Budding up for spring
Even though it’s a cold and rather blustery day, I can feel it. It’s the push of the Poet’s Narcissus that line the farm driveway, and bright-faced daffodils poking through the muddy sodden ground under the fig trees, the days lengthening, and the budding up of the flowering quince. It’s all the fruit trees ready for their seasonal pruning. It’s the sheep longing for green grass and clover, it’s the seeds awaiting the soil. Spring is coming and the growing season has begun.
“…Oh the wind is lashing lustily
And the trees are thrashing thrustily
And the leaves are rustling gustily
So it’s rather safe to say
That it seems that it may turn out to be
Feels that it will undoubtedly
It looks like a rather blustery day, today” ”
Coming soon: Our Poet’s Narcissus
So, here on the farm our intrepid group of Farm Friends planted out our tomato and pepper seeds. Here are the new babies with their brand new view of our grow room. You may have seen the glow of our crazy purple/red grow lights in the twilight.
I planted seeds for some herbs and one of my favorite flower fillers, Cardoon that need more time on the heat mats. All 10 feet of the heat mats are completely filled with seed trays brimming with possibilities and the deliciousness of the Summer to come. Seeds give us hope, even in these deep times of trouble.
2025 tomato seedlings
““Each day of my life I am sowing seeds that one day I will harvest.”
”
In case you know the perfect gardening folk, we have room for a few more Farm Friends this season! The incredible OCPA - Orcas Community Participatory Agriculture, is taking a year’s hiatus as they work on their 501C3 organization. We have a tight well coordinated group that feel like farm family. Our group of Farm Friends is continuing on with us. If you’ve considered growing community, and veggies at Warm Valley Farm, and want to participate with us this season, please reach out for an introduction and application for Farm Friend details. The growing season is upon us.
Sheep: This is the first time in five years that we won't have lambs in the field. We gave our girls a year off from babies, and Joel and I have a break in lambing duty and all that entails (long hours, up late, up early) but we will miss the joy of bouncing happy lambs and sweet patient ewes with their little ones frolicking over the green grass of Warm Valley. Maybe next season?
With that bit of extra time, Joel will be out on the boat more often, making his heart and soul so very happy! We are both hoping for more time on the sea together this summer. Remember the balance part? We also won’t have interns this year (yikes) - which is a first in a long time! I will really miss the extra help, important insights, and all the learning experiences we all have. I know as much as I teach, I also learn.
As far as the Farmstand goes, our intention is to be open three days a week (Wednesday to Friday 2-6pm) this coming season. Last year so much of my energy went into the opening and running of The Boardwalk Collective. This year we are looking to find balance between the two businesses. Crossing fingers on that!
Wednesday in Warm Valley?
Call out for Vendors!
We would love to host our seasonal Farmer’s Market - Wednesday’s in Warm Valley again. If you, or someone you know in the islands would like to vend with us, please let me know, and then we can gauge the interest in a weekly farmer’s and artist's market.
If you loved our weekly market as a customer, please let us know. We are trying to be prudent with balancing our energy and time use, like I mentioned above. The cost of vending at the farm is minimal, and the community benefit is wonderful. We loved hosting, but need confirmation that our community loves it too! You can find out about the vendor details here: You can also email me here:
On to our wonderful little shop by the sea….
The Boardwalk Collective view
Our Big Announcement!
We have a beautiful new website for The Boardwalk Collective:
You can read more about the shop, and its creative collaborators, as well as any upcoming events and classes, and consignment.
The new website was built and facilitated by Cat and Mouse Studios, Elizabeth does wonderful, dependable work and is so reasonable! In case you’re looking you can find her at the link above.
The Boardwalk Collective is now open four days a week - Friday through Monday from 10AM to 4PM. We are located at the Ferry Landing in Orcas Village, across from the Orcas Hotel! We will increase our hours as we get closer to Mother’s Day. We have new items arriving weekly, and sometimes daily! Check back with us often to find your new most favorite treasure!
We’d love you to be on The Boardwalk Collective’s new email list you can sign up at our contact page. We will write you monthly-ish with our upcoming classes, art and special events, and local promotions.
We are currently working on our class and event schedule for the year, for both the shop and the farm. If you are an artist who would like to be our Artist of the Month, and or teach a class with us, put on a farm-to-table dinner, please get in touch with us on the contact page. We already have some scrumptious possibilities brewing!
We wish you a happy end of February and a beautiful growing season!
All the best to you and yours,
Annie, Joel, and all of us at both the Farm and The Boardwalk Collective