WE ARE FARM TOUR CENTRAL!
September, despite being Green Day’s least favorite month, is also Chimacum Corner’s favorite month, as it is officially Eat Local Month in Washington State! How fitting that the Jefferson County Farm Tour has been held every year for 23 years in mid-September. This weekend is our local agricultural community’s biggest weekend, and we are proud to be sponsors and serve as Farm Tour Central for the weekend. We will have a pop-up canopy at the front of Chimacum Corner that will serve as an information site and donation collection point for the entire county-wide Farm Tour (donation is suggested $10 per car, no one turned away). We are here to offer guidance, suggest routes, answer any logistical questions, and amplify your stoke to “get on the farm!”
Get on the Farm!
The Jefferson County Farm Tour is this weekend, September 19th-20th! Presented by The Production Alliance in partnership with WSU JeffCo Extension and local farmers, with support from Jefferson County Farmers Markets, Jefferson Land Trust, the Food Co-op, the Port of Port Townsend, and of course Chimacum Corner Farmstand. It is a true stitching together of many community orgs in the support and for the love of all our local farm businesses. It is also a vital source of income for many of the smaller boutique farms, especially those that don’t have many public-facing aspects of their business. That is why we love for this event to be well-attended by the eaters and consumers in our community! Get on out there and get to know your farmers and their goods! Also, please reach out to the Production Alliance if you are at all interested in becoming a site volunteer for the weekend’s festivities! Read on for the full lineup of farms, events, and workshops happening throughout Jefferson County this weekend for FARM TOUR folks!
Plan Your Route!
There are some exciting additions to the Tour this year, most notably the inclusion of major local food producers like Red Dog Farm and Chimalow Produce. There are also many interesting and informative workshops happening in conjunction with the tour this year, such as a natural dyeing workshop with fresh indigo facilitated by Yasmin Ahmad of Honeywild Farm (operating at White Lotus Farm). Many farms also facilitate food and beverage vendors on-site as well as live music! Whether you’ve been going for 23 years or want to check it out for the first time, there’s a little something for every agricultural interest on the Jefferson County Farm Tour. And with upwards of 17 properties on the tour, it behooves you to get on the farm early and often if your intention is to get as wide of a snapshot as possible of the existing farming scene.
PARTICIPATING FARMS
Compass Rose Farm | Kodama Farm | Glendale Farm | Gray Fox Farm
Red Dog Farm | Sailor Vineyard | Sunfield Farm | East Jefferson Beekeepers Association | Wilderbee Farm | Jacob’s Fleece | Finnriver Farm & Cidery | Chimacum Workhorse Project | Friends of the Trees FairWinds | Food Bank Growers Salish Coast Production Farm | Shy Acre Farm | White Lotus Farm | Space Twins Provisions | Honeywild Farm | Chimalow Produce | High School Market Garden Short’s Family Farm | The Grainery | One Straw Ranch | Community Wellness Project Community Works | Natembea Northwest | Hedgerow by Cruising Climate | Mollayo Farm
Special Events & Workshops
SUNDAY, SEPT. 20th
Chimacum Farmers Market | 10AM - 2PM | Free
Chimacum Corner Farmstand | 9122 Rhody Dr, Chimacum
Composting 101 | 12PM - 1PM | Free
High School Market Garden | 1500 Van Ness St, Port Townsend
Join Rachael Dunn and explore the different types of compost systems used at PTHS. Learn how to build and maintain systems that work for you at home.
Soil Care Basics & Waterwise Routines | 2PM - 3PM | Free
The Hedgerow by Cruising Climate | 3059 7th St, Port Townsend
What is soil? Is it the same as dirt? Why should I care about it? How can I care for it? How does it affect my plants? If you've asked yourself any of these questions, this class is for you. We will explore basic soil science, how healthy soil grows healthy plants, and soil's connection to water-wise habits. You'll leave with answers to the above questions and a basic plan for how you can care for your own soil throughout the year.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPT. 19th & 20th
Farm Tour Central | 10AM - 4PM | Free
Chimacum Corner Farmstead | 9122 Rhody Dr, Chimacum
Guided Farm Tours | 12:30PM & 2:30PM | Free
Finnriver Property | 124 Center Rd, Chimacum
Tour through the fields and fruit trees, and learn about Finnriver Farm, Chimacum Workhorse Project, and Friends of the Trees.
Trail Walks & Demos | 11:00AM, 2:00PM, & 3:00PM | Free
Glendale Farm | 431 Center Rd, Chimacum
Explore the 180-acre multi-tenant property bordering Chimacum Creek. Hosted in partnership with the Conservation District, Bellstar Farm & Forge, and Dragonheart Flowers.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 19th
Port Townsend Farmers Market | 9AM - 2PM | Free
650 Tyler St, Port Townsend
Hydroponics 102 | 11AM - 12PM | Free
Salish Coast Production Farm | 1637 Grant St, Port Townsend
Explore hydroponics, including techniques, setups, and lessons learned with Neil Howe. This is a follow up to last year's Hydroponics 101, but you do not need to have attended to join.
*Space limited. Contact Neil at nhowe@ptschools.org to reserve your spot.
Fresh Indigo Dye Workshop | 1PM - 2PM | $50
White Lotus Farm | 3723 Beaver Valley Rd, Port Ludlow
Learn to dye silk bandanas with Yasmin. Indigo grown locally on Honeywild Farm.
*Space limited Contact info@honeywild-farm.com to reserve your spot.
Harvest, Distill, & Take It Home | 1PM - 4PM | $75
Shy Acre Farm | 363 Discovery Rd, Port Townsend
Learn with local herbal care makers about botanical distillation, harvest fresh lavender, load the sill, and experience the distillation process firsthand. Leave with a 1oz glass bottle of distilled lavender hydrosol from the day's harvest. In partnership with The Fay Farm and Motsi Rituals.
*Space limited. Contact shyacrefarmpt@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Romney Sheep Care Demo | 2PM - 3PM | Free
White Lotus Farm | 3723 Beaver Valley Rd, Port Ludlow
Join Niall and Dakotah for live demonstrations and get your sheep care questions answered.
Farm Tour After Party | 5PM - 8PM | By Donation
Finnriver | 124 Center Rd, Chimacum
Join us for a celebratory evening with live music and a farm-focused raffle! All ages welcome.
Wolf Mountain | 6-8PM
A local bluegrass and Americana band
We’re FARM TOUR Central!
So on your way (or maybe as a midway stop), hop on into the Corner and we can set you up with all the beverages, snacks, and snackable produce that we have on tap so that you can comfortably roam from farm to farm this weekend. It is going to be a hoot and half (or at least an enthusiastic cluck from Turnip!). Don’t forget about the Farm Tour After Party at Finnriver from 5 to 8pm, with live music from Wolf Mountain and a large raffle in support of the event!
We have always been by the farms, about the farms, and for the farms, so for us, Farm Tour is just like any other peak season weekend. We are proud to be Farm Tour Central to help facilitate a smooth journey for all JeffCo Farm Tour attendees. May JeffCo Farm Tour live on for decades and decades! Get on the farm this weekend!
