Issuu

The newest decorating ideas, gardening tips, and lifestyle guide to Whidbey Island, 2018.

A supplement of the Whidbey News Times and South Whidbey Record.

DISCOVER THE ISLAND’S BEST CANNABIS Explore our menu, seek guidance from our insightful budtenders, and save with our daily and monthly specials.

5565 VAN BARR PLACE, UNIT F, FREELAND, WA 98249

OPEN MON-THU 11A-7P | FRI-SUN 10A-7P* WHIDBEYISLANDHERB.COM | (360) 331 - 0140 * SUMMER HOURS MAY VARY This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the inﬂuence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

Custom Homes ď ł Remodels ď ł Commercial

360-321-6414 2856 Howard Rd. Langley, WA 98260 formerly

www.mcclurecustomhomes.com Island Home Living | 3

Home staging

Creating the real estate dream could mean tens of thousands of dollars more

How you present your home in the real estate market can have a direct impact on how much money ends up in your pocket. For professional stager Mikel Peabody, preparing for a real estate sale is about taking a home and making it a house. “A home functions, a house does not,” Peabody said. “It’s the littlest things that make the biggest difference,” “The home is a work horse, it often doesn’t get the love it deserves.”

said. “She’s not really a stager, she’s a designer.” The two-woman team works hand-inhand, going room-to-room taking out the personal, de-cluttering and creating that dream. Peabody may rearrange furniture, taking an item from one room and moving it to another. She may take items that would be considered clutter and present it in an intentional way. “Take people’s tchotchkes and turn them into collections,” she said.

STAGING IS ABOUT taking away

HOMEOWNERS don’t have to enlist

By Megan Hansen

Annie Cash holds a painting in place while Mikel Peabody evaluates its placement in a master bedroom staging recently in Oak Harbor.

Business & Services

DIRECTORY

the personal, accenting the luxury and giving potential buyers a dream. “You’re selling the boutique dream, that spa experience,” Peabody said. When working with a professional, they stage your home for the real estate photos that bring potential buyers. For real estate agent Annie Cash, Peabody is her go-to. Staging correctly can mean the difference of tens of thousands of dollars for a seller, Peabody and Cash said. Staged homes tend to sell more quickly. “Mikel is the be all, end all,” she

Good Cheer CONTINUED ON 5 Thrift Stores

GoodDepartment Cheer Store Quality at Thrift Store Prices Thrift Stores

ANTIQUES & DECOR Department Store Quality

HARDWARE STORE

atGood Thrift Store Prices Langley Cheer Good Cheer

2nd & Anthes, Langley WA

Thrift Stores

Langley Good Cheer 360-221-6455 2nd & Anthes, Langley WA

Good Cheer Two

360-221-6455 Department Store Quality

at Thrift Prices HwyCheer 525 & Langley Rd,Store Clinton WA Good Two

Hwy 525 & Langley Rd, Clinton WA 360-341-2880

360-341-2880

Langley Good Cheer www.goodcheer.org www.goodcheer.org 2nd & Anthes, Langley WA

Supplier of Your Island Life Style Mon–Sat 8am-7pm Sun 9am-6pm 360-331-6799 1609 E. Main, Freeland

OPEN360-221-6455 7OPEN DAYS 7 A WEEK - 5pm DAYS- 9:30am A WEEK - 9:30am

LANDSCAPING

Burt’s Saw, Mower & Repair Shop Rain gear, decor and so much more! 3073 N Oak Harbor Rd, Ste A Oak Harbor, WA 98277 360-279-9320

For All Home Needs 4 | Island Home Living

a professional to get their homes camera ready. With a few tricks of the trade, they too can turn their home into someone else’s dream. When staging for real estate photos, usually one room is designated for a catch all. These are usually a spare bedroom or garage. Never the “money” rooms such as the master, bathrooms or the kitchen.

Good Cheer Two

ROOFING

Hwy 525 & Langley Rd, Clinton WA

360-341-2880 Rob The Roofer, LLC www.goodcheer.org Call Rob

Quality Rooﬁng an - 9:30am - 5pm OPEN 7 DAYS A at WEEK Affordable Price

Mon-Fri 7:30am - 5:00pm Sat By Appointment Only Sun Closed

(360) 632-1633 • robtheroofer.com robtheroofer@hotmail.com

freelandacehardware.com - 5pm

ROOFING

Complete Roofing Service Island Roofing & Remodel, LLC

New Construction & Re-Roofing

Metal • Composition • Tile Slate • Single Ply • Repairs Call for a FREE estimate! 360-321-4124 www.whidbeyroofers.com License # ISLANRR906OP

Home staging

After

Things to hide away: • Personal photos/items (i.e. items with your name on them) • Hygiene items • Personalized shower curtains • Items with a very distinct style “We know they brush their teeth,” Cash said. “But we don’t need to see it in the photos.”

