The Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Farm Tour on Orcas Island on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is free to explore Black Dog Farm, Maple Rock Farm, Coffelt Farm and West Beach Farm. From now until October, the Sounder will be profiling the above farms.

Coffelt Farm

If Orcas Island is the “Gem of the San Juans,” Coffelt Farm is another jewel in the crown.

This 185-acre property includes pasture, marshland and a mature conifer forest and was farmed by Vern and Sidney Coffelt for 60 years before they sold the property in 2010 to the San Juan County Land Bank, in order to protect it for future farmers. Vern passed away last September.

In January 2011, operations transferred to the Coffelt Farm Stewards, an Orcas non-profit dedicated to making the most of this fertile land through “demonstrating sustainable, island-scale agricultural practices, promoting environmental stewardship and providing opportunities for education and research, while honoring Orcas Island’s rural heritage.”

Coffelt Farm is focused on sustainable practices, including organic farming methods. Their beef, pork and lamb are USDA inspected and butchered on site.

If you stop by the farm-stand to browse their selection of meats, wool, fruits and vegetables any Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m., you may meet some of the folks involved in this hard-working farm.