Trust for Working Landscapes

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.

Date: Saturday, December 13

Time: 10AM - 2PM

We have much to do in the coming winter months to get ready for spring. The Morales greenhouse needs to be built and this will take a number of consecutive weekends. At the moment we are getting bids and preparing the ground plane of the site. Next we will pull the metal posts from the existing site and knock off the concrete. We are trying to get the greenhouse up by March so it is ready for starts.

The alder tree at the north end of Crawford must come down before they leaf out again - this will also take several work parties.

At the moment we have a large chipper rented for this coming Saturday so we can begin to remove and chip the invasive trees (small alders, willows, scotch broom) and diseased trees from the M & E Tree farm. This will take a number of work parties. This property needs help to begin to move it towards food production among other ideas.

So drive up Lovgren past the Morales Farm and turn left onto Charles and drive to the end which runs into M & E. Bring sharp saws, gloves and help pull these invasives to the chipper which trained people will run. This is a great opportunity to understand M and E and see its potential.

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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!