Farmers can be solitary folks, “out standing” in their fields. Once a year in the San Juan Islands, farmers, gardeners and food lovers come together to share ideas with each other, learn about the latest trends and make plans.
This year’s San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit at YMCA Camp Orkila, Feb. 10 through 12, will be a bit like summer (well, winter) camp for farmers, gardeners, and foodies, with workshops, activities, keynote speakers and of course, great food. Kick off the Summit activities at Seaview Theater with the film “SEED: The Untold Story,” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. This film documents the passionate seed keepers protecting the 12,000-year-old agrarian legacy. There is a suggested $10 donation.
Friday starts with seven hands-on workshops on a range of topics such as adding value to your farm or food related business, permaculture design for the farm and homestead, seed cleaning production and others.
Take home some of Orcas Island farming culture at the Seed and Scion Swap on Friday night from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Stay for the evening and taste some of the delicious food the San Juan Islands are known for at the Taste of the San Juan Islands, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Lodging is available at Camp Orkila, summer camp-style.
At the Taste, try fresh oysters on the half-shell from Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, tasty bites from Catkin Café, SoulFlower Bakery, Red Rabbit Farm and others. From Lopez Island, taste sauerkraut from Kraut Pleasers, farm-fresh goat cheese from Sunnyfield Farm. Handcrafted beverages will be served from Kari’s Island Elixirs, San Juan Distillery, San Juan Vineyard and Island Hoppin’ Brewery. Everyone is welcome to the Seed and Scion Swap and Taste, both in the Camp Orkila Dining Hall. Tastes are one to four tickets each; a $15 entrance fee includes five “taste” tickets, and each additional taste ticket is $2.
Saturday will feature a panel discussion between highly regarded agrarian visionaries who will speak about the seeds of success in maintaining successful farm businesses over many decades, offering a vision and relevant tips for local farmers today. This panel will include John Navazio, author of “The Organic Seed Grower,” seed breeder for Johnny’s Selected Seeds and former seed breeder for Organic Seed Alliance; Tom Thornton, director and founder of Cloud Mountain Farm and Education Center in Whatcom County; Anne Schwartz, Blue Heron Farm in Skagit County, founding member and past president of Tilth Producers of Washington; and Don Tipping, founder of Siskiyou Seeds, Seven Seeds Farm (a biodynamic farm in southeastern Oregon), and founder and president of the Family Farmer Seeds Cooperative.
Participants in the Saturday sessions can then choose from 16 educational panels and talks on four different educational tracks. Topics include cost Salish perspectives, farm tools, agritourism, farmland in transition and more. A full list of the Saturday sessions can be found online where tickets are sold. Participants will then reconvene for a panel discussion with local representatives. The focus of the panel is creating change through policy and activism. Finish out the night with the Summit Social with music and friends.
For a complete listing of Summit events, ticket information and more, visit www.sjcarc.org/summit. Follow us on social media and share: #gatherandsow2017 #SJCAgSummit2017.
