Examiner The Whidbey
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
VOL. 20, NO. 27
Library series focusing on agriculture By Ron Newberry Staff reporter
Even though skies are gray these days, gardeners on Whidbey Island are itching to get outside and work their soil. That was evident Monday night when Central Whidbey farmer Linda Bartlett was greeted at Coupeville Library by an audience that was larger than she expected. Two rows of chairs soon became three, and then tables were added in the back of the room to allow for a total of about 40 people to pack in and listen to Bartlett talk about what people can do now to prepare for the gardening season ahead. One of the first things Bartlett advised to eager gardeners ready to bundle up and start digging is to tread cautiously. “You can do more harm than good by jumping into your soil too soon,” Bartlett said. “The hardest Bartlett thing is patience, but it really pays off.” Bartlett, who operates Rosehip Farm & Garden along with partner Valerie Reuther on Fort Casey Road in Coupeville, said working saturated soils too early can result in adverse consequences. She said wet soil that gets compacted can resemble a hard clump of cement when it dries, making land difficult to till. Bartlett said a good test to see if your soil is ready to work is to dig down about 6 to 8 inches, grab a hunk of soil and squeeze it in your hands. Then toss the soil ball in the air about 6 inches and catch it. If the soil stays in a clump, it’s not ready, Bartlett said. But if it crumbles apart into finer pieces upon landing in your hand, that’s a good sign it’s time to prepare your garden beds. “To know when to start, and when not, is an important part of spring,” Bartlett said. “Unless you’re in a sandy area, there’s not a lot you can do now (with your soil).” Barlett’s appearance is part of a series of talks being held at Coupeville Library this month with the focus on agriculture. The third and final speaker in the series will be Coupeville farmer Wilbur Purdue on Feb. 23. Purdue, who owns Prairie Bottom Farm, will talk 5:30-7:30 p.m. about farming within Ebey’s Prairie. Leslie Franzen, managing librarian at Coupeville Library, said the library is diligent about choosing topics that reflect com-
See Series, page 12
Megan Hansen photos
Billie Barb built two displays at the Coupeville and Freeland libraries sharing her collection of antique valentines. The displays will be up for the month of February at both locations.
love of valentines
Woman shares cards dating back to 1880 By Megan Hansen Co-Editor
For collector Billie Barb, it’s as much about the story behind a valentine as the gift itself. Barb, a Mutiny Bay resident, has scoured antique shops and the Internet for 40 years searching for beautifully crafted antique Valentine’s cards. And she’s been quite successful, accumulating enough valentines for two displays at the Coupeville and Freeland libraries, something she’s been doing for several years. Barb’s displays will be up at both libraries for the month of February as her way of sharing her appreciation of the keepsakes with the public. “They’re fun,” Barb said. “They’re just so beautiful. You can’t find them today.” Her collection spans from 1880 to the midto-late 1940s. Most of the cards were made in Germany. She found her first antique valentine about 40 years ago. “I just ran across one that was so beautiful,” Barb said. She used to find them in antique stores,
but in recent years has moved to scouring the Internet. “Rarely do you find them now, and they’re not in very good shape,” Barb said of finding cards in shops. But online shopping can be just as tricky. “They’ve become quite popular,” she said. “Bidding can get quite ferocious.” The valentines closest to Barb’s heart are small, heart-shaped ones produced in the United States by the Whitney Company because those were the types of valentines she gave out as a child. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a single one from my childhood,” she said.
See Collection, page 12
Barb was able to trace the origins of this valentine sent in 1880.