Following a farm brunch at The Kitchen in Eastsound, visitors can check out more than a dozen unique farms during the Orcas Island Farm Tour on Sunday, Oct. 2. At the end of the day, Orcas Farm will host a soiree, with live local music, DJ Teacher’s Pet, a free farmers potluck wood-fired pizza from Inn at Ship Bay by donation and the Lion’s Club Beer Garden, sponsored by Island Hoppin’ Brewery.
Participating farms are as follows.
Warm Valley Orchard: Tour of orchard and garden. Textile demonstrations; spinning, weaving, dyeing – all day. Fruit drying 11 a.m.
Orcasong Farm: Large farm in year two of eco-restoration. Permaculture-based organic gardens, pasture and forest trail walk, live acoustic music, cider press, wild-crafted and herbal teas, fresh fruit and froduce available at the Orcasong Farmstand.
OCPA at Kaj’s Farm: Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture. Come and see how twelve island families have banded together to form a resilient unit of food sovereignty. Guided tours at 11 and 1 p.m.
Orcas Moon Farm: This family farm is home to a variety of animals including alpacas, sheep, chickens, mini-donkeys and a dairy cow. They will provide a hands-on opportunity to learn about fiber processing and animal care.
West Beach Farm: Family farm with sheep, goats, cows, pigs, chickens and babies. They also have a large vegetable garden. Sheep shearing demonstration at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and a compost demonstration at 2 p.m.
Orcas Island School Garden: Learn how Orcas k–6 students nurture plants, make food, medicine, textiles, art, work with pollinators, and explore many subjects through hands-on experiences in their school garden. Find out how the farm-to-cafeteria program works to provide island-grown produce for school lunches. Visitors will participate in garden arts and crafts.
Coffelt Farm Stewards: Guided farm tour from noon to 1 p.m. Farm stand will be open all day.
Warm Valley Farm: Large organic practices farm, specializing in market vegetables, orchards, and animals. Farmstand open. Cider pressing at noon and 2 p.m.
Maple Rock at Crow Valley Farm: See what new beginnings look like on a production farm. Maple Rock has recently moved to this new spot and will share their knowledge on setting up a new field, including irrigation and layout.
Buck Bay Shellfish Farm: Buck Bay Shellfish offers fresh shellfish, seafood and organically grown vegetables. Come enjoy learning the ins and outs of this truly special type of farming.
Girl Meets Dirt – Archipelago Preserves: Stop by their kitchen and taste award-winning heirloom fruit preserves made exclusively with organic San Juan Islands fruit.
Red Rabbit Farm: Visit for a demonstration on canning your fruits and local products, taught by nationally acclaimed local chef Christina Orchid, 1 p.m.
Orcas Farm: View their market garden and sustainable homestead. Wood fired pizza 3–6 p.m. (by donation).
For more information about the farm tours, and to buy tickets, visit: http://SJCFarmTours.eventbrite.com.
