Trust for Working Landscapes

This Sunday the Trust for Working Landscapes will be conducting another tour
of the Day Road Farm area. Meet at the berry stand on Day Road (look for
the TWL A-board sign ) at 2 PM. See the incredible growth of the pumpkins,
corn, grape vines, onions, the new red water tower, the efforts of the
Kitsap Conservation Crew. Hear about TWL accomplishments and projects.
Takes about 1 1/2 hours and tours nine properties. See the private and
public mix of properties.
Hope to see you there,
Bart Berg
bart@bainbridge.net / 380-5327

Farm supporters,
This Saturday’s work party will focus on fixing and completing elements
of the Day Road Irrigation System. We had a major break caused by a tractor
which needs backfilling, brush needs cutting back at the pump house, pump
house door installed, all the field quick couple boxes checked and graded as
necessary. The east deer fence gate needs repair - you get the idea. So we
need help - please turn out.
We have also had the privilege of having the resources of the Kitsap
Conservation District Crew for this week and next clearing invasives along
the fence lines - come out and see their progress.
10 - 2 meeting at the greenhouse at the Day Road Winery entrance.
Thanks, Bart Berg bart@bainbridge.net / 380-5327

Blaze and Luke, the beloved horses at the Johnson Farm, are moving on to greener pastures - temporarily. These lovely old guys have been enjoying a section of the pasture at the Johnson Farm since this spring, and in order to prevent erosion this fall they will be moved off so that the grassy slope may regenerate in time to withstand seasonal rains. Many folks will miss the horses while they are away, and we all look forward to their return for another season in the pasture. Since there aren’t any other fenced pastures at the Johnson Farm, the horses will have to go elsewhere for their time away.  There is potential for setting up another horse pasture on another section of the farm, but we currently don’t have the funds to do this. Anyone interested in pursuing the installation of additional horse pastures through fund donations or otherwise please contact TWL.

What’s with the erosion? - The exposed dirt you see in the horse pasture will become a mudslide this fall if the grass is not allowed to grow back to hold the slope and topsoil together.  This is bad for the horses as they are old and could slip and fall, and muddy conditions can cause several different foot problems for horses such as cracked heels and thrush. It would also cause the hillside to erode, creating pockets of unstable soil that would wash down the hillside. Pasture rotation like this is an age-old farm management practice that ensures the health of the land for generations to come.

There has been tremendous interest in the p-patches at Johnson Farm and all of the plots are taken. If you are still interested and would like to be on a waiting list, please contact Christy Carr. If there is significant interest, additional p-patches may be added in the future.

Also, we have a list of several private property owners who would welcome you to garden on their property. These properties would be available this growing season. If this is a situation that may fit your gardening needs, please contact us for a list of available garden properties and contact information. So many ways to get growing!

There has been tremendous interest in the p-patches at Johnson Farm and all of the plots are taken. If you are still interested and would like to be on a waiting list, please contact Christy Carr chcarr@w-link.net. If there is significant interest, additional p-patches may be added in the future.

The Trust for Working Landscapes (TWL) is pleased to announce the availability of public garden plots (“p-patches”) at the Johnson Farm.

Each plot will be 200 square feet in area. At this point, a tilled plot space, water, minimal deer fencing and tool storage will be provided. Future infrastructure will depend on available funding and volunteer participation. A work party is planned for Saturday, March 21st from 10 am to 2 pm. This is the time to get digging! The Historical Society will also be at the work party planting Marshall strawberries in the p-patch area.

Johnson Farm is located on the west side of Fletcher Bay Road approximately ½ mile from High School Road. Fourteen plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A sign up sheet will be available on March 2 at the Sustainable First Monday Community Gardens, P-Patches and Backyard Gardens. This event is from 7-9pm at Bainbridge Commons (next to Senior Center on Brien Drive). You may also contact Christy Carr for more information.

