 February 2009Newsletter Editor: Associate Editor: Anna Potts Contents:
Meet the Staff
Each month we will highlight one of our WSU Extension staff to give you a better insight as to who we all are and what we do. With this information, we hope that you will be more familiar with Extension and what goes on behind the scenes to keep it all working smoothly. Janet Hall
Janet Hall is the WSU/Island County Waste Wise Volunteer Program Coordinator. She has been in this position for over twelve years. Janet's passion of educating the public on ways to reduce waste has always been a life long commitment. Before taking the Coordinator's job, Janet was self-employed and dabbling in many different fields. At one time she had 7 different jobs ranging from teaching at the National Fire Training Center, to tutoring foreign students in math and science, to teaching composting workshops for the City of Seattle, to sanding tree samples for tree-ring analysis, to cleaning houses. Oh, the joys of self-employment! Janet worked for 9 years at the US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station on the Fire and Air Quality project. She was a research forester studying fuel consumption on prescribed burns. Janet supervised a crew and the main aspect of the fieldwork was counting sticks. But taking the fire torch and lighting the units on fire that was pure pleasure. Janet is a true pyromaniac! Janet also worked for International Paper Company for 4 years as a forester, overseeing the management of 53,000 acres of commercial forestlands in Arkansas. Janet's educational background is in forestry and fire science. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from Colorado State University and her Master of Science degree in Forest Fire Science from University of Washington. Janet's greatest passion is sharing knowledge about reducing waste in a fun, entertaining, and interactive way! Gleaning Project
Good Cheer Food Bank has announced the 2009 Hello Good Cheer GardenersIt's time to add amendments and more compost to our beds, and do some deep forking to prepare them for planting. Here, Geri Pilcher, Master Gardener, is starting the soil prep, in front of the new raised box beds. Many hands are needed to do this, so we're organizing two work parties next week:
Come anytime and stay as long or short as you are able. We have limited tools at this time (donations eagerly accepted!), so please bring forks, shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows. There will be work for all ages, from spreading compost and forking the beds, to picking out rocks and grass clumps. There are also more beds and paths to make. Would anyone like to help with bringing treats and drinks? And, to help us recover from the vigorous work we'll be doing, Laura Fitzgerald, massage therapist, will be at the Wednesday afternoon work party to give 15-minute seated chair massages to volunteers! We now have four raised box beds for the west side of the picnic area, thanks to the carpentry work of Blake Willeford, Marcia Wiley and Peter Martin. These beds will provide a lovely border of strawberries, herbs and edible flowers. Even though we'd been steadily collecting wood from the Hanson's seconds pile, there wasn't enough to do all the boxes. We need:
Blake, Marcia and Peter will be returning on Wednesday to set the boxes in the ground, and can build the last two if we get enough wood. Please call or email if you have wood to donate! Coming soon to the garden- water! Maury Hood, Good Cheer Board Member, and Mike Helland are digging for the water line. We have to bring water to the garden from a water line that runs along Grimm Rd. To do this, we need various valves and junctions, but we especially need a long trench to the garden. Wish list: a volunteer to help with trenching the ditch for the water line to the garden. (We'll rent the ditch witch!) If you can help with anything on our wish list, or have any questions or suggestions, please email garden@goodcheer.org, or call 221-6046. Lots of information and news about the garden is on our garden website: http://goodcheergarden.wordpress.com/ March is going to be a big month, with soil prep, water, fencing and the first plants going in! Hope you can make it to one of our work parties coming up: Wed., Feb 25th or Sat, Feb. 28th. We'll also have Ed Hume seeds to distribute to those who'd like to grow a row for Good Cheer. Thanks so much, and see you in the garden! Cary Peterson Good Cheer Food Bank 
Coming Events
