Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month offers woolly wonders

The entire month of April is full of events.

This April, Whidbey residents have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the fluffy sheep that provide fleece for fiber artists to transform into something wearable.

One of many events, “A Little Fiber Fest: From Sheep to Cloth,” is part of Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month, which is sponsored by the Goosefoot Community Fund.

Organized by the Sno-Isle Libraries, the Fiber Fest runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 19 at Bayview Hall and will have tables set up for various steps of the fiber process.

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It’s shearing season, and farmer Kevin Dunham is busy collecting wool from his flock of sheep. Dunham will have a table set up in the hall, along with spinning with South Whidbey spinners and Janice Smith, dyeing with Elin Noble, felting, knitting and crocheting, and weaving with the Whidbey Weavers Guild. Dunham hopes to lead a live shearing demonstration at his farm just down the road.

Karen Achabal, a library associate at the Langley Library, said kids will collect a stamp or sticker at each station and have the opportunity to trade them in for a copy of children’s book “Charlie Needs a Cloak” while supplies last.

“I myself am a spinner and a knitter, and I dabbled a lot in the other fiber crafts,” Achabal said.

Visit the website whidbeyearthday.org for a full listing of the events. For now, here’s a sampling.

Oak Harbor

Kids can learn about tidepools and the animals that call them home from Deception Pass State Park staff at “Ranger Hour: Sensational Superheroes of the Sea,” 4-5 p.m. on April 4 at the Oak Harbor Library. All ages are welcome; adult caretakers must be present for the duration of the entire program.

Looking to make your home more environmentally friendly? Attend the launch of the Kicking Gas program 5-7:30 p.m. on April 5 at the Oak Harbor Boys and Girls Club. Enjoy free food, entertainment, games and fun for the whole family and meet local organizations tabling the event. Participants of the program can save 20% to 100% on converting their homes to efficient, cost-effective measures such as ductless heat pumps and electric cooking appliances. Registration not required for attendees.

To celebrate spring, children ages 4+ and their caregivers are invited to plant seeds and decorate a mini planter box to take home 2-3 p.m. on April 9 at the Oak Harbor Library. All materials will be provided.

Hear the tale of two years spent at sea by Oak Harbor residents John Goebel and Karen Cox and their golden retriever Sonny. The “Whidbey Wonders” will tell their story 4-5 p.m. on April 17 at the Oak Harbor Library. The couple visited 13 countries, travelled 8,021 nautical miles and stopped at 57 ports of call. Expect to hear about their favorite places and challenges they faced along the way.

The Whidbey Island Conservation District is organizing an Earth Day School Garden Volunteer Work Party at Crescent Harbor and Oak Harbor elementary schools, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 19. The Whidbey Island School Garden Coalition is working to revitalize garden spaces in public schools. To learn more or to register, contact Hannah Andersen at hannah@whidbeycd.org.

Can’t tell the difference between a product’s “expiration,” “sell by” or “best by” dates? Attend a program aimed at reducing food waste, 4-5 p.m. on April 22 at the Oak Harbor Library. Washington State University Extension Waste Wise Program Coordinator Sarah Bergquist will educate participants about the many myths of food and yard waste, which includes how to compost, even if you live in an apartment, condo or HOA.

Coupeville

Join nature photographer Isabelle Edwards as she shares her experiences capturing owls, 7-8:30 p.m. on April 10 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. Edwards, 22, has spent the past six years locating, observing and photo-documenting the mysterious nocturnal birds. This is the general meeting of the Whidbey Audubon Society. The event is free and open to the public.

Take a tour of the Keystone Preserve with a Whidbey Camano Land Trust host, 2-3:30 p.m., April 16. Attendance is limited to 20 to 25 people. Contact Celia Metz at greennewsfromcelia@gmail.com or 858-740-1346 to register. The group will see ecological restoration in progress, such as the removal of invasive blackberry and other aggressive non-native plants.

Learn how to support honeybees and pollinators from Master Gardeners at an event 6-7 p.m., April 16 at the Coupeville Library. From choosing the right plants to understanding bee behavior, the presentation will inform people how to help these essential insects thrive.

What is road ecology, and how is wildlife impacted by it? An event 1-2 p.m. April 17 at Beaver Tales Coffee seeks to answer this question. Every year millions of animals die due to the 4 million miles of roads in the USA alone. The gathering will be led by Gary Piazzon, a retired physical therapist with a long history of environmental education, advocacy and activism. Contact 360-720-3331 to RSVP.

Celebrate an Earth Day Fair at Camp Casey, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 19. There will be a variety of booths from different organizations, and plenty of opportunities to hike. Join the Whidbey Camano Land Trust in walking Ebey’s Trail System, 9 a.m. to noon, weeding and improving as you go along. The land trust has another walk through Camp Casey’s Heritage Forest, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Interested in boat racing? Jesse Wiegel, the race boss at Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, will lead a presentation about various adventure races, including Race to Alaska, SEVENTY48 and WA360, from 3-4:30 p.m. on April 23 at the Coupeville Library. Wiegel has experience sailing aboard traditional tall ships.

Piazzon plans to lead another discussion at Beaver Tales Coffee, this time on AI, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on April 24. Get ready to talk about Chatbots, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the differences between generative and predictive AI, their potential and limitations, as well as the chances for these machines to achieve consciousness and their current and anticipated environmental impacts. Call 360-720-3331 to RSVP.

