Orchard + Vineyard
Here on the islands, we have the vast expanse of the blue sky, the red madrones, the Cedar and Spruce. We plant vines, and fruit trees, and vegetables in patches cleared between nettles and salmonberries. We grow plants that benefit from the short, warm season, that thrive on long July days, and temper as September sun drops quickly and rain arrives. We collaborate with farmers who’ve known these seasons for decades longer than us, absorbing their lessons to create something new, together.
Every farm we work with is at minimum organically farmed and is focused on regenerative practices that acknowledge and attempt to address climate change in our region.
Blue Moon Farm is a historic homestead era farm on Waldron Island, incorporating elements of biodynamic agriculture and permaculture principles to farm vegetables, berries, and apples on decomposing sandstone overlooking the Salish Sea. Apple varieties include King of Tompkins, Wagners and Greenings.
The Inn at Ship Bay on Orcas Island is farmed by Geddes Martin. He meticulously cares for his gardens and orchards, using most of the vegetables and fruits in his restaurant kitchen at the inn. Additionally he has a deep interest in sustainable aquaculture practices and farms the best oysters in the islands at Judd Cove Oysters. He shares his Bartlett pear, Shiro and Italian prune plum and King apple harvest with us.
Sandy Point Farm is a historic homestead era farm on Waldron Island, where the Ardnt family farms special varieties of apples, pears and quince including Pink Pearl, Hudson’s Golden Gem and Mustu.
Oak Knoll Farm raises North Country Cheviot sheep, harvests wool, and focuses on restorative grazing on San Juan Island. In addition to picking their apple, pear and plum orchard, we are collaborating on new orchard plantings with farmers Adam and Sarah to provide shade and feed for their animals in addition to apples for us.
Lopez Island Vineyards is San Juan County’s oldest vineyard and winery, and the only organically farmed vineyard. Brent Charnley and Maggie Nilan planted Madeleine Angevine and Siegrebbe on their own roots in the decomposing sandstone soils of Lopez in the mid 1980s, and have been tending the vines ever since. In 2022 we began farming a few rows of their vineyard, and produced our first wine from this site. In 2023, we assumed responsibility for farming the full vineyard. Our first release will be bottled under a new label, NICCOLO COTURRI so signify the singularity of this site.
Midnight’s Farm on Lopez Island is an original homestead, with apple trees dating back to the late 1800s. David and Faith run cattle on the property, grow vegetables and quince, and have an extensive community oriented composting program set up. We are collaborating with David and Faith to plant more apple, quince and pear orchards around the property.
Arbordoun Farm is an all woman crew of herbalists and gardeners on Lopez Island. The farm was founded in 1984 by Susan Bill, who planted an orchard to Akani, Melrose and Spartan apples.
Winding Road Farm grows peaches, cherries, apples and plums on their 20 acre farm in Everson, WA, in additional to raising sheep and chickens. We have collaborated with farmers Martha and Ryan to plant their first one acre vineyard block of hybrid grapes: Jupiter, Reliance, Interlaken and Lynden Blue.
Alluvial Farms raises hogs and grows organic grains and hemp in Everson, WA. They have set ten acres of their farm aside along a salmon bearing steam for forest planting as part of the federal Conservation Reserve Program. We have collaborated with farmers Katie and Matthew on their first vineyard block, planted to the hybrid grape Jupiter.
