Selling artisan pickles at the Chimacum Farmer's Market

I’ve neglected rural Jefferson County this year and focusing mostly on Port Townsend photos. Last weekend, the local extension of Washington State University sponsored a tour of local farms. This isn’t one of them, I’ll post a photo of that tomorrow. The farm tour did get me out into the county, though.

This picture is of the Chimacum Farmer’s Market, which is under the umbrella of the Jefferson County Farmer’s Market organization. The JCFM also sponsors the Saturday and Wednesday markets in Port Townsend.

Click photo for larger view.

Chimacum Corner Farmstand

I just got an email announcing the Northwest Earth Institute’s bi-annual conference, which will be hosted in Port Townsend. The theme is “If Not Me, Then Who? Building Healthy Communities and Local Food Systems One Conversation at a Time.” That’s a mouthful, but highlights one of the area’s success stories, namely promoting local agriculture and foodstuffs.

Chimacum Corner Farmstand is a rural grocery store, which shows what happens when people putting ideas into action. It features locally grown food, not just produce but prepared foods, dairy and meats. It also has a selection of food other grocery items that we can’t grow around here.

I love the bike sculpture bike stand.

Dairy Cows off Egg and I Road

I believe these cows work for the Bishop Dairy an organic Jefferson County farm. They look like Holsteins,  or a similar Friesian cow breed. How do I know such things? Part of my misspent youth happened in farm country.

Flooded pasture in Center Valley

Most of the country has suffered nasty storms. Fortunately, ours have been mostly rain and wind, which are typical. It’s been same old-same old, only more so, except for our wetlands. This is a cattle pasture, or was a few months ago. Now the center of Center Valley is a lake.

Small lake off Eaglemount Road

Eaglemont Road runs from Highway 20 near Discovery Bay to Center Valley Road near Highway 114. This small unnamed lake rests just the the east of the road. I figured if I wanted  photo of the old outhouse I had to take it before the thing falls down.

Gray clouds over Center Valley

In contrast to yesterday’s picture of warm water and warm weather, here’s a shot that’s more typical of Pacific Northwest weather. A short break in the clouds spread some light on Center Valley, but the overcast became total shortly after this was taken and it started to drizzle.