Join Scott Price, the founder of Price Sculpture Forest, 10 a.m. to noon on April 26 for a personal tour discussing how nature can enhance art and art can enhance nature. Entry is free and no reservations are required.

The Coupeville Farm to School program is hosting a spring potluck and open house, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 26. Located at 501 S. Main Street.

Learn all about harvesting seaweed from Jeanie McElwain of Sound Water Stewards, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on April 29 at Libbey Beach Park. The event organized by Sno-Isle Libraries delves into Whidbey’s best edible seaweeds at the largest kelp forest in the state. Information provided on how to obtain a seaweed collection license.

South Whidbey

Throughout the month, visit rePurpose’s new location at the Whidbey Island Fairgrounds’ Coffman Building to shop for reusable items such as art supplies, packing materials, fabric, cards and gift bags. Items are available by donation. Open hours are noon to 4 p.m. on April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; noon to 2 p.m. on April 19; 5-7 p.m. on April 22; and 2-4 p.m. on April 24.

Join South Whidbey Tilth for a prairie restoration work party in the upper meadow to cut back blackberries and clear around the Garry oak trees, 10 a.m. to noon on April 5. The first half hour is an orientation of which understory plants to look for before getting to work. Bring clippers, loppers and hori horis (Japanese digging knives). Dress for the weather and wear heavy gloves. Location is 2812 Thompson Road, Langley. RSVP with the following form: https://forms.gle/TRuDBxSjrSkhzga86.

Richard Gammon and Paul Belanger will lead a discussion on climate issues and solutions, 6-7:30 p.m. on April 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island, located at 20103 Highway 525, Freeland.

Don your best sea-themed costume for the annual Welcome the Whales parade and festivities April 12. Costume-making, facepainting and activities at Langley United Methodist Church, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade begins at 2 p.m., followed by a waterside ceremony at Seawall Park, 2:30-3:30 p.m. The next day, April 13, is a presentation with John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research Collective at noon at the Langley Whale Center. There will be a fundraising boat trip with Puget Sound Express 3-5 p.m.

The public is invited to Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra’s fourth annual “Rhythms of Nature – Percussion, Prose, and Poetry” program, 2-3:30 p.m. on April 13 at Greenbank Farm. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. The program includes an eclectic mix of chamber music, primarily focused on the percussion family, alongside spoken word performances.

The Whidbey Institute and the Whidbey Environmental Action Network are joining forces to present “Fish War,” a 2024 documentary, 7-9 p.m. on April 15 at the Whidbey Institute’s Thomas Berry Hall. A discussion will follow the documentary, which explores the events surrounding a Supreme Court case that upheld Indigenous, treaty-reserved fishing rights and laid a path for co-management of fisheries and habitat between tribes and the state. The film is appropriate for ages 13 and up. Tickets are available on a sliding scale with free popcorn and refreshments provided. A portion of proceeds will go to the organization Salmon Defense.

South Whidbey Fire/EMS and community partners are hosting a Preparedness Conference 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 19 at South Whidbey High School. The free event will include a range of guest speakers and breakout sessions for participants. Lunch will not be provided, but snacks and refreshments will be available. Visit swfe.org/register-today-for-the-2025-preparedness-conference to register.

Clinton Community Hall welcomes the public to a fundraiser and celebration, 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 19. There is a suggested donation of $30 that will help raise money for new windows and doors. Stop by to see recent improvements to the hall, enjoy drinks, snacks and dancing, and participate in a silent auction.

Learn about woodpeckers of Washington at an event from 2-3:30 p.m. on April 22 at the Freeland Library. Master birder Connie Sidles will educate attendees about the state’s 13 different species.

Perry Lovelace of Whidbey Watershed Stewards will lead a presentation on a hot topic, the Whidbey Island aquifer, 5-6 p.m. on April 22. The event takes place in Room 109 of the South Whidbey Community Center. Lovelace has 25 years of experience in groundwater management. He is the Bayview Beach Water District Commissioner and serves as a Langley Public Works Advisory Commissioner.

Take a tour of Good Cheer Food Bank’s farm program, BIG Acre, 4-6 p.m. on April 23. Share a delicious potluck with fellow community members. RSVP is required, since space is limited to 20 participants. Reserve your spot by emailing outreach@goodcheer.org. The suggested donation is $10.

Join Whidbey Watershed Stewards for Nettle Fest, 2-4 p.m. on April 27 at Freeland Wetland Preserves, 1820 Newman Road. Jeremy McKnight has planned a number of activities for the day, including nettle soup, nettle tea, and basket making.

(Photo by David Welton)
Kevin Dunham collects the wool with daughters Saoirse, left, and Fiona in 2022.

(Photo by David Welton) Kevin Dunham collects the wool with daughters Saoirse, left, and Fiona in 2022.

(Photo by David Welton)
Kevin Dunham shears a young ewe at his farm in 2022.

(Photo by David Welton) Kevin Dunham shears a young ewe at his farm in 2022.

(Photo by David Welton)
Kevin Dunham feeds two lambs by bottle this week.

(Photo by David Welton) Kevin Dunham feeds two lambs by bottle this week.