It’s said that home is where the heart is.
And Bainbridge Island is home to a farm-fresh community and a gorgeous holiday haven. It’s about time someone started putting them together.
The island’s farms produce fresh, delicious food year-round and have a wealth of offerings for an island holiday feast, and more. With island food on the table, it is truly a home-cooked meal.
Heide’s Holly
Heide Madden is the island’s very own merchant of custom holly creations. The holly can be found at any of the five grocery stores operated by Town & Country Markets, including right in downtown Winslow, Bainbridge Gardens, Manzanita Christmas Tree Farm and the QFC at University Center.
Heyday Farm
Alice and Craig Skipton work hard to run their 25-acre organic farm off McDonald Avenue. Animals such as pigs and chickens forage on pasture.
The farm offers eggs, Thanksgiving turkeys, oven-ready chickens, pork and beef. They even sell holiday honey.
The Skiptons boast that islanders can taste the difference and recommend using what’s left to make rich, nutritious broths, stocks and soups to savor.
Their products are found at Pane d’ Amore at Lynwood Center, Hitchcock Deli and Bay Hay & Feed. Orders can also be made online at www.heydayfarm.com.
Laughing Crow Farm
Using a team of draft horses in the historic soil of Suyematsu/Bentryn Farm on Day Road, Laughing Crow grows organic produce.
For the holidays, they’re offering garlic (including garlic braids), potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, cabbage, peppers and island-grown corn meal.
Laughing Crow products can be found at the Day Road Farm stand and the Bainbridge Farmers Market.
See pictures of their horses at work at www.laughingcrowfarm.wordpress.com/.
Persephone Farm
The longest running CSA program in Kitsap County, Persephone Farm is ready to set island tables with winter produce, late season flowers, holly swags and even winter veggie storage boxes. They can be found at the Bainbridge Island Farmers Market.
They also offer winter CSA programs for pick-up at the Johnson Farm on Bainbridge Island and their farm in Indianola.
More information about their CSA program can be found at www.persephonefarm.com.
Rolling Bay Farm
Adrienne and Mark Wolfe run their small 8 1/2 family farm on Lovgreen Road, producing jams and apple butter from ingredients grown on their own farm. They also offer holiday pork.
Pick up their handcrafted soaps, yarn and T-shirts as well. Rolling Bay’s farm stand is open seven days a week at 7988 NE Lovgreen Road West. Check them out at www.rollingbayfarm.com.
Sweetlife Farm
Sweetlife Farm grows fruit, berries, herbs, flowers on their farm in addition to producing honey, to make jams, jellies, chutney, herbal salts and rubs, berry vinegars and more. Sweetlife Farm will be part of Christmas in the Country tour, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.
Check www.sweetlifefarm.com to make appointments at the farm in December.
Tani Creek Farm
Max Sassenfeld operates the certified organic Tani Creek Farm on the south end of Bainbridge Island growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and meat all year-round.
Their list of products is diverse and lengthy, and includes heirloom vegetables, garlic, spices, peppers, poultry, heritage goose and duck for roasting, duck eggs and 100 percent, grass-fed Scottish Highland beef. Tani Creek offers a CSA program with pickups on Tuesdays. Their products are available at Pane d’ Amore and Hitchcock’s Deli in Winslow.
Reserve a holiday goose at tanicreekwaterfowlfarm@gmail.com or call 206-842-3217.
Tani Creek Farm also offers swiss chard, kale, bok choy, napa cabbage, Japanese turnips, parsley, genovese basil, carrots, heirloom beets, heirloom potatoes, heirloom fingerling potatoes, gourmet garlic, onions, leeks, sweet peppers, heirloom hot peppers, salsify, scorzonera, Japanese burdock, parsnips, heirloom winter squash, elderberries, autumn olive/goumi berries, quince, medlar, oca, yacon, mashua, turmeric and ginger.