PEABODY AND CASH move through a house, making sure

towels match and are folded properly, chrome sparkles and lines are clean. Personal items and clutter get shoved in drawers or moved to the spare room. Beds are made, pillows are fluffed and blinds are set all the same way with cords coiled and setting on the windowsill. “The camera likes symmetry,” Peabody said. Because of this and that real estate photos are shot in a specific setting that picks up even the tiniest wrinkle, Peabody usually carries a steam iron with her to jobs. Among her “staging kit,” Peabody also carries other essentials items including: • Lightbulbs (all different kinds) • Zip ties (for those unsightly electrical cables) • Shop towels (for cleaning and bringing that “critical” sparkle) • At least two matching lamps • Mirrors Having someone come in and stage your home while you’re living in it can be a difficult process, Peabody said. Some people may have a hard time with change or even take offense to changes to their design. Homeowners shouldn’t take it personally. “It’s either a home or a house,” Peabody said. “It’s either a place you love and are still attached to or it’s an asset you want to get the most money you can from.”

Pushing furniture up against the wall can actually give the appearance a room is smaller than it actually is, Peabody said. In a kitchen, avoid putting out towels because it takes away from the luxury illusion you’re trying to set and could make potential homebuyers think of work. Clocks also have the same effect.

N O RT H W E S T

fine furnishings

featuring LOCAL ARTISTS Open Daily

10:30am - 5:30pm

in historic downtown

Oak Harbor 830 SE Pioneer Way 360-240-0222

www.garryoakgallery.com

Before

Greenbank Farm www.seasideandsylvan.com Open Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Tuesdays

Kitchen & Bath Design Supplier of Cabinets, Doors and Windows

CUSTOM SOFAS, LOTS OF BAR & COUNTER STOOLS, GARDEN ART, LONG DINING TABLES, HUNDREDS OF KITCHEN CHAIRS American Alder tops, drawer sides and frames • Plywood drawer bottoms Mortise and tenon joinery add strength • Fluted dowels add strength and longevity • American Alder veneered side panels • English dovetail drawer construction • Whisper-quiet full extension metal ball bearing drawer slides Adjustable glides on the bottom of legs

Ask about our Design Services 1694 Main Street, Freeland, WA • 360.331.0848 buildingsourceinc.com

Hours: Mon - Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 11-4 919 Riverside Drive  Mount Vernon, WA 98273 www.nwff.com  (360) 424-8455

buildingsourceinc.com

Island Home Living | 5

Community arts By Evan Thompson

It took a village to start the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) and it takes a community to keep it going. Good thing it has the latter well in hand. The purpose of WICA, a nonprofit organization located in Langley, is to provide dynamic art opportunities and high quality performances that expose residents and students to local and nationally recognized artists, musicians, literary works and authors, according to Deana Duncan, programming and production director. It also gives the community the opportunity to be part of in-house, full-scale theater productions. Between October and June, there are over 100 performances in the 246-seat theatre, requiring 350-400 volunteers in a variety of positions. There’s no sign of things slowing down either. “WICA has seen continued growth in popularity and viability every year,” Duncan said.

WICA opened its doors in May 1996 after a decade-long grass roots community effort led by a consortium of artists, business people and local families. It features programming for five specific art forms: music, theater, dance, literary and visual arts. There are also staple events that cover all genres, including “very popular” political series lectures. The organization’s mission of providing variety to patrons is what puts it in a league of its own, Duncan said. “I think it’s pretty unique,” Duncan said. “There aren’t a lot of art centers across the country. There’s theaters that do shows a lot, but not many full art centers. I think we’re a pretty special and unique breed.” The WICA season includes the Theatre Series, Local Artist Series, Literary Series, Family Series, Piano Series, Special Events, DjangoFest NW, One-Act Fest NW and art exhibitions in its Lasher Gallery. WICA’s Conservatory building also provides educational classes and

CONTINUED 7 You cut the lawn, pruned the plants andONtrimmed the trees. You cut the lawn, pruned the plants and trimmed the trees. You cut lawn, the plants and the What you with the waste? You cut the theshould lawn, pruned pruned thedo plants and trimmed trimmed the trees. trees. What should you do with the waste? What What should should you you do do with with the the waste? waste?

Photos provided by WICA

“The Fantasticks” – the longest running play in America – features Annika Hustad as Luisa, a young girl who falls in love with the boy next door.

