2011 21.3 2011 Summer & Fall Farm Walks

Monday, July 11 – Cloudview EcoFarms
Diverse Vegetable Operation Meets Community & Biodiversity
12-12:30pm Registration; Farm Walk 12:30-4pm
Optional dinner buffet

Cloudview Ecofarms is a certified organic, 15-acre diversified vegetable farm co-created five years ago by Jim Baird and family. Young farmers and interns assist with production, nearby organic orchards and circle irrigated crops. They sell produce through a CSA, farmers markets and to institutions, restaurants, and schools, demonstrating that small-scale organic production can be viable in the Columbia Basin. Participants will learn about soil-building, seed production, growing forage, cut flower gardening and integrating chickens, pigs, meat and milking goats. Visitors will hear about plans to develop an insectary program and see an organic Gala block, organic alfalfa circle, and plantings of hard fescue and clover. An optional dinner buffet and tour of a second location will follow the Farm Walk.

Monday, July 18 – Middleton Organic Orchard, Eltopia
Organic Apples, Cherries, Blueberries & Value-Added Products
12-12:30pm Registration; Farm Walk 12:30-4pm

Middleton Organic Orchard located near Eltopia grows apples, cherries, and blueberries. Gary, Lori and family have been farming for 36 years, the last twelve as certified organic. Gary will discuss the benefits and challenges of raising fruit in an arid environment, and the family’s value-added “Savoring the Harvest” product line, featuring a collection of organic apple butters, including apple citrus, apple blueberry and the unique apple cherry. These products are processed in a rented commercial kitchen. The Middletons also dehydrate organic apple tidbits and dried cherries, which they package in recycled glass jars. See how an orchard can diversify its end products.

Tuesday, August 9 – Storytree Farm, Vancouver
Diversified CSA in the Urban Fringe
12-12:30pm Registration; Farm Walk 12:30-4pm

Storytree Farm is a family-operated CSA farm in the Pleasant Highlands neighborhood of Vancouver, Washington. Farming on less than 4 acres, Nelson & Anne Lawrence supply vegetables and herbs to their member families at the peak of freshness. They will discuss the unique benefits and challenges of farming within the urban growth boundary, general operation of a diversified CSA, and how persistent attention to weed control with hand tools has lessened weed pressure over time. Also, their participation in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) facilitated the recent purchase of two high tunnels to extend their growing season and improve production.

Monday, August 29 – Twin Brook Creamery, Lynden
On-Farm Glass Bottling, Low Temp Pasteurization,
Jersey Cow Dairy
12-12:30pm Registration; Farm Walk 12:30-4pm

Five generations of the Stap family have farmed the land that is Twin Brook Dairy. We will explore their unique on-farm glass bottling system and low temperature vat pasteurization that preserves all the rich flavor of their Jersey milk. Milk from Jersey cows is higher in protein and fat content than Holstein milk, and their unique process yields the delicious Cream Top milk that has become the Stap family legacy. The dairy is GMO free and Kosher certified.

Monday, September 12 – Oxbow Center, Carnation
The Journey from Farm to Education Center
12-12:30pm Registration; Farm Walk 12:30-4pm
Limit 70 pre-paid registrants, first come-first served

There are many ways to make farms work in a changing marketplace and climate. Come see how Oxbow has built around the original Oxbow Farm, utilizing all the farmers’ various skills and aspirations to create a resilient farm and outreach model. Participants will have an in-depth tour of the farming operations and infrastructure, from seed starting to marketing for farmers markets, restaurants and CSA. Farmers Luke, Sarah and Adam will describe the transition of their farm into a new non-profit farm and education center. Since 2003, Oxbow has been partnering with Wild Fish Conservancy to offer environmental classes to school kids. The farm now offers farm programs for children and is partnering with Wilderness Awareness School of Duvall for week-long, summer day camps. Explore the learning garden and talk about the curriculum on organic agriculture and environmental conservation. Hear about the pivotal lessons learned in growing this new non-profit.

Monday, October 10- Cedarville Farm, Bellingham
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Workshop
12-12:30pm Registration; Farm Walk 12:30-4pm
Limit 40 pre-paid registrants, first come-first served

Good Agricultural Practices are a voluntary set of food-safety guidelines designed to help farmers handle food safety from the farm to the market. These practices include: developing a food safety plan for the farm; training farm employees about this plan and farm food safety practices; and documenting farm practices to reduce the risk of microbial food safety hazards on farm products. Join us on-site as Cedarville Farms gets started with the GAPs process with a walk-through of their farm to start their food safety assessment and planning. We will discuss possible first steps for a farm to take, things to consider, see practices that are already in place, and talk about which practices make sense to integrate, based on your particular farm practices. Offered in partnership with the WSDA Farm-to-School Program, Tilth Producers and WSU Small Farms Team as part of the 2011 Tilth Producers Farm Walk Series.

Cost: $10 for Tilth Producers members, students and interns.
$15 for non-members.
Paid pre-registration is recommended for all farm walks, and is required for Oxbow Center and Cedarville Farm.
Beverages are provided.

For directions, visit tilthproducers.org or http://smallfarms.wsu.edu
To pre-register, pay online at tilthproducers.org, or mail a check with your farm walk choices to:
Tilth Producers
4649 Sunnyside Avenue N #305
Seattle, WA 98103

Tags: Bellingham, Carnation, Cedarville Farm, Cloudview EcoFarms, Eltopia, Farm, Farmers, Lynden, Middleton Organic Orchard, Organic, Oxbow, Storytree Farm, Twin Brook Creamery, Vancouver, Walk

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