Rooted in History

Some of the oldest structures on all of Camano Island are at Kristoferson Farm, yet it’s still a working farm and still in the hands of a Kristoferson. This hub of the community hosts special events and sells local produce and homemade products at their special farm stand. Don’t forget to stop by Island Harvest Farm on Camano too, with a huge variety of fresh vegetables available. These farm stands dot each island and have a lot of character and charm. For veggies on Whidbey try Fox Tail Farm in Freeland, or drop by Bell’s Farm in Coupeville for U-pick berries and family friendly events.

Perhaps your own version of farming doesn’t go beyond the window box, but there are many island nurseries to support your efforts great or small. Crossing under the famed laburnum arbor at Bayview Farm and Garden, you’ll find home and garden wares, a plant nursery, gift shop, and café.

In Oak Harbor, check out Mailliard’s Landing Nursery for all your landscaping needs, including a licensed compost facility to recycle your yard waste for a small fee. At the Venture Out plant nursery near Langley, you’ll see landscaping techniques brought to life throughout their beautiful, mature grounds.

In Coupeville, the downtown store for  Lavender Wind Farm has lavender-favored food, oils, and soaps, along with a huge selection of lavender plants.

Strength in Community

Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative brings together farmers and products from up and down the island. By pulling together, growers can purchase supplies more affordably. The organization hosts a fantastic series of events each year for Whidbey Island Grown Week, and all year round you can shop local produce online or subscribe to a regular CSA box (Community Supported Agriculture). In early October check out Langley’s annual Harvest Festival, an agricultural celebration featuring island restaurants for tasting events. Enjoy local foods and wines, take a class, or peruse the arts and crafts stalls.

Farmers continue to be stewards for the land, leading the way on sustainable practices so that future generations may be fed from the same plot. Near Coupeville, the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship is furthering that mission, giving people and communities the tools to care sustainably for the land. For those who weren’t born to farming, it’s not too late to learn. The Organic Farm School in Clinton trains a new generation of green-minded farmers, imparting the many skills necessary to tend the land successfully. Luckily for us, some of these new farmers stay, and the tradition continues.