Whidbey’s Largest Cabinet & Countertop Showroom Downtown on Pioneer Way Whidbey’s Largest Cabinet & Countertop C OME SEEDowntown OUR NEWEST DISPLAYS Showroom on Pioneer Way! COME SEE OUR NEWEST DISPLAYS! t 'SJFOEMZ ,OPXMFEHFBCMF 4FSWJDF *OTUBMMBUJPO t $PNQMJNFOUBSZ %FTJHO 4FSWJDF t 6OJRVF *OOPWBUJWF .BUFSJBMT t $PPSEJOBUFE 1SPKFDU .BOBHFNFOU t #JH #PY 1SJDJOH XJUIPVU UIF )BTTMFT

Compost it. Recycle it. Chip it. Compost it. Recycle it. Chip it. But please Compost it. Recycledon’t it. Chip Chipburn it. But it. please don’t burn Compost Recycle it. it.

it. it. But But please please don’t don’t burn burn it. it.

KNOW WHERE YOU CAN BURN OUTDOORS: KNOW YOU CAN BURN OUTDOORS:banned In IslandWHERE County, Washington state permanently In Island residential County, Washington burning yard debrisstate and permanently land-clearingbanned waste in KNOW WHERE YOU CAN BURN OUTDOORS: burning residential yard debris and land-clearing Coupeville, Freeland, Langley and Oak Harbor. waste in KNOW WHERE YOU CAN BURN OUTDOORS: In Island County, Washington permanently Coupeville, Freeland, Langley state and Oak Harbor. banned In Island residential County, Washington burning yard debrisstate and permanently land-clearingbanned waste in PROTECT YOUR HEALTH: burning residential yard debrisand andOak land-clearing Coupeville, Freeland, Langley Harbor. waste in PROTECT YOUR HEALTH: Burning natural vegetation produces pollutants that are Coupeville, Freeland, Langley and OakairHarbor. Burning natural vegetation produces air pollutants that are harmful, especially for children, the elderly and those with PROTECT YOUR HEALTH: harmful, especially for children, the elderly and those with asthma, respiratory illness or heart disease. PROTECT YOUR HEALTH:produces air pollutants that are Burning respiratory natural vegetation asthma, illness or heart disease. Burning vegetation produces air pollutants that are harmful, natural especially for children, the elderly and those with harmful, especially for children, the elderly and those with asthma, respiratory illness or heart For disease. cleaner, healthier alternatives to burning, asthma, respiratory illness or heart disease. For cleaner, healthier alternatives burning, call the Northwest Clean AirtoAgency at call the Northwest Clean Air Agency at nwcleanairwa.gov 360-428-1617 , visit nwcleanair.org For cleaner, healthier alternatives to burning, For cleaner, healthier to burning, ,alternatives visitwaste nwcleanair.org or360-428-1617 call local solid department. callyour the Northwest Clean Air Agency at callyour the Northwest Agency at or call local solid Clean wasteAir department. 360-428-1617, visit nwcleanair.org 360-428-1617 , visit nwcleanair.org Island Home Living or call your local solid waste department. or call your local solid waste department.

• Friendly, Knowledgeable Service & Installation • Complimentary Design Service • Unique & Innovative Materials • Coordinated Project Management • Big Box Pricing without the Hassles

NorthWest Cabinets & Countertops:

6 |

1. Whidbey’s largest cabinet and countertop showroom.

WICA still going strong after 22 years

Cabinets & Countertops

665 SE Pioneer Way • Suite 5 • Oak Harbor 360-675-4999 • nwcabinets_kitchens@hotmail.com www.NorthWestCabinetsLLC.com NorthWestCabinets&CounterTops

Community arts workshops year round. DjangoFest NW is WICA’s signature event. It’s the largest gypsy jazz music festival in the country and features the genre’s top artists from around the world, Duncan said. Naturally, it draws patrons from around the world, too, and is a consistent tourist boon for the city. “The festival is also an economic boost to local tourism and is well supported by Langley and Whidbey Island,” Duncan said. DjangoFest NW is set for Sept. 19-23, 2018. Recent capital campaigns added a second performance space, The Black Box Theater, as well as a rehearsal hall, large dressing rooms and a scene shop to build sets. WICA used to build its sets outside. “That allowed us to become a stronger producer,” Duncan said. “Presenting is when you bring in acts. Producing is when you build the acts. When we first opened, we were just presenting. Then we started producing.” Educational opportunities offered by WICA are based “around creating opportunity” for as much participation as possible, Duncan said. WICA’s Family Series, which presents cultural performances and exposure to art forms, is one of the longest running

“arts in education” programs in the South Whidbey School District. Funding for arts in education programs has dwindled for students, just as school districts are receiving less and less money from the state. Duncan said educational opportunities offered by WICA are all the more important and can be “a crucial addition to school curriculum for this age group.” “As our school district has no budget to bring artists into the schools, it is a part of our mission to provide arts exposure to our youth,” Duncan said. WICA offers educational events throughout the year with workshops, from stagecraft to intern positions. Stacie Burgua, WICA’s executive director, is also retiring in August after 22 years at the helm. A search for her replacement is underway.

