Jasper Zona carries two carefully measured buckets of feed as he swiftly walks past rows of planted vegetables toward a chicken coop. He enthusiastically talks about his love of farming as he pours the pellets into small troughs, then steps back to watch the birds scurry toward dinner.
And then, just as quickly, Jasper is moving again. It’s time to feed the pigs. Jasper is a student at the Organic Farm School, a non-profit, 10-acre farm on Whidbey Island’s south end. He’s one of three students learning this fall about the business of farming. It’s clear he knows his stuff as he pulls vegetables from the ground and begins slicing samples for curious farm guests.
Try this watermelon radish, he says, passing a thinly cut piece of reddish root. And, here’s some kohlrabi. What is kohlrabi? A guest nibbles this unusual vegetable for the first time. It appears white once cut, the texture reminiscent of jicama,
yet it has a peppery taste closer to a radish. With each bite, the realization sinks in. While Jasper is going to school, it’s the visitor who is getting an education.
Weekend Farm Stays
The Organic Farm School offers three-day, two-night farmhouse stays that allow guests to visit the fields, pick their own vegetables, and carry them back to the kitchen for dinner. Want to get dirty amongst the arugula and kale? That can be arranged. Want to simply taste fresh foods? Pluck a leaf and try it. It’s grown without chemicals.
“Our ideal farm stay experience goes like this,” says school executive director Judy Feldman. “Arrive at three or four on a Friday afternoon in time to harvest food they’re interested in eating. Then cook with it the rest of the weekend.”
The well-appointed, two-story “Feed & Seed” farmhouse is exclusively reserved for a single group. It features four bedrooms, four baths, a comfortable living area with a wood-burning fireplace, and a very large, fully equipped kitchen. There’s plenty of space for eight people to gather to talk, cook, and enjoy great food. Then step out to the balcony each evening for the clean island air and starry skies.
The farmhouse is aptly named “Feed & Seed” because “our mission is all about feeding people and seeding the future,” Judy says.
There’s no need to bring recipes. There’s wifi available to search for cooking ideas based on the bounty. “But (guests) should come with curiosity and questions about farming,” Judy says. “Then take as much time as they are willing to simply be in that house. Prepare that food, eat that food, relax, read a couple of good books, and talk with each other. If you’re going to go out to eat, go to one of our local restaurants that perhaps buys local food. Or, go to
another one that doesn’t and think about why they don’t.”
Come to Whidbey Island and be part of the farm team without having to weed and rake, she says. “Discover who we are, what do we do, how do we do it, and why do we do it that way.”
More information about the Organic Farm School and weekend farm stay opportunities is available at www.organicfarmschool.org.
