STANWOOD — The annual Country Living Expo and Cattlemen’s Winterschool is the best one-day DIY convention around.
The expo, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 30 at Stanwood High School, offers a choice of 175 workshops and classes along with the chance to hang out with experts on many topics.
Those subjects include bees, edible wild plants, mushroom cultivation, curing bacon, saving seeds, fruit tree pruning, bats, soils, growing your own wedding flowers and building a fence or small garden shed.
“Our program has grown to include not only rural farmers and cattle producers but also homeowners, backyard farmers and urban apartment dwellers,” said coordinator Joan DeVries in a press release from Washington State University Extension in Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties.
The cost of the expo, $75 for adults, might sound hefty at first, but remember that it includes five class sessions, continental breakfast at 7 a.m., prime rib lunch at noon, a fleece and fiber “palooza” and a trade show with more than 70 vendors. It’s a deal, and even more so for middle and high school students who get in for $40 each.
The last day to register online is Friday at countrylivingexpo.wufoo.com. Otherwise, you can pay at the door. Note, however, that some of the classes might already be filled by expo day Jan. 30.
In addition to the expo, there are farm tours Sunday, with stops at five farms from Carnation to Lopez Island, for an additional fee.
The WSU Extension expo is hosted by the award-winning Stanwood High School FFA, one of the best Future Farmer groups in the country. Other sponsors include the Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association and the USDA Sustainable Agriculture program.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
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