Liam Henny played El Gallo in “The Fantastiks,” one of hundreds of shows performed in 2017. WICA , a nonprofit organization has offered community arts programs for 22 years.

Island Home Living | 7

Whidbey’s hoppin’ brewery scene By Laura Guido

Thirsty hop enthusiasts can rejoice for there’s plenty abrewing on Whidbey Island. Taprooms and breweries can be found on the South, Central and North parts of the island, all with plenty of popular beverages to choose from. Tucked away on Cultus Bay Road in Clinton is the recently-expanded, but still small, Ogre Brewing. Owners Royce Baker and Adam Jackson have been brewing commercially for three years, but the tasting room was just added last spring. “We’ve just been slowly growing ever since,” Baker said. The duo brew because of their love for beer and science, he said, and work with experimental small batches. At the time of this interview, Baker said they were working on brewing with maple syrup and had plans to use candy cap mushrooms in another batch. There are usually eight beers on tap, all

made by Ogre. Their Blonde Ogress (female ogre) and Cascade IPA are popular at the tasting room. The owners hope to start having events and concerts at the kid- and pet-friendly establishment. Be sure to plan ahead before visiting the tasting room, which is only open Thursday through Saturday, 3-7 p.m. Over in Langley, Double Bluff Brewery is hidden away on Anthes Avenue. The establishment is also on the small side but boasts a fairly large patio for the warmer months. All nine of the available beers at the taproom are brewed in-house, according to the website. Daniel Thomis and his wife Marissa founded the company in 2015 after moving to Whidbey Island from Boston. Former biologist/chemist Daniel Thomis was a home brewer for almost 20 years and he and Marissa felt they could fill the gaping brewery void in Langley. Kids

CONTINUED ON 9

Local Pride. Homegrown Flavor. We’re proud to pour great-tasting beer brewed right here in Oak Harbor.

• • • • • • •

Island’s taproom scene overflowing with innovation

Terry Boese pours an IPA at WickedTeuton Brewing, located inside Whidbey Island Homebrew Supply.

BOESE

boese

Beer, wine, hard cider and hand-made soda We share our recipes & sell the ingredients to make it yourself Beer & wine classes Family friendly Lots of games on hand Available for private parties & functions Bring food from home or your favorite restaurant With 25 years of experience, Custom Cabinets by Design has continually provided Western Washington with superior craftmanship and exceptional service. Allow us to make your cabinet

Wicked Tueton Brewing Company Located within Whidbey Island Homebrew Supply 1341 SW Barlow St, Oak Harbor • Next to the Movie Theater 360-682-5011 • 1-888-330-BEER (2337) www.wickedteuton.com

customcabinetsonwhidbey.com

632 Erin Park Rd.

8 | Island Home Living

Oak Harbor

360-679-8729

Whidbey brewing and dogs are also welcomed at Double Bluff, which has varied hours depending on the season. A fairly new brewery and taproom is in the mix in Oak Harbor. Some may be familiar with Whidbey Island Homebrew Supply, but many don’t know that at the back Wicked Teuton Brewing Company is serving up 14 brewed-in-house beers. “Some think of us as a home-brew store with a taproom in the back,” said owner and brewer Terry Boese. “We’re trying to change that. We want to be a taproom with a home-brew store on the side.” His self-described “nano-brewery” serves up the (intended) end product of the store’s home-brew recipe kits. His customers frequently try to imitate the Amber’s Hot Friend and Incredible Irish Red, albeit with mixed success. “I’ve got some secrets that I’ll share to some people if they ask,” Boese said. The IPAs This American Life and Arthur Dent’s Inter-galactic, are particularly popular and consistently sell out. Boese said at the time of the interview, one of his last batches of Arthur Dent’s sold out in less than 10 days. Free peanuts, pretzels and popcorn are available to enjoy while sipping. Hungrier patrons have access to menus for local businesses that will deliver to the taproom.

With food, a shelf full of board games and the occasional event like paint and sip or open mic night, one can stay entertained. Or, like all these locations, the beer alone is worth an evening (or day) out. Those who want a full brewpub experience can head to Flyers Restaurant and Brewery in Oak Harbor. The largest brewery on the island doesn’t lack an attention to detail with its beer that consistently wins awards at the national and international level. The Pace Maker Porter and Barnstormer Brown ale are the biggest winners, according to co-owner Tony Savoy, and the After Burner IPA is always a best seller in the restaurant. Attendees of MusselFest might also be familiar with the Penn Cove Pilsner, something that became so popular it is going to be made year-round. Flyers often hosts beer gardens for large events on the island, Savoy said. The proceeds from these beer gardens usually go to local nonprofit organizations. “We try and give back to the community as much as we can,” he said. Whidbey Island’s growing brewery scene offers food, entertainment, conversations with people who love their jobs, and, best of all, great beer.

