From Their Farm to Your Table

Just like most things nostalgic, many of us can recall our parents or grandparents growing something tasty in a small veggie garden. Remember those little cherry tomatoes that grow and develop into vibrant, juicy, delectable, red balls of happiness that burst in your mouth and send a tingle all the way down to your toes. If you have not been lucky enough to experience this taste and feeling you need to put that on your to do list this summer!

There is just something extra yummy about fresh out of the ground, sun-warmed produce.

You may be a little challenged in the gardening department or more likely just too busy to tend a garden. You may be wishing you could grow your own fresh produce instead of digging through bins at the store for an acceptable looking vegetable from halfway across the world.

If this is you, a farm share may be the perfect solution and an experience that every Whidbey resident should have at least once!

Wait a minute, what on earth is a farm share? (Don’t worry, many say the same thing when they first learned about them!)

A farm share allows you to purchase a weekly “share” from a local farm’s crop. We are so lucky here on Whidbey to have agriculture and amazing produce farms just minutes away.

Check it out! Some things you should know about how important and special farm shares are…

#1 Eating seasonally tastes better! When you purchase fresh-grown produce, you are receiving crops that change with seasons. Unlike the grocery store, where everything is available most of the year, farm shares are providing you with produce that grows and ripens at different times of the year. Naturally ripened food that doesn’t have to travel far tastes different, better…

#2 Get creative & adventurous in the kitchen! With trying new produce comes trying new recipes, experimenting with your new-found veggies, and learning how to cook with the seasons. This is an excellent chance to experience produce you have never tried or may have never heard of before. You may end up with things like arugula, green garlic, beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, chard, pears, apples, strawberries… the list goes on and on!

#3 Support the rural/agricultural feel of Whidbey by supporting our local farmers! By participating in a farm share, you are not only enjoying fresh produce each week, you are supporting a local farmer and the local economy. Farms shares cut out the middle man. Instead of being sent off for packaging and delivery, produce is harvested and put together in a box, basket, or bag for you to take home and enjoy. By paying for your share upfront, the farmer can use that money to purchase seeds, bulbs, and other necessities to keep their farm running, and provide you with high quality produce. Another bonus: knowing how much crop they need helps farmers plan better for the growing season, resulting in less waste!

So, where on Whidbey Island can you participate in a farm share? Several farms in Coupeville, Freeland, Langley, and Clinton participate in Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSA). The growing season typically runs the end of March through November/September, and prices range from $200-$800 a growing season, depending on how large of a selection you want each week. Some of these farms offer fresh eggs, poultry, and pork as well. Each farm has a different process for sign up, payment, and pick up so be sure to check out their website to find out how you can get involved in your very own farm share.

Prairie Bottom Farm- Coupeville

Wilbur & Julieanna Purdue

http://www.prairiebottomfarm.com/csa/

Rosehip Farm & Garden- Coupeville

Linda Bartlett & Valerie Reuther

http://rosehipfarmandgarden.com/data/csa.html

Deep Harvest Farm- Freeland

Annie Jesperson & Nathaniel Talbot

https://deepharvestfarm.com/csa/

12 Birches Farm- Langley

Anna Petersons

https://deepharvestfarm.com/csa/

Ebb Tide Produce- Langley

Blake & Bobbie Mennella

Jack Baars, Whitney Heitzman

https://www.ebbtideproduce.com/services

Full Cycle Farm- Langley

Britt & Eric Conn

http://www.fullcyclefarm.com/food.html

SkyRoot Farm- Clinton

Beth Wheat & Arwen Norman

http://www.skyrootfarm.com/community-supprted-agriculture/

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