Kingston celebrates

Earth Day

More than ever, the North End of Kitsap County is leading the way in celebrating ‘green’ living – providing avenues to learn about sustainability practices and enticing outdoor events that bring increasing attention to this neck of the woods. Two long-standing favorite community events every spring have served as the greening energy the other activities sprout from: the Kingston Farmers’ Market opening and EcoFest, held on the same day each year on the Saturday nearest the national Earth Day observance.

This year, the farmers’ market and EcoFest take place Saturday, April 19. Both events bring out the best of the North End, from the bounty of spring gardens to the ‘green collar’ organizations and businesses devoted to lightening their footprint on the earth and teaching others to do the same. Throw in heaping plates of delicious food, live music, drama and art, water views and enthusiastic residents thrilled to shake off winter, and you have one of the best days Kingston has to offer.

The Earth Day celebrations are trimmed down a bit from the past: not wanting to miss out on EcoFest and the farmers’ market, the Friends of the Kingston Library decided to reschedule their annual spring booksale to later in the month so its members could get to the other events. (The booksale will be April 26.) The Art Walk that has also been scheduled the same day as EcoFest previously was cancelled this year, though the Kingston Revitalization Association and Kingston Art Gallery, who usually sponsor the event, will both be have tables at EcoFest.

Kingston Farmers’

Market opening day

The Kingston Farmers’ Market celebrates opening day of the 2008 season with its first market of spring from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19, settled in at Mike Wallace Park at the Port of Kingston.

Market manager Clint Dudley said there will be a lot of extra produce vendors during this 19th season, and he’s looking forward to kicking it off. On opening day, classical guitarist Cesar Medel will bring a fine ambience to the festivities.

Make coming down to the market on Saturdays a weekly outing to stock up on fresh, organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables, household plants, vegetable starts, garden art, baked goods, jam, honey and lots more. Pick up a plate of steaming food and enjoy it at one of the picnic tables in the park while taking in great entertainment, fresh air, community conversation and fabulous views.

The market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 11. Live music takes place each week. WSU Extension Master Gardeners are on hand to answer questions and kids’ activities will be sprinkled throughout the season.

For more information on the market, e-mail kingstonfarm@earthlink.net or go to www.kingstonfarmersmarket.com.

EcoFest: an Earth Day

ecology festival

EcoFest is the most exciting way to celebrate Earth Day in Kitsap County. This free community celebration takes place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday April 19 at Stillwaters Environmental Education Center, located at 26059 Barber Cut Off Road in Kingston.

EcoFest features a huge selection of vendors and displays with all kinds of environmental education and eco-friendly products, from Smart Cars to a horned owl. There is great music, food, and entertainment all day. Don’t forget to park at Gordon Elementary School or Bayside Community Church, where there is plenty of parking and a free shuttle van to EcoFest and the Kingston Farmers’ Market.

It will be a fun and informational day for the whole community, with plenty to do for all ages. Bring the kids, because children’s activities abound. A new feature this year is the chance for kids to build “Habitat Huts,” special places in the woods for wildlife, designed by the human artists.

West Sound Wildlife Shelter returns to EcoFest with its feathered ambassador, Orion, the Great Horned Owl, making an appearance between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

But because Stillwaters is a wildlife reserve, dogs and other pets are not allowed.

Food will be available from J’aimes Les Crepes, Kingston Rotary, TreeRoot Edibles and Sweets & Savories.

Entertainment will keep the festival lively all day, with music and drama from the Carpenter Creek Chorus, Fiddle Tunes and the hilarious Frog Chorus.

Over 35 environmental resource booths and displays will provide hands-on information on topics for everyday “green” living. Some of these will include: hybrid cars and other alternative transportation; earth-friendly office and household products from Absolutely Organic Clothing, Olympic Printer Resources, Grounds for Change, Tom’s of Maine and Lucky Star Consignment Clothing; climate change, water quality and conservation and septic systems with the Kitsap County Health District and Stream Teams; massages; natural gardening with Natural Landscapes Project, Dinkelman Worm Farm, WSU Extension Master Gardeners, Kingston Garden Club, Spectrum Sustainable School Garden, Flora & Fauna Landscape Design, EnviroSound Consulting and Emu Composting; recycling and hazardous waste and litter clean up with Kitsap Public Works; green building materials with Natural Floors and Kitsap Homebuilders Association; and wildlife protection with the National Wildlife Federation, The Wild Bird store, Kitsap Audubon, Suquamish Tribal Fisheries (bringing an aquarium with Carpenter Creek fish).

Other community organizations scheduled to attend include Common Threads, Friends of Miller Bay, Olympic College, Great Peninsula Conservancy, Poulsbo Fish Park, Kingston Parks & Trails Sub-Committee, Kingston Rotary, Yes! Magazine, North Kitsap Trails Association, and others.

The Kingston Revitalization Association will be selling raffle tickets for local artwork with proceeds benefiting the hanging flower baskets that appear on lampposts in downtown Kingston beginning on Mother’s Day.

Ongoing during EcoFest is the annual Stillwaters Native Plant Sale. All plants are priced from $5 to $25. Some of the plants available include: crabapple, madrona, mock orange, currant, spirea, ninebark, snowberry, kinnikinnick, salal, ferns, maples, firs, cedars, spruce and pines

Sponsors of EcoFest are Kingston Dental Center, Olympic Printer Resources, Randy Kan Portable Restrooms, The Wild Bird, Tucker’s Topsoil, Sweets & Savories, J’aime Les Crepes, Bayside Community Church, Cuppa Bella & Kingston Frame Shop, Kingston Crossing Chiropractic, Tom’s of Maine, Kingston Thriftway, Earth Sun Moon Trading Company, Natural Floors, Kitsap County Public Utilities District, Trader Joe’s and The Evans Agency-Farmers Insurance.

For more information on EcoFest, call Stillwaters at (360) 297-2876 or e-mail info@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org.

April 19 Schedule of Events:

Kingston Farmers’ Market

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mike Wallace Park, Port of Kingston marina

EcoFest

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stillwaters Environmental Education Center, 26059 Barber Cut Off Road

Parking is available at Bayside Community Church, Gordon Elementary School and at the port. Free shuttle vans will provide transportation between events.