Above: Robert Ferguson, brewer at Flyers Restaurant and Brewery, makes the brewery’s Copper Hog Red Ale. Right: Tucker English, an intern at Flyers Restaurant and Brewery, washes one of the tanks.

Serving Lunch

Serving Dinner

Welcome to Westgate Homes!

Friday through Monday Noon until 3pm

Thursday through Sunday 5pm until Close

Reservation Requests by phone: 360-678-0683, or by email

“

901 Grace St, Coupeville www.OystercatcherWhidbey.com KN

LEDGE | SER

S ND

R | P

BRA

ICE

AMERICA’S

APPLIANCE EXPERTS ®

230 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor • (360) 675-0660

P NED AND O

379

EA.

15.79*

YOUR $5 DONATION TO MAKE-A-WISH, WILL HELP FULFILL THE WISH OF A CHILD BATTLING A CRITICAL ILLNESS. 96 PERCENT OF PARENTS SAID THAT THE WISH EXPERIENCE STRENGTHENED THEIR FAMILIES.

WITH YOUR $5 DONATION TO MAKE-A-WISH®

LEASE IT. LOVE IT. OWN IT.

W ES N22O, 20 17 AY PRVEICMB ER CK FR19ID BLA THRU NO VEMBER

WHEN YOU BUY THE PAIR

OCALLY MORE WNED AND PERATED BY AROL INSON GIVE & SAVE MORE

AY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2017

PER WEEK

NO CREDIT REQUIRED

In our Home Center we can handle any size project from a 907 sq. ft. home to a large 2800 sq. ft. home.

HOMETOWN STORE WISH WEEK L O O C V &J W

THE PAIR

Our basic philosophy at the family-owned Westgate Homes has been constant since the day it opened almost 50 years ago.

OESSNER

We provide land/home packages and have several financing options available including FHA and VA programs. This makes the dream of owning your own home possible for almost everyone. In a very real sense when you invest in a home from Westgate Homes, it is our family doing business with your family.

”

GREAT GIFTS WHEN YOU BUY THE PAIR

449

HOMETOWN EXCLUSIVE

EA.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

OR LEASE IT. LOVE IT. OWN IT.

18.71*

60% OFF

PER WEEK

NO CREDIT REQUIRED

MONTHS

CARD

HOT BUY

SALE

Tools not included. Styles may vary.

Only available at Sears Hometown Stores.

SPECIAL FINANCING

12 MONTHS SPECIAL FINANCING4 ON ALL APPLIANCES OVER $499 WITH QUALIFYING SEARS CARD

BUY IT

54%

399

4950 Pacific Highway (just north of Slater Rd)

10-pc. glass bowl set 00810381

ON ALL APPLIANCES OVER $1399 WITH A QUALIFYING SEARS CARD ALSO AVAILABLE

SALE

SAVE $5

HOT BUY

56%

New Westgate Location in Ferndale!

499

SAVE $6 Craftsman 13-in. tool bag

00937535

THE PAIR

CES

50% OFF

FREE DELIVERY *

ON APPLIANCES OVER $499 WITH YOUR SEARS CARD

BUY IT

899

26.1

cu. ft.

360-306-8844

Island Home Living | 9

Whidbey’s green thumb

Navigating island’s unique climate By Patricia Guthrie Garden clubs, garden meetings, garden workshops and master gardeners seem to pollinate like hungry bees up and down Whidbey Island. Every large community has its own garden club — Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Green Bank, South Whidbey — whose members keep parks and streets fresh with seasonal blooms. The clubs also plan annual garden tours of local homes and bring in speakers from near and far to lead workshops in all kinds of topics — landscaping, pest management, ornamental grasses, raised bed vegetable gardens, growing roses and even hanging a bat house. “We have between 50 to 100 members,” said Debi Seglin of the Coupeville Garden Club that meets the first Thursday

of the month at Coupeville Rec Hall. “Most of the members now are new to the island and not experienced gardeners. That’s fine. We say, ‘come, join and learn with us.’”

Whidbey Island is regarded as Climate Zone 5 by the Sunset Western Garden Book. Its maritime air is pure, moist and reminiscent of a Mediterranean climate, which is why lovely lavender thrives. The region is also known for its rhododendrons, Japanese maples and rock garden plants. Washington State Extension of Island County could be called the queen bee of local gardening. It provides the training for master gardeners and leads the program from its Coupeville office. “Exploding” is how master gardener

For All Your Landscaping Needs • PERENNIALS • SHRUBS & TREES • GARDEN DECOR • QUALITY SOIL MIXES • BARK • ROCK • FLAGSTONE

