Baker Backdrop at Molly & Dave Harmoney's Garden

Watch for the 2012 date of the Fourth Annual Edible Garden Tour to Pedal, Snap, Ask, and Enjoy!

This event is excellent for bicycling, for photography, for enjoying Lummi Island’s nature, and for learning (and stealing ideas!) to plant and grow edible gardens. You’ll see every shape and size, from one square foot to multiple acres, including orchards. Last year gardens received visitors as early as 8:30 a.m. and as late as 6 p.m.

All proceeds benefit Beach Elementary School’s future through the not-for-profit Beach School Foundation. The Foundation is grateful for all the sponsors, donations, and especially the gardeners who proudly opened their plots on this special day.

Third annual tour featured 18 Island gardens last July

Henry Austin’s garden at Migley Point once again attracted huge crowds, approximately 170, who also enjoyed a tour of his three acres that feature views of Seal Rock, an eagle aerie, and his fabulous stacks of chopped wood. The tour of edible gardens has become a major attraction on Lummi Island each summer with stops ranging from the huge fields of Nettles Farm to the sprawling gardens/orchards at Harmoneys next to the ferry landing, and even some one-square-foot gardens.

The custom-designed T-shirt that serves as a ticket has become a collector’s item!

Requests for an encore performance by Eric Foxman brought his one-man performance of short stories, “Oh! O. Henry!” back to Lummi Island for his extraordinary presentation on Feb. 25, 2012. He previously staged the unique O. Henry show at Beach School in August 2010. Both performances served as excellent fund-raisers of several hundreds of dollars for Beach School Foundation in its ongoing support of Beach Elementary.

“Oh! O.Henry!” comprises short story masterpieces by popular early 20th century writer O. Henry. Mr. Foxman brought the stories alive in a theatrical tour-de-force, weaving together four stories that wowed the audience.

While the stories entertained, the history behind them enriched. Between interspersed pieces, Mr. Foxman shared his research into the real life of Will Porter (nom de plume O. Henry). Such the writer, such the man, such the  life.

Anyone who hasn’t seen Mr. Foxman/O. Henry come to life has missed something very special. Maybe again next year? He not only has provided fine storytelling,  his gracious donation of time and talent has resulted in more than $1,000 of donations that will benefit our Beach School students.

With generous hosting by Islanders to eliminate expenses, all proceeds benefit the co-sponsoring Beach School Foundation and the Beach School PTO. A few benevolent Islanders who made large cash donations (you know who you are) deserve our deepest appreciation, along with each of you who spared what you could.

Many thanks to our PTO colleagues who baked and otherwise provided intermission goodies. It takes an Island, after all.

Julie Hunter
Beach School Foundation Chair

More about “Oh! O. Henry!”

Mr. Foxman told us after his first visit, “I am honored to be able to give these stories as a gift to Lummi Island and offer this program as a grateful tribute to this master of American literature.” His previous performance coincided with the 100th anniversary of Will Porter/O. Henry’s death.

The performances on Lummi Island have been part of an Eric Foxman Tour that includes stops in Washington, Oregon, and Vermont.

Edible Garden Tour Map

Beach School Foundation is grateful for these contributors who covered expenses for our 3rd annual tour of Islanders’ gardens:

Cascade Chiropractic, Dr. Woody Bernard
Island Quality Painting
Willows Inn
Lummi Island Realty
Three Pheasant Farm
Jamison Construction
The Perfect Mocha.com

A heartfelt thank you, from the Beach School Foundation Board and Edible Garden Tour participants and volunteers!

Edible Garden Tour Map

On Sunday, October 10, local organizers of the Perennial Project 10-10-10 global initiative provided Beach School with marvelous free additions to its garden, and 22 volunteers turned out for planting and garden maintenance chores.

Eight adults and 14 Beach School students worked two hours on the garden during a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon.

As part of a  Global Work Party organized by 350.org, the Whatcom County School Garden Collective (WCSGC) donated rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, and chives to the Beach School garden.

Aligning with the mission of sustainability by avoiding transportation using fossil fuel, Angela Packard delivered the plants by bicycle. She rode from Bellingham to the ferry at Gooseberry Point, and from the Lummi Island ferry dock to the school. Angela’s daughter Mara is a third-grader at Beach.

The volunteer corps weeded plant beds, mulched the path, and mowed the orchard.  Students created herb beds utilizing rocks along the perimeter of the garden, guided by Tessa Bundy, the Beach School’s garden educator. Everybody yummied up on Tessa’s homemade crisp made from apples and rhubarb grown in the Beach School garden.

Beach School thanks all volunteer participants who helped prep the garden for winter, and the sponsors of the Perennial Project.

3786 Centerview Road, Lummi Island , WA 98262
Phone: (360) 383-9440
email: PTOBeachSchool@gmail.com

Enjoy our PTO Blog here.

Buffy Fox, President
Angie Dixon, Vice-President
Jackie Granger, Treasurer
Kathy Buford, Secretary
Julie Hirsh, Volunteer Coordinator