PALMER BUZZ: July 18, 2017

Salad Days: This is what our Valley gardens are all about. Fresh lettuces and greens come straight from our sweet soil instead of being shipped up the highway, hauled by semi-trucks.

If You’re a Pea, This is Your Week!

It’s time to dangle. Sweet peas, snap peas, sugar peas, seeded peas, field peas all make their debut this week. They smell good and taste good. Palmer flower farmer Misty Vanderweele has a sweet pea tunnel growing—which should be pretty intoxicating, so make sure you have a designated driver. Catch up with Misty at “All Dahlia’d Up” at 232-4580.

Lilly Show

It’s been a slow growing season but this is when everyone catches up. Day lillies are screaming hello this week along with the continuing aromatic peony crop.

Continuing Summer Crazy

The Palmer Golf marathon is this weekend. Bikes of all sorts are everywhere and there’s lots of music at the bars.

The Butte trailhead is totally occupied and Matanuska Peak has had more than a few successful ascents this summer.

This week’s bear sightings include after the first hump on Lazy Mountain trail, lower side on Lazy Moose Trail and definitely up on Government Peak hiking and biking area. BE BEAR AWARE.

Fiber and Fleece

This weekend is the Second Annual Mat Su Fiber Arts Festival at the Fairground in the Livestock Building. This is truly an undiscovered surprise for many.

Weavers, quilters, knitters and other fleece and fiber enthusiasts come together to unwind and unravel. And it’s fun. There are furry animals who share and produce fibers of all types. There will be a bunny, sheep and goat shows. Animals will be sheared. There will be lots of arts and crafts, classes, wet felting, spinning and weaving. There are amazingly woven garments and pieces of cloth that you must touch and pet.

If you need more info, call Michelle Olsen at 907-354-4184.

See Entitlement Issues in Your Youth? Bring them to Cardboard City

This event begins on Friday at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. This is one of those self-teaching activities which can make a lifetime of difference in terms of community understanding. It is a local simulation of homelessness. It offers valuable lessons illustrating how misfortune can bring a family down. There is a lot of homelessness in our Valley. Increased compassion is necessary for neighbors to learn empathy for others—who are not as fortunate.

There is a soup and bread line. There are cardboard shelters or you can build your own and you sleep in it. Or you can sleep in your car. There is an all night coffee, tea and cocoa to allow meaningful conversations. There are free t-shirts. There will be testimonials and success stories. Adele Morgan will be singing and there is additional music. This is an experiential eye opener for those who feel totally entitled.

All proceeds go to Family Promise Mat Su which is a an organization which uses area church buildings and congregations to offer hospitality to families without housing. Families receive meals, support and case management to regain their self-sufficiency. Get details at Family Promise at 357-6160.