July 29, 2015

“Go ahead, play with your food,” say organizers of the sixth annual Garden Critter Workshop on Sunday, Aug. 2. “Then enter it in the fair!”

The event is co-sponsored by Deer Lagoon Grange #846 and South Whidbey Tilth at the Tilth Farmers’ Market, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2812 Thompson Road, off Hwy. 525 between Freeland and Bayview. Enjoy the young mime Molly Quade and fine fiddling by Alex Bonesteel while shopping and creating a critter.

Farmers are bringing their weirdest, most misshapen vegetables and fruits. Crafters have scraps of yarn, wood, etc for making People or Animal Critters to be entered in the Whidbey Island Area Fair. Children 16 and under may supplement their purchases with Grange Bux (up to two per child) to buy odd-looking vegetables, fruits and materials to make creations. Grange members will help advise how to enter each item in the Whidbey Island Area Fair.

Grange Bux are valued at one dollar apiece. Market vendors get reimbursed for bux collected. Bring children, grandchildren and even the neighbors’ children to share the fun. Adult and teen volunteers are needed to assist. Entry rules can be found on page 25 in the Whidbey Island Fair Premium List booklet. The booklet is available around the island in libraries and stores or online at www.whidbeyislandfair.com. Critter submissions are not eligible for premium points, but may win the People’s Choice awards.

Christine Williams, a member of both organizations, warns, “Just don’t make them out of melon slices or cut stone fruit, which will liquefy and attract a cloud of fruit flies over the four days of the fair.”

Garden critters entries must be brought, between 1 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to the Burrier building at Whidbey Island Fairgrounds in Langley. Other garden entries, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, scarecrows, herbs, compost and honey are also entered that day. Entry forms can be filled out at the fair or on line at www.whidbeyislandfair.com.