South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market, 2812 Thompson
Road, Langley —
The South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market opens for its 48th season Sunday, April 28. All things Nettle is the first-day feature, including workshops and tasting. The gong at 11 a.m. signals the opening for shoppers to explore the
early season produce, garden starts and crafts. The kitchen is open and serving hot and cold beverages, baked goods and pizza made from scratch.
At noon, Julie Charette Nunn of www.crowsdaughter.com presents “Nettle is Mother Earth’s Milk”, a lively class on stinging nettle. She will talk about the plant as nourishment, how to gather and prepare nettle in a variety of ways and how to utilize nettle for healing many things. She will also explore the ways of shamanic herbalism–developing intimacy with the plant world, listening to the wisdom of the plants, gentle healing and learning to be at
home in nature.
Learn how to make cordage from the mature nettle stalks at 12:30 p.m. with
Bryn McAfee. Fiber from nettle is durable and strong, but it is a process.
The annual May Pole winding is at 1 p.m. to tunes by Island Strings. Children of all ages are welcome to join in. The traditional May pole song has a special verse about the underrated nettle. The young Island Strings performers will
be serenading shoppers all day.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., local famers are selling bedding plants and fresh vegetables. Regular vendors include Old School Market Farm, Maha Farm and Forest, Whidbey Island Naturals, Fred’s Produce. In addition, gardeners with extra produce may sell from the Community Produce and Crafts booth – a cooperative of several people; for information contact comm.produce@southwhidbeytilth.org. More vendors are welcome.
The campus has WiFi, restrooms, children’s play area and plenty of parking. SNAP customers welcome and receive double value. For more information, email market@southwhidbeytilth.org or leave a message at 360-321-0757. Look for updates on Facebook and the South Whidbey Tilth website, www.southwhidbeytilth.org.