When: January 4, 2009 @ 2pm
Where: Day Road Farms farm stand

Bart Berg will be leading another Farm Walk starting at the Day Road Farms farm stand on Sunday, January 4th at 2pm. The walk will cover seven agricultural properties before returning to the meeting point.

Please bring winter clothes and boots.

Contact Bart Berg at bart@bainbridge.net with questions.

Please consider joining the twl-announce mailing list to receive timely updates on all TWL events. Sign up from on the Contact page.

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It is time again to get back on the farm for a day at the 2008 Harvest Fair at the Johnson Farm. The date is Sunday, September 28 from 11 - 4pm.

What will ensue? … how about:

Live local music including Bella, Jeremy Rothbaum - Brent Grossman Duo, the Hometown Band and Get Your Oxygen Tanks!

A New Beer Garden will be pouring local Hales ales and island grown wines from Perennial Vintners and Bainbridge Island Vineyards! 21 and over in the beer garden please, ID will be required.

A New display vegetable garden and compost display will feature talks on island farming by local farmers, every hour on the hour. Come get tips from the pros on how to best grow your own local produce.

In addition, we’ll have: “Ask a Farmer,” Sheep Shearing, Wool Dying demos, 4-H Petting Zoo, Apple Cider pressing (bring your own apples!), the Landslide (kid’s favorite!) and wagon rides of every kind!

All-entries welcome Competitions (with great prizes!) will include:

• Pie Contest (three categories: best overall, best local fruit pie and best youth baker -18 and under) Drop of Pies by Noon!
• Scarecrow contest - Bring yours from home or build it with our supplies at the Fair! (three categories: Most Artistic, Most Recycled and Scariest Scarecrow) - competition judged by the Farmers!! Entries must be dropped off or entered by 2pm!
• Largest Zucchini (poundage)- $100 Prize Entries must be in by 1pm!

Make history and be part of the Community Photograph with Joel Sackett. The photograph will be taken at 1:45pm, at the top of the orchard. Dress in your “island farm-finery”!

Food Vendors will feature local ingredients and informational booths focusing on sustainability and preservation of local farming history….

Please come help us celebrate our local Harvest, raise money to help promote and protect local farming, and enjoy a good ol’ day on the Farm!

Everyone is welcome…..The event is free! (We offer many opportunities to donate throughout the fairgrounds, as this is a fundraising event to support TWL’s work to promote and preserve farming on Bainbridge)

The Johnson Farm is located 1/4 mile south of the Highschool and Fletcher Bay Rd. interesction, on the corner of Fletcher Bay Rd, Island Center Rd. and Johnsonville lane. Signs posted in the area. For more information contact Elizabeth Berg, eberg99@gmail.com. Thank You!

A big thanks to all our volunteers, who we will be celebrating at our pre-fair BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 27th at the Johnson Farm, featuring pastured beef burgers, local beer and wine. If you would like to get involved and come to our BBQ party, please contact Lizzie (see email just above). Work parties are held each Saturday ’til the Harvest Fair at the Johnson Farm, and all hands are welcome!

The water is flowing! After many months (years even?) of planning, ditch digging, pipe connecting and wading through mud & logistics, the Day rd. Irrigation system is now in operation!

This large scale project was lead by TWL board member and local Landscape Architect Bart Berg, in response to a growing need from farmers on the city-owned farmlands at Day rd. for an efficient, functioning irrigation system. The project was funded through a combination of federal grants, local donations, TWL funds, and a tenacious crew of volunteers. It is truly a great achievement and significant contribution to the sustainability of the farmlands on the Day Road property.

Many of the local crops sold at the Day rd. farm-stand (raspberries from Suyematsu Farms) & the Farmers’ Market (Laughing Crow Farm), as well as crops that go to local CSAs (Butler Green Farms) are now able to be watered by this irrigation system, which has improved efficiency with water usage and has eased the labor-intensive task of hand-watering for the farmers, allowing them to water their crops in a way that is much more efficient and sustainable for continued use and expansion.

This is a great step into the Future of Farming on Bainbridge Island, well done TWL!