A Day of Farm Touring

When I was a kid, we lived in a greenhouse on the farm. It had walls made of thick plastic, a wooden plank floor and an outside kitchen. We had an outside shower that looked out into the flower garden, our kitchen sink and fridge were outside on the porch and our beds were on the floor of the greenhouse. When it got too hot I would set up my tent out in the currant patch and that would be my bedroom. The floor of the greenhouse was cut out in the middle for my dad's cactus garden, and he had a few loose planks for doing his banking...he didn't trust banks and would bury his money in a giant glass jar under the wooden planks of the greenhouse. We used to grill in the fire pit that was in the flower garden behind the greenhouse. We didn't have a TV, or video games. My sister and I would listen to the radio, sometimes they would play movies on the radio, I remember listening to Alice in Wonderland on the radio while laying on the floor of the greenhouse. We didn't have a real house because the farm was on flood plain and it would just wash away or fill up with mud in the winter time. To get to the farm from any sort of town or highway you would have to drive twenty miles or so up the curviest and turniest, barfiest road ever. I swear I barfed everytime we had to drive up or down that road! In the summer time when the river would lower, someone would bulldoze a road and bring in the bridge. Not really so much of a bridge, it was really just a couple of logs with a few giant planks nailed and tied to them. Super sketchy.....

To see through the eyes of another is a sight to behold. Last weekend was awesome! I went farm touring with my farmer friend Ann. We toured 4 farms and 1 winery on the Key Peninsula. We met up in Gig Harbor and had breakfast while pondering over the map to decide which farms we should visit. We decided to just start with the closest farm and see where we ended up from there. I love plans like that, just get in the car and see where the road takes you.

Bea's Flowers was the first stop. Bea's Flowers is a small family farm on the Peninsula. They have a little farm stand off of to the side of the road. When we got there I bee-lined it for the animals. I loved the baby goats! They were the cutest thing ever! They had a pony that kids were dragging around the farm and bunnies, chickens, ducks and more. Grandpa had an old apple press and was making fresh pressed apple cider. Behind the farm stand was an open air art studio, a sweet little lady was painting pictures of the farm, her paintings were placed all around the farm stand. At the farm stand they were selling potatoes, banana squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, peppers and other fall vegetables. As I was browsing around the stand, a woman came down from the hills with a fresh bucket of chantrelle mushrooms. They were bright orange, moist and covered in pine needles. And they were selling them for only $5 a pound. What a screaming deal! You can't find chantrelles that are more fresh or for a better price anywhere other than going out and picking them yourself. I picked up some delicata squash, chantrelles and a butternut squash to take home for dinner.

Our next stop was Calico Cat Farm, another small family farm, actually all of the farms we went to were small family farms. What I mean by small family farm is, a family, husband, wife and kids being the only people who are doing the farming. If they are lucky they may be able to hire and hand or two to work for them, but these are just small family units that are doing all of the work themselves. Most of them farm and have other jobs during the off season to support the family and farm. They make enough money at farmers markets to support the farm but usually report a loss at the end of the year. It is hard work, with no breaks. And you can see the pride and the joy in their faces as they show you their farms and the fruits of their labor.

Calico Cat Farm had one of my favorite greenhouses and wins the best t-shirt award (see pic). Their propagation greenhouse was made of old glass windows and was brightly painted. It was so cute, I could have lived in it! They had a couple of baby cows, some turkeys, chickens and a giant baby saint Bernard. There was a portable chicken coop and a couple of greenhouses. Their greenhouse that they used for hydroponic growing had been destroyed by the snow last winter. When it was in operation they were able to grow all winter long! They could grow salad greens and other vegetables you only dream about eating fresh during the winter. I bought some fresh eggs (they still had feathers and poop on them) and some baby red potatoes to take home. The eggs were delicately colored in light greens and soft browns and came in all sizes. I have fried them up for breakfast almost every morning this week. They have a nice gentle flavor and taste so good I don't bother eating anything with them except a piece of toast.

Next it was on to Morgan Creek Farm. Morgan Creek was right next to Calico Cat. Steve and Donna White live in an old 1920's farm house with their daughter. They grow tons of flowers and produce for the farmers markets in the area. Donna has an incredible knack for the details. It is all of the little things that stand out on their farm. Small ceramic shoes with plants growing in them. Little wooden, hand painted signs hanging on door knobs. Chairs with plants and flowers overflowing from where the seat should be. Little scarecrows and pumkiny, festive decorations everywhere. They had horses, goats, and chickens. For the day they had a farm stand set up in their barn, a band playing good ole farmy tunes and even a coffee vendor to warm you up for your visit to the farm. I just wandered around the farm taking pictures of all of the tiny things that caught my eye. I even told Steve that I thought they might need to adopt me so that I could live on their farm. Ha! They had a house...I have never lived in a house on a farm. I could have stayed there all day, but Ann made me go, we had to move on to continue our farm tour mission.

Next stop, Barefoot Boys Farm, this is home of The Bee Lady and her family. We wanted to stop by and see how Chanetta was doing and find out about her farm. Chanetta was in her element, she was smiling and happy, her kids were hard at work, manning the booth and selling honey and other goods. The boys were helping to direct traffic for parking. We had the good fortune to come at a time when The Bee Lady could tour us around herself. She showed us her bee hives. She now has eight bee hives and just had to surround them with electric fencing to keep the bears out. Last year she lost 12 hives to the bears. So the tale is really true, bears do love honey! She had a giant green house on the farm, a lavender patch and a large garden where she was growing pumpkins and popcorn for the kids. This year they were even able to provide for a few families with their CSA program. Chanetta has a beautiful family, all of the kids were blonde and blue eyed, fair and sweet. They are lucky kids to be able to grow up on a farm.

Our next stop was Trillium Creek Winery. Both Ann and I were astonished that you could grow grapes in this region. It just seems too cold and wet for grapes. But there they were, growing on slopes in between the trees. Claude shared his stories about the wine that he makes in the basement of their lovely home. We stood on a grassy knoll that was actually the roof of the wine cellar, sampling the wines, listening to Claude talk about his wine. What a character! I wish I would have gotten a picture of him! The wine had an earthy and fresh taste that you don't get from most wines. I can't explain it, it was like drinking a freshly pressed grape. I know that sounds silly because that is what it is, but that is what it tasted like to me.

The day was ending quickly so we had to move on to our last stop. Creviston Valley Farm. 40 acres of pristine farm land. The farm was immaculate and Lelaine went all out. They even had a hayride, bbq and petting zoo. They had chickens, goats, and hogs. Hogs are the funniest thing I have ever heard...they make the weirdest grunting and squeaking noises.

There was also a dog going into labor, just about to have puppies, I felt so bad for her! The farm was so clean and organized, the greenhouse and the barn had everything in its place. The farm house had a giant wrap around porch with a view of the valley and the farm. Another spot I could definitely find myself staying for a long time.

Maybe someday I will get to have my own farm house and my own green house. I can dream...

The End......