What's At The Farm Stand?

First Wednesday Pop Up Farm Stand of the year!

Last Wednesday was our first Pop Up Farm Stand of the season. In the tradition of a Whidbey Island Spring, it was raining. And to the casual observer, what we had available were mostly greens (although a wide diversity of greens!), with a few radishes tossed in for crunch.

But to those who know and support the Organic Farm School, there was much more in play, so much more on display.

The Class of 2024 began their training on March 4 This means that they are in their 8th week of learning to be community facing farmers. In those weeks, they’ve started learning about soil development, plant biology, the basics of reading a crop plan, and the early season work flow of a production farm. They’ve put in time on tractors, formed hundreds of trays of soil blocks in which to plant seeds, transplanted seedlings into 100’ long beds, and started the on-going dance of weed management. They’ve formed a team that crosses layers of gender, age, and culture and are becoming skilled at navigating all of the life lessons that will come from that. They’ve begun their relationship with our irrigation system, and are already taking quite seriously their responsibility for both conserving water and getting just enough water to all 435 of the beds out in the field.

So, as folks approached the tables covered in abundant greens what they saw was evidence of our primary crop at the Organic Farm School…new farmers.

Here’s to the remaining weeks of training, the continuing parade of certified organic produce, the on-going conversations at the Farm Stand and Sunday Tilth Market, and the launch of new farm businesses!