Tag Archives: food

Many of you know that I am in mid-way through my BAS degree at Green River… now I just have a few classes left to complete. And I was so looking forward to a calm winter break, after the CSA season wrapped up. But the day after my last final exam in December, the Green River started flooding our area. It was the first time since 1959 and nobody was prepared.

It’s been three months now since we had to evacuate, and watching my home and work… my life… be slowly inundated by water is something that I don’t want to be surprised by again. Between working on rebuilding my house, homework, and working 30 hours a week at an off-farm job, I apologize for late responses to emails. But now it’s nearly April, and we’ve made it to the Spring Equinox, when life begins anew!

I want to thank Greg and Jeannie, April, Ray, Sarah, Lily and June, Mary, Catherine, Cliff, Feney, Erin, Wendy, Marcia for coming to help with both cleanup work parties, and the other Erin for bringing a delicious lunch. With everyone’s help, we were able to clean up the CSA shed, the walk-in cooler, and pack shed, and clean up all the flotsam and jetsam around the property. We also got two greenhouses ready for planting preparation. We couldn’t have gutted my house, disposed of all my flooded belongings, and all of the field trash without the generous loan of Shelley and Dean’s big dump trailer and the truck they hauled it with.

I am immensely grateful for all who helped, and for all who gave so generously to my flood recovery fundraiser. When my friend and mentor, Michaele, who farms in the Snoqualmie valley, suggested that I set $30,000 as a goal, I thought it was a such a huge number. But it turned out that I actually needed that much to replace the buried electric cable that powers the farm, to replace my entire seed inventory and stock of fertilizer and cover crop seed, to rebuild the walk-in cooler and pack shed, and to rebuild my little house. And so, I repeat, I am incredibly grateful for everyone in our little farm community.

My environmental-science cousin Taryn collected soil samples in mid-February (we had to wait for the water to recede to the point that we could collect samples). Then I was on pins and needles, waiting for two weeks for news. Thankfully, the lab returned the results that I had hoped for: there is no chemical contamination in my fields! I am also hugely grateful for King Conservation District for footing the bill for that testing! Floods are natural events, and I am learning that the soil takes care of itself, and the soil biology survives. I’ll be posting an essay about the whole experience during spring break (next week).

Thanks to the GoFundMe for my Vintage Tractor Electrification Project, I have ordered all of the parts needed for the electric conversion, minus the batteries. I’ve been watching prices closely and the battery market is pretty volatile lately. Last year I ended up doing all of the cultivation work by hand last summer, and if the improved tractor can do it for me, I’ll be freed-up to grow a lot more food. Plus it will be clean and green and I’ll be less tired! Soon we’ll be getting to work on that project so she’s ready to go when we need her.

I am extremely thankful for those who have already paid for 2026 and to those who have paid “tips” when they paid for their 2026 CSA shares. After covering card-processing costs, the balance of these funds will continue to go toward funding no-cost CSA shares for families-in-need. To date, nearly $2,000 has gone into this pool, feeding 3+ families for the full 2026 season. All future “tips” paid at checkout will also be added to this pool, and I’ll round-up some before the season starts to connect even more folks with fresh, local produce. If you know of anyone who could use a CSA share next season, please let me know.

In addition to the 2026 CSA 28-week subscription, I’ve opened up a shorter, 2026 Just Summer CSA, for those who don’t enjoy the spring and fall shoulder seasons. I’ve also added a 10-week Flower Bouquet Subscription to the online store. And the 8-box Pantry-Builder Subscription is available too, if you’re not sure about committing to the whole season of pickups. Pickup options continue to be offered at the farm, in Columbia City and Skyway, and via the West Seattle, Burien, and North Seattle share-pools. Let me know if you have an idea for another share-pool! All subscribers will continue to have free access to the Cutflower Garden and subscriber-only Pumpkin Patch in season. 

Thank you for being a part of my farm’s community, and for helping to build a community around this farm. I wouldn’t be here without you! It is an honor and a pleasure to continue feeding you all!

Shelley

Just like that, the golden leaves have fallen and November is nearly done. December approaches, and the days are dark and wet, as they should be. Yet, there is a glorious, fiery sunrise now and then to surprise us. The Coopers Hawks have returned to chase away the Red-winged Blackbirds and the Golden-crowned Sparrows sing their melancholy songs from the shelter of the greenhouses, where they feast on tomatoes, peppers, and cucumber seeds. Yet there is still an abundance of food in the field. Today I harvested the last of the sweet, savoy spinach. The cauliflower and broccoli are finally finished, although a few heads remain for me. I’ve started the earliest wildflowers for building habitat (and my experimental native cutflower garden) and in January, I’ll fire-up the greenhouse heat mats and get the earliest non-wildflowers and vegetables going… I’d like to get tomatoes and peppers even earlier next summer.

Next week is the last pickup for 2025 CSA, and it will be a big haul! I have a little vacation planned for the first weekend of December… a yurt awaits on the central Oregon coast, for the King Tide. So, I’ll be begin harvesting on Wednesday to prepare for a double-load of fall produce. Whether you pick up on Saturday the 29th or Tuesday the 2nd, you’ll find Brussels sprouts, watermelon radishes, Romanesco cauliflower, pink radicchio, and much more.

I’ve put together a GoFundMe for my Vintage Tractor Electrification Project, because it’s going to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,000 for the electric motor conversion kit and batteries. I ended up doing all of the cultivation work by hand last summer, and if the improved tractor can do it for me, I’ll be freed-up to grow a lot more food. Plus it will be clean and green and I’ll be less tired! Rewards include printed canvas totes, native wildflower plants and seed bombs, and contributions of CSA shares for families-in-need. Read more at the link: Tractor Electrification Project. I’m hoping to purchase the kit in January, so we have time to get her up and running by planting time; if you are able to help with this project, I will be ever grateful.

I am extremely thankful for those who have already paid for 2026 and to those who have paid “tips” when they paid for their 2026 CSA shares. After covering card-processing costs, the balance of these funds will go toward funding no-cost CSA shares for families-in-need. To date, over $1,500 has gone into this pool, feeding 2+ families for the full 2026 season. All future “tips” paid at checkout will also be added to this pool, and I’ll round-up some before the season starts to connect even more folks with fresh, local produce. If you know of anyone who could use a CSA share next season, please let me know.

In addition to the 2026 CSA 28-week subscription, I’ve opened up a shorter, 2026 Just Summer CSA, for those who don’t enjoy the spring and fall shoulder seasons. I’ve also added a 10-week Flower Bouquet Subscription to the online store. And the 8-box Pantry-Builder Subscription is available too, if you’re not sure about committing to the whole season of pickups. Pickup options continue to be offered at the farm, in Columbia City and Skyway, and via the West Seattle, Burien, and North Seattle share-pools. Let me know if you have an idea for another share-pool! All subscribers will continue to have free access to the Cutflower Garden and subscriber-only Pumpkin Patch in season. 

Thank you for being a part of my farm’s community, and for helping to build a community around this farm. I wouldn’t be here without you! And PLEASE, if you know someone who would benefit from a no-cost 2026 CSA share, please reach out to me!

I wish you a warm Thanksgiving with all who you call Family.

Shelley