READERS CHOICE AWARDS

BEST OF

EW EY N S GR DB

WH I

WHIDBEY

EW EY N S GR DB

THE

P OU

BEST OF

P OU

THE

P OU

EW EY N S GR DB 7

WE ACCEPT YARD WASTE

BEST OF

THE

BEST OF

WHIDBEY

READERS CHOICE AWARDS

Mailliard’s Landing Nursery 360-679-8544

3068 N OAK HARBOR RD • OAK HARBOR www.mailliardslanding.com

10 | Island Home Living

Portable gardens using large pots allow for year-round color and foliage and line many island decks. Sharon Edberg described the current gardening scene on Whibdey. She pointed to the annual Whidbey Gardening Workshop, held every March at Oak Harbor High School, that sold out of $45 tickets three weeks before the event — a first in its 32 years. “We have so many garden clubs, so many nurseries, so many ways to learn about gardening here,” Edberg said. Presented by the Island County Master Gardener Foundation, it attracts greenthumbers from all over the region. The more than 50 classes are aimed at all levels of gardeners with a recent emphasis on tips for newcomers, either to the island or the hobby. Vanca Lumsden of Freeland often leads a workshop called, “Gardening from the Ground Up.” “There are many people on Whidbey who are absolutely marvelous gardeners,” she said. “But for those who are just starting out, I tell them there’s only two things you need as you walk around your yard — a coffee cup in the morning and wine glass in the evening.”

She’s recommends the technique so the want-to-be grower learns to observe what grows naturally, how the sunlight slants and where shade is prevalent. How to grow — and keep healthy — all kinds of flowers, succulents, shrubs, fruit trees, vegetables, grasses and ground cover are just a few of the topics covered by trained master gardeners who sustain their own county hotline.

South Whidbey Tilth specializes in sustainability, leading classes in choosing the best seeds and sowing methods for the local climate. At its Sunday farmers’ market, Tilth often offers demonstrations and encourages people to bring in excess bounty, such as squash, potatoes and carrots to sell at a communal booth. “Rather than putting it on your neighbor’s porch in the middle of the night, drop it off at our booth on Saturday or Sunday,” said Ida Gianopulos. She works CONTINUED ON 11

An enticing selection of common and uncommon • plants ••

••

Vintage Home & Garden Gifts Open Daily www.christiansonsnursery.com

15806 Best Road • Mount Vernon • 360-466-3821

Green thumb as a land steward on Tilth’s 11 acres at Thompson Road and State Road 525.

Farmers markets abound

from late March to September and are scheduled on different days in different locations so there’s always a place for fresh veggies, fruit and other homemade goodies Thursdays through Sundays. Increasingly, more folk are plucking dinner, or parts of it, from their own homegrown produce. Some parts of the island also report their community pea patches are full with names on waiting lists. Even elementary schoolchildren play in the dirt, learning about soil, compost, planting, watering and picking their bounty from school gardens.

“More and more people are

adding edibles into their home gardens,” said Molly Heggenes, co-owner of Venture Out Nursery in Clinton. “It’s the trend of farm-to-table concept. Also, keeping things as natural as possible but still having a pretty landscape with a defined look and low maintenance is popular.” Whidbey’s large population of retired folk is also taking to gardening that doesn’t involve bending, stooping or mucking about on hands and knees. Local nurseries report brisk sales on raised table gardens that allow standing or sitting and container gardens. More and more, multiple large pots for growing small patches of herbs, lettuce and other salad tidbits are popping up on porches. Keeping produce off the ground also foils Whidbey’s most pesky critters — deer and rabbits. “The No. 1 problem is dealing with the over-population of deer,” Heggenes said. “The second one is rabbits.” Langley has its own “special” kind of breeding bunnies, supposedly the result of two escapees from the fair’s 4-H exhibit many years and ears ago. They are notorious nibblers of veggie gardens and love to leave behind burrowing holes, their signature sign.

But lots of hutches of wild rabbits also live in the forests, ferns and front yards around Whidbey. “Having a fenced-in garden that is rabbit proof is the only solution,” Heggenes said. “It can be a real challenge to deal with the bunnies around here.”

Top: Molly Heggenes, co-owner of Venture Out Nursery in Clinton, prepares for spring flower sales. Bottom right: Budding blossoms at Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens, a peaceful woodland spot open year-round with a nursery, concerts and four miles of walking paths. Bottom left: The home of Patti Lang, south of Deception Pass, was part of the 2017 Oak Harbor Garden Club Tour. She roamed her property’s 30 acres and selected only native plants to design her terraced, sloped front. “If it’s intended to grow in the wild, it’s intended to grow here,” she said.

FLOORING CONNECTIONS 360-588-9663

Spatz of Washington LLC

Brian Boyle

9025 Molly Lane, Anacortes WA 98221

GENERAL CONTRACTOR New Construction - Remodeling - Additions

360-678-6040 Lic#CC01SPATZWL953PR

Please call

Broadview Appliance

Your Connection To Quality Flooring

for all of your major appliance needs!

