Family, Farm, Food

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!

 

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

Annual Membership Meeting January 24

South Whidbey Tilth hosts its annual membership meeting at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 24 in the Trinity Lutheran Church Chapel located in the community building on SR 525 in Freeland. The meeting features the highlights of Tilth’s activities in 2009 and will welcome new ideas for fulfilling Tilth’s mission. Join the membership to select its new president and council members for 2010. A scrumptious potluck dinner featuring local foods will follow the meeting. Participants are invited to bring their own eating utensils to reduce trash. Hot beverages will be available.
Current members are invited to participate in the brief business portion of the meeting. Members may check their membership status from a list upon arrival and dues may be paid that day.
For more information contact info@southwhidbeytilth.org or 360-579-2892.

Not So Sweet News - With a Sweet Local Solution

Did you read the big article about international honey chicanery, detailed in the Seattle Times  last year? Chinese honey was shipped into countries that have effectively no honey industry, then the honey was relabeled and exported to the USA  to avoid US tariffs on Chinese honey. Some of this honey contained antibiotics not allowed in the US food supply. Sounds like a good reason to buy honey from somebody you know. Our November speaker, David Neel , 331-1905, has honey for sale now  at home, and in Pickles Deli and maybe soon in local supermarkets.

Submitted by Chris Williams, Deer Lagoon Grange

 

Improve your farm business success!

January 4, 2010

Contact: Michel Wiman, WSU Small Farms Program, mbrockington@wsu.edu, 509-663-8181 x235.

 

Running a sustainable farming operation can be a challenge, especially in tough economic times.  Whether you’ve been farming for years, or have a dream of beginning or adding a new farm-based enterprise, you’ll learn exciting new tools & strategies for farm or farm business profitability with the Cultivating Success^TM  series of entrepreneurship classes.

The program courses include Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching, and Agricultural Entrepreneurship & Business Planning.  The 12 to 14-week evening courses feature a full line-up of guest speakers, including university experts and successful farm entrepreneurs. Courses are offered by the Cultivating Success Program, a collaboration of Washington State University, the University of Idaho and the non-profit organization Rural Roots, and are taught through County Extension.  The costs of the courses vary, but are typically between $150-250.

Designed to bring all types of students to a participatory learning environment to learn from established and other agricultural experts, the two courses of the Cultivating Success program provide an overview of the planning tools needed to be successful. In Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching, students are introduced to sustainable management practices for small farm operations. In Agricultural Entrepreneurship & Business Planning, students are guided through the business planning process needed to launch their enterprise. All classes encourage networking with other students, farms, and resource providers.

For more details on courses available near you and to register, find the available course you are interested in, below, and contact information for that course.  To read more about Cultivating Success courses, visit www.cultivatingsuccess.org.  The following locations have confirmed or tentative spring 2010 class offerings - please contact local sites to register.  For more information ,  Download Cultivating Success