Family, Farm, Food

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck....

Have you heard? The Coop Tour is coming! The Coop Tour is coming! This weekend! Support our local 4-H Poultry Club by joining in the fun! Check out the link below...

Download Cluck, Cluck, Cluck, the Coop Tour is Coming!

Sprout Report From The Grange

If you missed the great sprouting demo, here's a mini report. Susan Knapp
 came prepared with an impressive array of different sprouts , roots and shoots, green and white, some in jars, some in soil. Had no idea there was 
such a variety.

 

I have a new found admiration for people like Susan, who can
 produce the right end point for a specific date. And spare a thought for
 Phyllis of Ferryview Farm who has to get bucket loads ready for Saturday 
only sales at Bayview Farmers Market.



 

We all were tasting the sample crops, I just love the whole sunflower seed
plants grown in soil. The two inch high stems taste wonderful. Not so sure
about the 4" green pea shoots. Loved the beans, lentils , alfalfa and
clover, but radish sprouts are unexpectedly fierce. Have a bag of Susan's
sprouts in the frig, makes great nibble food when you just need something
NOW!



 

I learned two important things. First, do not let the ungerminated seeds go 
down the drain during the rinsing process. They can germinate in the drain 
and clog it with all their entwined roots. Secondly, when you are working 
with lentils, the first rinse water is really murky, looks awful. That
 happened to me on the one and only time I tried sprouting and I threw them 
away. Now I know that is normal and I should have kept going.



 

Thanks to Susan for sharing all her knowledge. I just might take another try
 at sprouting!


Never Short of Great Things

We are so fortunate to live where we do! Whidbey Island offers so many incredible opportunities for residents and guests alike...rather than creating a separate posting for each one, click on the links below to learn about the current batch on the horizon.

Each is exciting, so don't skip! You'll find info on a llama farm, a fiber sale, a chance to learn about leveraging your ag/forestry operations for carbon markets, and the upcoming Growing Groceries workshop! We are a busy bunch.

Download Growing Groceries2 March2010

Download Carbon Brochure 2010_FINAL_low res

Download Paradise Found Fiber FarmDownload Save the date

Download Save the date

Download WI Fabulous Fall Fiber Sale

First Class Was GREAT!!!!

 

The first "Growing Groceries" class was held yesterday...and it was GREAT! We had about 28 people join us, and the conversations were lively and informative. We talked about the basics of growing food: understanding the role of light, soil temperature, and soil fertility. And we got some hands-on experience with two different approaches to starting seeds indoors.

There was a lot of interest in how to compost and how to safely use animal manures. So much so, that we'll be posting info on those topics, and doing our best to get Janet Hall (Waste Wise Coordinator) to join us at the next session, Saturday, March 13, 2010.

Many thanks to Cary Peterson and the Whidbey Institute for pulling this together, and for the team spirit of South Whidbey Tilth, Bayview School, Good Cheer, and WSU Island County Extension. For more info, Download Growing-groceries

Growing Groceries!!!!

This Saturday marks the beginning of a fantastic series on how to grow more of your own food! Check out this flyer, and please share wildly with your friends and neighbors! Will we see you there?

Download Growing Groceries3a

Master Gardeners will be at Skagit Farmers Supply in OH!

The second of three free workshops held at Skagit Farmers Supply, Oak Harbor will take place on Tuesday, January 26, starting at 6:30 p.m.   Master Gardener Deb Mitchell will explain seed starting for the beginner gardener.   After the class, guests will be able to purchase seeds and the materials needed for their garden this year.   Refreshments will be served.    The third and final workshop will be about pruning on February 23.      Please pass this information on.  Thank you.  

Questions:  Call Adam Troyer, SFS, Oak Harbor, 360-675-2277 (except Mondays).

Cooking From The Pantry

Chris Williams, with the Deer Lagoon Grange, just sent more details about their upcoming class...

Cooking From The Pantry, with Roberta Hacking  Monday Jan 25^th  7 pm at the Grange.

 

She also sent along the final Organic Food Growing Class schedule Download Courseflier2010Finalv2. Please note this is TUESDAYS and starts at 6.30pm

 

Anybody interested in goat meat? Chris knows where there are two 8 month old wethers ( that is, castrated males, for the uninitiated ).

Stay tuned for more!

 

INTERESTING Classes!

Just got a message from the Shore Stewards Program Coordinator who lives on Camano. Check out these classes!

Hi, all,
 
Here are links to brochures on training classes for the small/beginning/sustainable farmers you might know, or come in contact with.
 
1. Master Beekeepers Apprentice training, Snohomish County WSU Extension: http://snohomish.wsu.edu/Ag/workshops/beekeeping10.pdf  In Everett, just a ferry trip away.
 
2. The Honorable Farmer (a course in simple farming): http://theopengatefarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Farm-Course-Brochure1.doc   It's on Camano, taught by someone who is making a success of his small farm
 
 
-Scott

Deer Lagoon Grange Food News

If you haven't been following all that the Deer Lagoon Grange has been up to, it's time to do so now. Check out their Food News!

Download Deer Lagoon Grange Food News

Looking for Something to Do or Someplace to Go?

Paradise Found Fiber Farm>> OPEN<< Rain or Shine

The following Saturdays OR just call for another day of the week…we are usually here

10 AM to 4 PM

Jan 16, 23, 30

Feb 6, 27

Mar 6, 20, 27

A fiber farm producing hand made products from our fiber animals including Alpacas, Llamas & Pygora Goats. The Farm Fiber Shack has Handspun yarn, roving, fleece, felted bags, hand knitted hats, scarves & more; Educational Farm tours; Fresh eggs all year, and seasonal produce. Sept Fiber Fair (WIFFFS) details & map on our website 

Hours: All Year, call ahead or Saturdays June-Oct 10-3 &/or as noted on the events calendar

Location:

4081 Springwater Lane
Clinton, WA 98236
Map This Address
 Phone: 360-579-1906
Fax: 360-579-1910
 Email This Member
Web Site: http://www.paradisefoundfiber.com
Member Page: Paradise Found Fiber Farm