1-800-679-3878 Oak Harbor Broadviewappliance.com

Hardwood Carpet Tile Cabinets Countertops Luxury Vinyl Island Home Living | 11

Mix and match

2018 design ideas to refresh, refocus you home Are you planning to refresh your home but aren’t sure where to start? Some of today’s most popular design trends encourage mixing and matching favorite home accents within the same space.

Coordinating complementary pieces creates a cohesive feel to the home. It can also reinforce a unique style because the ultimate outcome is a custom design. Here are a few ways to master the mix and match trend. MIX MONOCHROMATIC ACCENTS Tone-on-tone designs are very popular in kitchens, bathrooms, entryways and living areas. Countertops, cabinets and home accents in varying shades of grays and creams can create a sophisticated statement. These tones pair perfectly with gold, brass or brushed nickel finishes.

DESIGN WITH DUAL TONES Mixed metals or dual tones are on-trend and very popular in home design today. This look can be achieved through mixing fixtures with different, but complementary finishes. For example, Progress Lighting offers fixtures that feature finishes with contrasting accents, such as antique bronze and brass, antique bronze and natural brass or polished nickel with silver ridge -- adding visual interest.

PENDANT GROUPINGS Pendant groupings are commonly used in a foyer, over a kitchen island or above a dining room table. These versatile fixtures can be mixed and matched to create a custom cluster design for a statement-making look.

Roof Cleaning • Pressure Washing Moss Abatement BRIAN TURNER, Owner/Operator

EW EY N S GR DB 7

WH I

BEST OF

READERS CHOICE AWARDS

WH I

P OU

EW EY N S GR DB

THE

BEST OF

WHIDBEY READERS CHOICE AWARDS

WH I

P OU

EW EY N S GR DB

THE

BEST OF

WHIDBEY READERS CHOICE AWARDS

THE

360-395-5748

P OU

THE

WHIDBEY

BEST OF

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • License# CLEANCS851PA

A Disabled Veteran-Run Business Proudly Serving Our Veterans

Auto - Home Boat - RV • Computerized Gate Entry • Full Security • Well Lighted • Online Web Access • Online Bill Pay • On Site Manager

WHIDBEY READERS CHOICE AWARDS

Residential/Commercial • Oak Harbor

Rejuvenate, Refresh your Home & Garden with Lavender Plants and Home Decor! Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Gate Access: Daily 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.

1401 N Oak Harbor St • Oak Harbor, WA 98277 | 360-675-1516 www.walmarcstorage.com (Conveniently Located 1 mile from Saars Marketplace and 1 Mile from the NAS Whidbey Main Gate)

12 | Island Home Living

ACleanStreak.com • brian@acleanstreak.com

Town Shop: 15 Coveland Street | Coupeville Shop Hours: 10am - 5pm Daily Farm: Open Summer Season Only 360.544.4132 | www.lavenderwind.com

Whidbey’s music scene A guide to where to go to see musicians play live

WICKED TEUTON BREWING COMPANY at 1341 SW Barlow Street in Oak Harbor has occasional acoustic nights where patrons are welcome to play their own music. There are guitars on the walls anyone can pick up.

THE PRIMA BISTRO at 201 1/2 Street in Langley has a jazz saxophonist who will play occasionally. RUSTICA at 670 SE Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor has a Sunday Jazz Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and live music most Saturday nights

THE PENN COVE TAPROOM at 103 S. Main Street in Coupeville offers live music, often rock music, on Friday and Saturday nights and even has a “house band,” Mussel Flats.

OTT AND MURPHY WINES at 204 1st Street in Langley has live music 7-9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night. About 80 percent of the concerts are by local musicians and the rest are from the

BLOOMS WINERY at 5603 Bayview Road in Langley has live music on Fridays from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons 3-5 p.m. The second and fourth Thursdays are open mic days from 6-8 p.m. There’s outdoor seating when the weather is good.

THE MACHINE SHOP on Second Street in Langley offers live music on the first Saturday of each month from 7-10 p.m.

from 7-9 p.m. The music is by local bands and is described as “bluesy, folksy Americano.”

THE TAPROOM at Bayview Corner at 5603 Bayview Road on South Whidbey has live music from local bands Saturdays from 8-10 p.m.

Seattle area. They play jazz, pop; rock, blues and a little bit of everything, including an occasional troupe of comedians.

BAILEY’s CORNER at 7695 Cultus Bay Road in Clinton has an open mic and jam session each Tuesday and occasional bands and musicians.

CIAO at 701 Main Street in Coupeville offers live music on various nights of the week.

