Farm news
Ames Creek Farm Tour: A Good Time Had by All
On October 7, the PCC Farmland Trust was pleased to open Ames Creek Farm to the public as a part of the King County Harvest Celebration Tour. We were blessed with a day of warm autumn sunshine, one of summer’s last tendrils reaching in to the next season. 371 farm lovers came out to take a stroll around the farm and generally enjoy a fine day.
PCC Cooks was at the farm to entice the public with the aroma of farm fresh produce being prepared in appetizing ways. All morning Jennifer Adler prepared grilled corn, Massaged Kale Salad and Moroccan Winter Squash and Carrot Stew. In the afternoon, Pranee Halvorsen brought the flavors of Thailand to the farm when she made Stir-fried Choy Sum, Gaeng Leang Squash Soup, and Coconut Corn. All of the farmers contributed something to the feast.
While adults milled around the cooking booth, kids had a rollicking good time climbing all over the hay bales and voting for the tastiest samples at the PCC Kid Picks van. (The big winner was PCC Deli Roasted Tomato and Pasta Salad.) Families wandered down to look at the row crops and say hello to the chickens and turkeys on Michaele Blakely’s part of the farm. The turkeys were quick to sing out a gobble-gobble chorus and show their feathers in grand display.
Larry Nussbaum from Stewardship Partners was on hand to talk to people about the Salmon-Safe creek restoration plan for the namesake creek running alongside Ames Creek
Farm. Mary Embelton with Cascade Harvest Coalition shared information about local agriculture and the Puget Sound Fresh program.
Full Circle Farm was selling their fine produce, some of which could be seen in the fields. Michaele Blakely of Growing Things Farm spoke to guests about farming at Ames Creek as she harvested in the field. She sold out of her prized eggs and many people put their money down for a Thanksgiving turkey.
On the south side of the farm, the Folks from Full Circle Farm were offering hayrides around the fields that were now at the end of harvest for potatoes, squash, tomatoes and beans. Fong Cha was greeting guests at his 20-acre parcel with a tent of his famous flowers and Asian vegetables for sale. Many farm-goers commented with surprise on how big the 178-acre farm actually seemed when you were actually standing in the fields looking from one end to the other.
Alicia Guy and Kathryn Gardow, who share the PCC Farmland Trust executive director position, enjoyed talking with and educating the public about Ames Creek Farm and the history and mission of the PCC Farmland Trust. They were joined by Trust board members Goldie Caughlan and Joe Hardiman and several wonderful volunteers.
The entire day was an excellent opportunity to for Farmland Trust supporters to see and touch the actual soil that their donations are preserving for organic agriculture in perpetuity. Thank you very much to all of you who came out to see us!
