbey Institute Westgarden grows produce for the Food Bank throughout the season, and hosts a Community Gardening Leadership Apprentice who moves into a leadership role in the garden, and provides garden-based education for school children and community groups.

Join us for this special evening to support this initiative which strengthens community and local food security. Meet the youth and farmers who are growing for the Food Bank, and hear about all the ways Good Cheer is partnering with our community, schools and local non-profits to provide fresh veggies and fruit year-round to the Food Bank.

Fresh Food on the Table is a program of the Good Cheer Food Bank in partnership with the Whidbey Institute & South Whidbey School District, and in collaboration with the South Whidbey Commons, Deep Harvest Farm, Greenbank Farm & Skyroot Farm.

  

                                                 

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September Growing Groceries: Celebrating the Harvest!

  

The gardens have been bountiful, and it’s time to celebrate the harvest!

On Saturday, September 8, Growing Groceries will be part of the Good Cheer Harvest Party and Music Fest, and the class will be in the Good Cheer Garden:

1:00 – 2:30 pm: Top Tips of the Month and Get the “Scoop on Poop”!
Presented by Cary Peterson, Good Cheer Garden Coordinator

• How to increase the fertility of your soil with animal manures, worm castings, and local plant and animal amendments. Manure has been in the news lately… find out why.

• Special guest, Chris Korrow, will share about the ways biodynamic gardening enlivens and enriches your garden.

• Top Tips for September- bring your questions!

2:30 pm: Ed Hume of Ed Hume Seeds will be at the Good Cheer Harvest Party to answer your questions, and sign his new book Gardening with Ed Hume: Northwest Gardening Made Easy.

4:15 pm: Worm Bin Q & A where you can learn how to make great vermicastings.

Ongoing: lots of cooking demonstrations to learn how to create delicious meals with your garden produce!!

 The Good Cheer Garden is at 2812 Grimm Rd. at Bayview Corner, Langley.

For information and registration, email growinggroceries@whidbey.com.

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August Growing Groceries: Soaking up the heat & sun!

 We’ve had some hot summer days, the crops are ripening, and it’s time to enjoy a bountiful harvest. You can still sneak in fast growing fall crops, or sow the last plantings for your overwintering veggies.

On Tuesday, August 14th, at the Good Cheer Garden at Bayview Corner, from 5 pm – 7 pm learn about:

• Cover crops for building soil fertility
  
• TOP TIPS for the month and Q & A (bring your questions!)
  

  Hoophouses

Wish you had better tomatoes this year? Hoping to have more greens this winter or start growing earlier next year? Hoophouses are simple and inexpensive to build! Get inspired now, and you’ll have one by next season!

• How to grow throughout the year by putting your veggies under cover
• Construction tips and tricks
• Best veggies to plant

Presenter: Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries Coordinator

Class fee $15 or by donation.
Class is at the Good Cheer Garden, 2812 Grimm Rd. at Bayview Corner, Langley.

For information and registration, email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

Photo credit: Susan Burgers (raspberries)

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Summer in the Westgarden!

It must be the summer solstice, the apothecary roses are blooming!

We’ve been planting, and harvesting, lots of lettuce. Join our 2012 apprentices Mech and Allie at our weekly Learning from the Land work party—now all day on Thursday, starting at 9 am, with lunch at noon, and going til 4 pm. Come for as long or short as you’d like, and do come for lunch. We provide the fresh garden salad, soup and bread!

  

The Westgarden is a particularly wonderful garden for children of all ages, and you can drop in with your family any time on Thursday.

For the little ones and their grandparents, Mully Mullally is offering the Grandparents Camp again this year. (Only two places left!)

For more information, email land@whidbeyinstitute.org.

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July Growing Groceries: Summertime, and time for winter veggies!

 

How can it only just be summer, and it’s already time to start planning for the winter crops? That’s our climate! You can eat year round from your garden by growing into the fall and over the winter.

On Tuesday, July 10th at the Good Cheer Garden at Bayview Corner, from 5 pm – 7 pm learn about

• Planting an overwintering garden – when to plant, and choosing the right varieties.
• TOP TIPS and bring your questions!

Presenter: Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries Coordinator
Class fee $15, or by donation.
Class is at the Good Cheer Garden, 2812 Grimm Rd. at Bayview Corner, Langley.

For information and registration, email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

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Whidbey Island Garden Tour

The Whidbey Island Garden Tour will be touring four beautiful gardens on Saturday, June 23rd. Proceeds from the  Whidbey Island Garden Tour have funded a new roof for the greenhouse, and a new bunny-proof garden fence in years past. This year their support will help us with a major upgrade to the water system in the Westgarden. Our great appreciation!

You can buy your ticket HERE!

Your purchase of a ticket supports the Whidbey Institute and Learning from the Land, and many other community organizations on Whidbey Island! A wonderful day of beauty and delight, while benefiting the community!

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