SLABS IN STOCK

WOOD FLOORING • TILE • CARPET • LUXURY VINYL

• Only Local Professional Installers • Competitive Prices

PARTY FAVORS • BALLOONS DECORATIONS • EVENTS PH: 360-544-3068 www.facebook.com/WhidbeyParty 270 SE CABOT DR, #2 OAK HARBOR

360.675.4978 687 Mobius Loop, Oak Harbor

www.whidbeyislandfair.com

JULY 19-22, 2018

DOING DIRT RIGHT SINCE 1974 TOPSOIL • BARK • COMPOST • ROCK • MULCH DELIVERY LARGE AND SMALL

Like us on:

REPAIR & SALES

CONT #NORTHGF932CG

www.nwgraniteandflooring.com

* Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/12/16 – 6/27/16 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card Like us on: balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2016 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

REPAIR & SALES

Still haven’t seen the light?

Ace is the Place where we’ll treat you right.

* Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 4/12/16 – 6/27/16 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 6 weeks of rebate claim receipt. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. © 2016 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.

Your Locally Owned

360.293.7188 Mon - Fri • 8 am to 5 pm • Sat • 8 am to 4 pm

LIC# SUNLABTO88PL

12469 Reservation Road • Anacortes • www.sunlandtopsoil.com

We are proud to serve our military and their families who have so bravely served our country

150 SE Pioneer Way

360-679-3533 Island Home Living | 13

North Puget Sound Association of Realtors 2017 AWARDS

Every year, the North Puget Sound Association of Realtors® honors a select group of outstanding people from the membership and the greater community. We are proud to recognize these leaders for their dedication to their industry and their contributions to the communities they serve, protection of private property rights, education, fundraising and other charitable work.

Realtor Community Service Award

Rookie of The Year

Dominic Pettruzzelli

Heather Bergen

Keller Williams Western Realty

Award of Excellence Recipients The “Award of Excellence” is a service provided to the members of the North Puget Sound Association of REALTORS® for the purpose of honoring members of the Association who have achieved certain and specific high standards of qualification. The “Award of Excellence” is to recognize REALTORS® for their outstanding contributions to the Association and the real estate community.

Gold Award Recipients Debbie Macy

Windermere Real Estate Anacortes

Elizabeth Miller

Windermere Skagit Valley Mount Vernon

Kathi Phillips

RE/MAX Acorn Properties Oak Harbor

Carla Fischer

Skagit Tradition Realty Mount Vernon

Dominic Pettruzzelli

Keller Williams Western Burlington

Bronze Award Recipients

Silver Award Recipients Heather Berger

Keller Williams Western Realty

Karen Petersen John L. Scott Anacortes

Sara Fish

Preview Properties Skagit, LLC

Designated Broker Gold Award Recipients

Alisha Legaspi

Remaxx Acorn Properties, Oak Harbor

Team Bronze Award Recipients Dayna Wolf

Skagit Tradition Realty Mount Vernon

14 | Island Home Living

Paul Weisz

Windermere Real Estate Anacortes

Terri Neilon

RE/MAX Acorn Properties Oak Harbor

Paige & Tony Bates RE/MAX Acorn Properties Oak Harbor

PREVENTION IS

EVERYTHING

We are making one of your neighbor's trees safer and more beautiful.

Call now for your

We are making one of your neighbor's trees safer and more beautiful. Save 10% With this Coupon!

Free Consultation! Beautify your home. Safe for future generations.

800-684-8733

(limit 1 discount per customer, discount must be requested at time of sale.)

Free Consultation!

Beautify your home. Northwest’s Largest Tree Preservation Company ISA Member on Staff 14205

Safe for future generations.

WE ARE(800) HIRING, Call 684-8733 the highest integrity people.

Apply online at EvergreenTLC.com

Serving the Northwest since 1986

ISA Member on Staff 14205

Call (800) 684-8733 Serving the Northwest since 1986

EVERGREENTLC.COM

Island Home Living | 15

Do more with fiber optics! Join with many of your neighbors in Langley, Bayview, Freeland, and Clinton who have already signed up for The Big Gig internet with Whidbey Telecom. Stream movies at the same time you are checking your stocks online. Work from your Whidbey home without the commute. Call us today to install The Big Gig.

WHY CHOOSE THE BIG GIG® FROM WHIDBEY TELECOM?

• Free Installation • Unlimited Bandwidth • Free WiFi Signal Strength Scan • HOP WiFi Optimizes Performance • 24/7 Local Tech Support • WireGuard Guarantee

TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER, CALL US AT 360-321-1926 Or visit our Customer Experience Center at

1651 MAIN ST. IN FREELAND Get the fastest, most reliable Internet available on Whidbey today.

THE BIG GIG DIFFERENCE: NO DATA CAPS & NO CONTRACT *Available in select areas of South Whidbey. The Big Gig internet residential service is $70/month. One HOP WiFi unit is $10/month. Additional HOP WiFi units are $5/month. Pricing subject to change. Actual speed of your service will depend on a number of factors. Certain other restrictions may apply.

16 | Island Home Living

L E A R N M O R E AT W H I D B E Y. CO M / B I G - G I G