Grow Your Own
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One of the best ways to expand our locally-grown diets is to "grow our own," and the popularity of pea patches, community gardens and home-grown vegetables is on the rise. Learn about what's working -- and not working -- in gardens around our area, and share your tips and thoughts by posting comments or contributing an article at
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Farm Business Planning Course starts January 19 |
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Written by Carolyn Goodwin
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Tuesday, 03 January 2012 19:20 |
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Kitsap County Extension will be offering its popular Ag Entrepreneurship Course on starting and sustaining a profitable small farm or agricultural enterprise beginning January 19th. Community members are invited to sign up for this intensive, hands-on learning opportunity. The course features a full line-up of local guest speakers: bankers, accountants, attorneys, and successful farm owners.
Participants will gain skills in business planning, direct marketing and record-keeping. They'll also receive information on federal and state programs targeted to the needs of small producers, including resources to improve risk management and conservation practices.
The course is designed for both beginning farmers as well as current growers who are looking to take their farm in a new direction. Guest lecturers for the courses are regional growers who are models of sustainable agriculture in their farming and marketing practices. Participants will complete the course having developed a business plan they can take to the bank to finance their new enterprise or use as a roadmap for their farm business.
The Ag Entrepreneurship course costs $250, including materials. The cost to community members has been reduced due to a USDA grant and partial scholarships and Continuing Education Units are available. The course will be held Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00 pm in Room 406 of the Norm Dicks Government Center located at 345 6th Street in Bremerton. To register for the Ag Entrepreneurship Course or for more information contact Arno Bergstrom at 360-337-7225,
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or Diane Fish at 360-337-7026,
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. Registration information can also be viewed on the web at: http://county.wsu.edu/kitsap/.
Next on the calendar is the West Sound Small Farms Expo, scheduled for February 11 on the Olympic College campus. |
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Skagit Valley College to offer course in Sustainable Farming and Ranching |
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Written by Admin
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Sunday, 18 September 2011 17:48 |
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WSU Skagit County Extension and Viva Farms have partnered with Skagit Valley College to deliver the Sustainable Farming and Ranching course in Mount Vernon, WA. This year, the course may be taken to earn college credits towards Skagit Valley College's new Sustainable Agriculture Microcertificate.
Participants will also be given priority for a plot at Viva Farms, a 33 acre farm incubator where new farmers can get established.
Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching is a 12-week bilingual (English/Spanish) course developed by Washington State University and delivered by WSU Skagit County Extension and Viva Farms. The course guides new and prospective farmers through the process of starting or transforming a farm operation.
The course starts Wed., Sept. 21, 2011 and is held the next 11 Wednesdays, 6-9pm until Dec 7.
Topics include:
Sustainable crop production
Ecological soil management
Integrated pest & weed management
Sustainable livestock & poultry systems
Facilities and equipment
Direct marketing strategies
Cost: $250 per farm family. For college credit, you must enroll in Skagit Valley College. Contact us for more info if you're interested.
More details about course content at www.CultivatingSuccess.org
To register email your name, address and phone to: i
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Questions? Call Sarita @ 360-707-3223 / 206-914-7948
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Find Your Dream Coop at "Tour de Coop" July 16 |
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Written by Ryan Nickum
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Thursday, 07 July 2011 13:45 |
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It's that time of year again -- time for the third-annual Bainbridge Island Tour de Coop. The self-guided tour features nine specially-selected Bainbridge Island chicken coops and will take place on Saturday, July 16, from 11 am - 4 pm.
The event showcases a variety of coops, birds, and styles, the perfect way for guests to draw inspiration for their own future chicken coop operation. Whether modern or traditional, simple or deluxe, this tour provides attendees plenty of design ideas, answers to questions, and a great afternoon.
Featured coops include:
Coop de Ville, Sin Gallo-The Little and Lewis Coop, The Cluck Hut, Fig House, Coopacabana, Saxon Cottage, Lost Egg Blue, and more. Tickets are available for sale beginning Saturday, July 9 at Bay Hay and Feed, and Classic Cycle.
All proceeds benefit Helpline House, ticket prices are as follows:
$8 - Individuals traveling by bicycle
$10 - Individual traveling by auto
$30 - Four people traveling by carpool
You can follow news about this popular annual event on Facebook. |
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Winter Gardening and Fruit Pest Management: It's time to Footie your Fruit! |
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Written by Kathy Morse, WSU Master Gardener
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Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:03 |
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Winter Garden Planning
I know you just got most of your summer garden in but believe it or not if you want to grow some fall/winter veggies the time to plan and start some seedlings is now. Use your Maritime Guide for planning what you want to grow into the winter. Most of our crops do not grow through the winter, but there are some that do. Regardless of its name, "winter" squash is not one of them - if you haven't gotten your winter squash well established by now it will be too late to get a crop.
There is a chart on the Territorial web site: "Winter Gardening Means Summer Planting" which identifies the timelines for sowing and transplanting many crops. Early August through mid-September is a very important timeline for many of these crops in order for them to put on enough growth to produce. There is also a more complete chart that can be downloaded through the Oregon Tilth web site.