Public Presentation Info (submitted by Cathi Mann-Fisher)Eight senior 4-H'ers taught five different classes on Saturday, February 14th during Super Saturday - Gabriell Fraser, Alissa Coupe, Tailynn Olmstead, Kelsey Taylor, Amber Gilkerson, Soureya Hetzel, Lexi Blanchette, and Kendra O'Keefe (other 4-H'ers presenting but not being judge as their public presentation fulfillment were Melissa Clark, Amelia King, Laurrin Bates and Kaila Johnson). Not only did the above seniors fulfill their requirement for doing a Public Presentation in order to attend the Island County Fair, but they all did a great job! Linda Adesanya, Marianna Ledgerwood, Jennifer Roberts, Chrissy O'Keefe, Linnell Gribble, and Lois Fisher were the judges who scored the seniors as they taught their classes. Thank you for the job you did! There are still time slots available for those 4-H'ers who want to do their Public Presentations at the regional level. On March 7th will be the north end regionals at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church (across from OHHS stadium) beginning at 8:30am – 1:30pm. If interested in scheduling a time, for the north end please contact Cathi Mann-Fisher at On March 14th will be the south end regionals at Langley Middle School (next to the fairgrounds) starting at 9:00am – 1:30pm. If interested in scheduling a time for the south end please contact Connie Mutschler at Holland Happening Parade - April 25, 11:00am, Oak HarborSpring Show - May 16, Saturday, Island County Fairgrounds Alpaca 4-H Division Spring Show - May 23, Saturday, M-Bar-C Ranch, Freeland Memorial Day Parade - May 23, Coupeville Regularly Scheduled Meetings
Island County Fair Association Scholarship
Each year the Island County Fair Association awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating student which can be applied towards tuition costs to attend a community college, technical school, or 4 year university. The criteria in considering applications include completeness and neatness of application packet, and community service/involvement (especially Island County Fair involvement). For additional information, please contact the Island County Fair Office at (360) 221-4677 or Club Reports
Whidbey Shepherds Katie & Maria Leese will be giving a hand with Jersey cow-milking and lambing support to the Sisters of Our Lady of the Rock Benedictine convent on Shaw Island in early March. Katie will attend shearing school in April at Moses Lake with support from the Puget Sound Purebred Sheep Breeder's Association. May 1st and 2nd, the above P.S.P.S.B.A. will host a market lamb workshop in Stanwood covering every aspect of raising a market lamb combined with pizza, movies, fun and a sleepover. Rock'n Doodle Poultry4-H Club Visits a Local Poultry Breeder - by Club Reporter Jack Romero: On February 7 members of the Rock'n Doodle Poultry club visited a poultry breeder named Josh Simon, located in Lake Stevens. Simon has been a judge at many fairs and other poultry shows, and knew a lot about birds. He had some standard Buff Orpingtons, and bantam white Wyandottes among other breeds. Josh gave us a lot of valuable information about showing chickens. He demonstrated the proper way to hold your bird, how to clean it and check for lice and mites, and many other things that are useful in showing birds. Simon also told us about the methods and products for cleaning his birds, for example, that you should use a special kind of organic cleaner so you won't get sick from eating the chickens' eggs. He also named the various wing parts on a chicken that is vital if entering your chicken in show. He was very smart about all things chicken. When we visited, unfortunately, he was still getting moved in and didn't have any birds for sale, but the birds he did have, he helped us learn about. When we had finished, we all were more educated about poultry.   Spring is a busy time for people caught up in poultry! Members of the Rock'n Doodle Poultry club have coordinated hatchery orders for chicks, ducklings and even turkeys which should arrive soon. The club voted to advertise for new members and are making posters for Bayview Farm and Garden and both Skagit Farmers stores where chicks/ducklings will be on sale soon. Due to the rising interest in poultry our club will be presenting a
Kidding Around
Kool Kats The Kool Kats participated in a fund raiser on Saturday, February 21st. Members helped roll out, paint and re-roll nylon fencing that will be used during the Whidbey Island Marathon on Sunday, March 29th. Afterwards, there was a pizza party. Kool Kats members helping with the job were Irene Gribble, Holly Fisher, Anne Blanchette, Linnell Gribble and Cathi Mann-Fisher. Whidbey Wind Riders On Saturday, February 21, we took a trip to the Greenbank Farm trails and met with Gary Parker of the Island County Trail council. We helped clear the trails and make them wider for hikers and riders too. We would like to continue to work with Mr. Parker on this project as it is great for the community and fun too! Committee Reports
