“Steadfast” sounds like “The Little Engine That Could,” and that's what the shiitake is all about. Shiitake is one of the easiest and most productive fungi to grow, producing more flushes of fresh mushrooms for you - up to five on average - when grown in sawdust or grain. When grown on logs,…

Waterville Emergency Medical Services is currently looking for volunteers.

This past Saturday saw the last Farmer’s Market in Waterville for 2021. The inaugural series of three events was such a success that the Waterville Mainstreet Association has committed to hosting it again next year.

Carol Cowling was presented the 2021 NCW Fair Volunteer of the Year award on the last day of the fair at the Sunday rodeo.

The plight of the bees is a topic close to every gardener's heart. I never knew that there were "other" types of bees that didn't make honey; I certainly do know about - and dearly love - honey bees. As a child, I recall vividly that first taste of delightful honey. It was on a soft dinner r…

After a one-year hiatus, the NCW Fair returned to Waterville and it had people from throughout the area excited to be back.

After finally being able to spend some extra time in the hoophouse, now that it has cooled off, I was able to trim my tomato plants. I didn't know you were supposed to trim tomato plants, and this can be another touchy subject for some. One side says to never trim, and the other says to alwa…

When I heard the whole sunflower was edible, I definitely had to give it a try! I went to the CG (Community Garden) and harvested roots, stems, flowers, buds, and leaves.

If you haven’t attended the NCW Fair in Waterville since Carolyn Morley took over as fair manager, you have been missing out. She and her staff have worked tirelessly to turn our small-town fair back into a big-time event. The fair returns at the end of the month after a one-year hiatus. The…

There was no sophomore slump for the Waterville Farmer’s Market this past Saturday. In just the second event of the season, the market overcame the smoke and heat to draw even more vendors and shoppers than the inaugural event last month.

The young country trio, The Prairie Girls, provided musical entertainment at the Waterville Farmer’s Market this past Saturday.

Amy Larsen meets all the preconceived notions of a librarian, and not the "shush, be quiet" type, but the one who will truly facilitate you to higher levels of hope for reaching your greatest truths and imaginations. She is a true gift to the small town of Waterville, a hidden gem to some an…

I've always loved the story of Stone Soup. A hungry "stranger" comes to a small town, but no one is willing to part with their precious food to feed him. People have food, but not enough. He adds magical stones to a bubbling pot in the center of town, piquing the curiosity of the townsfolk.

Cucumber plants are so delicately beautiful, especially the flowers. After working with pumpkin, zucchini, and various squashes, which can be brutal on your hands and arms, it has been a pleasure.

When asked what plants she is growing this year, Kat gave a comprehensive list.

Waterville saw a return of classic cars this past Saturday as the Waterville Rollers Car Club hosted their annual car show this past weekend.

On what would have been a sleepy Saturday morning in Waterville, the streets were busy as people came into town to attend the debut of the Waterville Plateau Farmers Market. The event, which was hosted by the Waterville Mainstreet Association. It was the first of three farmers markets being …

After a year away, the Waterville pool has reopened just in time to help locals deal with the first heatwave of summer. Waterville’s Deputy Clerk, Erica Stoddard, is excited that the pool is able to open this year and so are the people of Waterville.

Lisa says, "I don't have much of a story. I helped a friend the past couple years. But she did most of the work! [It was] a big garden...but knee problems turned it into a hassle. These beds [are] perfect! Just the right size for planting & weeding. The other...people [are so] nice as we…

Two local Master Gardeners from the Chelan/Douglas County Washington State University Extension paid our little Badger Patch a visit. The Badger Patch is the Waterville Community Garden, or the “CG” as I like to call it.

1. Frame, pounding, gluing: For the frame, it is recommended to use pressure-treated 2x6 wood. We used untreated 2x4x12 because we already had it on hand. We also used 2-inches-by-3-foot grey electrical conduit, since white PVC degrades in the sun. Now for the fun and most important part: po…

At exactly 31 days, we harvested a bumper crop of gorgeous white icicle radishes. I was worried about the soil having too many main nutrients and not enough of the others. We had amended the soil with a touch of borax, a cup of coffee, crushed eggshells blended with a spot of vinegar, and so…

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row.