Starting and managing seeds during the hot part of summer is challenging. Remember to never let the seed bed dry out, which means you may have to water two or three times a day. One technique is to use more compost in your potting and seeding mixes which holds more water and doesn't dry out as fast as the prepared seeding mixes. You can also cover them with Remay which slows down the evaporation rate and also protects crops like broccoli, kale, carrots from the maggots and worms which plague them.
Use of season extenders comes into play in fall as temperatures start to dip in order to extend your harvest well into the fall.
Winter Gardening in the Maritime Northwest, by Binda Colebrook, is a great reference and will give you lots of tips. New products are making it easier and easier to have your own food for a longer time.
Organic Apple Pest Management
The apple trees finally began to bloom in late May this year, and the Mason Bees and other helpers were busy pollinating them.
But pollination alone doesn't ensure a bountiful harvest. In our area we have a couple pests that can transform your wonderful apple crop into useless pulp unless you manage them: the Apple Maggot and the Codling Moth. Darren Murphy is my friend and a member of the Peninsula Fruit Club and he grows several amazing apple trees on his city lot, so I asked him to review my words and to impart any new management strategies coming down the pike!
Some apple varieties are more susceptible to these pests than others. Because we need to protect the commercial growers it is important to realize that it is our responsibility to control this pest to prevent contamination including removing neglected trees. Below is a short description of the two apple pests and some new fruit pests you need to know about.
Apple Maggot
I first learned of this pest several years ago when my then young daughter and a friend found an old song about the Apple Maggot and the quarantine areas. I am sure you have seen the signs along the roadside, especially up around Mount Vernon, and have been restricted from bringing apples across the border. This is a most serious pest of apples, making larval tunnels inside the flesh of the apple. The fly usually emerges mid-June to late July (this yer may be later however), and then after 7-10 days lays its eggs under the skin of the apple. The maggots live in the apple for 20-30 days before |
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Read more...
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Classes to help you Grow and Forage Your Own Food |
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Written by Admin
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Wednesday, 11 May 2011 18:22 |
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Learn about Integrating Poultry and other Livestock!
Saturday, May 14, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Bay Hay and Feed
Chuck Estin, Ph.D
Class fee: $8 (proceeds will go to Sound Food)
Integrating small or large livestock can enhance the yield of a food system - and chickens are an easy add-in. We’ll focus on the pro’s and con’s for the owners and the inhabitants of a variety of poultry management systems - from enclosed run through rotational paddocks. Register online at Bay Hay's website or call 842-5274.
Learn How to Raise Cows!
Saturday, May 14 10am to Noon
Blackjack Valley Farm, Port Orchard
Karen and Loren Olsen
Class fee: $35/person or $50/family
Whether for milk or meat, cattle need proper care and management. "Cows 101" will cover calving, cow care, milking, feeds and feeding, herd health, pasture management and much more. Register online at http://kitsap.wsu.edu
Learn about Beekeeping!
May 26, 2:00-3:00pm
Silverdale Scout Hall
T.J. Jorgenson
West Sound Beekeepers Association President T. J. Jorgenson talks about bees and honey for those interested in getting started with beekeeping or just curious about bees. Honey tasting included! For info: Silverdale Library / 360-692-2779
Learn about Ways to Increase Soil Fertility!
Saturday, May 28, 2:00 - 4:00pm
Bay Hay and Fee
Chuck Estin, Ph.D
Class fee: $8 (proceeds will go to Sound Food)
Turn your waste into garden gold. Want it fast, or want it no-work? Critters can help you out: worms & chickens. Cover-cropping for increased fertility. Register online at Bay Hay's website or call 842-5274
Learn How to Plan a Fall/Winter Vegetable Garden!
Saturday, June 4, 10am-noon
Bainbridge Metropolitan Park District
Gayle Larson, Certified Horticulturist
Class fee: $20
Believe it or not, June is the time to plan for your Fall/Winter vegetable garden. Many delicious and nutritious vegetables can be grown for harvest during the colder months, as well as over the winter for the earliest picking in the spring. Learn what to plant, when and where, so that you can be eating fresh from the garden all year long. Register online at www.biparks.org
Learn about Growing Food in Greenhouses!
Saturday, June 4, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Bay Hay and Feed
Chuck Estin, Ph.D
Class fee: $8 (proceeds will go to Sound Food)
Examples of solar and conventional greenhouses for the Pacific Northwest. Crops, seasons and efficient food production in our area. Register online at Bay Hay's website or call 842-5274
Learn about Harvesting and Cooking Geoducks!
Wednesday, June 15, 8:30am-4:00pm
Bainbridge Metropolitan Park District
Langdon Cook
Class fee: $75
Join renowned chef and author Langdon Cook at Taylor Shellfish Farm during a -3.2” low tide to find and dig up the world’s largest burrowing clam. Learn about geoducks, how to harvest them, as well as recipes to prepare your catch. Price includes cooking supplies, and instruction. Plan to get wet. Transportation is not provided. Register online at www.biparks.org
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