Fair University 2008

Coordinators:  Lynn Willeford and Island County WSU Extension

Fair University is a three-day series of classes geared toward enhancing Islanders’ skills.  On Friday, the focus is on domestic arts, Saturday’s schedule is all about farms and gardens, while Sunday’s features sustainable living tips and local chefs using local foods.  There are nine 45-minute classes each day … and the best part?  No tests.  No essays.  Just local folks sharing their hard-earned knowledge with their neighbors.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15

Domestic Arts Day

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 4-H Building Lawn - Lavender Oil Distillation Demo

Sarah Richards and the staff of Lavender Wind Farm make fragrant oil from lavender in their copper still.

10-10:45, 4-H Kitchen - Canning Fruits & Vegetables

Fair Food Preservation Superintendent  Don LaMontagne reveals his secrets.

11-11:45, 4-H Kitchen - Drying Fruits & Vegetables

Tips and tricks from Don LaMontagne.

12-12:45, 4-H Kitchen - What To Do with All That Zucchini?

Lois Fisher, 4-H Foods and Nutrition Superintendent, will inspire you with all the great dishes she makes from this prodigiously productive plant.

1-1:45, Antique Barn - Finding Food & Fiber Locally

Olivia Forte-Gardner of the WSU Extension Agriculture, Sustainability and Land Stewardship Program, will reveal how to find local foods beyond farmers’ markets.

2-2:45, Antique Barn - How Healthy Are Your Woods?

Olivia Forte-Gardner reveals a simple inventory that can tell you a lot about the health of your backyard forest.

3-3:45, Antique Barn - Getting Started with Chickens

WSU Extension Livestock Advisor Amanda Leisle shows how to house, feed and fence your small flock.

3-3:45, Log Show Arena - Using a Chainsaw Safely

Bunyon Buster stars Jim Fox and Albert Gabelein demonstrate proper chainsaw use with skill and humor.

4-4:45, Antique Barn - Jerky & Sausage as Easy as 1-2-3 

Jerky-meister George Lawson simplifies the making of tasty and useful meat treats.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

Farm & Garden Day

10-10:45, Antique Barn - Growing Berries

Lois Wenzek of Forget-Me-Not Farm on how to grow and tend berry bushes and vines.

11-11:45, Antique Barn - Rain Gardens 

Stacy Smith of Whidbey Island Conservation District on how to make a rain garden flourish in areas of excess water.

12-12:45, Antique Barn - Gardening with Native Plants

Landscape designer Fran Abel shows how to rely more on the beautiful plants most suited to our climate.

1-1:45, Antique Barn - Backyard Paradise

Local Audubon members Steve and Matha Ellis on attracting colorful birds and butterflies to your yard and garden.

1-1:45 or 2-2:45 or 3-3:45, 4-H Building lawn - 4 Easy Steps to Great Compost

Rick Blank, longtime Waste Wise volunteer, teaches the basic steps to successful compost creation. (choose one of 3 sessions)

3-3:45, Antique Barn - Birding on Whidbey

Learn about local birds and where to find them from photographer Craig Johnson, co-author of three books on the birds of Puget Sound.

3-3:45, Antique Barn - Eating from the Garden Year-Round

Linda Bartlett of Rosehip Farm and Garden on what to plant right now to have fresh veggies all winter.

4-4:45, Antique Barn - Good Soil

Market gardeners Michael Seraphinoff and Anza Muenchow from SW Tilth on how to improve your soil between now and Spring.

4-4:45, 4-H Building lawn - Beekeeping 101

Interested in keeping bees? Come learn how to begin your own honey bee hive from beekeeping hobbyist Paul Neumiller.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

Local Chefs/Local Foods

11-11:45, 4-H Kitchen - Making Cheese at Home

Anne Mauk of Full Moon Rising Farm and Vicky Brown of The Little Brown Farm shows how easy it is to make mozzarella or soft goat cheese.

12-12:45, 4-H Kitchen - Unforgettable Meals

Seth McKee of Bay City Bistro demonstrates how to use seasonal local foods to create unforgettable meals.

1:15-1:45, 4-H Kitchen - Garlic, Garlic and More Garlic

Georgie Smith of Willowood Farm of Ebey’s Prairie offers tastes and tips on the many kinds of garlic and ways to prepare it.

2-2:45, 4-H Kitchen - Seasonal Treats

Michael Nichols of Whidbey Green Goods will create more seasonal taste treats.

Sustainable Living

12-12:45, Antique Barn - Your Money or Your Life

Vicki Robin, author of the best-selling book of the same name, explains how saving money also helps save the Earth.

1-1:45, Antique Barn - Putting Your Home on an Energy Diet

Energy-efficiency consultant Linda Irvine with simple ways to cut your utility bills.

2-2:45, Antique Barn - Rain Barrels, Cisterns and More

Staff from the Whidbey Island Conservation District on how to collect and use our abundant rainwater.

3-3:45, Antique Barn - Using Solar on Whidbey

Chris Carbonella of Whidbey Sun and Wind talks about harnessing the sun in the Pacific Northwest.

4-4:45, Antique Barn - Natural Yard Care

Get a better lawn by putting nature to work! Tips on healthy soils, plant placement, water conservation and alternatives to pesticides and fertilizers from Conservation District staff.