The NCW Fairgrounds has a new welcome sign and entry area, as well as a new name. It is now officially the Douglas County Fairgrounds—Home of the North Central Washington Fair.

About 12 participants of the Waterville Historic Preservation Commission’s Brick Repointing Workshop May 22 had the chance to learn the basics of repairing brick walls on historic buildings, while at the same time getting the chance to put their newly learned knowledge into practice.

I surely have opened a can of worms (literally and figuratively) while researching soil after I received the results from the soil test done on my bed at the community garden. Soil testing is good. Though, it does generate a mad scramble to amend, as soon as possible, the problems that have …

The title sounds like the name of a 50s band, but it's really all about gardening. Though, sometimes I could jump into song and dance when I see the wonders of gardening happening right before my eyes.

Waterville’s first annual Community Garage Sale held May 15 featured 40 garage sales spread throughout town and drew browsers from near and far.

“Olla” is actually pronounced oh-yah! What is an olla, you ask? Well, let me take you on an imaginative journey. Imagine that you are a gardener with nary a spigot nor garden hose and the closest water is a good distance away. The water that is accessible is from a limited source that depend…

I really love the idea of succession planting. It is the efficient use of your growing time and space. Some plants — carrots and radishes, for example — don't mind being planted together at the exact same time and in the exact same space! Wow, talk about an allusion to living a detailed and …

That’s according to David Larson, Master Gardener extraordinaire. He made a statement that he could tell us a lot about growing plants on the Waterville plateau and surrounding area, but not about growing, say, for example, pineapples. I was speechless. How did he know? I had just planted pi…

Members of the Waterville Tree Board celebrated this year’s Arbor Day on April 24 by planting new trees at the south end of Jackson Street where it intersects with Highway 2.

Waterville resident Carol Cowling has been the superintendent of the open horse barn for about 35 years. It is an intense job during the five days of the fair that involves her being at the barn each morning at 6 a.m. and again each evening at 9 p.m. She can take some breaks in between, but …

It sounds like the beginning of the makings of sweet-n-sour pork. Just add a little bell pepper, carrot, ginger, and onions, and we've got the veggies covered.

We have Badger Mountain and Badger Mountain Road, and Waterville has its own little Badger Patch with 10 gardening beds. It is located on the northeast corner of W. Ash and N. Columbia. I am not sure what's up with all the badger-themed names. I have lived here getting nigh on seven years an…

We built our expandable cedar potato bins back in 2016 and have used them every year since, though not always for potatoes. This year, we have moved the bins to a sunny spot that will catch first light, and have purchased some red and purple seed potatoes to grow. We love the purple varietie…

Waterville Library’s second in a series of six community art displays to be featured in 2021 is “Recycled Art” and the exhibit is up in the library window through the end of April.

The South Douglas Conservation District Tree and Shrub Sale was back on April 3 this year, and judging by the volume of sales, people were more than ready to take advantage of the chance to buy trees, shrubs and wildflowers specially selected for North Central Washington’s climate and habitat.

You may recall my stratification process of the various seeds I had collected last autumn, namely cherry, apricot, peach, and plum. I placed them in pots with a small amount of dry soil and abandoned them. Yes! I totally walked away and left them to go through our hard, cold winter and they …

There's just something about seeing a dump truck back up and unload a big pile of gravel. It's a show, albeit everyone acts like it's no big deal. It is! It takes you back to the sandbox, playing with trucks and shovels in the sand, and digging holes to the other side of the earth.

The NCW Fair office has moved from its old location just next to the fairgrounds entryway to a previous rental house at 609 W. Third St.

April Tedder of Orondo became friends with Bruce and Cathy Clark, owners of Blue Rooster Services in Waterville, through a Facebook group.