Cascade Harvest Coalition

It's nearly time for Harvest Celebrations, Festivals, and special dinners!  Events will be happening throughout Washington in September and October.  Get your family and your feet out to local farms to experience fall farm fun (and often for free).  Enjoy tours, hay rides, pumpkin patches, antique shows, harvest competitions, special local dinner breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and more.

Visit our Harvest Celebrations page to find an event near you!

Ever wanted your own backyard or barnyard flock?  Now's the time to sign up for Chicken 101 classes happening in Kitsap and Pierce Counties. 

Kitsap County

BREMERTON – Local residents and farmers will learn all aspects of starting, maintaining and housing a flock of chickens for backyard or farmyard at the Chickens 101 class to be held at Kingston Farm on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

With the passage of the Bremerton Backyard Chicken ordinance and growing interest in local food and farming, having a small flock of chickens has become increasingly popular.  The WSU Small Farms Team and local farmer, Harley Soltes of Kingston Farm, will guide aspiring chicken owners through the steps necessary to start a small (or large) flock of chickens. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011, 10:00am - Noon at Kingston Farm, 27691 Lindvog Rd NE, Kingston, WA 98346.  Cost for the class is $35/ person or $50/ family.  Discounted registration for Kitsap Poultry Growers Cooperative Members is $25.  4-H and FFA members free.  To register visit the WSU Kitsap Extension website at http://kitsap.wsu.edu/.  For more information about Chickens 101 contact Diane Fish at 360-337-7157 or dfish@wsu.edu.  

Pierce County

Puyallup –Homeowners and homesteaders are invited to a 3-hour workshop focused on small scale egg production. Space is limited for the Saturday April 9th class that will include classroom instruction and field activities. 

WSU Extension and Pierce Conservation district have co-sponsored this event by bringing together local experts and commercial egg producers to discuss: Municipal Regulations, Chicken Coop Design, Food and Water Needs, Bird Behavior, Disease and Insects of Chickens, and Waste Management.  Participants will also get a chance to see some chicken coop designs in person. For more information contact Chris Benedict at (253) 445-4623 or at chrisbenedict@wsu.edu. 

Cost:  Early Registration by 4/1/11 - $25, Late Registration by 4/7/11 - $30
Information can also be found at: http://county.wsu.edu/pierce/agriculture/Pages/BackyardBirdersSmallScaleEggProduction.aspx  
Register Directly at: https://ocrs.wsu.edu/Signup/?eventid=721 

March 5, 2011 at the Olympic College Campus, Bremerton, WA

WSU Kitsap Extension is please to offer a one-day conference for farmers, valued-added food processors, Agricultural businesses in the West Sound region. The West Sound Small Farms Expo will feature guest speakers, classes, and workshops to assist both accomplished and novice farmers in growing and marketing their farm businesses. Details and registration: http://kitsap.wsu.edu/ag/index.htm

Come visit us at the Cascade Harvest Coalition booth at the Expo!

Join us for Seattle's 6th annual Farmer, Fisher, Chef Connection on Monday, February, 28, 2011 from 8am - 6pm and take part in a unique gathering that fosters direct connections between local food buyers and producers. 

For early registration, visit: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/143858

For more information, visit the Seattle Chef's Collaborative: http://seattlechefs.org/

Mmmm... it's bound to be delicious too.