Orcas Islanders can vote as Once in a Blue Moon Farm competes for ‘America’s Most Beautiful Farm’
Published 11:17 am Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Orcas Island’s Once In A Blue Moon Farm is competing to become ‘America’s Most Beautiful Farm‘ in a contest this month.
Once in a Blue Moon Farm is currently neck-and-neck with an apple orchard, Mapleside Farms of Brunswick, Ohio. The contest runs until Sept. 25. Each person can vote once per day.
As part of President Barack Obama’s “Initiative on the Great Outdoors,” the non-profit organization Choose Outdoors, whose mission is to promote outdoor recreation and active lifestyles through public lands and waters, has selected Once In A Blue Moon Farm on Orcas to be in the contest.
This program is associated with a USDA sponsored “Rural Champions of Change” initiative designed to strengthen rural communities. With the loss of much federal and state funding for open space and parks, organizations such as Choose Outdoors work to encourage private landowners and concerned citizens to help preserve rural land for sustainable outdoor recreation. The AMBF event hopes to promote and create awareness for agritourism and reconnect the public with the outdoors in many diverse ways.
Once In A Blue Moon is currently in second place. It is the only small family operation in the 10 selected.
Run by three generations, Shana, Sarah, Zach and Thea, Once In A Blue Moon Farm has provided an agritourism experience for tourists and locals for almost 15 years on Orcas Island. This property is located on the historic Boede homestead, which later became the Eastman farm with majestic apple trees more than 100 years old.
To vote in the contest, visit http://www.americasmostbeautifulfarm.com/.
