The Clarkston Farm and Garden Club is raffling off a house at its fund-raiser Sunday. Winners won’t be able to live in it, but they could eat it if they wanted to.
Anita Andes, who is chairing the Greens Market fund-raiser, set for Dec. 2, and Mary Himburg spent about 20 hours assembling the gingerbread house for the raffle. They used 33 types of materials, including nine kinds of candy, fudge-coated graham crackers, coconut, edible glitter, pepper corns, pretzels, marshmallows, and waffle cones, as well as gingerbread. Except for the cardboard frame, some toothpicks, and the plywood base, the entire house is edible.
‘I created a pattern on the cardboard, then used it to cut out the gingerbread pieces,? Andes said.
She backed up the cooked pieces with the cardboard frame for strength, needed because of the size of the house, she said.
She took on the assignment to provide a big attraction for the Greens Market, the main fund-raiser of the year for the club.
‘People can win it, but they have to come to the market and shop,? Andes said.
Only 500 tickets will be available. Shoppers will earn one raffle ticket for every $20 spent at the market, and extra tickets will be sold for $1 each.
They will be available only from 9 a.m. until noon, when the drawing will be held.
The Greens Market will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, 6490 Clarkston Road, across from the Independence Township Library. Offered will be wreaths in three sizes, roping in 25-50 foot lengths, loose greens, and hundreds of fresh evergreens arrangements in many sizes and styles for homes and businesses.
Proceeds will all be used on community projects. The club maintains the planters along Main Street in Clarkston, as well as children’s literary gardens, environmental education programs, and college scholarships.
To commemorate the Garden Market’s 15th year, the club will offer a special table of $15 items.
‘We’ll be offering wonderful items at $15 apiece,? Andes said. ‘People will have to come and see what we have.?
Also new this year are mantel decorations, with the buyer’s choice of fresh greens, pine cones, candles, and other colorful items.
‘The mantel is one of the main focuses of Christmas,? Andes said.
The new Farmer’s Cookbook, with recipes for the holidays, will be on sale for $10. It includes recipes for 44 types of appetizers, Champagne punch, turkey soups, and pumpkin cheese cake dip.
‘The turkey soup is easy to make after the holiday meal,? she said. ‘The price is well worth it.?
For more information, see the group’s website at ClarkstonGardenClub.org.