Horse Committee Livestock Sale Committee We have decided to produce a hand raised hog again for the annual LSC fund raiser raffle that will be drawn at the auction. So look forward to that at the fair. Vicki Lawson will be glad to take preorders for raffle tickets any time. Contact Vicki directly at 360-675-1890 This year the Livestock Sale Committee is planning and conducting several workshops that are going to support the 4Her's livestock projects. Each workshop includes a common thread of marketing support and methods for the 4Her to publicize information that their animals are hand raised with no hormones on natural feeds and are finished properly together with a humane processing of the high quality meat. The livestock is raised with the correct vaccinations, and herd densities to provide efficient growth and high quality. The workshops are planned to teach these things. The first workshop, Feeds and Nutrition is planned for March 5th, 6:30pm at the Skagit Farmers store and is co-hosted by the Purina/Land of Lakes Feed company. If you are interested please drop in. The next workshops will be about vaccinations, marketing and judging and selection of project animals. Fair Board Rep With a growing interest in Alpacas, comes the need for additional space within the Alpaca Barn area. Plans are to section off yet another space in order to accommodate more animals during the fair. There will be another scheduled walk-through of the fairgrounds to see what repairs still need to be accomplished. Many of the items previously submitted to the Fair Board have been completed. Dog Committee We are all set to have our first show in April, which will be our Leader's Fun Match. It is on Saturday April 18th at the Reinshadow Ranch (Lloyd Arena) in Greenbank. Looking Back
Looking back at January Achievement/Rally Night 2009 The evening ceremony at Coupeville High School Commons was opened with the presentation of flags by the Oak Harbor High School NJROTC, followed by 4-H'er Arianna Cane who expertly and beautifully sang the National Anthem. New 4-H leaders and clubs were welcomed as well as an introduction of the standing club leaders who in turn introduced the new members for 2008-2009 in a candlelighting ceremony before all in attendance.
4-H Leader Council Officers were then introduced: Achievement awards for the past year are as follows: Those reaching the age of 19 and graduating out of the 4-H program: Primary Recognition
Julie Beumer
The awards ceremony was then followed by refreshments and games provided by the South Whidbey 4-H clubs. If you are between the ages of 5 and 19, chances are, there is something for you in 4-H! Not only can you choose a project that interests you and work on it with others who share that interest, but you can also learn about meaningful ways to support your community, how to get involved with the Island County Fair, how to assume leadership roles, and so much more! For more information please contact WSU Extension, 4-H Youth Development at www.island.wsu.edu or call our 4-H Program Coordinator, Jackie Vannice at (360) 679-7328.   
Food For Thought
We have no article this month. If you have an article that would be good for the WSU Extension Program Updates
Master Gardeners – Classes are filling up for the 2009 Whidbey Gardening Workshop to be held Saturday, March 14th. Check out these great classes at www.island.wsu.edu/ Also please plan on attending the Master Gardener’s yearly plant sale the weekend of May 16/17. Livestock Advisors – available to share information with our 4-H clubs… ask Jackie. Go to the WSU Extension programs website and Advertisements
To lift your spirits
Actual wanted ads from around the country…
4-H is in the business of growing kids! We do this by working in our community to offer a wide range of opportunities for K-12 youth. Our goal is to support kids as they discover their talents and interests and then provide them with experiences to help them deepen, strengthen, and use those talents and interests! In addition to the club structure that many are familiar with, we also offer activities for families that can be done outside of a commitment to a club, and resources for educators to use in their classrooms. |
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