Jeffery Smith is coming to the San Juan Islands. Jeffery has lead the way in exposing the health risks of GMO’s. “Eating genetically modified food is gambling with every bite.” In his new book, Genetic Roulette, Jeffery shatters the biotech industry's claim that genetically modified (GM) foods are safe. Jeffery Smith on San Juan […]
Planting & Harvesting
This is the time of year where I want to be done, but all the energy of May, June and July are coming to fruition now. During this season we are mostly harvesting and getting ready for flood season. Flood season???? Yes, I am getting ready for flood season. I realize that we haven’t had […]
Experiencing Farm-Fresh Produce
The sun was warm and the kids were ready. Their eager feet carried them out of the car and into the sprawling field, without stopping until well into our drive back home when their weary heads finally succumbed to sleep. A chance to run around, play in the dirt, and to see, feel and taste […]
Your delivery the week of Labor Day
Our office will be closed Monday, September 3rd in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Because of this closure, our deliveries for that week are scheduled as follows: For delivery Wednesday: Tuesday customers. Wednesday customers in Anacortes and Oak Harbor. For delivery Thursday: Thursday customers, except south Marysville (south of 88th St […]
Teamwork
Coming off the heels of our farm festival, I am reminded of how important it is to work together or, more importantly, how important each piece is to completing the puzzle. Our annual festival and our weekly “box of good” only happen because people come together and complete the puzzle. Accomplishing these two […]
Now that was a Party!
Over 500 of you came out to the farm on a beautiful, pleasantly cool afternoon and based on the smiles and photos on Facebook, people were having a great time. The Klesick Family Farm festival is the perfect venue for us to connect with our customers. From farm walks, hay rides and family games, to […]
Old-Fashioned Farm Celebration!
You are invited to come out to Klesick Family Farm for our annual old-fashioned farm celebration Saturday, August 18th! A fun and wholesome event for the entire family! Free admission! Meet the people behind your “Box of Good” and celebrate the season with us. We will enjoy a fun-filled day with live music, wagon […]
“It is not Farmland without Farmers”
I see bumper stickers from time to time with this message. However, this message just doesn't resonate with me. Granted, it takes a farmer to bring the land into production, but the farmer doesn't make it farmland. The bumper sticker is attempting to get at an issue, a very real issue—that we need more farmers, especially […]
Farmland = Food
The other day, I was driving through our valley and noticing the diversity of crops and farms. Our valley in the lower Stillaguamish hasn’t changed much since the 40s. We are, relatively, newcomers to this section of the river, having arrived in 2003, which is longer than any other place we have lived. When we […]
Ahhh…the smell of fresh coffee!
I love the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. As it percolates and fills the air of my kitchen this morning, I’m reminded of my recent visit to Camano Island Coffee Roasters. I’ve been to the roaster many times before, but this time was different. Just recently, CICR had a research company conduct a study on coffee. […]
The Exquisite Cherry
Grandpa would hoist me deep into the branches. Suddenly I was surrounded by a forest of fruit-heavy limbs with hundreds of plump cherries at my disposal. My arms blurred in hurried motion as I picked as fast as I could before Grandpa’s arms grew tired. I looked as if I had come from battle, descending […]
Will Wonders Never Cease?
On a drizzly midnight, the house was all quiet, not even a mouse was stirring. Joelle and I were winding down from the day’s onslaught of activity or maybe it was ramping up for the next day’s adventures. Okay, we were cleaning up from dishes and laundry, so we wouldn’t have to do it in […]
Good Gates
What an evening! Last week, Joelle and I were heading a thousand different directions between soccer and ballet when, but for a rare moment, our schedules crossed paths. It was 6:30 p.m. and Joelle and I arrived home earlier than expected, so I said, “Let’s go for our walk.” We are able to make a […]
Good Fences are a Must
The first year I ran cows, I spent a lot of time researching which grazing system I wanted to use. There was barb wire, New Zealand, or just one hot wire. The choices were straightforward. Every dairy cow in our valley is controlled by one hot wire right next to the road. Being overly cautious, […]
I will never forget…
How would you finish that sentence? I will never forget the first time I met my spouse? I will never forget the day my child was born, went to college or got married. I will never forget the stranger (or at least someone I didn’t know) who pushed our car out of the snow. […]
Tomatoes
I have been getting used to using our new greenhouses. (In actuality, they are giant cold frames.) I have noticed that the crops closest to the door are smaller and, well, not quite as happy as the other ones in the back. I keep the door open all the time, so I am pretty sure the […]
Farming has Begun in Earnest
We are especially busy this spring. Normally we have our usual spring farm work, getting the ground ready for vegetables, and that usually takes most of our time. This year, however, we have added replanting one of our pastures to the list of spring work, which essentially doubles the amount of land we have to […]