Whidbey Island Farm Tour

After work today, Tony and I spent the afternoon visiting a few farms on the Whidbey Island Farm Tour. Now that I'm off at noon I have time to go out and really live the sweet life on Whidbey Island--not only enjoying great chocolate but truly enjoying a great community.

Our first stop was the Shipki Farm. It was an amazing farm with lots of planting ideas and techniques I'd never seen before. That's wouldn't be unusual as I'm not a farmer. But even though I'm not a farmer I know the taste of farm grown good vegetables when I taste them. I had a tomato while I was there. It was wonderful. God how I love tomatoes. A good tomato sandwich does me just fine. Anyway, back to the farm.

We started going through a gate with hearts on both of them and hops cascading over the entry way. There were burlap sacks down to pave the way and keep down the weeds I guess. There were informational placards every where so  you could learn as little or as much as you wanted.

Also there were greenhouse type structures, pole structures, and a farm gift store in the front under a tent where I got the best tomato I've had all year.

Next was Fern Ridge Alpacas. It was a little trek up the hill but if you didn't want to walk up to the pastures, you could drive your cars up. They had lots of Alpacas, Llamas, and demo's going on. Definitely worth the stop. And the baby alpaca was so very cute. They haven't name him yet so there was a jar that was taking suggestions.

Comfort Winery and Vineyard was our next step. Of course there is a tasting room there. Tony and I both tried a few wines. Honestly, I'm not a wine drinker but the Sweet Donna was just right for me. Their view from their home and "garage" winery was just beautiful. I could have sat there for hours and just looked out at it. And they had a fig tree in the back yard and were picking figs and giving tastes. Very yummy. There was a new calf in the field and he was very cute. It made me want one and then I remembered that they grow up to be cows.

My camera ran out of battery juice about this time we left there and honestly I was starving and I just wanted to go get something to eat. But, of course, Tony wanted to push on and see another farm. So, of course, we did.

So with no camera we stopped at Sonshine Alpacas. And of course, there were lots of camera opportunities there. They had animals for sale and I could have come home with a bunny or a peahen or even an alpaca but..... I don't live on a farm. The farm was divided up in interesting little pasture areas. They had a postage stamp farm. I thought that would have been perfect if it was about 3' high and not so wide. My knees just aren't as good as they used to be so I need a standing garden to work if there really is such a thing. They also had goat sausage. I tried it and it was good but I in my mind all I could see was those little cute little goats. I dont' think goat sausage is for me.

It was a good day and we finished with dinner at El Corral. I love their Nachos and I love them! They are great people!

I saw lots of great people while I was on the farm tour. Some I recognized right off the bat. Some I didn't. Sorry about that. It's a sweet life on Whidbey Island in and out of the chocolate Shop. We just can't live on chocolate alone.

To view pictures go to my personal face book page album by clicking:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=88402&id=1441464093&l=4a646ace62

It's just another note from me... typo's, grammatical errors, and all. Take me as I am or not at all. I'm not sure who said that but I like it. Till next time.....