The Open Gate Farm On Camano Island, Washington

Dear Friends,

If you are planning to get a copy of our book, “Dear Friends”, to give for Christmas, this would be a good week to do so.  Plenty of copies are on hand and we will be home or can leave it up at the stand for you.

The reports back are that folks are really enjoying revisiting a wonderful year here at the farm, chuckling with the chickens, laughing with the ducks, digging with the dog, and watching with the cat as we worked our way from January to December last year.

So here is the report on what is available at The Open Gate Farm for this weekend…if you see anything you want, email us back either here or at jon@theopengatefarm.com and we’ll have it ready Saturday morning by 10:00 for you! (more…)

Dear Friends of the Farm:

This is the last weekend of our 2010 season coming up!  One last chance for you to fill your crisper with crisp produce and your freezer with breads and cinnamon rolls!  We’ll re-open the stand and nursery next May again for the Mother’s Day Weekend Art Tour here on the island when 26 or so artists open their studios for the public.  A grand time that will be!  And a grand winter lies ahead.

But here’s your shopping list for this weekend!

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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:

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:

That big purple petunia hanging basket is available.  The young fellow who asked us to hold it for him as his sweetie liked that color has not come to claim it, so it can now be yours!  First come, first served!

And don’t forget to check out the English Thyme and Lemon Balm!  Wonderful scents to add to your cooking.  Summer may be winding down a bit, but the nursery sure isn’t!  And neither is the garden, even though the carrots are all gone for now.  There are more of those hot radishes and for this weekend, Icicle Radishes!  And the Cherry Belle and French Breakfast ones are big enough to roast with the potatoes.  But this weekend, get ahead by getting a head…of our purple cabbage…

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