WAVERLY – The Second Annual Greenhouse and Kitchen Show, held April 29 at the Comm, allowed visitors to think spring again with local vendors promoting everything green – both in color and earth-friendly.

Corky’s Garden Path, a show sponsor, displayed its plants, wreaths and cooking herbs, such as basil and rosemary, inside the Comm’s gymnasium, where most of the event took place.

“We like to do our part for the community,” said Rich Vaicekauskas, manager of Corky’s.

Eric and Nancy Biechler, who own Biechler’s Greenhouse in Dalton and are known for their hanging baskets, brought a large array of begonias and geraniums. Eric enjoys using different colors and textures when putting flowers together.

“It’s an art to make the plants compatible with each other,” he said.

Mike Krug and his wife, Liz, who manage Fullers Overlook Farm, known for being organic, vended tomato plants, cilantro and dill at the show. Mike and Liz don’t use pesticides or herbicides while growing foods.

“We grow our own vegetables as if we are organic certifiable,” said Mike.

Fullers’ animals are hormone-free and are fed organic GMO-free food. Mike and Liz have a stand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday from May to November at the Waverly Post Office.

Gail Weinberger, owner of Gail’s Cupboard, offered samples of her own mustard made from fermented kombucha. She also had samples of her ramp pesto, made from wild leeks. Weinberger sold moisturizing creams, made with all-natural ingredients. She makes tallow, a body balm made with grass-fed beef fat, and makes calendula, made from a flowers, used for healing eczema and psoriasis.

Weinberger is a holistic health coach who listens to people’s health problems and teaches them which foods would be beneficial.

“We’re all different,” she said. “What foods might work for you might not be the best for someone else.”

Mel Wolk, a former pediatrician in Waverly, displayed his artworks, including photographs and sculptures made of found objects like nuts, bolts and string. His sculpture of Spongebob had a sponge for the head and saw handles for the body and he used a real tree stump to represent the Manhattan skyline for a sculpture of King Kong.

“I like it very much,” Wolk said about making artworks. “It gives me a chance to express myself.”

Other vendors included Scentsy, an independent sales company, whose lead consultant Kimberly Smith vended Scentsy’s decorated night light diffusers and wax warmers.

Emily Grebb and Juliann Bilock, who work for an online store located in Swiftwater, called www.ISeeSpain.com, displayed colorful grater bowls imported from Spain.

“There are a lot of great things to see at the kitchen and garden show,” said Grebb, whose mother owns the online store.

Local landscaping companies, which promoted their services at the show, included Brown Tree Hill Co. in Meshoppen and Arendt’s Outdoor Services in Scott Twp.

Visitors also enjoyed lunch in the Comm’s cafeteria and raffled items donated by the vendors.

New this year, the Comm’s South Wing became an art gallery called The Waverly Small Works Gallery where drawings by local artists were displayed. It is a sneak peek of future art shows of selected artworks in various mediums.

Merissa Gilbert-Garrison, the curator, and her husband, Stephen Garrison, who volunteers as the gallery coordinator, came up with the idea from a small works show, which was in the gallery in November. They liked how it looked, so they thought the South Wing could be a permanent art gallery.

The South Wing will have a display called The Spring Photography Show on May 25.

Like last year, the Greenhouse and Kitchen Show is a fundraiser for the Comm’s upcoming Children’s Interactive Learning Center.

Sculptures made of found objects and photographs by Mel Wolk Studio.

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Sculptures made of found objects and photographs by Mel Wolk Studio.

Plants, wreaths, and gifts from Corky’s Garden Path in Justus.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_20170429_124803.jpg.optimal.jpgPlants, wreaths, and gifts from Corky’s Garden Path in Justus.

Gail Weinberger, owner of Gail’s Cupboard, with samples of her mustard and ramp pesto. She also vends kombucha and all-natural moisturizing creams.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_20170429_131000.jpg.optimal.jpgGail Weinberger, owner of Gail’s Cupboard, with samples of her mustard and ramp pesto. She also vends kombucha and all-natural moisturizing creams.

Emily Grebb (left) and Juliann Bilock, who work for an online store called www.ISeeSpain.com, with their tent of imported grater bowls from Spain.

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Emily Grebb (left) and Juliann Bilock, who work for an online store called www.ISeeSpain.com, with their tent of imported grater bowls from Spain.

Eric and Nancy Biechler of Biechler’s Greenhouse in Dalton with their colorful combinations of flowers.

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Eric and Nancy Biechler of Biechler’s Greenhouse in Dalton with their colorful combinations of flowers.

BY BEN FREDA

For Abington Journal

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