The Open Gate Farm On Camano Island, Washington

Dear Friends of the Farm:

The storm has passed.

The floods of folks with eager eyes and quick questions have left and we’re back to being our regular small farm again.  But thanks to each of you who did come by and celebrate Harvest Jubilee last weekend.  At times we felt like a swarm of friendly, laughing locusts had descended on the stand and we were being cleaned out!

But a careful survey of the fields has shown we still have plenty for sale.  Here’s what we found!

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Dear Friends of the Farm:

Harvest Jubilee is hard upon us!  This local festival of farms is this Saturday, September 25^th and will give all you families a chance to show your kids where their food comes from.  They will be surprised.  Lettuce does not come from the grocery store.  Really!  It comes out of the ground and has roots and everything!  We can show them!

There will be 18 Harvest Jubilee farms around us open for tours and great times.  We’ll have plenty of maps to point you to your next stop.

And while you get a map here, you can see all of this too…

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Dear Friends of the Farm:

“How long will you be open?” asked the wistful lady with a handful of lettuce while eyeing the cinnamon rolls.

“Don’t know for sure” said the farmer hedging his bets.  “Depends on the weather and the traffic.  When either goes bad, it will be time to let it go for another season.  But we know our fields of produce don’t disappear when the rains start and our radishes and beets don’t get swallowed by the ground just because folks choose to shop in a warm store instead of a fresh air stand.”

Last year we were open until Halloween.  Looks like it will be so again this year.  But definitely through Harvest Jubilee on September 25^th!  That’s when area farms are open for tours and fun to give folks a chance to meet their farmers and discover that our area really can feed itself.  We’re handing out maps to the farms at the stand so come get yours!

And while you get a map, you can see all of this too…

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Dear Friends of the Farm:

A crop doesn’t get ripe all at once.  There will always be a first one or two of something well before the main part of the crop is ready for presenting at the stand.  It is kind of a bell curve thing.

One advantage to being a regular and early shopper at the stand is you may discover the unannounced basket of tomatoes we’ve just found in the vines, or the first, tender patty pan squash, or perhaps those odd radishes.  Not enough to mention here, but enough to put out on the stand for some lucky person.  So while we have the list here, be ready to spot a surprise when you come by!  Especially if it is early in the day.  If you miss it, don’t despair.  In a couple weeks when the main crop hits, we’ll announce it here and then you can be ready with your shopping bags!

So here’s what we know will be on the stand this weekend…

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Dear Friends of the Farm:

Fall is in the air.  It’s only September 1st, but we found some Fall in our lettuce this week.  We know Autumn is just around the corner when we find the first fir needles in a head of lettuce.  We’ll check them closely but don’t be shocked if one turns up in your salad at home.  That’s the beauty of buying local you know.  You can tell it’s from close to home because it is a fir needle. If it were a pine needle you would know the lettuce was from California.

It’s been a quiet week at the farm, but one filled with good news.  Our intern from last summer will be here Friday for lunch!  She plans to spend the day so those of you who have missed Katherine, do come by and hear her stories!  She’s got lots of new ones to share and has been asking after you as well.  We’ll have the awning up and chairs in the shade.

And here’s what will be on the stand…

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